Geneh

I have heard that Confucian thought guides us in society until we retire; Taoism guides us after that. Of course this is a gross simplification.

Some years ago I studied Uechi-ryu karate, and sanchin is the first kata. Seems very hard to me, but I only got to shodan (first black belt). Uechi-ryu was brought back from China by an Okinawan and tradition says he learned PanGaiNoon there and PanGaiNoon means half-hard-soft. I never got to the soft part, much less the internal, but you might direct your question to the PanGaiNoon site (Google it). BTW: After I got my black belt my teacher (a yondan at the time) suggested my style was too hard and I should try tai chi, so I don't think he saw any softness down the road, or internal stuff (maybe I conflate them, am I wrong?). Geneh

As I understand it karma is the baggage an individual carries in life, and from life to life, as a result of our own actions. Original sin is a Christian understanding (after Augustine) and is the baggage we all have as a result of that pesky snake getting Adam and Eve to eat the apple. Karma is individual and original sin is collective (racial as in human race). Calvinists have used original sin to support the notion of total depravity. Neither is Taoist!

Hi there, I just joined yesterday and now I'm told I have to post something here to be a "full member." I am a Christian Quaker and was working on a web page on meditation (go to page below and click on meditation link at top). My experience is mostly Buddhist so that is most of what I included, but I wanted to include other approaches so surfed around for something on Taoist meditation, and found this site. Intrigued I investigated, was encouraged to join, so I did. More about me at http://members.cavtel.net/ghillman/korea.htm It has been a long time since I read Lao tzu or Chuang tzu. I do practice t'ai chi chuan which is Taoism in practice (?nes pas?) and would like to learn, so will be mostly listening with occasional questions. I seem to remember one of the early lines (in chapter LVI) in the Tao Te Ching is something about "those who know do not speak [talk]; those who speak do not know." Enough said.