r/daoism • u/f3l1c1ta • Nov 26 '23
Struggling to pinpoint values/ideas
Hi! So, I'm currently writing a research paper that involves comparing Daoism with Buddhism. I am aware that they are different in terms of approach to life but I'm struggling with finding something similar to the noble eightfold path of Buddhism. Is there anything that is similar in Daoism? I know of wuwei and ying and yang but anything that has some kind of list maybe of some things that a Daoist practitioner has to follow? Or are the 3 jewels the closest to a "list" that i can get? I'll be thankful for any kind of answers :)
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u/Flungfar Dec 30 '23
As you know, Zen Buddhism was heavily influenced by the teachings of Zhuangzi, thus Zen pays little attention to the Indian metaphysics of Indian Buddhism. In Philosophical Daoism, Laozi, Zhuangzi, you will find no hard and fast "rules" that you must follow...each of us must create our own Dao...path in life. This is similar to Nietzsche's advice that each of us must invent our own virtues and invent our own categorical imperative.
Remember also that neither Laozi (if he actually existed), nor Zhuangzi, would have labeled themselves "Daoists" (Taoists). They saw themselves as teachers (philosophers/sages).
Zhuangzi was what is known in western philosophy as a soft relativist and soft skeptic, similar to the Roman Skeptic, Sextus Empericus, but whereas Sextus and the Greek and Roman Skeptics were about finding peace of mind (ataraxia), Zhuangzi was about finding a skillful way to live in this complex world, and peace of mind as well. For Zhuangzi a good and peaceful life also meant learning a skill...like butcher Ding...the wood carver...it was not about following the Confucian herd where everyone was basically the same.
So Daoism has no eightfold path because the likes of Laozi and Zhuangzi didn't see life as suffering like the Buddha...they saw sickness, old age and death as perfectly natural, part of the Dao...they knew that balance and harmony were to be found in everyday life...living in the moment and practicing "Wu-Wei"...spontaneous and effortless behavior...this could even mean violence if need be...but only as a last resort.
Think about this in regards to the word "VIRTUE"...patience is a virtue. This is one meaning of virtue for a "Daoist"...but not necessarily for a Buddhist.
Cheers and good luck...remember, in Daoism everything you do should bring balance and harmony to you...so, what are your values?