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Teachings of the Sages

Teachings of the Sages. Rels 120 November 2013. Enduring Chinese beliefs. Indigenous roots Shamanism Ancestor worship; provide good afterlife for dead; receive blessings in life Sacred geography; mountains, rivers Rituals to influence deities and ancestors; also to seek guidance and aid

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Teachings of the Sages

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  1. Teachings of the Sages Rels 120 November 2013 120 - appleby

  2. Enduring Chinese beliefs • Indigenous roots • Shamanism • Ancestor worship; provide good afterlife for dead; receive blessings in life • Sacred geography; mountains, rivers • Rituals to influence deities and ancestors; also to seek guidance and aid • Cult of the dead – large tombs; buried with essential servants and items for afterlife 120 - appleby

  3. Tian = the Supreme Lord on High • From the time of the Shang dynasty (1766 to 1122 BCE) • Shang-di: the “Lord Above” – an ancestral spirit with supreme status and power – the Supreme Ruler of the World and Heaven • The Ultimate Source and Power of the Cosmos • Source of all life • Source of moral principles which establish right and wrong • Sometimes referred to as “God” 120 - appleby

  4. Statue of XuanTian Shang-Di, Supreme Emperor of the Dark Heaven Picture taken by: Orien Harvey • http://www.postersguide.com/posters/statue-of-xuan-tian-shang-di-supreme-emperor-of-the-dark-heaven-4227944.html 120 - appleby

  5. The Temple of Heaven 120 - appleby

  6. The Altar of Heaven 120 - appleby

  7. Chinese Sages at the Temple 120 - appleby

  8. Tianis central to Confucianism and Daoism • Highest religious authority • Demands moral perfection • Requires responsible and virtuous behaviour and actions • Confucius sees himself as the protector of human order and humaneness • This natural order is represented in the Dao – evident in all that exists 120 - appleby

  9. Significant Chinese traditions Daoism emphasized individual growth; learning from the patterns of the natural world; governmental non-intervention in people’s lives • Lao Zi (Lao Tzu) – born c.600 BCE Confucianism emphasized patterns and principles for a just society; learning of discipline, rituals and humility; active service to aid other people • Master K’ung, 551 to 479 BCE 120 - appleby

  10. Confucius • Master K’ung, 551 to 479 BCE • Intellectual and teacher • Central concepts: • Ren =to be fully human; respect and harmony among all people; kindness • Li =propriety; ethics, etiquette, and ritual observance • Shu =reciprocity; “What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others” • Junzi =the educated gentleman who cultivates virtue and serves others • Xiao =honourable conduct within the family; devotion to ancestors 120 - appleby

  11. Five great relationships 120 - appleby

  12. Disciples of Confucius Mencius / Master Meng (371 to 289 BCE) • Humans by nature are good – compassionate, dutiful, and courteous • Social well-being is rooted in virtue of the rulers Master Xun (298 to 238 BCE) • Humans are naturally antisocial – but they can learn virtue • The universe functions according to impersonal forces Later Confucianism = “inner sagehood” and “outer nobility” 120 - appleby

  13. The Doctrine of the Mean “What Tian has ordained is called human nature. Following this nature is called the Dao. Cultivating the Dao is called teaching.” • Confucius focussed on applying the correct ordering of human behaviour & relationships in sync with Tian’snatural order • Laozi taught how to live with the same dynamic processes of the natural order, the Dao • The Dao is the “primordial entity” which is there before Tian – Tian is only one expression of the Dao The Dao is the “Mother of the World” 120 - appleby

  14. Daoism • Humans must live in harmony with nature and its mystical reality • Lao Zi (Lao Tzu) – born c.600 BCE; wrote the Daodejing (Tao Te Ching); poetry • Central concept of Dao = the Way and its Power • The Dao is beyond description; is nameless • Has no form, but is the origin of everything • Everything that exists is a manifestation of the Dao • The Dao is not a personal god • The Dao can be experienced; people can follow it and live in harmony with it 120 - appleby

  15. How to follow the Dao Pursue the path of wu-wei(non-interference); “go with the flow” Move in harmony with the flow of the water, the movement of the wind, the rhythm of nature Let go of rules and social practices; follow humanity’s natural inclinations Practice silence and retreat from society 120 - appleby

  16. 2ndDaoist source Chuang Tzu (365 to 290 BCE); author of the ZhuangZi, a book of stories • Everything changes; seek pleasure from simplicity • Seek harmony with nature; experience the movement of the Dao in life transformations • No barriers between normal and supernatural; no barriers between reality and imaginary • Experience the Dao = experience of transcendent freedom; a mystical experience 120 - appleby

  17. Religious Daoism • Early Daoism more of a philosophy, a way of living and thinking • Influenced by Buddhist monasteries, meditation, and ritual practices, Daoism developed its spirituality and rituals for the local gods • Guo Hong (283 to 363 CE) most prominent religious Daoist • Greatest human goal = long life and ultimate immortality; pantheon of divine immortals intervened in human life when petitioned with rituals • Path to achieve this goal = moral goodness, social service, and alchemy (chemical transformation of elements) 120 - appleby

