idea that all actions are the display of thought, the will of man, is known as karma. Karma determines where in the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth the consciousness return. This return can be in the form of an animal or human, and the Buddhist must progress through a hierarchy to achieve Nirvana (Leek, 171). The Taoist has no concept similar to karma, and no mention of the soul migrating to an animal form. The determining factor to one’s life is contained in the individual behavior fro the Taoist. By forsaking personal desires in life, by concentrating of the self, a longer life is prolonged. Eventually, by following the inner light, immortality can be achieved. The similarities between Taoism and Buddhism in the belief of life after death far outweigh the differences. Both religions believe the individual must focus on the self to achieve the ultimate goal. To focus on oneself, all desires and personal ambitions must be forsaken. One must focus on the self and the proper way of life to reach immortality. The cycle of life continues indefinitely until the Thread of Life is broken. Only through proper living, by following the correct path guided by the inner light, can one achieve the ultimate goal of Tao or Nirvana.Works Cited1.Legge, James. The Texts of Taoism. Part One. Dover Publishing. NY. 1962.2.Legge, James. The Texts of Taoism. Part Two. Dover Publishing. NY. 1962.3.Reat, Noble R. Buddhism: A History. Asian Humanities Press. CA. 1951.4.Cooper, J.C. Taoism: The Way of the Mystic. Whitstable Litho, Straker Brothers Ltd. Great Britain. 1972.5.Leek, Sybil. Reincarnation: The Second Chance. Stein and Day Publishers, Scarborough House. Briarcliff Manor, NY. 1974....
