Taoists do not believe in heaven, hell or reincarnation.

Their deities correspond to forces of nature or stars in the sky.

Tian Gong is a Chinese folk religion practice, yes.

Buddhism has 2 main traditions, Theravada (mainly in thailand, sri lanka, burma), and Mahayana (china, east asia).

You can read up the history of Buddhism to get an idea of it.

Brahma is Creator god in Hinduism.

In Buddhism, Brahmas are used as a collective term to refer to beings who are in the Fine Material planes and Immaterial Planes. Those realms can only be accessed by people who have cultivated Jhanas (mental absorption) , and maintaining at their dying moment.

Brahmas are usually depicted as four face being in statues. The reason is the Brahmas, have one thing in common - which is the purity of the mind, their mind is always dwelling in the following qualities, also known as "station of the brahmas", or "station of the high divinity"

Metta - loving kindness
Karuna - compassion
Mudita - sympathetic joy
Upekha - equanimity

Internally generated happiness from the power of the mind, these beings are very peaceful lot. They don't have sex (no sex organ in their body form), no sense of touch/taste/ smell. Only have seeing and hearing faculties. And they live very very very long, in terms of World cycles (Aeons) !!


This post has been edited by Chrono-Trigger: Jul 2 2017, 10:52 AM

Are you sure Taoists do not believe in heaven or hell?

They are using talismans and has many rituals such as *breaking the hell* for someone just passed away, etc.

Thanks for info. That was just new info to me.

That's not Taoism.

Did you know Mao Shan （茅山）?

I think Mao Shan is legitimate Taoist school. They are famous for talismans and black magic.

Mao Shan has as much to do with Taoism as the Ku Klux Klan has to do with Christianity.

Really that off target?

So, what is considered Taoism? Or who was/is considered the iconic Taoist to date? Who is the famous real Taoist master? Let me see if I know him.

Anything outside of the Dao De Jing really shouldn't be considered Taoism.

I look at the development of Buddhism: Pali canon > Tibetan mahayana, tantric, Zen, etc. Even the next Buddha's teaching.

It's all in trouble if we only recognize Pali canon as the true Buddhism.

The same also applicable to Taoism.

So strict in your definition? Why dismissing later development?

Almost every subsequent Buddhist development more or less adheres to the bedrock of the original canon.

On the other hand, almost everything that people likes to label as offshoots of Taoism thoroughly violates the principles outlined in the Dao De Jing.

The Lotus Sutra is the ultimate teaching of the Buddha, and not many follow that ultimate teaching.

This one , you really have to do some reading and homework , regarding the historical development of buddhism, and have to take into consideration some locality variation/ evolution.

As far as Theravada is concerned, the Pali Canon directly recorded what our historical Buddha taught. His daily routine, alms round, dhamma talks to kings/queens/noblemen/workers. It also recorded the events preceding his parinibbana and his final instructions to his disciples. and also what happened immediately after his passing away, his funeral , distribution of relics, etc

This post has been edited by Chrono-Trigger: Jul 3 2017, 08:17 AM

Agree.

I meant not only Pali Canon is considered as true Buddhism but later development such as Mahayana Buddhism, Tantric, Zen, etc too should be regarded as true Buddhism as well.

so have you tried practicing any of it?

I was born in Buddhist + Taoist family. Somehow I got the basic (maybe incorrect view) about them.

I try to understand them (Hinayana, mahayana, vajrayana) first before in depth practicing.

Still learning about emptiness, meditation, Jhana, and other major concept.

Still undecided which path I will go.

practice and understanding goes hand in hand.

Some simple things I practice now are like not killing mosquitoes and ants. Anger management, right speech.

I am not ready for advanced / more involved stuff like meditation and vegetarian lifestyle.