  18. Achieving Immortality • Inner alchemy = meditation, breathing exercises, fasting, sexual practices, martial arts • Create such an excess of qiin the body that one’s life force survived the body’s death • Alchemy = chemical transformation of elements achieved by swallowing them • Mercury and gold were transformed within the person to produce an “inner child” that would not age or die; an ideal embryonic self that would be released to immortal existence upon death of the body 120 - appleby

  19. Effect of Alchemy • Gold and mercury would be transformed by heat into a substance that blended jing(essence), qi(life energy) and shen(spirit) When swallowed, it would bring the forces of yinand yang into perfect balance within the person • Create inner harmony and wellness • Heal any illnesses • Promote long life • Result in immortality 120 - appleby

  20. Relationship between Confucianism and Daoism • Confucianismemphasized duty, right behaviour and responsibility; patterns of leadership and obedience in human relationships • Daoism emphasized simplicity and freedom; natural patterns of movement, change, and transformation; experiences of spiritual guidance and mysticism • Practice peace, restraint, non-violence 120 - appleby

  21. Confucius Presenting the Young Gautama Buddha to Laozi 120 - appleby

  22. The Three Teachings Three Religions of China - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwROb0_nU2E Buddhism, Taoism & Confucianism in China - for further info: http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=china+confucianism&sk=&mid=21619FB7488B445BE43621619FB7488B445BE436&FORM=LKVR16# 120 - appleby

  23. Creation • The fundamental elements of all created reality are water, metal, earth, wood and fire • These are the 5 elements • All of creation is inclined toward the same harmony and balance of Yin and Yang • Yin and Yang are complementary, co-dependent, mutually nurturing, and represent a transformative energy and potential 120 - appleby

  24. Fundamental pattern of reality Harmonious flow ofyangandyin • Every component of the universe is made up of two principles, with one more dominant • The 2 – yangand yin– are opposite but complementary, not oppositional • Based on the image of a mountain which has sun on one side and shade on the other; which are transformed by the earth’s rotation 120 - appleby

  25. Transformations of mountain sides from sun to shade 120 - appleby

  26. Daoism • Dao = the eternal primordial source • passive Dao = the Void; emptiness; non-reactive • active Dao = the potentialfrom which all things have their being; • the universal source of all created reality; • the energy that enlivens chaos, ordering it and maintaining its functioning 120 - appleby

  27. Daoist virtue or nature • Every created thing has its own unique Nature; its own essence and its own energy • Every created thing is an expression of the Dao (the Ultimate source of being) • Sages sought to understand the Dao through studying nature and the patterns evident in the created world • Perceived a universal pattern of dualism 120 - appleby

  28. Yin and Yang 120 - appleby

  29. Chaos to Yin / Yang • Separation into light and dark; black and white • Organized into a balanced circular form • Circle composed of both light and dark in a complementary pattern formation • Both aspects are equal to one another with a small amount of its opposite within it • Daoist theory is dualistic (two balanced forces) 120 - appleby

  30. Ultimate Dualism • YinandYangare NOT in opposition to one another; not competing • They complete and balance one another to achieve a dynamic, vital whole • They are each seen as primal energy forces which are organized expressions of the primordial One • Qiis the creative energy that emerges from the interaction of YinandYang 120 - appleby

  31. YIN Water Coldness Moistness Dimness Downward movement Inward Movement Stillness Yielding Inhibition Slowness Heaviness YANG Fire Heat Dryness Brightness Upward movement Outward Movement Activity Forceful Excitation Rapidity Lightness 120 - appleby

  32. Qi (life force or energy) • Yinand Yangrepresent a dynamic balance of the Supreme Ultimate, the Dao • Energy arises out of the Yin / Yangdynamic polarity • This dynamic and creative energy is Qi • Qiprovides the impetus and energy for all created beings including the universe, nature and human beings 120 - appleby

  33. The Energy of Dao See if you can fill in the blanks with the elements of creation 120 - appleby

  34. Concepts of Mental Health • No direct translation for term “mental health” in traditional Chinese writing • Related concepts from Chinese are: • Happiness • Harmony • Internal sense of security • Relaxed • Health ~ return to the Dao, the way of nature 120 - appleby

  35. Inner Smile Meditations Try one of these guided meditations: • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2msaZtE7iA • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deWMGUJfh4c&feature=related • http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=beigkdalvbM– “Inner Smile Meditation”(9:57) “In ancient China, the Daoists taught that a constant inner smile…insured health, happiness, and longevity.” (http://chippit.tripod.com/inner_smile.html) 120 - appleby

  36. The Spiritual Practice of Forgiveness • For our spiritual practice and group activity we will read a teaching story about forgiveness from the Daoist tradition The Spiritual Practice of Forgiveness: An Excerpt from The Tao of Daily Life by Derek Lin http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/books/excerpts.php?id=17514 120 - appleby

  37. The Spiritual Practice of Forgiveness • What aspects of this spiritual perspective appeal to you? If forgiveness were widespread, how would the world be changed? 120 - appleby

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