Comparison Of Buddhism And Taoism Essay, Research Paper

Comparison of Buddhism and Taoism

Essay submitted by Lauren

Taoism and Buddhism were born in the same century. Siddhartha reached

enlightenment in approximately 535 B.C. and Lao Tzu s teachings were recorded around 500 B.C. There are many similarities in the basics of these two religions. Some of the

similarities can be seen clearly when examining the three meaning of Tao.

The first definition of Tao is “the way of ultimate reality.” This means that Tao cannot

be percieved, defined, talked about, or thought of. It is too big a concept for humans

to comprehend. As in the first line of the Tao Te Ching (the Taoist text meaning The

Way and Its Power): “The Tao that can be spoken is not the true Tao.” This is very

similar to the Buddhist idea of Nirvana or Enlightenment. Nirvana cannot be understood

by one who has not attained it. Even when one has reached Nirvana, he cannot

describe it to others, but only help others to reach it as well.

In its second sense, Tao means “the way of the universe.” Tao is something that goes

through all beings, all of the earth. It is everywhere, all the time. It is something that

flows through everything. This flowing idea links with the idea in Buddhism that Nirvana

can be reached by anyone, as long as one is devoted enough and has lost all

attachments.

Thirdly, one life must be a certain way to work with the Tao: Tao also refers to “the

way of human life” as it “meshes” with the universal Tao in its second sense. This

fundamental idea of Taoism has much to do with the “view of unity of man with Heaven

and Earth, that is, with Nature.” Buddhists also believe that one must live in a certain

harmony with nature and the universe to reach Nirvana, or, as it is in Taoism, be at one

with the Tao.

Another vital concept of Taoism is that of the wu-wei which is to achieve action

through minimal action or inaction. Action is friction and inaction is pure effectiveness

in Taoism. This concept compares with Buddhist meditation in which one remains

perfectly still and uses only one s mind. In this state, one may reach enlightenment.

Also, in the Tao Te Ching (13) an idea close to the Buddhist idea of reincarnation is

illustrated:

Attain to the goal of absolute emptiness,

keep to the state of perfect peace.

All things come into existence,

And thence we see them return.

Earth goes back to its origin

He who knows eternity is called enlightened.

He who does not know eternity is running blindly into miseries

Buddhist reincarnation is the concept that one must go through many cycles of birth,

living, and death. After many such cycles, if a person releases their attachment to

desire and the self, he can attain Nirvana. In the third and fourth lines of the Taoist

passage above, the basic idea of Buddhist reincarnation is explained.

In the idea of reincarnation lies the belief that a person will be born and reborn until he

or she reaches Nirvana. Taoists also believe in that basic idea: “The Tao surrounds

everyone and therefore everyone must listen to find enlightenment.”

As you can see, although Taoism is more of a philosophy and less of a religion as