You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact contact us.
Philosophical DiscussionDo you have a philosophical view to martial arts styles, training, etc. ?
You know it really didn't sound like you knew that
You know if you ever want to know my opinion on something you can just ask me. The tricking and old man craftyness isn't required cause I enjoy sharing and caring.
Hillarious image, we could all learn a lot from little Miss Rainbow Brite. She is wise beyond her years.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Spinach
Actually I am fond of the theory that christianity stemmed from buddhism. It is interesting to note the similarities between old buddhist texts and the new testament. Alot of the teachings were at odds with the old testament as well, ex. love your enemy. Also the feeding of a thousand people with a few loaves of bread and fish, that is a common miracle amongst the buddhas of the time since they would often have large amounts of followers meditating all day(read: slacking off) and little food to feed them. If nothing else it would explain what Jesus was doing all those years between childhood and adulthood.
There are also some similarities between Christianity and the Norse mythologies. Some biblical scholars believed that Jesus traveled to Eastern and/or Northern lands during the missing 20 or so years in his life. Either he traveled, was widely read (despite the relative expense of texts at the time) or took the time to converse with foreign traveling merchants as often as possible. I would be willing to bet that it was a combination of the 3 as Jesus, not being particularly wealthy probably would have traveled around a bit looking for odd jobs in order to pay for food. However, all of this is speculation.
To get steer a bit back to the topic at hand, the influence of Taoist philosophies is apparent and cannot be ignored in many of the major religions. Do you think this is direct (religious folk studied the Tao) or coincidental (many people recognize similarities in the human condition)?
Oh. So I should have said, Spin, what is your outlook on Buddhism vs Taoism?
Ha, you don't have to be so direct and college proffesorly about it if that isn't your thing. I am merely saying that your initial nondisclosure followed by full disclosure that you use to ellicit unconventional answers from people isn't necessary with me as you will get the same answer either way. Just chill and ask outright
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chapel
There are also some similarities between Christianity and the Norse mythologies. Some biblical scholars believed that Jesus traveled to Eastern and/or Northern lands during the missing 20 or so years in his life. Either he traveled, was widely read (despite the relative expense of texts at the time) or took the time to converse with foreign traveling merchants as often as possible. I would be willing to bet that it was a combination of the 3 as Jesus, not being particularly wealthy probably would have traveled around a bit looking for odd jobs in order to pay for food. However, all of this is speculation.
To get steer a bit back to the topic at hand, the influence of Taoist philosophies is apparent and cannot be ignored in many of the major religions. Do you think this is direct (religious folk studied the Tao) or coincidental (many people recognize similarities in the human condition)?
Just to shift off topic for a second, would you tell me more about the norse/christian connection?? I haven't heard of that yet and it sounds very interesting.
Back to topic, I think that it is certainly coincidental. I think it is interesting how taoism is has stayed a pure philosophy type religion though when so many others moved away from their core values and made non religious things religious. Like not eating pork, true it was a dirty animal back in the day but that is not the case now yet political interference in religion has turned into dogma. So now there are millions upon millions who will never get to appreciate the joys of ton katsu. They think they will go to hell when in reality the leaders of the day didn't want people to contract parasites.
I would say rather the Void is part of the Tao. But I am basing that of nearly nothing.
No it isn't. Whenever I want a picture I google image search till I find what I want. In this case I was searching 'peace out' and he came up. I thought why not, he's pretty random.
I am most of the way through a Bachelor of Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine. In that we have spent countless hours studying taoism and ancient texts. Taoism is irrepairably intertwined into chinese medicine, without a good understanding of taoist concepts one can only be a sub par herbalist. It is very skill based.
I am most of the way through a Bachelor of Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine. In that we have spent countless hours studying taoism and ancient texts. Taoism is irrepairably intertwined into chinese medicine, without a good understanding of taoist concepts one can only be a sub par herbalist. It is very skill based.
Thank you for your response.
Well, what you have in bold was all that I need to know.
There are also some similarities between Christianity and the Norse mythologies. Some biblical scholars believed that Jesus traveled to Eastern and/or Northern lands during the missing 20 or so years in his life. Either he traveled, was widely read (despite the relative expense of texts at the time) or took the time to converse with foreign traveling merchants as often as possible. I would be willing to bet that it was a combination of the 3 as Jesus, not being particularly wealthy probably would have traveled around a bit looking for odd jobs in order to pay for food. However, all of this is speculation.
