Taoism Essays (2025 words) - Taoism, Tao Te Ching, Tao, Laozi

Taoism Throughout history, Taoism has been one of the most influential religions of Eastern culture. This is certainly one of the most unique of all religions. Many Taoists, in fact, do not even consider it a religion; and in many ways it is not. Taoists make no claim that the Tao exists.1 That is what essentially separates Taoism from the rest of the world religions: there is no heated debate or battle over Taoist doctrine; there have been no crusades to spread the religion. The very essence of Taoism is quite the opposite. Taoism's uniqueness and open-endedness have allowed the religion to flourish almost undisturbed and unchanged for over two thousand years. The founder of Taoism was a man named Lao Tzu, who lived around the year 604 B.C.E. According to Chinese legend, Lao Tzu was an archivist in the imperial library at Lo Yang was known for his knowledge, although he never taught.2 When Lao Tzu left his position at the library, he went to the Chinese province of Chou. At the border, however, he was stopped and forced to write down his teachings. During this time, he wrote the Tao Te Ching, the major scripture of Taoism.3 After Lao Tzu's death, a man named Yang Chu (440-366 B.C.E.) took up his teachings.4 A naturalist and philosopher, Yang Chu believed highly in self-regard and survival as the core of human nature and direction. His ideals were personal integrity and self-protection, and said that he was unwilling to pluck one hair from his head even if all humanity were to benefit from it.5 The next influential Taoist philosopher was Chang Tzu, who lived from 350-275 B.C.E. He defined existence using Lao Tzu's teachings.6 He wrote fifty-two books in response to the Tao Te Ching, thirty-three of which still survive today.7 Using exaggeration and fantasy, he illustrated Lao Tzu's teachings and how the Tao acted in nature. His theories spoke of a cosmic unity which encompasses all reality and guides it naturally, without force, to its proper end.8 The Yin and Yang theory became part of Taoist philosophy around 300 B.C.E. when they were mentioned in the Hsi tz'u, an appendix to the I Ching.9 Yin and Yang are defined as the two forces in nature. They are often called the two ?breaths? or ch'i.10 Yin is the feminine principle, representing darkness, coolness, and dampness; Yang is the masculine principle, representing brightness, warmth, and dryness.11 Neither principle is good or bad; they are not opposites, but each is needed to maintain stability in the universe.12 This belief holds that everything is defined through opposition; consequently, the virtues of balance and understanding are highly valued.13 Taoism became an official religion between 100 and 200 C.E.14 Due to competition from Buddhism, Taoists adopted many Buddhist beliefs. During this pivotal point in the religion's history, searching for self-knowledge and wisdom were replaced by searching for solutions to sorrows and other physical problems.15 Alchemy and superstition became highly popular during this period of time, as Taoists tried to escape reality rather than to control the artificial and unnatural. Many Taoists used magic and the concept of Tao to try to extend the physical life rather than to focus on the afterlife.16 Gradually the religion becomes more complicated, with a wide pantheon of gods and a ruling hierarchy.17 The leader Chang Ling took the title ?Heavenly Teacher? in 200 C.E. He created a dynasty of high priests who manipulated Taoism to support a superstitious doctrine of magic and mysticism.18 Seizing higher power as a religious leader, he pioneered a merging of Taoism and Zoroastrianism into a system called Five Bushels of Rice Taoism. Eventually this developed into a society based on Mazdaism, a Zoroastrian sect, where every believer was charged five bushels of rice.19 Although the believers followed the basic Zoroastrian worship format, they worshipped different gods: the Tao instead of Ahura-Mazda, and the various Chinese folk gods in place of the Persian Angels.20 Three hundred years later, the philosopher Honen moved away from Mazdaism and combined Taoism with Buddhism. This simplified religion he created became known as the Pure Land School, or Amidaism. Gradually, however, Taoism again became tied to magic, and it failed as a religion.21 Today, only its original philosophies survive and there are very few followers of Taoism, mostly found in Taiwan.22 Although Taoism's religious practices deteriorated with advancing Western influence, its philosophical aspects have outlasted those of Confucianism and Zen Buddhism.23 For centuries, Taoism has been known as the Way of Harmony.24 This is because Taoists believe that the Tao leads all nature toward a natural balance. The Tao, however, is not

GED Essay Topics - How To Write A Good GED Essay Topic

GED Essay Topics - How To Write A Good GED Essay TopicThe University of Michigan offers students the opportunity to create a GED essay topic for the school's GED math and English classes this year. Many students take the GED exam in high school and then go on to college, but never take the exam again as a student. So for them, the GED essay is a great way to show that they have taken their GED seriously.Students have to pass the GED math exam to earn a GED score of 70 percent. You have to study for that test and then write an essay of five to eight pages. The GED essay topic has to demonstrate your commitment to the GED. Many students will try to convince their parents that they were not good at school but as an adult, you can show them that you have learned from that experience and are committed to earning your GED.Many people may think that the GED essay topics are impossible to write, but if you study what you are supposed to write you will find many GED topics that are fairly eas y to write. Many GED teachers offer help for students who are struggling with the GED essay topics.Help is available for those who would like to be more prepared for the test. Students can read some of the GED essays that have been submitted and find some great ideas that they may use in the writing of their own GED essay.Many math teachers offer online tutorials, but some math teachers do not have the time to offer this type of help for their students. Online tutorials can be found through the GED Testing Authority and they can give you tips on how to write a GED essay, and many of them will be available for download.Some math tutors may offer a GED test preparation package for students, but there are some students who cannot afford the time to devote to the preparation of atest. The good news is that many math teachers are beginning to offer tutorial sessions for those students who cannot afford to pay a math tutor.Help is readily available for the students who need it, so they do not have to worry about it. All you have to do is find the right math or English teacher for you and then write your GED essay.