From tyagi@bjt.net Thu Jan 16 04:47:52 1997 Return-Path: tyagi@bjt.net Received: from kudonet.com (kudonet.com [165.227.52.1]) by bitsy.hollyfeld.org (8.7.4/8.7.3) with SMTP id EAA17171 for ; Thu, 16 Jan 1997 04:47:48 -0500 Received: from kudo20.kudonet.com by kudonet.com (SMI-8.6/SMI-SVR4) id AAA08822; Thu, 16 Jan 1997 00:43:21 -0800 Received: by kudo20.kudonet.com (SMI-8.6/SMI-SVR4) id AAA03748; Thu, 16 Jan 1997 00:34:34 -0800 Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1997 00:34:34 -0800 Message-Id: <199701160834.AAA03748@kudo20.kudonet.com> To: tyagi@hollyfeld.org Subject: Taoism/9701.taophil.hf From: tyagi@houseofkaos.abyss.com (nagasiva) Reply-To: tyagi@houseofkaos.abyss.com (nagasiva) X-Status: Status: RO >From: sirgray@clark.net (Harry Flashman) >Newsgroups: alt.philosophy.taoism >Subject: Re: Similarities Tao/Wicca >Date: 9 Jan 1997 17:50:37 GMT >Organization: Clark Internet Services, Inc. >Lines: 52 >Message-ID: <5b3b5d$1l9@clarknet.clark.net> >References: <32D422D3.1848@erols.com> >NNTP-Posting-Host: 100-explorer.clark.net >Mime-Version: 1.0 >Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=ISO-8859-1 >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit >X-Newsreader: TIN [UNIX 1.3 950726BETA PL0] I think the best way to proceed in this inquiry is to begin a course of reading in Taoism, perhaps starting with the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu, and make the decisions yourself. However, in general, I would have to say that the personification of the Tao as a God or a Goddess, is not universal, and infact many Taoists can be Atheists or Agnostics and still fundementally be Taoists. Also, the idea of rituals and magics are not commonly addressed, and in fact the concept of ritual as blinding one to the Tao is often expressed. There is a tradiation of closesness to nature, but again this is not developed in a worship or a ritualization. Merely sitting quietly in communion with nature is enough. Fundemental to Taoism is also a concept of "imparitalness" and the Tao Te Ching has many references to ending the struggle to alter or influence events, and to merely allow them to occur. this is tied into the idea wei wu wei, or doing by not doing, which would be very difficult to explain, because is actually needs no explaining. However, I do not think it's essence lies on rigid worship or ritual. As for the magical property of stones, or other objects, this would IMHO, be a non-Taoist concept, contrary to the basic priciples that material things are essentially worthless. While all things have the Tao in them and are part of the Tao, an object will not bring you any closer to it. By the same token, observing nature and drawing lessons from it, is valuable. But the power inherent in a crystal to a Taoist would be no different then the power inherent in a piece of wood, clay, of even him/herself. I have read the "rules" and "laws"of Wicca on your web page, and while none of them are explicitly against Taoist prinicple, the Taoist would not really recognise a "rule" or a "law" of Taoism. Also, the concept of a "Sabbath" and "Esabath" are not heard of, and thus would not be observed in a rigid fashion. Without sounding harsh, I would have to say that the classification of Taoism as "pagan" "neo-pagan" or "New Age" religion, would not be incorrect, as Taoism is much more a philosophical approach, then a way of worship, or even as a replacement for Christianity. You can be a Taoist even if you are a Christian, Moslem, Agnostic, or Atheist. Perhaps even a Wiccan too. Scott nymue@erols.com wrote: : Greetings, : : I would like to hear others finding on the similarities between Taoism : and Wicca. : : Nymue' : http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/4893 :