Taoism - Part 1

[DreamsofMajesty]

For anyone seeking the truth, please check out the scribd website that is listed on my channel.

[NathanManga]

ohhhh

[NathanManga]

if u are trying to learn taoism please dont learn it in english it will give you a wrong idea of what taoism is, if u do wanna learn taoism u need to have to deep understanding of chinese and the chinese culture

[TheRedWolf080]

@NathanManga while I agree with your comment, many people do not have the time or the will to learn a whole new language right now.

[NathanManga]

@TheRedWolf080

yea that is true but if u learn it in english it would be .... confusing 

[TheRedWolf080]

@NathanManga I have taken a class on eastern religion in college and we learned about taoism. Me never having previous experience (or even knowledge of its existance) I was as "uneducated" as one could get. One thing the professor did mention on multiple occasions is what is lost in translation. When we discussed "beauty and ugliness" that I understood, that it is subjective. What I do not fully understand to this day is the negative phrases to describe the Tao. (the Tao is not X)

[NathanManga]

@TheRedWolf080 i dont know what ur trying to say at all

negaive phrases to describe tao ???

[TheRedWolf080]

@NathanManga

Have you ever read the Tao Te Ching?

[NathanManga]

@TheRedWolf080

yes i have but it took me a long time to read it

had to recite it at a very young age

[TheRedWolf080]

@NathanManga It was in the Tao Te Ching that I found the "negative phrasing" of Tao. Just wished to clarify. Good day, peace and be well!

[onsproductionz]

How the fuck did I get here?

[scherhrazade1]

@onsproductionz it was the Dao or "The Way" :)

[onsproductionz]

@scherhrazade1 touche

[nactan]

the initial sweeping generalizations about all 3 traditions come off as broadly untrue

[vastawake]

There are Daoist temples in China that are older than Lao Tze so how did he become the founder of the phioosophy? Gotta love Western scholars and their maniacal need to classify everything under deities and heirarchal order... sorry but the Taoist mystics who founded these practices shall remain nameless in the true spirit of humility which is Tao - eternal nothingness... Ha ha!

[vastawake]

Lao Tze is not the founder of Taoism. Foo-Shee (considered to be a collection of Taoist sages are) His book is the initial written record of the philosophy but the I Ching divination system, Taoist alchemy, Tai Chi (yin martial arts), Kung Fu (yang martial arts), were around long before Lao Tze. Westerners seem to have the need for classification and heirarchy but the Taoist mystics defy this need for linear, logical order.

[markdugan]

I wish he had a basic grasp of mandarin.

[ben3rulz]

u people are stupid there is one god and one god only his only son was jesus christ. become a roman catholic go will always forgive you no matter what

[crazyfingers316]

@ben3rulz then why is there hell?

[GNANEESWARAN]

Any free online or distance education program for Taoism is available. Whose translation of Tao te Ching is the best

[MadPuppets1]

@GNANEESWARAN the best thing to do is just find a translation....unfortunately i have passed off my copy so I couldn't tell you which one I read.

[royalsteven]

Dear brothers and sisters. Please have a look at my video 'To All The People In The World'. It gives a simple positive message about us and respecting each others religions. Thanks.

[wayoflife101]

i consider myself a Christian Taoist :)

[twistedschism716]

@wayoflife101 how in the hell does that work ???

[wayoflife101]

@twistedschism716 easy. Many of the Taoist teachings are reflected in Christianity and Vice Versa. For example Jesus once told his followers do not worry about the future, for today's troubles are enough for one day. This reflects the Taoist teaching of focusing on what we are doing now instead of focusing on the future or past. Taoism teaches us that charity is important. Jesus also shared this view. Also Taoism is a philosophy with no Taoist Gods so you can be a Taoist and a Christian.

[twistedschism716]

@wayoflife101 you can be a taoist christian

but not a christian taoist

believe me the christians aren't ok with this

[wayoflife101]

@twistedschism716 Taoist Christian/Christian Taoist, there both the same thing. Besides i know plenty of Christians who have similar if not the same views that i have.

[twistedschism716]

@wayoflife101 but your friends at the end of the day consider themselves just christians not christian slash something else

christianity doesnt work that way

[q1w2e381048104]

omg



[DreamsofMajesty]

For anyone who desires the truth, I would highly recommend checking out the scribd website that is listed on my channel.

[TheEmpiricalTruth]

@DreamsofMajesty Been there done that and still have the scars to prove it. Thanks for the damage.

[Dragonicafan]

taoism is daoism...

