Ten Precepts of Taoism Vs. Ten Commandments

[Baladas]

I found this article some time ago, and I thought that others here might be interested.

Ethics of Taoism

The Ten Precepts:

Do not kill but always be mindful of the host of living beings.

Do not be lascivious or think depraved thoughts.

Do not steal or receive unrighteous wealth.

Do not cheat or misrepresent good and evil.

Do not get intoxicated but always think of pure conduct.

I will maintain harmony with my ancestors and family and never disregard my kin.

When I see someone do a good deed, I will support him with joy and delight.

When I see someone unfortunate, I will support him with dignity to recover good fortune.

When someone comes to do me harm, I will not harbor thoughts of revenge.

As long as all beings have not attained the Tao, I will not expect to do so myself.

Note: The Ten Precepts are found in Dunhuang manuscripts, and applied to those who attained the rank "Disciple of Pure Faith".

The Ten Commandments (as found in the book of Exodus):

1. You shall have no other gods before me.
2. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
3. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God,for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
4. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
5. Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

 

[JRMcC]

I found this article some time ago, and I thought that others here might be interested.

Ethics of Taoism

The Ten Precepts:

Do not kill but always be mindful of the host of living beings.

Do not be lascivious or think depraved thoughts.

Do not steal or receive unrighteous wealth.

Do not cheat or misrepresent good and evil.

Do not get intoxicated but always think of pure conduct.

I will maintain harmony with my ancestors and family and never disregard my kin.

When I see someone do a good deed, I will support him with joy and delight.

When I see someone unfortunate, I will support him with dignity to recover good fortune.

When someone comes to do me harm, I will not harbor thoughts of revenge.

As long as all beings have not attained the Tao, I will not expect to do so myself.

Note: The Ten Precepts are found in Dunhuang manuscripts, and applied to those who attained the rank "Disciple of Pure Faith".

Looks like Taoism wins.

 

[Baladas]

I agree, obviously. As a former long-time Christian, I was pretty amazed at the contrast.

 

[MonkeyFire]

What happened to the commandments? Thou shalt not kill is what Jesus died for.

 

[davidedmorn]

The ten commands which you shared was good. I too read this kind of related information in one of the articles.
bible scriptures message

 

[Pegg]

I found this article some time ago, and I thought that others here might be interested.

Ethics of Taoism

The Ten Precepts:

Do not kill but always be mindful of the host of living beings.

Do not be lascivious or think depraved thoughts.

Do not steal or receive unrighteous wealth.

Do not cheat or misrepresent good and evil.

Do not get intoxicated but always think of pure conduct.

I will maintain harmony with my ancestors and family and never disregard my kin.

When I see someone do a good deed, I will support him with joy and delight.

When I see someone unfortunate, I will support him with dignity to recover good fortune.

When someone comes to do me harm, I will not harbor thoughts of revenge.

As long as all beings have not attained the Tao, I will not expect to do so myself.

Note: The Ten Precepts are found in Dunhuang manuscripts, and applied to those who attained the rank "Disciple of Pure Faith".

The Ten Commandments (as found in the book of Exodus):

1. You shall have no other gods before me.
2. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
3. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God,for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
4. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
5. Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

I take issue with the Tao command "I will maintain harmony with my ancestors..."

Why should I maintain harmony with my ancestors? what if they were really bad people?

Anyway, it looks like Taoism is promoting living standards which is completely different to the purpose of the 10 commandments. The 10 commandments were given by God in order to ensure the worship of him is kept to a standard he approved of. and you will find all the other tao commands in the mosaic laws.

 

[Baladas]

I take issue with the Tao command "I will maintain harmony with my ancestors..."

Why should I maintain harmony with my ancestors? what if they were really bad people?

Anyway, it looks like Taoism is promoting living standards which is completely different to the purpose of the 10 commandments. The 10 commandments were given by God in order to ensure the worship of him is kept to a standard he approved of. and you will find all the other tao commands in the mosaic laws.

These aren't commands though, they are living standards for a certain class of Taoist monk.

I think that we should recognize where we come from, and acknowledge that without our ancestors, we would not be.

This is simply a comparison I found online and thought others might find interesting.

 

[Sundance]

The Tao commands are truly worth committing to, especially concerning your ancestors.

 

[RedDragon94]

I found this article some time ago, and I thought that others here might be interested.

Ethics of Taoism

The Ten Precepts:

Do not kill but always be mindful of the host of living beings.

Do not be lascivious or think depraved thoughts.

Do not steal or receive unrighteous wealth.

