Taoism 2

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It is always present in you. You can use it anyway you want.-Lao-tzu. Taoism is one of the philosophical and religious modes of thought that originated in early China. Taoism began at about around the sixth century B.C. The one dominant idea in Taoism is the belief in some form of reincarnation. The idea that life does not end when you die is an important part of this religion and the culture of the Chinese people. This religion has a different way of applying this concept to its beliefs. Ignorance of these beliefs is a sign of weakness in the mind. To truly understand your own religion, you must understand the concepts of the other religions of the world. This will be enlightenment on the reincarnation concepts as they apply to Taoism and Buddhism. The goal in Taoism is to achieve Tao, (to find the way). Tao is the ultimate reality, a presence that existed before the universe was formed and which continues to guide the world and everything in it.

Tao is sometimes identified as the Mother, or the source of all things. That source is not a god or a Supreme Being as with Christians, for Taoism is not monotheistic. The focus is not to worship one god, but instead on coming into harmony with Tao. Tao is the essence of everything that is right, and complications exist only because people choose to complicate their own lives. Desire, ambition, fame, and selfishness are seen as hindrances to a harmonious life. It is only when one rids himself of all desires can Tao be achieved. By shunning earthly distraction, the Taoist is able to concentrate on life itself. The longer the one's life, the closer to Tao one is presumed to have become. The hope is to become immortal,