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CURRICULUM
GUIDE
Unit Title: Chinese Belief Systems,
Craven et. al.
The Vinegar
Tasters
The first man has a sour look on his face, the second
wears a bitter expression, but the third man is smiling. Why
the difference?
To Confucius, life seemed sour. He believed that the
world would be a much better place if there were strict
rules. Confucius emphasized a strict order which ruled
the affairs of all in his land. Anything that did not fit
into the established order was bad and not worthy.
For Confucius, the vinegar is sour because life is
sour.
To Buddha, life on earth was bitter. This world,
according to Buddha, was filled with attachments and
desires that led to suffering. The world was seen as a
setter of traps, a generator of illusions and a revolving
wheel of endless pain. In order to find peace, Buddha
thought that it was necessary to transcend this world.
The Buddhist sees the path to happiness constantly being
interrupted by the bitterness of this world.
For Buddha, the vinegar is bitter because life is
bitter.
According to Lao-tse (Taoism), the world was governed by
the laws of nature, not by those of men. He considered
life to be perfect and wonderful as is. He saw a natural
harmony that could be experienced by anyone at anytime.
He believed the world to be a teacher of valuable
lessons, and that we should embrace the wonder of every
moment.
Lae-tse smiles when he tastes the vinegar. From the
Taoist point of view, sourness and bitterness come from
the interfering and unappreciative mind. Life itself,
when understood and utilized for what it is, is
sweet.
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