Our theme for the day, is Love, as in philio/agape, John verse 15:13. John 15:13
New International Version
13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
However, it is the wisdom and words of Lao Tzu. Considered the founder of the Taoist religion, and contemporary of Confucius, it is said to predate Buddhism by about 100 years, but personally, I think this is a revisionist ploy. This doesn't impact the wisdom of Lao Tzu, but reflects the Chinese cultural tendency to claim ownership of anything they discover. China and Japan have been waging this feud for over 600 years on who discovered acupuncture. When I was engaged in trade with China, during the mid '90's, I found no limits to the representation, mis-representation of a large variety of assurances. I think Korea, Russia, the USA, England, Germany and a host of other nations have an ethnic and national pride, that loves to print world history.
The reasoning I have, being much more studied in Buddhism, is that the origin story found within Buddhism, an essential component of all historical religions is Buddhist, not Taoist. The Taoist thought on creation is non entity, overlaid on even earlier Greek religions and philosophy. Out of the mountains of Tibet, and into what is now Southern China, a young man, Gautama Buddha, was born into a Royal Family, with Hindu practices. It was out of these much older Hindu polytheisms, and trilogy, that Gods were replaced with an unnamed source. The Royal Family would have followed the trilogy of Vishnu, Shiva and Krishna, and from Krishna, an Avatar and God, would come the avatar Gautama Buddha, and his parallels to Christian loving kindness, forgiveness and compassion. He would have been present around the times of Moses and Hermes.
Taoism would become the dominant religion of central, costal and northern China. Until the migration of Christian missionaries, China was a, one dominant religion country or region. Both versions allowed for the subjugation and unrestrained rule over the masses, and Mao exorcised both, and all religions, when he came to power.
Confucius came from a wealthy and highly educated background, and was not seen as a compassionate person. Lao Tzu came from a simple family, and was educated in life, not university. Some question whether the quotes of Confucius were not just taken and plagiarized from Lao Tzu. You will see, from the quotes below, that Lao Tzu had a kind heart, and a wise mind.
“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.”
“Doing nothing is better than being busy doing nothing.”
“When you accept yourself, the whole world accepts you.”
“If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.”
“Give evil nothing to oppose and it will disappear by itself.” was not seen as a compassionate person
“A man with outward courage dares to die; a man with inner courage dares to live.”
“By letting go it all gets done.”
“If you are depressed you are living in the past. If you are anxious you are living in the future. If you are at peace you are living in the present.”
“To hold, you must first open your hand. Let go.”
“Those who flow as life flows know they need no other force.”
“The wise man is one who knows what he does not know.”
“Knowing how to yield is strength.”
Sunday Gathering of The Home of Loving Spirit starts the Sunday at 8 am, Portland, PDT on my facebook page for StevenBailey.
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