Taoism and Buddhism are similar in that both teach that

• A. things like ambition, wealth, and power keep people from their real purpose in life
• B. devotion to deities is required
• C. moral rules are irrelevant
• D. material success is the path to enlightenment

Answer: (B)

Both Taoism and Buddhism emphasize moving away from attachment to worldly goals like ambition, wealth, and status because such desires distract from living in harmony with reality or the Dao. In Buddhism, craving is seen as the root of suffering, and the path involves letting go of attachments to achieve enlightenment. In Taoism, flourishing comes from aligning with the Dao and practicing simple, natural living rather than forcing outcomes or pursuing power. So the common thread is a call to detach from material pursuits to find inner peace or balance. While some branches include reverence to deities, devotion to gods is not universally required across both traditions, so that aspect isn’t the core similarity.