To demonstrate the difference between Confucianists, Buddhists, and Taoists—who are disciples of Laozi—the Chinese like to invoke the allegory of the glass of water. The Confucianist says: “This glass of water must be shared. Give your parents the first sip.” For the followers of Confucius, the greatest virtue is the social order, how society is organized. The Buddhist says: “Must I drink?” because, for him, the most important thing is mastering emotion and desire. Finally, the Taoist looks at the glass and says: “Water does not exist.”
