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Gnosticism and Taoism
- Thread starter Buttons*
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ChrisP
Veteran Member
Taoism is not Mystical. The tao is though I think. That is probably where Taoism and Gnosis differ. Gnostic practises endeavour to find the source to explain all, whereas Taoism believes that all explains the source? I'm sure Halcyon will bring out the badger warriors if I'm wrong.divine said:
Buttons*
Glass half Panda'd
Yeah, I'll let Halcyon fight my battles for me, 
My panda group isnt as convincing as his badger army...
Well, mystic just refers to seeing beyond what's written. Can't anyone can be a mystic? Gnosticism doesnt try to explain the One, it talks about it much like Taoist writings talk about the Tao... If you wanna read something sorta like taoist writings (well, from what i've read), i'd check Thunder in gnostic literature...
My panda group isnt as convincing as his badger army...
Well, mystic just refers to seeing beyond what's written. Can't anyone can be a mystic? Gnosticism doesnt try to explain the One, it talks about it much like Taoist writings talk about the Tao... If you wanna read something sorta like taoist writings (well, from what i've read), i'd check Thunder in gnostic literature...
Scarlett Wampus
psychonaut
Only a master of evil, Darth...:sarcasticChrisP said:
I found a four part article on the net that compares Gnosticism with Taoism. Part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4. The guy who wrote it also summed up his own personal synthesis of them.
Although they might differ in many respects, especially their metaphysical accounts of creation (though there are widely varying accounts of this even within Taoism), when I read things like this (from the Religious Tolerance website): -
Gnosticism is not factual, intellectual, rational knowledge, such as is involved in mathematics and physics; that would have been more accurately represented by the Greek world "episteme." Rather, Gnosticism involves the relational or experiential knowledge of God and of the divine or spiritual nature within us.
...that sounds a lot like Te to me.
Ashley I see what you mean by 'Thunder'. Loosely I would associate a text like Thunder Perfect Mind with the Mysterious Female (a symbol of Gnosis from Taoism). Also, this stuff about the physical world being 'bad' and only redeemed through the spiritual realm which is 'good' might seem different to Taoism, but not that much. Example from a Taoist Cultivation website discussing alchemy: -
The mysterious pass is profoundly subtle. It is not an ordinary aperture or place of the body which has shape and form and can be pointed to. The mysterious pass is immaterial and formless, and is without physical location. It is where essence and life abide. It is the intangible which connects with the primordial source. It is called the opening of the mysterious female, the door of birth and death, the commencement of non-being, and the great valley, yet all these terms refer to a basic immaterial quality of consciousness which has to do with reaching open and vital spiritual essence.
Just some random wanderings.
Buttons*
Glass half Panda'd
that's more what i'm talking about, thanks so much for that *hugs*Scarlett Wampus said:Only a master of evil, Darth...:sarcastic
I found a four part article on the net that compares Gnosticism with Taoism. Part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4. The guy who wrote it also summed up his own personal synthesis of them.
Although they might differ in many respects, especially their metaphysical accounts of creation (though there are widely varying accounts of this even within Taoism), when I read things like this (from the Religious Tolerance website): -
Gnosticism is not factual, intellectual, rational knowledge, such as is involved in mathematics and physics; that would have been more accurately represented by the Greek world "episteme." Rather, Gnosticism involves the relational or experiential knowledge of God and of the divine or spiritual nature within us.
...that sounds a lot like Te to me.
Ashley I see what you mean by 'Thunder'. Loosely I would associate a text like Thunder Perfect Mind with the Mysterious Female (a symbol of Gnosis from Taoism). Also, this stuff about the physical world being 'bad' and only redeemed through the spiritual realm which is 'good' might seem different to Taoism, but not that much. Example from a Taoist Cultivation website discussing alchemy: -
The mysterious pass is profoundly subtle. It is not an ordinary aperture or place of the body which has shape and form and can be pointed to. The mysterious pass is immaterial and formless, and is without physical location. It is where essence and life abide. It is the intangible which connects with the primordial source. It is called the opening of the mysterious female, the door of birth and death, the commencement of non-being, and the great valley, yet all these terms refer to a basic immaterial quality of consciousness which has to do with reaching open and vital spiritual essence.