[number1asset]

:51... False.. I chant the Lotus Sutra. Displaying self salvation. Chant, action & study. Practice 4 oneself & others. I am interested 2 learn facts of all pracitices. It all comes 2 the same point 4 which every1 seeks. Salvation, freedom 2 be & live @ peace with all.

[chapsroc]

The English quote of Tao Te Ching in this videos is absolutely wrong, pure non-sense.

That what happen when you worship the book of lies (Bible) for 2000 years -- the liars get better at lying (here is all subliminal), and the sheepists get dumber and dumber, don't even know what the message was, but "they just know" the "messages" are the only truth. lol

[chapsroc]

My translation of Lao Zi's Tao of Wu Wei 无为 is "un-clinging" , similiar to Buddha's precept of "detachment". The only subtle different between the two is Wu Wei is more in a contrary sense, e.g. "learn what no one wants to learn, be what no one wants to be." In Tao, you can anchor or cling on to some principle as long as you don't seek to benefit materially or selfishly, but do it for the benifits of society, only than you may draw benifits from the community, indirectly.

[chapsroc]

at 2:07 again they chose video clip that appear very unflattering to White Christians. Those white hoods that people were wearing in this clip may looks like the American racists Klu Klux Klan cult, but actually were Chinese funeral custumes.  That clip was funeral ceremony.

Screw it! I am not going to waste time watching bullshits! The guy lied every time he moved his lips. Even visuals were sumbliminal propaganda to the Christians that has no bearing in factual context. Bullshits!

[chapsroc]

at 1:26 this guy is crazy! "The word "Tao" means both the order and totality of the universe"

Lao Zi thought the universe was still "a mistery... for I do not know whose son it was before the first known king (on earth or heavens)"

[chapsroc]

every picture or video clips used in this videos are very unflatering.

at 1:10 is yet another lie. That picture is "weird", not sure WTH he was getting at, but if he was talking about the Indian lore of Hahnuman (the Monkey King) that picture was BS. The Chinese version is Sun Wu Kong, he was born from a "Heaven Rock" not from some idiot's breath.

These Christian liars has no shames.

[chapsroc]

The closer I listen to this "professor" the more I realise he LIED almost every words he said!

At 0:50 "It is true that Taoism and Buddhism have fundamentaly opposing aims in that Taoism seeks salvation of the individuals and Buddhism, in contrast, seeks an excape from the cycle of personal existence." 

At this point I down graded this "professor" to a retard christian propagandist (formal word for "liar").

[chapsroc]

at ):46 "Buddhism first spread under the guise of Taoism" is yet another lie. Taoism mantra was and still is "To each without preaching." and Buddhism mantra is "To each until all transient beings become enlightenment" with simbolism and ritual display in spectacular proportion (.e.g. gigantic Buddha statues, etc.). The Chinese were and still are much smarter than this dumb professor made them to be. WE KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.

[chapsroc]

@ 0:44 "Confuscianist by day and Taoist by night" is a lie. Confuscious had nothing but praise when he talk directly about Lao Zi, he compare Lao Zi to "The Dragon of Heavens" expression of respect and admiration. Most Chinese, to this day revere both Lao Zi and Confuscious.

[chapsroc]

at 0:40 "Confuscianist by day and Taoist by night"

[chapsroc]

This is Judeo-Christian propaganda video (just like many English version on this subject), you can tell from the beginning.

@0:13 you can clearly see the Jewish and Christian religious simbols, the Crucifixion Cross and the Menorah. It was put there to let the Christian viewers know and to stay tume (don't switch channel). Because he is actually against Taoism...

[chapsroc]

The professor sounded more like a historian, not a Taoist. He does covered 3 main aspects of Taoism, Lao Zi's Tao Te Ching (the original thinker), Taoism as religious practice, and Zhuang Zi the philosopher and ultimate practictioner of Tao Te Ching.

[Deco70Dias]

"Buddha is above all"... "Alah is above all".... "Jesus is above all"....

How about.... My BROWN ARSE IS ABOVE ALL....?... Well.. at least when I'm on top...

Why religious belief tend to make people so stupid, narrow minded and ... ugly?

[haodi13]

Buddha is above all

[boogiebuddy01]

without knowing it i think i just realized im a taoist

[RHM741]

In the Tao Te Ching, it says:

“The way of material knowledge is through accumulation [of worldly concepts].

The way of Great Knowledge [Tao] is through shedding [of worldly concepts].

Forever shedding until nothing is left. Then one arrives at Non-Action. (無爲, Wu Wei, Without-Do or -Effort)

When one arrives at Non-Action, there is nothing that remains to be achieved.”

