•

HINDUISM
The Vedas record Indian history
from about 1500 to 500 BC---a
time period called the Vedic Age
• Third world’s largest religion
• Believed to be founded around
5000 or 3000 BCE, it is considered
as the most ancient living world
religion The Vedas
• Majority of its followers are living in
India and its neighbouring countries • These are the most ancient
in South Asia religious texts which define truth
• The term “Hindu” originated from for Hindus.
the Persian word or from the • Hindus believe that the texts
Sanskrit word “Sindhu” which were received by scholars direct
means river from God and passed on to the
• It also refers to the people living in next generations by word of
the Indus Valley mouth.
• The term Hinduism was originally • Vedic texts are sometimes
known as “Arya Dharma” called Shruti, which means
hearing.
• For hundreds, maybe even
thousands of years, the texts
How was Hinduism founded?
were passed on orally.
• Shrutis consist of the Vedas,
which are the root of the Hindu
ORIGINS religion and are possibly the
oldest books in the world
• The foundations of Hinduism
may have originated from the
Dravidians and the Aryans
around 2500 to 1500 BCE
which existed in Northern India
• The Aryans brought their
spoken language of Sanskrit to Contents of the Vedas
India with them • The Vedas are made up of four
• This language evolved into compositions, and each Veda in
written form turn has four parts which are
• Aryans also brought a rich arranged chronologically.
collection of myths (tales of their • The Samhitas are the most
many gods they believed ancient part of the Vedas,
controlled the forces of nature) consisting of hymns of praise to
• Aryan priests memorized long God.
poems and hymns suited to • The Brahmanas are rituals and
different religious rituals prayers to guide the priests in
• These hymns, poems, and their duties.
rituals were gathered into four
collections called Vedas
 • The Aranyakas concern worship ▬ Their answers were recorded in
and meditation. a collection of essays called the
• The Upanishads consist of the Upanishads
mystical and philosophical • Approximately consists of 108
teachings of Hinduism. Vedantas or End of Vedas. The
Vedantas contain the essence of
the Vedas and also conclusions
(hence the name Vedanta) for the
The Four Vedas purpose to make understanding of
the Vedas easier
Rig-Veda
• There are many dialogues between
• the oldest of the four vedas and students and their gurus or
consists of 1028 hymns praising teachers in the Upanishads and
the ancient gods and deals with this obviously simplifies the
general knowledge, this is the principles which are laid down in
longest of the Vedas; the Vedas so that the student can
understand
Yajur-Veda
• used as a handbook by priests
performing the Vedic sacrifices and The Upanishads teach that
deals with knowledge of action
• A universal spirit is present within
(karma)
all living things—Brahman. This is
Sama-Veda thought to be the mighty spirit that
creates and destroys life
• consists of chants and tunes for • The Brahman is One but
singing at the sacrifices and deals expresses itself as Many
with knowledge of worship • Everything in nature is tied together
(upasana) and is also the originator by Brahman
of Indian Classical Music • Because all living things are
Atharva-Veda considered a part of Brahman,
Hindus forbade the killing of
• preserves many traditions which animals
pre-date the Aryan influence and • One aspect of Brahman is the Self,
consists of spells, charms and or the Soul, called Atman
magical formulae it also deals with ▬ The Atman is everywhere,
knowledge of science, and other though you can’t see it
miscellaneous subjects • Nothing that lives ever dies entirely
▬ When a living thing dies, it is
reborn in another form--- a
The Upanishads process known as
Reincarnation
• Around 400 BC, the wisest Hindu
teachers tried to interpret and
explain the hidden meanings of the
Vedic hymns and rituals
Smriti (Oral) Ramayana
• These explain the practical • Composed in the same period, the
applications of the eternal Ramayana is one of India's best
principles described in the Shrutis known tales.
(written). • It tells the story of Prince Rama
• They detail social and moral codes, who was sent into exile in the forest
the most famous of which was with his wife, Sita, and his brother,
written by Manu which explains the Lakshamana.
four stages of life and the division • Sita was abducted by the evil
of labor through a class system demon Ravana but ultimately
(Caste System) rescued by Prince Rama with the
• The Smritis contain some of the help of the Monkey God, Hanuman.
following advices • The story is written in 24,000
▬ Niti Shastra and Kautilya couplets.
Shastra (Policies, laws & codes • The symbolism of the story has
of conduct) been widely interpreted but
▬ Ayur Veda (Medicinal Science) basically is the story of good
▬ Dhanur Veda (Military Science) overcoming evil. Many people have
▬ Gandharva Veda (Musical said that it is a story about dharma
Science) or duty.
▬ Shilpa Shastra (Mechanical
Science)

