Taoism
By: Jessica • Essay • 540 Words • February 1, 2010 • 949 Views
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Youe been introduced to a variety of philosophical and religious outlooks in H. B. Mitchell book and videos. Your assignment is to pick ONE of those outlooks, and discuss how it effects our understanding of nature. Specifically, how will the outlook youe chosen be likely to impact our engagement of the ecological crisis that is emerging throughout the world?
As we all know, Taoism started way back in ancient China. It is the basic, eternal principle of the universe that goes further than reality and is the starting place of being, nonexistence, and change. The way of the Tao is the Way of Nature and ultimate reality. Taoism explanation of ultimate reality is that of the Tao that moves nature and all of life with ease.
Even though there are a number of vital differences among Buddhism and Taoism, they share a point of view wherein reality is one rather than dual or multiple. The Chinese class Tao Te Ching states publicly the Tao is one: ?i>Look, it cannot be seent is beyond form. Listen, it cannot be heardt is beyond sound. Grasp, it cannot be heldt is intangibletand before it and there is no beginning. Follow it and there is no end. Stay with the ancient Tao, Move with the present. Knowing the ancient beginning is the essence of Tao.?This points out that form and sound is not the central point of reality.
Taoists considers this world to be a wonderful teacher and a basis of wisdom. It is in the natural world that the mechanisms of Tao can be most observed with no trouble. If we look at nature carefully, we can gain knowledge of what is at the central point of reality. Taoism brings the central point of awe-inspiring knowledge unequivocally into nature.
Tao is the transcendent way of ultimate reality - unidentifiable, unseizeable, and indescribable. Taoists say if you would like to know what is real, study nature. If we standardize ourselves with the Tao, our lives can come within