Eastern Religions Comparing Three Eastern Essay

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Taoism offers an ideal of nonaggression that does not strive to improve upon the existing order. However, unlike Buddhism, which can advocate action of present mindfulness to relieve suffering (such as the protests of Tibetan monks striving to create a free society) Taoism seems more passive, and less apt to critique existing society, in contrast to Buddhism. Taoism's main critique of Confucianism, for example, was not that Confucianism promoted an inequitable and hierarchical society of age and social class but that it tried to change things in the existing world, which was already perfect. Taoism is a philosophy that is proudly one of submission, not resistance. Even a good ruler, in the Taoist view "sidesteps" the need for direct action -- unlike Buddhism, which provided a path for warriors, so long as they upheld a virtuous ethic, and remained 'in the moment,' responding only with as much force as was necessary, like the samurai, the Taoist leader was passive (506). What happens, one cannot help but ask, if one's enemy is not passive, and anticipates your 'sidestep' and strikes a blow?

Buddhism seems like an ideal Middle Path between the passive naturalism of Taoism, which seems to envision a world without human beings in it in its purity and stasis, to Confucianism's wholly this-worldly philosophy, although Confucianism shares the focus on cultivating the inner self which is the focus of both the Buddhist and the Taoists.

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But the purpose of cultivating that inner self is to create a more astute outer self in a political fashion. True, Confucius' philosophy of a need to show respect for things outside the self is harmonious with Buddhist absence of 'ego,' Confucius stresses a hierarchy of objects worthy of respect, such as the Emperor, one's ancestors, and one's parents. But instead of the present, Confucius focuses on honoring the past, which may be one reason why it has proved to be a less popular philosophy outside of the historical context that gave….....

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