Concepts of Hinduism
Mahabarata
• Composed between 500 BCE Atman
and 100 CE, the Mahabharata
is an account of the wars of the • Atman means 'eternal self'.
house of Bharata. The atman refers to the real self
• The Bhagavad Gita, or "Song of beyond ego or false self. It is
the Lord" is part of the sixth often referred to as 'spirit' or
book of the Mahabharata, the 'soul' and indicates our true self
world's longest poem. one of or essence which underlies our
the most popular Hindu texts existence.
and is known as a Smriti text • The idea of atman entails the
(the remembered tradition). This idea of the self as a spiritual
is considered by some to be of rather than material being and
less importance than shruti (the thus there is a strong dimension
heard text, such as the Vedas). of Hinduism which emphasizes
It has, nevertheless, an detachment from the material
important place within the Hindu world and promotes practices
tradition. such as asceticism. Thus it
could be said that in this world,
a spiritual being, the atman, has
a human experience rather than
 a human being having a good reactions or responses
spiritual experience. and bad actions, actions against
dharma, will have the opposite
effect.
Dharma • In Hinduism karma operates not
only in this lifetime but across
• Dharma is an important term in lifetimes: the results of an action
Indian religions. In Hinduism it might only be experienced after
means 'duty', 'virtue', 'morality', the present life in a new life
even 'religion' and it refers to • Hindus believe that human
the power which upholds the beings can create good or bad
universe and society. consequences for their actions
• Hindus generally believe that and might reap the rewards of
dharma was revealed in the action in this life, in a future
Vedas although a more human rebirth or reap the
common word there for rewards of action in a heavenly
'universal law' or 'righteousness' or hell realm in which the self is
is rita. reborn for a period of time.
• But acting virtuously does not • This process of reincarnation is
mean precisely the same for called Samsara, a continuous
everyone; different people have cycle in which the soul is reborn
different obligations and duties over and over again according
according to their age, gender, to the law of action and
and social position. reaction. At death many Hindus
• Dharma is universal but it is believe the soul is carried by a
also particular and operates subtle body into a new physical
within concrete circumstances. body which can be a human or
• Each person therefore has their non-human form (an animal or
own dharma known as Sva- divine being). The goal of
dharma. What is correct for a liberation (moksha) is to make
woman might not be for a man us free from this cycle of action
or what is correct for an adult and reaction, and from rebirth.
might not be for a child.

Moksha
Karma and Samsara
• Hindus believe that the soul
• Karma is a Sanskrit word whose passes through a cycle of
literal meaning is 'action'. It successive lives (samsara) and
refers to the law that every its next incarnation is always
action has an equal reaction dependent on how the previous
either immediately or at some life was lived (karma).
point in the future. Good or • Moksha is the end of the death
virtuous actions, actions in and rebirth cycle and is classed
harmony with dharma, will have as the fourth and ultimate artha
 (goal). It is the transcendence of
all arthas. It is achieved by
overcoming ignorance and Trimurti
desires. It is a paradox in the
sense that overcoming desires • The Trimurti collapses the three
also includes overcoming the gods into a single form with
desire for moksha itself. It can three faces.
be achieved both in this life and ▬ Brahma – The Creator
after death. ▬ Vishnu – The Preserver
▬ Shiva – The Destroyer

