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Show DAILY THE CHRONICLE UTAH PIRXTUALITY WE E Jl IvilliMii ' J2 ft, t J i'a -- C- " Ii t ill ;t (2 i J V t! il 1 Crm inn "flfatiM il t 7 LV 3 ii 0 Daoism Suggests Doing What Comes Naturally individuals. Laozi believed that nature, left to itself, will tend toward the most harmonious outcome. It is best to avoid discord and find the middle way of the two extremes in all situations. He preached "wu wei," or One should take no action against nature and find the path of least resistance. The Dao itself is an abstract idea. The word is translated, "the way." Many other religions have used the phrase referring to a moral code, which the Dao is not. It is also not a god or supreme being. All existence is derived from the Dao, and it is present in everything. It is transcendent, metaphysical and formless. It guides those who have recognized it, but the consciousness of it is indescribable. "Those who know, don't say; and those who say, don't know," the old ALEX LEE Chronicle Feature Writer When you ask a Chinese person what his or her religion is, he or she might say, "I'm a Confucian by day at work, a Buddhist by night around my family and a Daoist on weekends with my friends." Some modern Chinese may interpret it with a hedonistic tint, but Daoism (Taoism) is rooted in a more naturalistic way. Like Confucianism and Buddhism, Daoism has been pluralistic and tolerant, allowing individuals to have other beliefs and achieve a certain balance. The founding of Daoism is usually credited to Laozi (Lao Tzu). Although his very existence is the subject of debates, it is generally accepted that he lived during the sixth century B.C. and was born in what is now the Hunan province in southern China. Legend has it that Laozi quit his post as a bureaucratic archivist when he saw that the government was near collapse. As he was leaving to retire in the West, the gatekeeper asked him for a writing of his philosophy. Laozi quickly composed a short book and handed it to the gatekeeper. Laozi is believed to have lived in isolation after writing that book, the Dao De Jing (Tao Te Ching), and everything known about his teachings is in it. It has only 5,250 words, most of them vague and cryptic. Most historians concluded that the Dao De Jing, translated "The Way and Its Power," is the work of several authors who lived much later than Laozi. Most of Laozi's beliefs are thought to be reactions to Confucianism. Laozi rejected the rigidity and oppression of Confucian rules and rituals and sought an alternative philosophy that would espouse aesthetic expression in non-actio- driven by Daoist groups. Confucianism, Buddhism and Dao ism have influenced each other heavily throughout Chinese history. Collective worships and monasteries in Daoism were def initely due to Buddhist influence. used Daoists They practiced alchemy in search of n. r v meditations and breathing exercises exten to sively connect with and nature, and to find balance and energy. Daoist adage says. Another concept of Daoism is qi (chi), the fundamental substance in the universe. It even predates the Dao, which is made from qi. It gives man energy, and everyone has a limited amount of it. g Our depends on a proper balance of the two opposite but complementary forms of qi, Ying and Yang, in our bodies. De Jing, Daoists have In addition to the-D.also drawn heavily from .the (Chuang Tzu). Named after its author, it was written about three centuries after Laozi. The Zhuangzi was much more literary and comprehensible than the Dao De Jing. It contained parables and metaphors and extensively discussed nature and the mystical qualities of the Dao. Later Daoist sects emerged in which the original naturalistic themes were broadened. W J v w well-bein- ao tech- niques were l- oped and Zen Buddhism bor rowed heavily from them. Daoism today is an amalgamation of these three religions. Most worship gods and their ancestors. They often believe in an indestructible soul that continues in the after life. Although its differences have been blurred, Daoism remains a distinct religion and continues to exert its influence on art, other religions and people's daily lives. y r 7"n-elixi- Their wcll-dcvc- of life. Follow ers experimented with numerous herbs and substances. These sects worshiped thousands of gods. Some immortality cults learned martial arts and were militant at times. In fact, both the Yellow Turban and the Boxer Rebellion were aleechronicte.utah.edu Desperately Seeking Souls: An Experience With Zen Q sm. o NOMA ZARYOUNI o I V Filial the universe Piety, Perfectibility jaf Man, Responsible Government f Sox- Chronicle Feature Columnist I tried to battle my teenage hormonal imbalances with meditation and Zen. My friend recommended it as a relaxation technique. Also, since I had fled Islam, tried Chris-- ! tianity for a day and made several attempts in vain to worship God in my own way, I soul could use thought my some kindness. We went to the Kanzeon Zen Center on a medita-- : Sunday morning. In the half-hocould I but think not the of tion, help paper due tomorrow, how well the job interview I hadn't heard from yet went and whether or not it would be a wise decision to change my major for the third time. - - If being restless in tn exerciser intended' for relaxing wasn't enough disrespect for the religion, both ir.y feet had fallen asleep, and my knee- cracked every tune I moved an fech. t slowly opened ray eyes. A woman facing i me had a slight smile on her face, perfect posture, breathing in and cut. late-risi- ng ; ALEX LEE Chronicle Feature Writer Confucius was China's first and most enduring moralist. His teachings have been the cornerstone of Chinese education for centuries, and they have greatly influenced all aspects of Chinese society. f The name Confucius is the Iatu.,::.ed form of his Chinese name, Kong Fuzi. Hi w$ born around 550 B.C.E. in what is now Shandong ' (Shantung), a province in northeastern Ci-;Like most educated men at the lirnc (xnd only men, with rare exceptions, were treated), Confucius aspired to work for the govern-- ment , During most of Chinese history, an appointment in the Chinese bureaucracy was the exclusive vehicle to wealth and prestige for the common man. Confucius held minor government posts, but he became increasingly unsatisfied with his . level of success. Later in his life, he began to travel and devoted his life to teaching. Confucius was much more successful as a teacher and had a large following of students. His teachings are recorded in the "Analects," which was written by several generations of disciples. It is a collection of questions and answers in the form of "Confucius said." .Although he had little influence on the government of his time, for the next 2,000 year and more, aspiring officials were tested on their thorough knowledge of Confucius' teachings as fcrt of the grueling Chinese bureaucratic examination. This is partly because of Confucius' emphasis on responsible government. Confucius stressed adherence to social roles and relationships. They should respect the authority of the ruler, who in turn must earn the respect of his subjects by demonstrating virtue and morality. Good government should rule by example rather than by law and punish ment. Confucius believed that human nature is originally good and that man can be perfected. The virtues of the ideal man, or junzi, are inner integrity, righteousness, loyalty, altruism and human heartedness. As a transmitter of ancient wisdom, Confucius preached filial piety and ancestral worship. The father-so- n relationship is second in t. to A that of the importance only son must support and respect his parents, and he must perform sacrificial rituals regularly in devotion to his dead ancestors. Filial piety became central to Chinese society for centuries and infiltrated other religions that have penetrated China. Whereas followers of Daoism and Buddhism have deified their founders, most Chinese today continue to see Confucius as a great teacher. His philosophy is still highly regarded and influential. ruler-subjec- " CHRONICLE FEATURE EDITOR CASSANDRA HARTLEY long-abandon- ed ur ; ;. ; : aleechronicle.utah.edu CHARTLEY3CH RONICLE.UTAH.EDU 581-704- 1 ' |