Workshop 8: Taoism Part of Building Bridges In This Section Introduction From Building Bridges Thirty spokes are joined together in a wheel, but it is the center hole that allows the wheel to function. We mold clay into a pot, but it is the emptiness inside that makes the vessel useful. We fashion wood for a house, but it is the emptiness inside that makes it livable. We work with the... Spiritual Preparation From Building Bridges Prepare the workshop materials well in advance so you are not scrambling on the day of the workshop. Before the workshop, think of an object you can bring to increase the beauty of the workshop space. The object does not have to be large, and no one else needs to know it has been added.... Welcoming and Entering From Building Bridges Materials for Activity Scarves of many colors, textures, and lengths, several per participant Box to hold the scarves Recording of Asian flute music or Handel's Water Music, and a music player Preparation for Activity Place scarves in the box and put them by the door, where they are easily... Opening From Building Bridges Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice, candle, and lighter or LED/battery-operated candle Newsprint, markers, and tape Leader Resource 1, Taoism Background The quotation from the Tao Te Ching, from the beginning of this workshop A copy of the Tao Te Ching Preparation for Activi... Activity 1: Tao Te Ching From Building Bridges Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 2, Random Tao Te Ching Chapters (enough copies for each participant to have two or three chapter slips) Preparation for Activity Cut individual chapters into strips, making sure that the chapter numbers are included with each chapter. Activity 2: Story - A Cup of Tea From Building Bridges Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Story, "A Cup of Tea" Preparation for Activity Read the story "A Cup of Tea" so you will be comfortable presenting it. Description of Activity Introduce the story "A Cup of Tea" by saying, in these words or your own: In every religious tradition,... Activity 3: So Little, So Much From Building Bridges Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 3, Chapter 10 Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity Copy Leader Resource 3, Chapter 10, and cut it into strips, one translation per slip. Optional: If you wish to use more, or different, translations of the Tao Te... Activity 4: Equal and Opposite From Building Bridges Activity time: 12 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Handout 2, Yin/Yang Symbol Solid-color scarves or scrunchies in complementary color pairs, for example, two red and two green, two black and two white, two orange and two blue, and two purple and two yellow-enough for e... Activity 5: Fact Sheet From Building Bridges Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint with youth's questions about Taoism (from Opening) Handout 1, Taoism Fact Sheet Handout 2, Yin/Yang Symbol Handout 3, The Seven UU Principles, or a poster of the Unitarian Universalist Principles Preparation for Activity Post the newsprin... Activity 6: Time Line From Building Bridges Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Religions Time Line from Workshop 1 World map or globe Sticky notes and fine-point marker Preparation for Activity Display the Religions Time Line where all participants will be able to see it.... Closing From Building Bridges Activity time: 3 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice, candle, and lighter or LED/battery-operated candle Taking It Home handout Optional: Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity Download, adapt, and copy Taking It Home for each participant. Optional: Write the closing words on... Leader Reflection and Planning From Building Bridges Review today's workshop with your co-leader: How did the activities work for participants? Did participants engage the subject with respect? Were the youth engaged by the examination of another religion? Did they seem to grasp the fundamental concepts of Taoism? Was the suggested timing for each... Faith In Action: Simply Do It From Building Bridges Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Optional: Clean-up materials, including rubber or work gloves, trash bags, spray bottles, and/or rags (depending on the activity chosen) Preparation for Activity Decide where you will go and what you will do for the clean-up activity.... Alternate Activity 1: Engagement From Building Bridges Activity time: 90 minutes Materials for Activity For pre-engagement preparation Handout 1, Taoism Fact Sheet Leader Resource 1, Taoism Background For the engagement Blankets, beach towels, or yoga mats, one for each person Food for sharing, such as bread, cheese, and grapes, and bottles of water... Alternate Activity 2: Tai Chi From Building Bridges Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Mats, blankets, carpet, or other surface covering recommended by the guest instructor Other supplies the instructor requests Preparation for Activity Arrange for a Tai Chi instructor to visit your space.... Taking It Home From Building Bridges Thirty spokes are joined together in a wheel, but it is the center hole that allows the wheel to function. We mold clay into a pot, but it is the emptiness inside that makes the vessel useful. We fashion wood for a house, but it is the emptiness inside that makes it livable. We work with the... A Cup of Tea From Building Bridges Nan-in, a Japanese master during the Meiji era, welcomed into his home a university professor who had asked to see him. The professor arrived, answered the master's simple, polite greeting with a brusque, arrogant reply, and strode past him into the house.... Handout 1: Taoism Fact Sheet From Building Bridges Founded/Created: It is estimated that the Tao Te Ching (DOW duh jing) was written in China in 550 BCE; however, the origins of Taoism go back hundreds of years before that. Adherents: 20 million—predominately in Asia but distributed worldwide. Ranking: Seventh in size, behind Christianity, Islam,... Handout 2: Yin-Yang Symbol From Building Bridges Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing. Handout 3: The Seven UU Principles From Building Bridges The inherent worth and dignity of every person Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations A free and responsible search for truth and meaning The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process... Leader Resource 1: Taoism Background From Building Bridges Taoism is a faith practiced by more than 20 million people around the world. The name comes from the word "Tao," which means "the Way." In this case, "the Way" means a way of living in balance and at peace with all that is. Taoism is very old. We know that it existed before 550 BCE and that it... Leader Resource 2: Random Tao Te Ching Chapters From Building Bridges 1 The tao that can be described is not the eternal Tao. The name that can be spoken is not the eternal Name. The nameless is the boundary of Heaven and Earth. The named is the mother of creation. Freed from desire, you can see the hidden mystery. By having desire, you can only see what is visibly... Leader Resource 3: Chapter 10 From Building Bridges Excerpt A is a 1939 translation by Dwight Goddard. Excerpt B is a 1995 translation by Peter Merel. Excerpt C is from a translation by Charles Muller, revised in 2009. Excerpt D is a translated by James Legge, 1815–1897; used with permission. Excerpt E is from Tao Te Ching: Annotated and Explained... Find Out More From Building Bridges A website on Taoism is Taoism.Tai Chi, as does the International Taoist Tai Chi Society. PREVIOUS: Find Out More UP: Building Bridges NEXT: Introduction Download all of Building Bridges (Word) to edit or print.