All three of these are inseparable and

The Four Types of Yoga operate simultaneously.
• The function of Brahma is to create
through the will of God.
Janana Yoga (the Way of • Vishnu in turn preserves what is
Knowledge) created, and to that end he is said
• is achieved through study, to have incarnated on earth during
meditation and contemplation various stages of humanity’s
evolution to destroy evil and re-
establish righteousness.
Bhakti Yoga (the Way of Devotion) • Shiva is regarded as the destroyer,
for he is believed to periodically
• is worshipping God through a destroy the world when evil has
particular image or form, and prevailed, so that it might be
keeping one’s mind constantly recreated in its pure form.
upon God by prayer and
devotion

Mantra Yoga Brahma – The Creator

• uses chants of the all-pervading God
sound ‘Aum’ with the name of
one’s chosen deity • He is not ultimate reality because
he can be visualized.
• Brahma’s life span = each day is
Raja Yoga (the Path of Dedication) 1000 times the whole of human
history.
• focuses on control of the mind, • Brahma then made all living
often through meditation, or creatures upon the earth especially
pranic (life-force breathing), these four types
which allows one to commune ▬ Gods
with God. ▬ Demons
▬ Ancestors
▬ Manu (The first man)
• Although he is the Creator God, ▬ As Rama, he kills the demon
Brahma is one of the least King Ravana, who abducted his
worshipped gods in Hinduism. wife Sita
• Krishna (mentally advanced
man)
▬ Krishna is the hero of the
Vishnu – The Mahabharata, an epic poem. He
Preserving God also delivered his famous
message, known as the
• His role is to return to the earth in Baghavad Gita.
troubled times and restore the
balance of good and evil. So far, he
has been incarnated nine times,
but Hindus believe that he will be
reincarnated one last time close to • Buddha (the all knowing one)
the end of this world.
• Kalki
▬ Expected towards the end of
The Avatars of Vishnu this present age of decline, as a
person on earth, seated on a
Vishnu has appeared in various white horse
incarnations nine times on this earth,
with the tenth predicted.

Shiva – The Destroyer

• Matsya (fish) • Shiva's role is to destroy the
▬ Some Hindus believe that this is universe in order to re-create it
the similar to the biblical • Hindus believe his powers of
representation of Noah destruction and recreation are used
• Kurma (turtle) even now to destroy the illusions
▬ Churning of the Ocean and imperfections of this world
• Varaha (pig/boar)
▬ In this avatar, Vishnu recovered
the stolen Vedas
• Narasimha (half lion, half man)
Different Female Deities
▬ Vishnu managed to vanquish a Saraswati
demon who had gained
immunity from attacks from • the consort of Brahma, represents
man, beast or god the power of knowledge, best
utilized to find God. The symbols
• Vamana (dwarf sage with the used for gaining knowledge are
ability to grow) rosary beads, books and music.
• Parasurama (fierce man/hunter) Lakshmi

