Buddhism advocates "no life" and believes that reality is a sea of human suffering. There is nothing you can do about people in reality, so you have to endure and be detached-that is, "detached." To be patient and detached, we must give up all kinds of desires, pursue the "sea of suffering" beyond the cycle of life and death, and enter nirvana (a blissful world without suffering). Buddhism advocates abandoning the pursuit of realistic material and paying attention to spiritual cultivation and yearning for the afterlife. ? Taoism believes that personal cultivation, and even becoming an immortal Ming Dow, lies in personal cultivation and has nothing to do with others. Advocating to stay away from the crowd and find a place to practice in the mountains. The cultivation method of Taoism also fully embodies the Taoist thought of "being born". Taoism uses inner Dan and outer Dan to practice. The so-called inner Dan is qigong, while the outer Dan is an elixir of life. The cultivation of inner Dan and outer Dan is a personal secret and needs to be far away from society. Therefore, Taoism advocates "birth".
Confucianism advocates participation in society and that individual self-improvement can only be realized in the process of participating in society. For example, the life goal of Confucianism is to "cultivate one's morality, keep one's family in harmony, and rule the country and level the world", which in fact closely links one's own development with one's contribution to family and society. Therefore, Confucianism advocates "joining the WTO".
Second, Buddhism attaches importance to psychology, Taoism attaches importance to physiology and Confucianism attaches importance to people.
Buddhism has many levels of analysis and explanation of "heart", and many metaphors are used to explain our hearts, thus teaching us how to discover, feel at ease and purify our hearts. The western meaning of "psychology" is "knowledge to explain the mind", and later it is extended to "behavioral science to study human problems". This development and evolution is in line with Buddhism's explanation of cosmic life, and the so-called "mind can give birth to all kinds of laws." Buddhism summarizes everything in the world from the perspective of mind and nature, and makes a fundamental discussion and explanation of human behavior. Therefore, Buddhism has already built a mature psychological knowledge system. Almost all Buddhist teachings are intimate, which can be seen everywhere in many Confucian classics, among which the analysis of human spirit with "knowledge-only learning" is the most modern psychological color.
Taoism advocates taking life as truth and pursuing longevity and immortality. Taoism believes that human life is composed of vitality, and the body is the residence of the spirit. To live forever, we must cultivate both form and spirit, that is, "internal cultivation" and "external cultivation"
Confucianism is a kind of etiquette, which requires how to be a man and what everyone should do. Confucianism advocates "preserving justice and eliminating human desires". Even if we cut our feet and fit our shoes, we need people to adapt to the rules of patriarchal society, that is, "cultivating self, governing the country and leveling the world".
Buddhism stresses purity, Taoism stresses quietness and Confucianism stresses respect. Buddhists talk about cultivating the mind, Taoists talk about practicing the spirit, and Confucianism talks about self-cultivation. People who really seek the Tao are indispensable.
Third, the characteristics of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism.
Buddhism combines ethics and utility, reason and witchcraft, revealing a unique wisdom of survival and tact in dealing with people. Taoism retains more elements of primitive religion, which is quite witchcraft and more suitable for the needs of the bottom people at that time. Confucianism, on the other hand, has the characteristics of ethics or moral religion to a great extent.
In the process of inheritance, Taoism has gradually moved towards a relatively hidden road. Taoism doesn't like to do the work of "universal education", that is, it doesn't pay much attention to "universal compulsory education" for all. Taoist disciples pay special attention to their "roots", that is, the so-called "talents." Your roots are bad. If you weren't cut out for this, Taoism wouldn't accept you as an apprentice.
Contrary to Buddhism and Taoism, their recluse and lofty style especially likes purdue sentient beings and pays attention to "three fair quilts". Just like our modern compulsory education, Buddhism also likes to popularize their compulsory education. Buddhism advocates that "everyone has Buddha nature, and everyone can become a Buddha" and "all beings are blessed". This popular style of Buddhism makes Buddhism widely spread in China and even the whole world, and its development and spread are relatively fast.
Confucianism is mainly an educational scholar. They don't live in seclusion like Taoism and don't like Buddhism. They mainly spread doctrines and ideas through school education, so Confucian disciples are often "scholars".
Fourth, the differences in practice methods.
In terms of practice methods, Buddhist practice methods are more diverse, and the so-called "108,000 Dharmas" is Buddhist practice. There is a saying that Taoist practice also comes from Buddhism. This does not pursue it, but it also shows to some extent that there are many Buddhist practice methods. People often see Buddhists chanting "Amitabha" as a method of practice, which is called "chanting Buddha". Buddhist chanting is the most popular method in Buddhism today.
The practice method of Taoism is to pay attention to the cultivation of mind, that is, to the tempering and self-cultivation of mind. Taoist practice is mostly chosen in secluded places in the mountains, and it is often difficult for ordinary people to see Taoist priests.
Confucianism often regards reading itself as a method of practice. The Confucian cloud says, "You are full of poetry", which means that if you study and work properly, you will become very energetic, your physical quality and temperament will be greatly optimized, and you will look handsome and magnificent.