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Transcript

Seven Taoist Masters:

~Initial conflict between sages, which Taoism 'wins,' but then...

~ Each compliments the other and the dispute is resolved.

~Eventual collaboration and peace.

Overview

Zen Buddhism

Taoism and Buddhism have co-

existed, blended, clashed and supported one another during various time periods and political climates. They have even spawned a very popular crossover religion: Zen Buddhism. This presentation will explore their connections from their roots to the present day.

Buddhism traveled through China, where it mixed with Taoism, and then moved to Japan, where it became Zen.

Great Anti-Buddhist Persecution

Taoism and Buddhism: Comparison, Part I

In 845 CE, Emperor Wuzong, a fanatical Taoist, started a 20-month long campaign of persecution against Buddhism, destroying monasteries and shrines, defrocking all monks and exiling them from China.

Buddhism

Taoism

Origin: Nepal, India

Origin: China

Place of worship: Monasteries, nunneries,

pagodas and temples.

Place of worship:

Temple, shrine.

Founder: Gautama Buddha

(Prince Siddhartha)

Founder: Lao Tzu

Goal: To attain Nirvana.

Goal: To be one with the Tao,

To attain immortality.

Historical interactions:

"When Buddhism first appeared in China, it was presented as an aspect of Taoism; the Buddha was seen either as a disciple of Lao-Tzu or as associated with Taoist deities."

-Fong, Wen

"After delivering his teachings, Laozi went west and no one knew where he had gone; a later Daoist tradition said he went to teach the 'barbarians' in the West (i.e., the Buddha and the Buddhists)."

-Littlejohn (Daoism textbook)

Tang Dynasty: 500's CE debates between Buddhists and Taoists. In the early 620s CE, Tongdao master Fu Yi proposed to the Tang court that all Buddhist institutions be abolished and the monks and nuns returned to laity. Li Zhongqing argued that Buddhism was inferior to Daoism by writing a tract to show Buddhism's principal faults. It was entitled The Ten Differences and Nine Errors."

-Littlejohn

Taoism, Buddhism and

Confucianism

as unlikely bedfellows

Taoism treated Buddhism and

Confucianism, its main religious competition, in similar ways. As Zhuangzi offers conflicting stances on Confucius by elevating him to the rank of sage but simultaneously ridiculing his philosophy, so too does the Seven Taoist Masters both applaud and degrade Buddhism. Overall, aside from the power struggles in gaining imperial favor, all three religions coexisted much more successfully than any three Western religions.

Taoism vs. Buddhism, Part II

Buddhism

Taoism

  • Good of all: philosophy based on care for other beings
  • Good of self: philosophy based on enlightenment of oneself, not societal contribution:
  • "All beings alike possess the Buddha nature... if asked whether our nature is basically good or basically evil, Buddhism... would no doubt reply that we are indeed both."

-Dr. Mikio Matsuoka

  • "Great truths do not take hold of the hearts of the masses. And now, as the world is in error, how shall I, though I know the true path, how shall I guide?"

-Zhuangzi

Great Anti-Buddhist Persecution

“He who practices the cultivation of what is within him will not be ashamed because he holds no position in society.”

-Zhuangzi

In 875 CE, Tang Emperor Wuzong, a fanatical Taoist, instigated somewhat of a crusade against the Buddhists. This was the result of the Emperor's desire to both appropriate war funds and cleanse China of foreign influences. Buddhism had been very prosperous, and they were seen by Confucians as a drain on society, and by Taoists as competition. Taoism and Confucianism were considered native religions, so they were spared, but the Buddhist monks were defrocked, and their monasteries and shrines were destroyed, all precious items becoming the property of the government.

Unifying

Factors

on-doing

Interactions between Taoism and Buddhism

Introspection

Wordlessness

  • Rationality/Realism

Mirroring quotes

  • Oneness with all

Receptivity

Non-dominant, no discrimination

Individual journey

Divination

mptiness

Works Cited

  • Grig, Ray. The Tao of Zen
  • Fromm, Eric. Psychoanalysis and Zen Buddhism
  • Balance, Paradox, Karma
  • Littlejohn (Daoism Textbook)
  • Soul lives on after death; reincarnation; goal is to attain state of enlightenment

Simplicity

Fong, Wen. Beyond Representation.

  • Dr. Padmasiri De Silva, Commemoration Lecture

...And many more!

Accepting of other belief systems

Humans can become Enlightened Beings

  • Detachment from earthly ties

Meditation

elf-discipline

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