A comparative study on ultimate reality in vedic scriptures and early taoism scriptures with respective meditation practices

Abstract

BACKGROUND newlineIndia and China are ancient civilizations with a long history. Both countries have put newlineforward a series of groundbreaking philosophical ideas. One of the most important ideas newlineis the Ultimate Reality; various theories about Ultimate Reality have been recorded in newlinetheir ancient scriptures. newlineIn Indian tradition, Brahman is the Ultimate Reality. The word Brahman was found newlinein various Vedic scriptures, such as Veda Samhitand#257;s, Brand#257;hmaand#7751;as, and and#256;raand#7751;yakas, with newlinedifferent meanings. Still, they re never the only meaning, and no single word in modern newlinewestern languages can render the various shades of meaning of the word Brahman. newlineFrom the Upaniand#7779;ads, Brahman is highlighted as the Ultimate Reality, which is the main newlineidea of Indian philosophy. Upaniand#7779;ads described two important concepts - Brahman and newlineand#256;tman(self). The word and#256;tman(self) is used as a synonym for Brahman; Mahand#257;vand#257;kyas newlinealways indicated that Brahman and and#256;tman are one and the same, but because of Mand#257;yand#257;, newlineignorant people cannot see this. Therefore, they always feel bound. The theories are newlinebuilt around the Brahman-and#256;tman-Mand#257;yand#257; thought system and recorded in various Vedic newlinescriptures. newlineA similar concept can be seen in Early Taoism philosophy as Tao(or Dao and#36947;). Tao is newlineone of the most fundamental concepts of Chinese philosophy, which consists of the newlineUltimate Reality, source, and substance of all existence. Taoism is an ideological system newlinebuilt around Tao. The earliest Taoism scriptures are Tao Te Ching(or Dao De Jing and#36947;and#24503; newlineand#32463;) and Zhuangzi (and#24196;and#23376; or Nanhua Jing and#21335;and#21326;and#32463;). In Tao Te Ching, Tao has been newlinedescribed as the Ultimate Reality; Zhuangzi further explained the Self (Zhenzai and#30495;and#23472;, newlineor Zhenjun and#30495;and#21531;) and the relationship between Tao and the self. newlineThe philosophical ideas of the Ultimate Reality in Vedic scriptures and early Taoism newlinescriptures can be seen as descriptions and discussions about self-knowledge and the newlinehighest freedom. Vedic and early Taoism scriptures both believe that to receive the newlineknowledge of the Ultimate Reality, one must first purify the mind. Me