• Rama (greatest warrior/ideal • the consort of Vishnu, is the

man) goddess of wealth. She is said to
have accompanied Vishnu in his
 avatars (e.g. as Sita when he
incarnated as Rama).
CASTE SYSTEM
Parvati
• Hinduism includes a complicated
• the consort of Shiva, is more
set of divisions between groups of
commonly worshipped as the
people known as the caste system
destructive form of the Mother
which consists of many Varnas or
Goddess, called Durga or Kali.
classes.According to the Rig-Veda,
She is called upon to destroy evil in
four different groups of people were
times of need and to give
created from the body of a Hindu
protection to good people.
god
• Brahmin
▬ Created from the god’s mouth---
FOUR STAGES they became the priestly class
and the highest group in Indian
(Ashrams) OF LIFE society
1. First Stage--- student stage • Kshatriyas
(Brahmacharya) ▬ Created from the god’s arms---
▬ is for good education, self they became the rulers and the
discipline, learning about one’s warriors
dharma (a person’s rightful duty • Vaishyas
to self, family and society) and ▬ Created from the god’s legs---
laying a good foundation to life they became the landowners,
for being physically and merchants, artisans,and
mentally strong for he future herders
2. Second Stage--- entering the • Shudras
family life (Grihasta). ▬ Created from the god’s feet---
▬ Life is not complete without they became the laborers, farm
marriage and children. A loving workers, and servants
caring family environment • Pariahs
enables one to serve others, ▬ The lowest “caste” of
including the community and untouchables. People who
the nation performed jobs considered
3. Third Stage---- retirement unclean
(Vanaprastha).
▬ Once the children are all settled
one can start withdrawing
oneself from worldly desires
and attachments to devote
more time to spiritual pursuits
4. Fourth Stage--- sanyasa
(preparing for moksha)
▬ when one renounces all
desires, possessions and
needs, spending every moment
in meditation.
 Is the caste system explicitly a
religious part of the Hindu
religion?

HOWEVER, Hinduism played a large

part in maintaining the rigid structure
▬ Cycle of birth and reincarnation
▬ Actions in this life determines
your fate when born again
▬ If faithful and dutiful in this life,
you will have a better fate in the
next life
▬ In a previous life, Brahmins had
committed no bad deeds while
untouchables had

CASTE SYSTEM
• Over time, these divisions became
more and more defined
• Hundreds of sub-castes formed
based on occupation within each of
the four castes
• A person’s caste was based on
birth– born into the same caste as
parents
• Determined occupation, spouse,
dress, etc.
• Purity (the meaning of castes)
became key to ranking castes---
the higher your caste, the purer you
were and to associate with
someone from a lower class risked
contamination to your purity
BUDDHISM THE FOUR NOBLE
TRUTHS
• A path of practice and spiritual ▬ The Buddha's first sermon after his
development leading to Insight into the Enlightenment centered on the Four
true nature of reality. Buddhist Noble Truths, which are the foundation
practices like meditation are means of of Buddhism. The truths are:
changing yourself in order to develop
• The truth of suffering (Dukkha)
the qualities of awareness, kindness,
• The truth of the cause of suffering
and wisdom
(Samudaya)
• The fourth largest religion in the world
• The truth of the end of suffering
with over 520 million followers
(Nirhodha)
• Founded by Siddharta Gautama
• The truth of the path that frees us
around the 6th Century
from suffering (Magga)

DUKKHA - THE TRUTH

THE BUDDHA
OF SUFFERING
• Means the “Enlightened One” or the
“Awakened One” • The First Noble Truth often is
• Siddharta Gautama translated as "Life is suffering."
o The First Buddha • Dukkha also refers to anything that is
o Born in 566 BC temporary, conditional, or
o Siddhartha was born into the royal compounded of other things. Even
family of a small kingdom on the something precious and enjoyable is
Indian-Nepalese border. According dukkha, because it will end.
to the traditional story he had a
privileged upbringing, but was SAMUDAYA - THE
jolted out of his sheltered life on
realising that life includes the TRUTH OF THE CAUSE
harsh facts of old age, sickness,
and death
OF SUFFERING
o Eventually he felt impelled to leave • We continually search for something
his palace and follow the outside ourselves to make us happy.
traditional Indian path of the But no matter how successful we are,
wandering holy man, a seeker after we never remain satisfied.
Truth. He became very adept at
• The Buddha taught that this thirst
meditation under various teachers,
grows from ignorance of the self. We
and then took up ascetic
go through life grabbing one thing after
practices. This was based on the
another to get a sense of security
belief that one could free the spirit
about ourselves
by denying the flesh
 • We attach not only to physical things,
but also to ideas and opinions about
THE EIGHTFOLD PATH
ourselves and the world around us. • The Eightfold path, although referred to
Then we grow frustrated when the as steps on a path, is not meant as a
world doesn't behave the way we think sequential learning process, but as
it should and our lives don't conform to eight aspects of life, all of which are to
our expectations. be integrated in every day life. Thus the
environment is created to move closer
to the Buddhist path
NIRODHA - THE TRUTH
OF THE END OF THREE- FOLD DIVISION
SUFFERING WISDOM GROUP

