Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!samsung!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!udel!princeton!phoenix!vaxa.isi.edu From: mick@vaxa.isi.edu (Mick ODonnell) Newsgroups: soc.religion.eastern Subject: Re: Taoism: is life an illusion? Message-ID: <12438@venera.isi.edu> Date: 16 Mar 90 18:34:13 GMT References: <14589@phoenix.Princeton.EDU> Sender: mukund@phoenix.Princeton.EDU Reply-To: Mick ODonnell Organization: USC-Information Sciences Institute Lines: 19 Approved: mukund@phoenix.Princeton.EDU Source-Info: From (or Sender) name not authenticated. In article <14589@phoenix.Princeton.EDU> gilstrap@swbatl.sbc.com (3929) writes: >From what I know of Taoism, it does not take the position that (for example) >Hinduism does. Namely, Hinduism (apparently) considers life as we commonly >know it to be an illusion which we must overcome in order to reach nirvana >(please correct my misunderstandings). On the other hand, Taoism seems to >aim for the same end point ("one-ness" with the universe) but seems to take a >more positive attitude towards the experiences we may have on the journey. Yes, Hinduism does seem to see life as something to be endured, rather than enjoyed. Tao, though, has nothing to do with illusion - this life is real - we eat, shit and sleep. Life is not a journey to become one, but rather to realise that we already are part of the oneness. If we deny this oneness (for instance, by polluting our environment), we only pollute ourselves. My goal in life is to learn exactly how my organism is part of the planet organism, and thus how I can help myself by helping the whole. Michael.