Taoism

1. Question: The Taoist way of a healthy life, the exercises which are similar to yoga, for instance, doesn't seem to be a valid way of growing or reaching perfection. It may be because I am only reading this book, not experiencing this first-hand, but the exercises many people do today seem to be merely another form of well-being.

2. Suggestion: The Taoist yoga is what I think is the best way to apply the objectives of Taoism into real life: it is easy for everyone to do. Yet for this to be of any help, the yoga must be reconstructed and directed properly, because I believe much of the old lore has been lost.

3. Comment: The philosophical ideals of Taoism seem to be too abstract. Christians, for instance, learn to love everyone; Confucianists memorize analects; yet the philosophical part of Taoism doesn't seem simple enough for many people to understand.

Confucianism

Question: Why was Mo Tzu's call for universal love rejected? After all, it is very similar to the Christian idea agape; in fact the whole idea seems very similar to Christian ideas. Why was it rejected there and then, when it is so influential today?

Suggestion: Confucianist thought is pretty much still the roots of Korea... even more so than China, since China abolished Confucianism completely during their communist rule. Yet this school of thought, which is the roots of our culture, seems to fade away as time goes. Maybe it is the reason of the anomic state of Korean society. Revival of some of these values may be a way of changing Korea for the good.

Comment: Tradition nowadays is much weaker. Society is becoming more and more diverse, and as it does, tradition becomes diluted. This is quite like the age of Confucious, where warring states and the social status quo made society collapse. Confucianism, or part of it, can be an answer to the troubles we face today.