• The Buddha's teachings on the Four o right understanding

Noble Truths are sometimes o right intention
compared to a physician diagnosing an MORAL VIRTUES GROUP
illness and prescribing a treatment.
The first truth tells us what the illness o right speech
is, and the second truth tells us what o right action
causes the illness. The Third Noble o right livelihood
Truth holds out hope for a cure. MEDITATION GROUP
• The Buddha taught that through
diligent practice, we can put an end to o right effort
craving. Ending the hamsterwheel o right mindfulness
chase after satisfaction is o right concentration
enlightenment (bodhi, "awakened").
The enlightened being exists in a state
called Nirvana. Right View - Sammā ditthi
- Accepting Buddhist teachings
-
MAGGA - THE TRUTH
Right Intention - Sammā san̄kappa
OF THE PATH THAT - A commitment to cultivate the
FREES US FROM right attitudes

SUFFERRING
Right Speech - Sammā vācā •
• The Buddha as physician prescribes
the treatment for our illness: The ▬ Speaking truthfully, avoiding slander,
Eightfold Path. Unlike in many other gossip and abusive speech
religions, in Buddhism there is no
particular benefit to merely believing in
a doctrine. Instead, the emphasis is on
Right Action - Sammā kammanta
living the doctrine and walking the path
 ▬ Behaving peacefully and encouragement. As the saying goes, “As you
harmoniously; refraining from stealing, give you shall receive.” Giving creates the
killing and overindulgence in sensual cause for you to receive more.
pleasure

Sila Paramita
Right Livelihood - Sammā ājīva
Sila Paramita teaches one to abstain from
▬ Avoiding making a living in ways that performing actions that are harmful to others.
cause harm, such as exploiting people
or killing animals, or trading in
ntoxicants or weapons
Ksanti Paramita
The quality of endurance encompasses a
Right Effort - Sammā vāyāma spectrum of similar virtues such as patience,
tolerance, forbearance, resilience,
▬ Cultivating positive states of mind; perseverance, and unconditional acceptance
freeing oneself from evil and
unwholesome states and preventing
them arising in future
Virya Paramita
Right Mindfulness - Sammā sati
Diligence, vigor, energy, efforts, and hard work
▬ Developing awareness of the body, are some of the most crucial ingredients in
sensations, feelings and states of achieving success in any endeavors
mind.

Dhyana Paramita
Right Concentration - Sammā samādhi
Cultivation of the mind is of utmost importance
▬ Developing the mental focus
because it enables one to develop profound
necessary for this awareness
wisdom, which in turn, will guide one toward
the path of Supreme Perfect Enlightenment

SIX PARAMITAS or SIX

Prajna Paramita
PERFECTIONS OF A
This wisdom does not mean any secular
BODHISATTVA wisdom. It means the wisdom of the Law of
Supreme Perfect Enlightenment. People of
different faith also happen to practice the first
five paramitas in some ways or another; except
Dana Paramita the wisdom of Buddhahood

Giving is a virtue; it is an expression of loving-

kindness, charity, and benevolence. There is no
limit to what we can give, be it time, presence,
money, or even words of praise and
 LI -RITUALS AND MANNERS:
DAOIC • BEHAVING WITH PROPRIETY AND
COURTESY.