[chapsroc]

@RHM741 Wu Wei 无为 means anti-dogma or non-ideologically driven and anti-materialism. It can means many things within Tao Te Ching, but one thing that is not, it doesn't means "Non-action". 无wu = no, without, none, don't have (its antonym is 有 to have); 为wei = to be, principle anchor, based on (something/idea)

I'm not sure what chapter your quotes were based, they don't sound like Lao Zi's saying at all. Do us a favor, next time pls include the chapter number from which you quoted.

[geekeing]

@RHM741 ....this is from Chapter 48, is it not? May I ask which translation this is from?

[RHM741]

NOTE:

At that state, one becomes the embodiment of Knowledge. The key of attaining to Tao is not by worldly/intellectual means, but by non-striving/non-attachment/no­n-action.

[RHM741]

Note:

Non-Action is Action without striving. (For the greatest achievement is attained through the deed of Non-Action, a state of non-resistance, in total accordance with the divine course of Tao.)

It should NOT be translated as ‘without Action’. And to say “Without action, nothing can be achieved” is a total misconception, wrong interpretation, and misleading information.

[bobspez]

@RHM741 I would consider it more to be Action without fussing. You do the job without fussing about it or placing any importance to it. You just do what needs to be done and move on.

[RHM741]

This video has an excellent narration and literary translation. However, there is a mistake on explaining the teaching of Tao.

At timeline 4.40: [Video] “ Without action, nothing can be achieved”. — WRONG

“With Non-Action, Nothing is left to be achieved”. — CORRECT

[Supenmanu]

Daoism originally wasn't a religion, but it was never a Philosophy. Confucianism wasn't a religion either - but maybe you could call that a philosophy.

And yes, this video contains no actual content of Daoism.

[CheckinGagaiNagain]

Tao means the heavenly way(truth)

[rumblefish1988]

This video is bullshit... These people are just quoting textbooks written by Westerners who do not fully understand the order of the universe which they are attempting to explain/understand.

[MichaelBValse]

@rumblefish1988 then make a new video

[UltraFlashlight]

Oh man, this stuff is deep. I don't think I understood any of the stuff they were talking about. (Except for yin and yang) My conclusion is, Taoism is one of those religion where you could spend your entire life following and still know very little because there's so much material to cover. (Not that that's a bad thing)

[DreamsofMajesty]

scribd (dot) com/nb812

[jacksawild]

How can I be an atheist when I'm agnostic of my own existence?

[DreamsofMajesty]

scribd (dot) com/nb812

[736814]

Man that speaks speaks really cool...

[BibFortuna4President]

Since I began to be at one with the Tao and learned to hold to the center, I now see through the eyes of an infant again. It's true! People react to me in very strange, beautiful ways, it's unbelievable. Rigid men surrender and become softer around me, women are drawn to me like NEVER before. Taoism has changed my life, I recommend it to anyone. Please feel free to add me as a friend whoever wants to discuss Taoism, there's no other Taoists where I live

[cheesyrichardhead]

have you heard of the gnostic teachings of samael aun weor. What he teaches is a practical method of spirituality, no dogmas or theories gnosis is about freeing the conciousness from its conditioning as it is the conciousness wwhen free can understand god and the spirit. Try the website gnostic teachings for more info.

[BLARGHALT]

Poor Taoism; by the time someone founds it in Civ IV, all the other religions are too deeply-rooted to make a difference.

That being said, it is very fun to embark upon holy wars against the Muslims and Hindus in a final glorious war over who has the coolest-looking religious emblem.

Ying-yang ICMBs all up in your capital city, explodin' your temples. Hell yeah.

[rmar67]

@BLARGHALT

Oh yeah. That's in keeping with the tenets of Taoism.

[Dasar7557]

The recipe of immortality from the standpoint of physicality is atributed to Taoism. Ancient Chinese suggested spiritual existence after death was just fairytale; contrary to religions of the west, Taoism shows that energy is essential to longeivity. It's the worshipping of the spirit as the most highest, thus animation of the soul is wrought through indulging ones nature. What more do we need to see the truth, never concede your uniqueness to societies morals, and express your authentic self.

[skatelongboards]

im reading a book about this its interesting and i like the many views and the ying yang concept is really great i agree with that

[RevDooDatt]

I first read the Tao Te Ching when I was 11 years old. I had previously been reading Confucious, Sidhartha and other eastern philosophies and religions. The Tao lead me to Japanese Zen. I study quantum mechanics as well and somehow all of these belief systems fit perfectly with the sciences. All I can say is, its most definitely worth every human being to at least try to grasp the concepts.