I may be able to add some weight to this, if you don't mind the interjection.
You may have heard of a place in Somerset, England called Glastonbury. It is steeped in much myth and legend, and usually is considered a place of pilgrimage for Hippy-folk (due the "Tor" one of the last Abbey's to exist in England before Henry VIII shut them all - incidentally, there is a bronze plaque on the wall which states that Monks dug up the Skeletons of a Man and a woman with a stone stating Hic jacet arturus rex.. "here lies King Arthur..the once and future king"). However, it is also heavily rooted Christian importance due to the fact that on a hillside is the Holy Thorn - a tree planted by Joseph of Arimathea who travelled to collect Tin from the region bringing with him the young Jesus. The church in Glastonbury is said to have a cutting from the thorn still growing in the garden outside.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Spinach
Just to shift off topic for a second, would you tell me more about the norse/christian connection?? I haven't heard of that yet and it sounds very interesting.
There is certainly very little evidence of Christianity having any effect upon Norse Paganism. The myths display very little in the way of direct influence, since the gods of Norse mythology are the same god as the Greek and Latin ones, which became the foundation of Hinduism when Indo-Aryan peoples invaded Asoka (India) and proclaimed themselves Brahmins.
That being said, Thor's Mjollnir (returning hammer) was worn around the neck well into the Christian conversion of Europe meaning old traditions prevailed. Those who study Stav will also confirm this, although their martial art has very little verifiable history.
Furthermore, it should be noted that the "Cross" is a symbol used in numerous religions, from the Ankh of ancient Egypt to the so-called Crooked Cross of Greek philosophy (later erroneously attributed to Buddhism and the Nazi party). Sorry, i think i've taken this a little off topic...
__________________ "Tradition comes from when a master realises a truth, then teaches it to others; his source was the world around him. The tradition begins when students follow the doctrine but fail to see the truth it teaches. Martial Arts, like religion, are now the gospel.
So I assert; Seek not to follow in the footsteps of great men, but seek that which they themselves had sought." Magister, on the Eskirmological Law of Institutionalisation
I thought I'd make up for the Off-topic post by posting an actual response to the thread...
The words which Belador actually quoted was the opening line of the Tao Te Ching, the Book of the Way by Lao Tzu, founder of Taosim.
The rest of the quote goes;
"The Tao which can be expressed in words is not the eternal Tao; the name which can be uttered is not it's eternal name. Without a name it is the Beginning of Heaven and Earth; with a name, it is the Mother of all things. One who is ever free from desire can apprehend it's spiritual essence; he who is ever a slave to desire can see no more than it's outer fringe. These two things, the spiritual and the material, though we call them by different names, in their origin are one and the same...
Tao eludes the sense of sight, and is therefore called colourless. It eludes the sense of hearing, and is therefore called soundless. It eludes the sense of touch, and is therefore called incorporeal. These three qualities cannot be apprehended, and hence they may be blended into unity...."
Look up the Tao te ching for more depth, because looking at the text right now, I could pretty much quote the entire book -it's all useful to this thread.
__________________ "Tradition comes from when a master realises a truth, then teaches it to others; his source was the world around him. The tradition begins when students follow the doctrine but fail to see the truth it teaches. Martial Arts, like religion, are now the gospel.
So I assert; Seek not to follow in the footsteps of great men, but seek that which they themselves had sought." Magister, on the Eskirmological Law of Institutionalisation
I thought it wouldnt either but the records seem to indicate that china had very little influence over indian culture around the time of the first buddha. However everything could be said to stem from taoist principles because they are the core principles for alot of religions. The difference is that taoist principles didn't get confused along the way and stayed simple.
Actually I am fond of the theory that christianity stemmed from buddhism. It is interesting to note the similarities between old buddhist texts and the new testament. Alot of the teachings were at odds with the old testament as well, ex. love your enemy. Also the feeding of a thousand people with a few loaves of bread and fish, that is a common miracle amongst the buddhas of the time since they would often have large amounts of followers meditating all day(read: slacking off) and little food to feed them. If nothing else it would explain what Jesus was doing all those years between childhood and adulthood.
By the way, I don't need anyone telling me that these reasons aren't proof, I know that quite well. I just find it interesting.
Inded, it would seem that china receive/embraced Indian stuff moresoever.
Defining the Tao..
Linear Mode
