Comparison and Contrast Between Shankara and Tao Te Ching - Essay Example

Yoko Hardi Comparison and Contrast between Shankara and Tao Te Ching By examining the spiritual teachings of the Tao Te Ching Translated by Stephen Addiss, Stanley Lombardo, and Burton in Tao Te Ching and Shankara’s Crest-Jewel of Discrimination, Translated by Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood, the similarities and differences are highlighted in as much as their essence of seeking the truth in the form of religion and God by humankind. Although there are more than 1400 titles in the Tao canon which date back from 1444 the original texts have been passed on from generation to generation without being in scripted similar to those of the Hindu scriptures which have 580 verses in Sanskrit and have been passed on to contemporary generations by word of mouth. While Tao Te Ching promotes simplicity in its teachings so does the Crest jewel of discrimination asserts on the qualities of a life devoid of and complicated by desires and yearnings. Spirituality in both promotes harmony of the self with regard to nature and nature is none the less an embodiment of god in both the teachings. However the contrast lies in their narratives and the routes to seek the answers of all spiritual humans. The methodology and the illustrations of Tao and Shankara differ in religious teachings with reference to the geographical paradigms of each. Since Tao relates its religious significance to exploring the self as the ultimate aim of life so does the Shankara relate the quest of humans to know more about their own selves by inspecting the self through meditation and focus on the inner being. As against the teachings of the Tao Te Ching , the art and the way of living the Shankara signifies the way of life to searching for the truth about the self. Yoko Hardi The response of Tao and Shankara as regards the answer to what is the purpose of life can best be understood in their simplistic translations in Tao Te Ching and Shankara Crest jewel of Discrimination. Both contend that the knowledge of the self is the only way to realization of the truth of the self, the world, the universe and the eternity which we term as God. The Tao Te Ching canons of truth explain their ideology in explicit words of intelligible wisdom and the verses of the Shankara are in the form of dialogue between the master and his pupil. Remarks Prabhavananda about the teachings of the Shankara “A classic text on the path to God is through knowledge. The basic teaching is that God alone is the all- pervading reality; the individual soul is none other than the universal soul. According to Shankara, it is the ignorance of our real nature that causes suffering and pain. The desire for happiness is essentially a longing to awaken to who and what we truly are. Through the path of self-knowledge, Shankara clearly teaches how to awaken from ignorance created by the mind, and abide in the peace of our true nature. Argues Tao “Tao called Tao is not Tao” clarifying the fact that the creator and the creation are but one and the same entity (1). On the other hand” Through the path of self-knowledge, Shankara clearly teaches how to awaken from ignorance created by the mind, and abide in the peace of our true nature” (Prabhavananda). Yoko Hardi About the purpose of life and the attainment of that purpose “Shankara was under no illusions about this world. For this reason, he is able to describe so powerfully the complete transformation of the universe that takes place before the eyes of the illumined seer, when the world indeed becomes a paradise (Prabhavananda). Once achieved a state of ultimate knowledge of the self, the world around the human kind ceases to govern his aims in life just the same as the Tao “these have the same source, but different names” asserting the philosophy of origin and the being as one and the same source of energy and its outcome . While Tao opines seeking of the self to be a mystery Shankara compares it to the light of life as “Through the path of self-knowledge, Shankara clearly teaches how to awaken from ignorance created by the mind, and abide in the peace of our true nature. In contrast to Taos mysticism in his teachings the Shankara enlightens the spell of mystery in his verses. In the living Dao “the art and the way of living, a rich and truthful life, recognize beauty and ugliness is born. Recognize good and evil is born.” The Tao differentiates the power of comprehension of the dual reality in our lives similar to that of Shankara Crest Jewel philosophy of awakening of the ‘vivek’ reasoning faculty of the human mind and the superimposition of its presence over all other thoughts of the human kind. “Tao is empty, its use never exhausted. Bottomless the origin of all things” relates to the similarity of the Shankaras crest jewel indestructible self and the journey towards the ultimate end of the circle of life and death and birth in the form of ‘’moksha’. Yoko Hardi Both the teachings argue that there is but one source of origin of all forms and beings, we call god. They signify every living organism as a part of this universe contending that every object and creature in nature plays a role and contributes towards the well being of nature. Co existence of mankind with nature has been an essential philosophy of The Tao as well as Shankara. It is unarguably true that the basis of all spirituality is none other than the knowledge of the inner most self and the ultimate accomplishment of every human being is to seek the answers to the purpose he is born for. The path of fulfillment of life comes from living without desires. A life of truthful actions devoid of its results is the basis of accomplishment of peace and happiness says the Shankara while Tao echoes that “the sage is devoted to non action, moves without teaching, creates 10,000 things without instructions, lives but does not own. Acts but does not presume, accomplishes without taking credit when no credit is taken accomplishment endures” (2). By examining the teachings of both, the answers to the question what is the purpose of life, are but the same although in different words. The Shankara concludes “when our false perception is corrected, misery ends." and "the self controlled man is illumined when he enjoys eternal bliss. He is entirely merged in Brahman. He knows himself to be the unchangeable reality". And, "teachers and scriptures can stimulate spiritual awareness. But the wise disciple overcomes ignorance by direct illumination, through the grace of God". And, "the treasure I have found cannot be described in words, I am one with Brahman". Yoko Hardi Tao remarks about life “It blunts sharp edges, unties knots, softens glare, and becomes one with the dusty world” (4). The message of the Tao says “do not glorify heroes, and people will not contend. Do not treasure rare objects. And no one will steal. “Do not display what people desire, and their hearts will not desire, hence they will not be disturbed” (3). Stephen Addiss, Stanley Lombardo, and Burton elicit the Chinese ideology canons of Tao in a simplistic manner and make them comprehensible to all. Swami Prabhavananda elucidates the spiritual message of “Shankara a 7th century Hindu mystic/saint who founded a number of monastic orders in his short life of 32 years and showed remarkable spiritual talents and insights from a very early age. This book is a true classic in the field of the jnani yoga tradition. His directives are clear, succinct, and leave no doubt in the reader’s mind he knew where of he spoke (Prabhavananda). Hence all spirituality aligns humankind to but one aim in life. To seek the purpose of life. And to show the path to that aim which is none other than elimination of hedonistic desires, to seek goals of high virtues of peace and harmony and to achieve moksha, the ultimate realization of the self through knowledge, purity of thought and truth. To respect every life as ones own and to merge in the source of all nature, we call God. Unite with the self through the self by the self unto the self is the teaching of Tao Te Ching and Shankara in their spirituality, philosophy and ideology for humankind. Comparisons and contrasts illuminate but the same goal of Tao and Shankara. The realization of the self. The awakening of the self and finally the unity of the self with the supreme power the almighty god unto eternity. Yoko Hardi Works Cited Lao-Tzu. Tao Te Ching. Translated by Stephen Addiss, Stanley Lombardo, and Burton Watson. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing, 1993. Shankara. Crest-Jewel of Discrimination. Translated by Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood. Hollywood: Vedanta Press, 1970. Read More