[capitanboots]

@RevDooDatt indeed, its unbelievable that someone so long ago could grasp, if even philosophically, the concept of how the world works without any modern science to aid him. how one could only allude to the nature of the universe by looking at the space around it is the basic idea of all science today, and some spiritual philosopher figured it all out a long time ago. its just amazing

[uytfvbnmkoiuy]

@capitanboots i agree. we are able to achieve the highest intelligence just by looking out of the window, if we travel to know things, that is vain or more confusing.

[richardshapiroII]

@capitanboots

it's just another scientific method. an internal scientific method.

western science throws out any inner knowledge that cannot be externally verified, so they can't access the tao method of learning.

but internal or external, were both swimming in reality.

[Raford146]

If you're going to be religious, Taoism/Buddhism is the way to go.

[greatsinailove]

I think this is the way to go:)

/watch?v=u3BTtii4fIY

/watch?v=o4qbnRM5csI

/watch?v=wtmtX4M-wqM

[lumianic]

From outside,we see the Dao De Ching which is filled with a few words ... but inside any simple words contain a large range of meaning .... so every readers must must have a deep understanding about everything before you read taoisme's philosophy ... otherwise,you will interprete Lao Tzu's philosophy wrongly because of brain mismanagement ...... that is what all chinese parents teach their kids how to read a book correctly.

[xShad0wGhostx]

I consider myself an Agnostic Taoist. Thumbs up for innovative?

[FN90X]

sounds like Zen to me

[GodlySkunk]

@xShad0wGhostx exactly man, dont stay with a fixed set of beliefs. look into a lot of religions and philosophies to create your own understanding of reality. dont limit yourself.

[Ashiman12]

@xShad0wGhostx I think most Taoists qualify as agnostics of some kind. The folk variants often worship ancient deities, but that's becoming increasingly the exception to the rule, especially in the west.

[CrimesonWitcher]

@xShad0wGhostx I'm the very same! I believe in god but i try to understand the living world.

[mjmoto72]

@xShad0wGhostx understood .. i feel the same.. how can so many blindly believe that there is only one religion .. not to say that this is correct either but i am in a permenant state of seeking .

[Theboomdoctor]

@xShad0wGhostx  your comment =win

[extremesniper007]

@xShad0wGhostx Oh my god, so am I!

[mansondevil33]

@xShad0wGhostx Agnostic Buddhist Taoist. TAKE THAT...

[KamasutraButterfly]

@xShad0wGhostx Atheist taoist here, lol

[DaveTheSamurai]

@KamasutraButterfly How can you be when with Tao nothing is impossible?

[SeriousSam505]

yes, Buddhism and Taoism can be like science and maths, friends

[Kostly]

Yep. Taoism the way of everything. Including science and math.

[SeriousSam505]

yes

[MidnightDC696969]

its fair weird to see your own message after 2months, what was that, progress i was making....obv not =P

i am right where i was then now,

only different in a way,

when it was then,

it was now,

and when it will be then again it will be now,

the eternal now,

now is now and you read this now,

i wrote this now and you read this now.......

[OneTaoTwo]

"The Tao that can be expressed in words is not the eternal Tao. The name that can be defind in words is not the name that never changes..." -- Lao Tzu, #1 Tao Te Ching

"The Tao, if you examine it, will always be empty and will never be full. In its infinite emptiness lies the source of all things..." -- Lao Tzu, #4 Tao Te Ching

"He who knows does not speak, He who speaks does not know..." - Lao Tzu, #81 Tao Te Ching

[deepeeeh]

Fascinating stuff (and such a rich culture). Even more so in light of what's going on in China now.

[jimmyjamesWang]

lol, making a political statement, eh, lol. The funniest thing is that the social system (communism) that is most incompetible with the Chinese Soul, however ironically, took hold of its people in such a uncontrolable frenzy. You can only say that it is Dao, lol. We who avoided extremism (and strife) and pursuit wuwei for thousands of year end up suffering the unpresedented culture destruction (the cultural revolution) at the hand of our own hottiest passion and hatred. Isnt this poetic justice!

[sockrahtease]

pillsburydoughboy47...

I agree with you. "Taoism, the simplest kind, makes no claim to know the origin of ANYTHING; as a philosophy what it seeks, is to see things as they are."

