comparative religions · “by poetry the mind is aroused; from music the finish is received. the...

H O U R 3

COMPARATIVE

RELIGIONS

REVIEW:

WHAT IS CONFUCIANISM?

Based on teachings of “Confucius”

“The greatest teacher.”

REVIEW:

GROUP

• How do you understand Smith’s metaphor of the eagle that adjusts its wings to the currents of the Five Constant Relationships? (pg 113-114).

• Identify 3 examples of how members of your group have seen in other families, or experienced within their own the family, the type of familial relationships espoused by Confucius’ Five Constant Relationships.


KEY TEACHINGS

Goal: To Be “Chun Tzu”“Superior Person”, “Ideal Person”

1. Jen (ren)• Love for others.

2. Li• Proper conduct and practice.


KEY TEACHINGS

How To Be “Chun Tzu”Li

Proper Conduct & Cultural Practices

1. The Five Constant Relationships

1. Ruler—subject

2. Parent– child

3. Husband – wife

4. Elder brother – younger brother

5. Elder friend – younger friend

• Each member in the has certain responsibilities

• Each relationship implies a hierarchy between the two (that should be earned).


KEY TEACHINGS



2. Xiao

(Filial Piety: “reverence for family”)

• Respect for one’s parents and ancestors.

• Profound respect for one’s living elders.

“While your parents are alive, a good

son (or daughter) does not wander far

afield.”


KEY TEACHINGS



3. Doctrine of the Mean

• Live in moderation.

• Strive not for excess.

• Value compromise.


KEY TEACHINGS

How To Be “Chun Tzu”WEN

“Arts of Peace” (as opposed to “arts of war”)

“By poetry the mind is aroused;

From music the finish is received.

The odes quicken the mind.

They induce self-contemplation.

They teach the art of sensibility.

They help to restrain resentment.

They bring home the duty of serving

one’s parent’s and one’s prince.”

SELF AS “COMMUNITY”

Humanity

Nation

Community

Friends

Family

Who are you?

I am my relationship to…

WHAT’S THE CORE?

(EVEN IN NON-RELIGIOUS TERMS)

• Human Condition?• Doesn’t really say. Addresses social dis-order.

• How to Transcend the Human Condition?• Doesn’t really say. But values benevolence and proper relationships.

• What’s the key idea to you?• A person as a social being; the sum of the quality of their relationships.

• What is the Ultimate• Doesn’t really say, but assumes Taoism and values “Chun Tzu”

• Do you see similarities with any religions you’re familiar with?

CONFUCIANISM QUESTION

Have you ever felt like you’re

immersed in chaos?

TAOISM QUESTION

Have you ever felt like you’re out of

sync with life? Not in harmony?

What do you associated with Taoism?

TAOISM

WHAT IS TAOISM?

• Taoist philosophy originated in China 2500+ yrs ago: 6th (?) century BCE.

• Short book of 81 short chapter; words of wisdom entitled the Tao Te Ching

• The author is often referred to as Lao Tzu (“old master”).

• Lots of paradoxical statements teaching how to live in harmony.

THE MYSTERIOUS “OLD MASTER”

Lao Tzu (604 BCE – 404 BCE?)

WHAT IS TAOISM?

When he looked at reality,

what did he see?

I. The Tao

II. A Reality of Opposites

I. TAO: “THE WAY”I. TAO: “THE WAY”

From Ch.1 of the Tao Te Ching

The tao that can be toldis not the eternal TaoThe name that can be namedis not the eternal Name.

The unnamable is the eternally real.Naming is the originof all particular things.

Free from desire, you realize the mystery.Caught in desire, you see only the manifestations.

Tao: • “The way”, • “The pattern”, • “The process”

I. THE TAO

So what did he see?

1. There seems to be a natural intelligence to life.• Examples?

• Think of the growth of a person• Think of the body’s processes• Think of nature and the web of life.

2. There seems to be natural ebbs and flows (patterns) to life.• Examples?

The Tao is…-This natural intelligence-This natural flow of life

The “way” of reality, the universe, and human life.

I. THE TAO

Ch. 30 of the Tao Te Ching

The Great Tao flows everywhere.

It may go left or right

All things depend on it for life.

and it does not turn away from them.

It accomplishes its task, but does not claim

credit for it.

It clothes and feeds all things

but does not claim to be master over them.

I. THE TAO

1. Tao’s inherent “power” -

2. Tao’s inherent “virtue” -

(power of the flowing river)

(virtue of the flowing river)

Te:

I. THE TAO

VARIATIONS ON TAOISM

1. “Vitalization” Taoism: Embodied Te

Harnessing the life force of the Tao: Ch’i (breath of life)

comparative religions · “by poetry the mind is aroused; from music the finish is received. the...

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