RELIGION XIAO - FILIAL PIETY:

• SHOWING RESPECT AND
OBEDIENCE TO ONE'S PARENTS
AND ELDERS.
• Centered on the Chinese Philosophy
of Dao (or The Way) which refers to the YI - RIGHTEOUSNESS:
moral order that permeates the • ACTING IN A JUST AND MORAL WAY.
universe or the force behind the
natural order ZHI - WISDOM;
• Dao is imminent and it spreads • HAVING THE ABILITY TO MAKE
through the natural world SOUND JUDGMENTS AND
• Three major Daoic Religions are DECISIONS.
Confucianism & Daoism in China and
Shintoism in Japan

CONFUCIAN DOCTRINES
CONFUCIANISM Belief in Tian
• This may refer both to Confucius
CONFUCIUS believing in heaven, an all-
encompassing god, or something to
that which is beyond human control
Born: 551 BCE - 479 BCE
Birthplace: Qufu, Lu State (Present-Day
Shandong Province, China)
Rectification of Names or Zhengming
• To be able to return to the ancient Dao,
Philosophy: Confucianism
people must play their assigned roles
in the society
TEACHINGS
1. Ruler - Subject
• Emphasized the importance of moral 2. Father-Son
integrity and ethical behavior. 3. Husband - Wife
• Stressed the significance of family and 4. Elder brother - Younger
social harmony brother
• Advocated for the cultivation of 5. Friend - Friend
personal virtues to contribute to a
harmonious society. Human Nature as Originally Good or Evil

KEY CONCEPTS • According to Mencius/Mengzi

- Human beings are innately good
and can be cultivated by proper
REN - "BENEVOLENCE" OR education and self-discipline: or, it
"KINDNESS. can be thrown away through
• SHOWING COMPASSION AND neglect or bad influence
GOODWILL TOWARDS OTHERS
 • According to Xunzi ▬ Playing & chanting of music and
- Human beings are innately evil but scriptures to accompany the
can be improved through self- corpse and pacify the spirit
cultivation ▬ Sealing of the corpse in a coffin
▬ Removal of the coffin from the
The Five Constants community
• Ren
• Yi
• Li • Marriage Ceremonies - considered
• Zhi as the central feature of society:
• Xin Through marriage, patience and love
are cultivated to promote the right
virtue

CONFUCIAN WORSHIP - Traditionally, a marriage is decided

by the parents of the couple, with
Four Rites wealth and social status as the
primary considerations
• Coming of Age Rites - ceremonies
to signify that a young person has
reached the marriageable age and
could join different activities of his clan • Sacrificial Rituals - performed
as an adult regularly by the descendants of the
deceased ancestors.
- Capping - doing the male
teenager's hair in a bun/coll and
wearing a cap. This is done on
male teenagers through the age of
DEVELOPMENT OF
15 to 20 CONFUCIANISM
- Hair Pinning - refers to the
gathering of a girl's hair into a knot, Mohism
and securing it using a hairpin:
• Confucianism's primary early
often done by 16 year old women
competitor
after engagement and before their
• Developed by Mozi - believed to have
wedding day
been born around or after the death of
Confucius
• Opposes Confucius' teachings in an
• Mourning Rites - public extreme way such as:
announcement of grief through - Hereditary princes should
weeping and the wearing of white surrender their throne to their
funeral clothes by the family of the obvious superiors
deceased. Mourning also constitutes - Giving bare necessities in terms of
offering of symbolic goods such as: food, clothing and housing