Which is what I've read and almost my raw impression from the TTC

[MidnightDC696969]

im new to this, i have been reading th I-Ching for 3/4 months and i find it strangly accurate but only after it happens like it gos off it my head you know...

peace and love

[pillsburydoughboy47]

sigh *shaking head*

this is only ONE school of Daoism; these views are not the most commonly held.

Daoism, the simplest kind, makes no claim to know the origin of ANYTHING; as a philosophy what it seeks, is to see things as they are.

The whole "winds of chaos creating the universe" is I believe a thought pattern of one of the northern schools, although I'm not sure.

[Aayudh009]

i am so fascinated by Chinese culture !!!

[boyjohnnyyoyo]

Interesting.

[AspiringScoundrel]

I am searching for peace. (Why then, do I come to Youtube?)

[pillsburydoughboy47]

LMFAO

by far the funniest thing I read on youtube.

[Lamnont]

Peace from inside, comes from war outside.

[yukadoo]

@AspiringScoundrel Because. it is the Tao of 'Tube you seek, Grasshopper!

[niamtxiv]

Daoism is a very very old religion. Pre-Daoism have Shamanistic practices... Yin means Spirit world while Yang means Human world. It has nothing to do with water, fire and etc...

[OnePineTree]

I thought Tao Teh Ching came direct from Lao Tzu himself ?

[Ballardian]

It's usually thought to have been by his followers, but still an accurate representation of his philosophy.

(Apparently it was considered impolite back then for an author (or authors) to publish works under there own names, and quite common to publish under the name of the person to have most influenced the work.)

[DOCKMOCKE]

coolie

[DOCKMOCKE]

that's nice

[DrJeanine]

This is excellent. Thank you for the post.

[nonamist]

hit Taoism on the noggin but what was that about Buddhism? that was almost a personal prejudice.

[MaBu888]

Yes, the knowledge of buddhism is very weak here. I vew buddhism as a process of transcending and INCLUDING personal existence. One is that and more. One is Big Mind.

[taoist77]

Splendid! This is the most comprahensive explaination of Taoist philosophy on youtube.

[EricOfBodomMan]

can anyone tell me what the second book that he mentions is?

cause I already have read the Tao Teh Ching

and the Hua Hu Ching: The Unknown Teachings of Lao Tzu and would like to read the other book

thanks =D

[me2super]

Whoa! What BS here - Taoism seeks salvation and Buddhism is escape from personal existence!! So Buddhism has got nothing to do with salvation / enlightenment? What BS! And what about the silly "physical immortality" and "pathless inaction" of Taoism? Western scholarship is wickedly biased and twisted all the time. Be careful and do your own due diligence.

[taoist77]

re;EricOfBomMan. That book is 'the book of Zuang zi' more commonly known as 'the book of Chueng Tzu'.

[EricOfBodomMan]

thanks bro

[khtervola]

I wonder if Taoism is just about the bad sides of schooling. You should learn in natural ways via friendship with those who are talented in something.

[pugcasso]

"history is useful, philosophy is brillant, but monks are frauds"

---------------------

Preserved history is mostly written from the point of view of those with power (ie, who controls the 'media' and destroys or represses opposing records). So it's usefullness is biased. True history could be useful but must be filtered from biased history.

Is all philosophy brilliant?

Do you know the thoughts of all monks? How can you make a grand assumption about them all without that knowledge.

[demonfelix]

the narrator's lisp is annoying as hell.

[kissingpointRd]

wow is amazing that ppl can be so uptight about something so simple and beautiful. try to calm down and be happy, hey?

[weakperception]

Taoism did start as a school of thought, and it should stay that way.

Taoism is nothing more than saying, "Hey look at the way of the world, and learn from it."

Tao = Way

No need to get all religious about it is there?

[darrens888]

shut the fuck up! ur not helping anybody besides urself bitch!

[dan020350]

history is useful, philosophy is brillant, but monks are frauds

[kissingpointRd]

an interesting comment, it made me think.. i like things that make me think, so thanx :)

[1210donna]

very straight forward intro

[Draxius]

The interesting thing is if you have nothing you cant lose anything. If you lose yourself in death you are free and no longer need anything anyway. DO NOT KILL YOUR SELF OVER THIS PLEASE! THIS IS MY OPINION AND DO NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUICIDAL IMPACTS!

[shiningcamel]

Love and Peace to Everyone.

[shiningcamel]

Love and Peace to Everyone.

[RaulSantiagoSebazco]

Very wll presented!

[ZMX737]

very nice work!

[phatcrayonz]

i have studied taoism for ten years now. which is why i am very drawn to japanese zen buddhism

[codeagent47]

nice!!!