On The Principles Of Taoism And Tibetan Buddhism Practice From The Perspective Of The Methodology

This paper is based on the theoretical study of religion, taking Taoism and Tibetan Buddhism which claim the highest realm of Chinese philosophy as the research object in order to explore the correlations between the two religions deeply underlying in their respective logics, cultures and language environments by means of documentary analysis, theoretical comparison and mutual comparison, targeting at achieving real exchange between Taoism and Buddhism and putting forward a model for philosophical study which is different from Western theological teaching theories and yet applicable to Chinese culture.As preliminarily suggested in the introductory part, religious culture is very complex, and it is one of the critical difficulties in this study how to figure out the sequence. Only when the mode of the principles is taken into consideration, can the doctrines, methods, cultures, customs, etc. be grasped well, and can the principles be extracted from understandings and methodologies.Additionally, this part organizes the important information required in this study, as well as the basic stand point for some academic issues, especially proposing the condition that profound investigation and mutual proof are only possible when transcending culture and context. Finalty, six types of issues are raised as the entry point of this paper by summarizing historical materials for the Taoism and Buddhism debates.The main content of the first chapter is sorting of history, dividing the Taoist and Buddhist history into four stages respectively. A "great history" perspective is also introduced with consideration of the historical facts of China and India to depict the development course of Taoism and Buddhism, further extracting the logical clues of the Taoist and Buddhist doctrines. It is also pointed out, at the end of the chapter, that due to limitations of the historical documentary of the religion itself, one single historical research is not sufficient for the principle study.The second, third and fourth chapter are the focus of this paper. A groundbreaking framework is established in the logical order of cognition, methodology and objective. With the decomposition of the entire doctrine of the Tibetan Buddhism and Taoism, both of them can be compared in the same framework.Chapter Two adopts a quartering framework of "Substance-Function-Nature-Imagery" which cites data from four perspectives proving that Taoism and Tibetan Buddhism have analogical concepts and similar "ontology" basis.Ten basic principles of effects in the field of methodology are raised in the third chapter, which sorts out a complete practice sequence, content and functionality of Taoism and Tibetan Buddhism, consolidated as clear and concise methodology forms.Chapter Four is developed on a starting point of ultimate concern and analysis is performed on the different opinions and perspectives on religious targets of Tibetan Buddhism and Taoism. In this chapter, the term "origin theory" is categorized to "ontology", combining the ultimate care vision of both religions and finally explaining it as "unity of substance and function". Through the deduction of these three chapters, the study re-organizes the exact correspondence between the Buddhist and Taoist concepts in a newly innovated systemChapter Five is based on the theoretical results of the previous chapters, focusing on the common qualities of Buddhism and Taoism, including the humane care, rationality, feelings of compassion, settlement claims and the ultimate significance, etc., which effectively simplifies complex theories as the empirical principle of substance. And then it further presents a religious and philosophical development direction of de-sacralization, de-mystification and de-theologization, and proposes to extend the function of religious argumentation studies to the field of ethnic relations.Taoism and Buddhism have completed theoretical and practical system in history. Given their integrity and diversity, this study is focused on the comparison of the results summarized from the core content This study holds the certainty that there is humane care and rationality in the ideology of Buddhism and Taoism, both of which established a complete Epistemology-Value-Methodological Theory-Practical Philosophy system based on ontology and evidences with the cognition-methodological principle as the core and integrated with a variety of cultural materials. So long as all scholars follow its original purposes, they will be able to carry out the demands in their lives, and seek a place from the endless troubles for all living creatures where the substance and mind can settle at ease. That is the ultimate concern of mankind, as well as the eternal landmark for history and the society.