If Taoism preaches non-action, why were Taoist secret societies so active in Chinese history?
There is no such a thing as non-action in daoism.As far as I know of .The non-action only can be wrong interpretation from 無為。which the true meaning is remain peacefully or remain nothing happen ( to self ) , or remain nothing to do ( as finished every duty )Traditional daoism don't really preach , only practice and educate. The preach part is something else .And there is no secret societies of daoist . Only many different special categories of practice. They are trying to remain peaceful and plain life . Trying to actively doing everything then remain nothing to do in order to achieve longevity.I hope this answered the question.Modern daoist are different, because everybody is complexed with so many information.I am traditional type , not sure about how other are doing . I remain my way as plain nature.
What does Lao Tzu mean by non-action? How does it differ from laziness?
If you throw a baseball, there is a certain extent to which you have to stop trying to throw it and just let it happen. Your mind decides on a target, and then your body takes over and manages the complicated process of moving all your muscles so that the ball flies off in the correct direction. If your mind tries to think about and control what your body is doing during the throw, it will simply get in the way and mess things up. You have to do it without 'doing' it in the mental sense of acting.This is true of most things in the world. If you want to ask someone out on a date, you'll do better if you just set the intention and let it happen than if you try to plan out and control the discussion; the first feels warm and natural, the second stilted and odd. If you want to get elected mayor you'll do better to set the intention and allow the wave of public action carry you where it will than if you try to control the way people think. If you want to solve a problem, it is often best to stop thinking about it; let the problem percolate in your brain without conscious thought, and sooner or later you'll get an intuition or inspiration that will set you in the right direction.The common daoist metaphor is shooting an arrow. All you do is point and pull the string; the power comes from the bending of the bow, which is something you can influence but which you don't necessarily understand and can't control on a fine-grained level. And once you release the string the arrow goes where it will, subject to natural forces you can anticipate but cannot control at all. Laziness has nothing to do with it; a lazy person will never pull the bowstring in the first place. Non-action (or better put, doing-without-doing: wei-wu-wei) is doing by setting things in motion in such a way that the universe will bring them to fruition without you needing to constantly interfere and control.
Why does Buddhism contradict itself?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhamma_vicaya "In Buddhism, dhamma vicaya (Pali; Sanskrit: dharma-) has been variously translated as the "analysis of qualities,"[1] "discrimination of dhammas,"[2] "discrimination of states,"[3] "investigation of doctrine,"[4] and "searching the Truth."[5] This concept implies applying discernment to things in order to deliver one from ignorance and craving." So in discerning information, I have found... "The doctrine of pratītyasamutpāda (Sanskrit; Pali: paticcasamuppāda; Tibetan: rten.cing.'brel.bar.'byung.ba; Chinese: 緣起) is an important part of Buddhist metaphysics. It states that phenomena arise together in a mutually interdependent web of cause and effect." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism#Dependent_arising http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism ...and... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prat%C4%ABtyasamutp%C4%81da http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prat%C4%ABtyasamutp%C4%81da#Meaning_of_Prat.C4.ABtyasamutp.C4.81da http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prat%C4%ABtyasamutp%C4%81da#Metaphysics "Some scholars believe that pratītyasamutpāda is Buddhist metaphysics,[j]. But pratītyasamutpāda has no relevance to cosmology (origin and nature of the universe), theology, or an absolutist (absolute soul, self, etc.) or relativistic philosophy.[k]" ...but those say opposing things. Why does Buddhism contradict itself?
A little confused on this idea, can anyone explain? Philosophy Help?
Okay, you'll have to jettison your standard philosophical ideas when approaching Taoism. Just like a philosophy of tennis cannot improve your swing, Taoism is a belief system that is practical rather than intellectual. When you are doing any activity and you are nervous, overthinking or trying too hard it inevitably affects your performance badly. Taoism suggests this methodology for dealing with life: be as you are, do what you can do and the setup is ideal for a successful life. Wu-Wei is the opposite of dealing with the "human problem". P'u is acting in your life, not contemplating it.
Question on Buddhism - The five skandhas and the six realms of existence?
The Five Skandhas are the Buddha's description of all experience. The skandhas - form, feelings, formations, perceptions and consciousness - categorize the types of mental phenomena. Form means the body, including the sense organs and nervous system. Feelings refers to all the feeling-states we experience, along with our judgments of these states as pleasant, unpleasant or neutral. Formations are our experience of all "formed" or "fabricated" things - those things that arise from causes and conditions. Perceptions refers to the unceasing stream of awareness - things that arise, persist and pass away. Consciousness refers to what the Buddha called "storehouse" consciousness - the base of everything we are, including our memories. The Six Realms of Existence (deva, asura, human, animal, hungry ghost, hell) represent the possible states of existence. Some Buddhist teachings present these domains as actual places where birth s possible. Other teachings portray these domains as states of consciousness through which we cycle at different times of a minute/day/week/year/lifetime. In my own work with the Six Realms, I can see times when I'm a hungry ghost (with an insatiable appetite) and other times when I'm a deva (blissed out and lazy). If we cling to any of these realms or states, we will fail to attain enlightenment. "The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching" by Thich Nhat Hanh provides a thorough study of the basic teachings of Buddhism. It's not the best book for genuine newcomers, but for someone who has some knowledge of the teachings, it provides a deeper examination. https://www.amazon.com/dp/0767903692?tag... Best wishes in your (re)search!