Just some random wanderings.
Scarlett Wampus said:Only a master of evil, Darth...:sarcastic
I found a four part article on the net that compares Gnosticism with Taoism. Part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4. The guy who wrote it also summed up his own personal synthesis of them.
Although they might differ in many respects, especially their metaphysical accounts of creation (though there are widely varying accounts of this even within Taoism), when I read things like this (from the Religious Tolerance website): -
Gnosticism is not factual, intellectual, rational knowledge, such as is involved in mathematics and physics; that would have been more accurately represented by the Greek world "episteme." Rather, Gnosticism involves the relational or experiential knowledge of God and of the divine or spiritual nature within us.
...that sounds a lot like Te to me.
Ashley I see what you mean by 'Thunder'. Loosely I would associate a text like Thunder Perfect Mind with the Mysterious Female (a symbol of Gnosis from Taoism). Also, this stuff about the physical world being 'bad' and only redeemed through the spiritual realm which is 'good' might seem different to Taoism, but not that much. Example from a Taoist Cultivation website discussing alchemy: -
The mysterious pass is profoundly subtle. It is not an ordinary aperture or place of the body which has shape and form and can be pointed to. The mysterious pass is immaterial and formless, and is without physical location. It is where essence and life abide. It is the intangible which connects with the primordial source. It is called the opening of the mysterious female, the door of birth and death, the commencement of non-being, and the great valley, yet all these terms refer to a basic immaterial quality of consciousness which has to do with reaching open and vital spiritual essence.
Just some random wanderings.
I wish I could 'wander' like that! Great stuff! Thank you, Michel
Halcyon
Lord of the Badgers
divine said:
Gnosticism, and Taoism i believe, are mystical religions because they don't take things at face value but look for the hidden or deeper meaning.
I know of very little Gnostic myth or speculation that should be taken in a literal sense, a lot of Gnostic 'poetry' which is often used when trying to describe The One, is made up of contrary statements eg. It is not large it is not small, It is not corporeal it is not incorporeal, It is not conscious it is not unconscious, etc...
When dealing with The One, Gnosticism tries to explain in words what is inexplicable in words. Much like the Tao Te Ching.
When it comes to myth, we find stories like Adam And Eve in the garden turned on their head - this has a dual purpose;
Firstly it attempts to show people like the literalists and extreme orthodox how the same myth can be viewed and interpreted from an entirely different perspective. Try and get them to think. (Doesn't work though)
Secondly, these myths are used to explain Gnostic concepts and views of the universe. For example in Gnosticism, Adam (humanity) is lifeless and ignorant until Eve (life) with the aid of the serpent picks the fruit of Gnosis and brings understanding to mankind - this sets us on the path out of the ignorance of Demiurge and towards the true understanding of God.... or Tao.
The same characters and events occur, but the meaning is very different.
Buttons*
Glass half Panda'd
Okay, so i have many ideas and no conclusion. (course, we come to our own conclusions, and just cause I dont have one, not everyone must have one, i know this.... but play along for my sake...)
Do most people agree that there are big similarities in both IDEAS? (didnt say religions)
Are they, fundamentally the same idea? (or, are the authors trying to get the same point across....)
...The reason i ask is because I'm thinking of looking into Taoism to further what I feel from the Gnostic texts. I wasnt sure how well it would go together, or if it was worth trying. Thank you all SO much for your helpful information!
Do most people agree that there are big similarities in both IDEAS? (didnt say religions)
Are they, fundamentally the same idea? (or, are the authors trying to get the same point across....)
...The reason i ask is because I'm thinking of looking into Taoism to further what I feel from the Gnostic texts. I wasnt sure how well it would go together, or if it was worth trying. Thank you all SO much for your helpful information!