Do not cheat or misrepresent good and evil.

Do not get intoxicated but always think of pure conduct.

I will maintain harmony with my ancestors and family and never disregard my kin.

When I see someone do a good deed, I will support him with joy and delight.

When I see someone unfortunate, I will support him with dignity to recover good fortune.

When someone comes to do me harm, I will not harbor thoughts of revenge.

As long as all beings have not attained the Tao, I will not expect to do so myself.

Note: The Ten Precepts are found in Dunhuang manuscripts, and applied to those who attained the rank "Disciple of Pure Faith".

The Ten Commandments (as found in the book of Exodus):

1. You shall have no other gods before me.
2. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
3. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God,for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
4. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
5. Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

The Ten Commandments address both belief and practice. However, the Precepts appear to be more about your thoughts along with your actions. I really like the thought of not misrepresenting good and evil because what this implies is objective morality that indwells each individual. There are times I have trouble controlling my thoughts, but I have self control, that ought to amount to something. Thought does not automatically translate to action, it comes down to choice. Choice reveals morality.

 

[Tumah]

I found this article some time ago, and I thought that others here might be interested.

Ethics of Taoism

The Ten Precepts:

Do not kill but always be mindful of the host of living beings.

Do not be lascivious or think depraved thoughts.

Do not steal or receive unrighteous wealth.

Do not cheat or misrepresent good and evil.

Do not get intoxicated but always think of pure conduct.

I will maintain harmony with my ancestors and family and never disregard my kin.

When I see someone do a good deed, I will support him with joy and delight.

When I see someone unfortunate, I will support him with dignity to recover good fortune.

When someone comes to do me harm, I will not harbor thoughts of revenge.

As long as all beings have not attained the Tao, I will not expect to do so myself.

Note: The Ten Precepts are found in Dunhuang manuscripts, and applied to those who attained the rank "Disciple of Pure Faith".

The Ten Commandments (as found in the book of Exodus):

1. You shall have no other gods before me.
2. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
3. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God,for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
4. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
5. Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

I don't really understand the comparison here. The Ten Precepts of Taoism seem to be ethical rules. At most only half the Ten Commandments are related to ethics. It's two different things.

 

[Pegg]

These aren't commands though, they are living standards for a certain class of Taoist monk.

I think that we should recognize where we come from, and acknowledge that without our ancestors, we would not be.

This is simply a comparison I found online and thought others might find interesting.

shouldnt these standards of living apply to everyone???

i never understood the 'monk' thing. I dont really understand what benefit they bring to others by living the type of life they do.

 

[crossfire]

shouldnt these standards of living apply to everyone???

i never understood the 'monk' thing. I dont really understand what benefit they bring to others by living the type of life they do.

Not everybody wants to get married and start a family. In some societies, great scorn is often heaped upon those who wish to remain single, especially if you're a woman. Becoming a monk or a nun is an alternative to having family--withdrawing from materialistic/family orientated society--being "no part of the world" while you are in the world.

 

[Pegg]

Not everybody wants to get married and start a family. In some societies, great scorn is often heaped upon those who wish to remain single, especially if you're a woman. Becoming a monk or a nun is an alternative to having family--withdrawing from materialistic/family orientated society--being "no part of the world" while you are in the world.

but surely you dont have to become a monk or nun to avoid having a family. Im sure there is more to it then that.

 

[Baladas]

I don't really understand the comparison here. The Ten Precepts of Taoism seem to be ethical rules. At most only half the Ten Commandments are related to ethics. It's two different things.

That's true, it is certainly not a perfect comparison.

 

[Baladas]

shouldnt these standards of living apply to everyone???

i never understood the 'monk' thing. I dont really understand what benefit they bring to others by living the type of life they do.

I am sure that they do to some extent. However, there are many schools of Taoism, and I am not a part of the one that these precepts originate from, so I couldn't say.

As far as the monk thing, I think that it is many different things for different people.
When I was younger, I seriously considered becoming a Christian monk. My reasons were that I found society to be petty and I desired only to withdraw into the presence of God.

 

[Vishvavajra]

The first five are adapted from the universal 5 Precepts that lay Buddhists take, and the last one is reminiscent of the bodhisattva ideal (lots of mutual influence between the two traditions in China), so I imagine these precepts are also taken by laymen. In any case, I don't think anybody would disagree that these are good precepts for anyone, monastic or otherwise. It's not as if these things are only good for monks. And I'm sure Daoist monks and nuns take on additional precepts and rules, depending on their particular sect.