Confucianism Vs. Daoism

Confucianism vs. Daoism

From Van Voorst, page 156:

Confucianism: Scholars believe that all Chinese people are somehow related to Confucianism. Scholars don't necessarily see Confucianism as a religion or very "religious". 

Many Chinese see themselves as either Confucian or Daoist and many are Buddhists as well, this makes estimating the followers of these faiths difficult to count.

Confucianism is traceable with a historical founder whereas Daoism is not and grew out of various religious traditions in China. Confucianism, because it had a very different beginning then Daoism, it is a more coherent system to understand.

Confucianism is a Chinese tradition but the influence has spread widely while Daoism has been contained mostly within China and Taiwan.

Qi

Qi

Qi is known as the energy that flows through all things. From Qi, the martial art form of Taichi was formed which means internally soft. I actually had a professor at slippery rock show me and teach me a little bit of Taichi and it was simply away of protecting yourself from any physical harm. The professor who taught me was actually telling us that there was nothing offensive about Taichi, but that it was strictly defensive.

Ghosts

Ghosts

In the Chinese traditions often dealing with Confucianism or Daoism, the idea of a Ghost is an ancestor who has been neglected. The Confucius idea is that the older people in a person's life needs to be respected, so when there are ancestors who have been neglected then it is a huge problem that occurs within a society. Also, people who died mysteriously or because of suicide can also return as ghosts.

It is strongly advised that ghosts must be kept away, but they must also be kept happy.

There is a day called "Ghost day" in which families/citizens of a community would elaborate on the offerings to ancestors as well as hold performances and light lamps to help keep "ghosts" or ancestors happy.

Divination is also important, in which an oracle often comes in to play. The oracle is often there to help keep respect while a certain question is worked on.

                                                   

Wu Xing

In Chinese, the five elements are called Wu Xing.
These elements are Wood, Metal, Fire, Water, and Earth.

These elements remind me of Avatar the Last Airbender. It is a child's cartoon, but it actually explains about the Daoist/Confucius faiths more than I had believed to be. The cartoon is simply about the boy Avatar trying to fix things between different 'countries' while learning to master all the elements. He also learns that learning all the elements and the responsibility he carries isn't something to take lightly.

Yin and Yang

Yin and Yang

 I knew what Yin and Yang meant for a long time, but I have never heard it expressed as the sunny side verses the shaded side of the hill. I have always remembered it being addressed as the relationship between light and dark, good and bad. There are some opposites that I would have never considered as being associated to Yin and Yang, such as rising and falling. I like how Yin and Yang can be associated to almost anything in life and that Yin and Yang is always about a relationship.

Sikhism and Muslim Violence

Sikhism and Muslim Violence

The Sikhs want the right to have a Punjab state where the Muslims are unwilling to allow them to hold the state. They also reject the Sikh religious rituals. The goals of the Sikh religion is to allow everyone to be equal, get rid of the caste system as well as make creed and gender unimportant.

The Sikhs believe that no one religion holds the monopoly in truth.

Koan

Koan

A Koan is a story that is supposed to wake a person up and makes a person ask questions about "certains" in life. It can also reveal a direct experience and asks about the consciousness of identity, mystics and the experiences of the world.

Koan just emphasizes the need to answer a question or story through meditation and it is supposed to frustrate the rational mind. I like to think I have a "Koan" that questions why I do things or why I think of certain things...but I never attempt to meditate to find an answer. 

Primitive Thinking of Being

Primitive Thinking

When we talked about Primitive thinking, I think the thing I remember most is the cup crashing against the wall. It has been fresh on my mind since the end of class. It really had me questioning why we call things the way we do. What is a mug without the name 'mug'?

I can't really think of how to describe things without putting a name to it and it is something that I have learned from my parents and that is something that they have learned from their parents. It is an unbreakable pattern.

VV: Sikhism

Van Voorst: Sikhism

 The Ten Gurus, beginning with Guru Nanak (1469-1539); Sikhism became a new sect within Hinduism. Muslim rulers were initially tolerant but later became violent against the Sikh faith. Nanak started his own religious community who then passed his leadership and teachings to the community. He preached a lesson of universal love and differences between religions.

I really like the idea of universal love. I wish the world could always work together peacefully.

I also liked Nuruk talking about how his feet were "pointing disrespectfully to Mecca" and although I am not sure if a "God" exists he explained that God should be everywhere and that his feet cannot point disrespectfully because in every direction there is "God".

Meditation

Buddhism and Meditation

In Buddhism, Meditation is important and central in the teaching. Buddhism contains deep meditation along with an earnest morality, but most Buddhists who aren't monks/nuns do not meditate. Buddhism is also kind of unique in the fact that those belonging to another religion can also practice Buddhism.

Buddha, or Siddhartha Gautama, gained his enlightenment and the title "Buddha" after sitting under a tree in the city of Bodh Gaya for a long meditation.