Buddhism has been described as a very pragmatic religion. It does not indulge in metaphysical speculation about first causes; there is no theology, no worship of a deity or deification of the Buddha.
Buddhism takes a very straightforward look at our human condition; nothing is based on wishful thinking, at all. Everything that the Buddha taught was based on his own observation of the way things are. Everything that he taught can be verified by our own observation of the way things are.
If we look at our life, very simply, in a straightforward way, we see that it is marked with frustration and pain. This is because we attempt to secure our relationship with the “world out there”, by solidifying our experiences in some concrete way.
For example, we might have dinner with someone we admire very much, everything goes just right, and when we get home later we begin to fantasize about all the things we can do with our new-found friend, places we can go etc. We are going through the process of trying to cement our relationship. Perhaps, the next time we see our friend, she/he has a headache and is curt with us; we feel snubbed, hurt, and all our plans go out the window.
The problem is that the “world out there” is constantly changing, everything is impermanent and it is impossible to make a permanent relationship with anything, at all. If we examine the notion of impermanence closely and honestly, we see that it is all pervading, everything is marked by impermanence. We might posit an eternal consciousness principal or higher self, but if we examine our consciousness closely we see that it is made up of temporary mental processes and events. We see that our “higher self” is speculative at best and imaginary to begin with. We have invented the idea to secure ourselves, to cement our relationship, once again. Because of this we feel uneasy and anxious, even at the best of times. It is only when we completely abandon clinging that we feel any relief from our queasiness.
These three things: pain, impermanence and egolessness are known as the three marks of existence.
Confucianism is, and has been for over 25 centuries, the dominant philosophical system in China and the guiding light in almost every aspect of Chinese life. Confucius and his followers traveled throughout the many feudal states of the Chinese Empire, They did not offer a point-by-point program, but stressed instead the “Way,” or “One Thread,” Jen, which is (translated as “humanity or love”) that runs through all Confucius’ teachings.
They urged individuals to strive for perfect virtue, righteousness (called Yi) and improvement of character. They taught the importance of harmony in the family, order in the state and peace in the empire, which they saw as inherently interdependent. Teachings emphasize a code of conduct, self-cultivation and propriety – and thus the attainment of social and national order.
Stress is more on human duty and the ideal of the “superior man” than on a divine or supramundane Reality. Still, Confucius fasted, worshiped the ancestors, attended sacrifices and sought to live in harmony with Heaven. Confucianism is now enjoying a renaissance in China.
Confucianism is not one of the so-called religions.
Confucius himself deeply believed in Heaven (God) and preached Its Dao, which is the way of leading human beings to enlightenment, by this one can unite with Heaven, then without any display, one becomes manifested; without any movement, one produces changes, and without any effort, one accomplishes its ends.
Confucius’ teaching is the holiest teaching of holy teachings, and may be above all the religions and does not conflict with them. He believes that all the people of the world are brothers and sisters under the only one God.
In order to understand the culture of the people of East Asia who now constitute almost one-fourth of the world population, Confucian study is a ‘must’. Confucianism is an Oriental heritage, a cultural gene whose mechanism is to control the behavior of those people who are born and raised under Confucian cultural influence emphasizing the family life and personality development. This Confucian culture is the unique nucleus of the behavior in East Asia, just as Christianity is essential for people’s behavior in the West.
Today, we cannot ignore Asian-Americans. According to the Washington Post, “Although Asian-Americans make up only 2.4 percent of the nation’s population, they constitute 17.1 percent of the undergraduates at Harvard, 18 percent at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and 27.3 percent of the University of California at Berkeley. At the University of California at Irvine, a staggering 35.1 percent of the undergraduates are Asian-Americans, but the proportion in the freshman class is even higher: #41 percent.
The Asians’ hard work springs from their common heritage of Confucianism, the philosophy of the 5th-century BC Chinese sage who taught the man can be perfected only through education and practice. Confucius is not just some character out of the past, he is an everyday reality to these people.” Confucius said: “man is born equal, and there should be no discrimination in education,” but without effort nobody can reach goal.
R. MacFarquhar is too sensitive about the Asians when he says that for 200 years since the onset of the industrial revolution, the West has dominated the world, but now that dominance is threatened, in particular by the East Asian heirs to Confucianism who so far have provided the only real economic, political, and military challenge. However, this is not the way that Confucianism will come to the West.
Confucianism will be born again as a new synthesis with timeless values, to become young, and to serve a new age– an age of an amalgamation of the Eastern and Western heritages as a new heritage of all mankind for a millennium. This is the time to take a new look at Confucianism, and to encourage Confucian studies in the West as well as in the East. Through these studies, the East and the West, both in search of a common ground for a dialogue about tomorrow’s world, can learn from, and help, each other, and work together for a better world, not through confrontation, but through mutual cooperation to achieve peace and happiness for a millennium.
This is the time to take a new look at Confucianism, and to encourage Confucian studies in the West as well as in the East. Through these studies, the East and the West, both in search of a common ground for a dialogue about tomorrow’s world, can learn from, and help, each other, and work together for a better world, not through confrontation, but through mutual cooperation to achieve peace and happiness for a millennium.
“Be still like a mountain and flow like a great river.” Lao Tse.
“We believe in the formless and eternal Tao, and we recognize all personified deities as being mere human constructs. We reject hatred, intolerance, and unnecessary violence, and embrace harmony, love and learning, as we are taught by Nature. We place our trust and our lives in the Tao, that we may live in peace and balance with the Universe, both in this mortal life and beyond.”
Tao can be roughly translated into English as path, or the way. It “refers to a power which envelops, surrounds and flows through all things, living and non-living. The Tao regulates natural processes and nourishes balance in the Universe. It embodies the harmony of opposites (i.e. there would be no love without hate, no light without dark, no male without female.”
The founder of Taoism was Lao-Tse (604-531 BCE), a contemporary of Confucius. (Alternate spellings: Lao Tze, Lao Tsu). He was searching for a way that would avoid the constant feudal warfare and other conflicts that disrupted life during his lifetime. The result was his book: Tao-te-Ching.
Taoism started as a combination of psychology and philosophy but evolved into a religion in 440 CE when it was adopted as a state religion. At that time Lao-Tse became popularly venerated as a deity.Taoism, along with Buddhism and Confucianism, became the three great religions of China. Taoism currently has about 20 million followers, and is primarily centered in Taiwan. About 30,000 Taoists live in North America; 1,720 in Canada (1991 census).
There is a long history involvement by Taoists in various exercise and movement techniques. Tai chi in particular works on all parts of the body.
It “stimulates the central nervous system, lowers blood pressure, relieves stress and gently tones muscles without strain. It also enhances digestion, elimination of wastes and the circulation of blood. Moreover, tai chi’s rhythmic movements massage the internal organs and improve their functionality.”
Traditional Chinese medicine teaches that illness is caused by blockages or lack of balance in the body’s “chi” (intrinsic energy). Tai Chi is believed to balance this energy flow.
EMAIL:
