Any essential differences between Buddhism and Taoism? (rituals, tradition, beliefs)

[lilithu]

Originally Posted by divine

i could think of a rather long list of differences off the top of my head...

From the Taoist perspective, the painting of the Vinegar Tasters comes to mind.

Three guys are standing around a pot of vinegar: Confucius, the Buddha and Lao Tse. The vinegar represents life and each one has just taken a taste. Confucius has a sour expression on his face; the Buddha has a pained expression on his face; and Lao Tse is smiling.

Granted that Confucianists and Buddhists would object to this interpretation of their belief systems. But from the painter's perspective, Confucianists want to control life; Buddhists want to escape life; and Taoists enjoy life for what it is.

[PureX]

Originally Posted by lilithu

From the Taoist perspective, the painting of the Vinegar Tasters comes to mind.

Three guys are standing around a pot of vinegar: Confucius, the Buddha and Lao Tse. The vinegar represents life and each one has just taken a taste. Confucius has a sour expression on his face; the Buddha has a pained expression on his face; and Lao Tse is smiling.

Granted that Confucianists and Buddhists would object to this interpretation of their belief systems. But from the painter's perspective, Confucianists want to control life; Buddhists want to escape life; and Taoists enjoy life for what it is.

I would definitely agree with this characterization.

You made an interesting point, before, about people in the east freely choosing between various religious beliefs. The reason I see taoism primarily as a philosophical foundation underpinning these various eastern religious and social belief systems (Confucianism) is because it's philosophical taoism that treats religion, superstition, the occult, etc., as a part of the 'tao of man'. Philosophical taoism understands and accepts that human beings are superstitious, and need their various gods and occult practices to express themselves. These beliefs and practices are viewed as a part of who and what mankind is. This is why philosophical taoism does not discourage such practices, and why many such practices have developed under the emblem of "taoism".

However, the fact that it's philosophical taoism that provides this foundation of freedom and acceptance, and more importantly provides the peculiarly eastern self-awareness regarding religious and occult practices and human superstitions, is why I believe that taoism is essentially a philosophy, rather than a religion. The various religions and occult practices that call themselves taoism, or are called taoism by outsiders, have developed and remain under the philosophical 'protection" (so to speak) of a taoist philosophy that understands and accepts the human need for ways of dealing with their natural fears and superstitions. It's this (philosophical taoist) recognition that allows easterners to "pick and choose" among the various gods and religions available to them without feeling irrational, or disloyal, or self-contradictory.