▬ Offering money and food from the

living to the dead
▬ Preparation & setting up of a spirit Mencius
tablet
▬ Payment of ritual experts • People are born good
• People should extend their love
beyond their family
 The government is a primary
DAOISM
•
application of ethics & its guiding
principle should be righteousness
• Mandate of Heaven - a true king
provides for the well being of his Why does Daoism emphasize on love and
people. The right way to rule is when respect of nature and environment?
• Daoism is a non-theistic philosophy
he shows to be a fully moral man, for
all of his subjects would move toward that emphasizes nature and natural
him. law, which states that everything is
connected in an eternal and cyclical
way. The Daoists believed that the way
Xunzi to achieve harmony and balance in the
world is to practice non-violence and
• Human beings are inherently evil to follow the natural laws of the
because it is derived from a distant, universe. They believed that each
unethical heaven. However, it can be individual has a moral obligation to
improved through education; hence care for the environment and to avoid
the "teacher" has a very significant role harming other people.
& must be considered sacred. • it is central to their beliefs about the
• Emphasizes on education, rituals, Dao, interconnectedness, balance,
hierarchy and strict rule which simplicity, and spiritual growth.
contributed to the authoritarian
pattern in government How does one achieve the state of being one
• Legalism - a doctrine in which strict with the Dao?
laws and retributions are the only • Through an understanding of natural
means to bring harmony and security laws, an individual can be one with the
in society. The ruler has the right to Tao by living in accordance with nature
become tyrannical if it is the good of (cosmos/ Universe) and all its
the people. transformations and changes,
adopting and assimilating to these,
CONFUCIANISM & and hence can gain eternal life.
• The basic idea of the Daoists was to
SOCIETY enable people to realize that, since
human life is really only a small part of
Female Subordination & a larger process of nature, the only
human actions which ultimately make
Patriarchal Nature of sense are those which are in accord
Confucianism with the flow of Nature — the Dao or
• Obedience to her father the Way.
• Obedience to her husband
• Obedience to her son when widowed Who founded Daoism?
• Men are expected to inherit the family • Laozi or Lao Tzu
names and property and are
responsible for the care of their
parents and the elderly, that is why
having male children is preferred
HISTORY OF DAOISM CONCEPTS & BELIEFS
Lao Tzu (Laozi)
• According to myth
- Believed to be born of a virgin The Dao
mother which kept her for 82 years • The essential concept and creative
in her womb. He was born with principle & existed before the world
flowing hair similar to that of a river • It is undetectable, indistinct,
which signified that he would shapeless and indefinable
become a wise man • The origin of heaven and earth
- Considered as the first important • It is not a being for it is the origin of all
Daoist to the point that some of beings and its great virtue is that it
his followers believed that he was does everything but desires nothing
Confucius' senior adviser

• According to historical records

Deity/God
- He worked as a government • Dadism has no god
archivist but became frustrated
with the rampant corruption within The De
the government. Sensing that this • It encourages inaction in nature and
would bring disgrace to him, he left advocates the quiet and passive
the Chu Empire and was detained nature of a person so that the Dao may
at the Han-ku pass where there he act through them without interference
met a gatekeeper named Yin-His,
who asked for Lao Tzu to write a
book before leaving. This book
Qi/Chi
became the Dao De Jing. • Refers to the natural energy or life
force that sustains living beings
Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu)
• Believed to have lived from 369 to 286 Wu Wei
BCE • Means "no behavior" or "doing
• Chuang was born in the town of Meng nothing"
in a small state of Sung located at the • A concept used to negate human
border between Hunan and actions or the cancellation or
Shangdong province restriction of human behavior,
• He served as an officer in charge of a especially human activities.
royal garden in which he was invited by • It may refer to certain stages such as
King Wei to be his chief minister but he
declined ▬ Non-behavior
▬ Taking little action as possible
▬ Taking action spontaneously
▬ Taking passive attitude toward
society
▬ Waiting for the spontaneous
transformation of things
▬ Taking action according to
objective conditions or acting
naturally
Yin & Yang

• According to Zhuangzi
- Yin in its highest form is freezing
while Yang in its highest form is
boiling. The chillness comes from
the heaven while the warmness
comes from the earth. The
interaction of these two
establishes harmony, so it gives
birth to things. Perhaps this is the
law of everything yet there is no
form being seen.

• The Yin Yang is an important concept

in Daoism because it explains that
everything contains opposite sides and
each side depends on the other which
emphasizes on the concept of
Dualism, two halves forming a whole.