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The religion of Daoism began around 300 BCE in China by a writer named Laozi, though there has yet to be any real proof that a person named Laozi even existed in that time period (Lee). According to Jacob Lee he states that Daoism is, “A religious philosophy that emphasizes the Dao (“the Way”), or the unity of all things in the universe that cannot be resisted” (Lee). Basically the believe is that you have a force that is in the universe, that you cannot help but follow or going with what “the…

order to correct the present. A Confucian gentleman follows the principles of Li. On the other hand, the Tao Te Ching, by Lao Tzu, shows that a Taoist sage reflects harmony with nature in all aspects of his life. The ideal gentleman focuses more on his inner…

Many of the poems from the Tao Te Ching and the Hua Hu Jing touch on the practice of wuwei. There can actually be examples of all three, humility, compassion and frugality found with in some of them. A lot of these concepts can come across as deep and cryptic, but when you get down to it and begin to understand them and break them down, they can be summed up to the three basic teachings stated above. Chapter two of the Tao Te Ching is among the chapters that stood out to me the most. I found…

The second meditation continues Descartes search for one main concern of how he cannot be certain of anything. He has reached the conclusion of a clearer understanding of the physical world and how it comes from the use of judgement and reason, as opposed to relying solely on what ‘appears to be the case’ through perception of the senses and use of the imagination. Ultimately, then, I think the true nature of things in the external world are not revealed fully. How do I really know what is for…

The concept of dao (the Way) has been a fundamental component to various schools of Chinese philosophy, in particular the school of Confucianism and Daoism. Xunzi, a Confucian scholar, and the Laozi, the Daoist text otherwise known as the Daodejing), illustrate how the concept of dao integrated in all aspects of life of ancient Chinese civilians. Though they share similarities in the audience consuming their working definition of dao, there are certainly disparities in the ideologies of the Way…

Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu can be translated as The Book of the Immanence of the Way or The Book of the Way and of How It Manifests Itself. Lao Tzu, author of the book, can also be known as “The Master”. He has a form of government planned and wishes to everyone follows and support this plan. His main goal is simplicity and naturalness. When he thinks of a way to govern someone it comes to his mind the idea that the more rules and obligation you put to a person, the less they will do it. He just…

Greed has been a vital harm, spread across the nation, for hundreds of years. Money is the main cause for greed, it is the root of all evil. As long as there is money involved, a persons mind will go blank and al that they will think about is money. Money has been a huge problem in the world for years, people think that if you have money then that makes you happy, but all it does is make you depressed. In The Devil and Tom Walker, Washington Irving uses characterization to reveal how Tom is…

Lao Tzu developed characters that would become essential to the Taoism religion. These included the Tao Te Ching and The Way of Its Power. The Tao Te Ching was considered the beginning of the bible of the Taoism’s religion. They believed that in this bible everything…

With different beliefs and practices, various religions and philosophies possess key characteristics that are significant in their cultures but are meaningless in other cultures. These distinctions result in contrasting perspectives on one’s lifestyle. Some people agree with the practices presented in Taoism, while certain individuals disagree, since its beliefs target a limited group. Taoism presents the idea of living in harmony with nature and educating the followers about the flow of life.…

I let go of religion, and people become serene. I let go of all desire for the common good, and the good becomes as common as grass. (211) This section of the Tao-te Ching reflects on the ideas that Lao-tzu believes to be most detrimental to a Master’s successful society. In contrast, however, Machiavelli believes that a prince should be assumed to, upon being seen and experienced, full of mercy, authenticity, and…