common misconceptions about Taoism (tradition, Buddhism, followers, experience, faith)

[lilithu]

Originally Posted by SnaleSpace

Wow!

Have you got a picture of your altar (if that's not allowed or offensive please accept my pre-apology, apology). I've seen quite a few for Diana and Artemis (because men in this country are too hard to worship something as queer as nature), but haven't seen any with Daoist elements.

I think I've given you the wrong impression. I'm not Taoist. I started this thread to ask Taoists about misconceptions that they've encountered, but I also started similar threads in other forums for Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism.

My spiritual practice is quite eclectic, but more a mixture of Buddhism w/earth-based sensibilities. The only thing that's on my altar that is specfically Taoist is the yin yang, which I painted on a disc. It sits on one side and on the other side is another disc of a pentagram with a human form within it. Other than that, I have statues of the Buddha, and the bodhisattvas Chenrezig, Manjushri, and Vajrapani (compassion, wisdom, and power respectively). I also have an icon of the holy spirit (a dove). In my mind, Manjushri, Vajrapani, Chenrezig, and the Buddha correspond to the neoPagan ideals of intellect (east), will (south), emotion (west), and manifestation (north), but there is nothing in Buddhism that I know of that states this. (Actually, being in the southern hemisphere, you guys may do your correspondances differently.)

The Taoist correspondances to which I was refering are as follows:
east - spring / green / dragon
south - summer / red / phoenix
west - fall / white / tiger
north - winter / black / turtle

But I don't have these animals/colors on my altar. I just use them when calling quarters during group rituals.

[ChrisP]

Originally Posted by lilithu

I think I've given you the wrong impression. I'm not Taoist. I started this thread to ask Taoists about misconceptions that they've encountered, but I also started similar threads in other forums for Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism.

My spiritual practice is quite eclectic, but more a mixture of Buddhism w/earth-based sensibilities. The only thing that's on my altar that is specfically Taoist is the yin yang, which I painted on a disc. It sits on one side and on the other side is another disc of a pentagram with a human form within it. Other than that, I have statues of the Buddha, and the bodhisattvas Chenrezig, Manjushri, and Vajrapani (compassion, wisdom, and power respectively). I also have an icon of the holy spirit (a dove). In my mind, Manjushri, Vajrapani, Chenrezig, and the Buddha correspond to the neoPagan ideals of intellect (east), will (south), emotion (west), and manifestation (north), but there is nothing in Buddhism that I know of that states this. (Actually, being in the southern hemisphere, you guys may do your correspondances differently.)

The Taoist correspondances to which I was refering are as follows:
east - spring / green / dragon
south - summer / red / phoenix
west - fall / white / tiger
north - winter / black / turtle

But I don't have these animals/colors on my altar. I just use them when calling quarters during group rituals.

Thanks for the description. No I realised you were Pagan(ish), but I know a few pagans and have never seen Taoist elements used before. It just sounded interesting .

I have no altar myself, and never intend to.

[Pardus]

Gives me some new energies to play with.