Taoist doctrine
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Taoism, when treated as a religious system of thought, involves the body of beliefs, or Taoist doctrine, with which this article deals. It should be noted that doctrines are usually more relative/flexible in Taoism than in other religions.
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[edit] The Three Treasures
Main article: Three Treasures (Taoism)
The Three Treasures (or Jewels) come from chapter 67 of the Tao Te Ching.
[edit] Beliefs
- The Tao caused the creation of the universe.
- The Tao is the energy that flows through all life.
- The Tao surrounds everyone in the form of nature.
- Everyone must observe and reflect on nature to find enlightenment.
- An adherent’s goal is to become one with the Tao.
- Everything is of the one Tao.
- Everything is cyclical.
- Each person must nurture the Tao or 3 bodily energies (Jing, Ch’i, Shen) through activities such as exercise and meditation.
- One should be prudent and think before acting.
- People are inherently good.
- Follow the art of wu wei: let nature take its course.
All followers are called upon to develop these three characteristics:
- Compassion / Love
- Simplicity / Moderation
- Patience / Humility
[edit] Precepts
Taoist philosophy teaches the following central precepts:
- From the Tao arises (one unified force or path from where all things in the universe arise), yin and yang-the dual nature of all manifestations of the Tao.
- Act in accordance with one's nature.
- One should find the correct perspective for one's mental activities until one finds a deeper source for guiding one's interaction with the universe (see 'wu wei' below).
- Oneness: By realizing that all things (including ourselves) have their origin in the Tao, we come to see all things as they are, and ourselves as a simple part of the current moment. This understanding of oneness leads us to an appreciation of life's events and our place within them as simple miraculous moments which "simply are" in the present.
- Duality, the opposition and combination of the Universe's two basic principles of Yin and Yang (Simplified Chinese) forms a large part of the basic philosophy. Some common associations with Yang and Yin, respectively, include: male and female; light and dark; active and passive and motion and stillness.
Taoists believe that neither side out-ranks or surpasses the other; indeed, neither can exist without the other, as they form equal aspects of the whole. They ultimately provide an artificial distinction based on our perceptions, so only our perception of them really changes. See taiji.
- Taoism sees existence as an interplay between three elements: the individual; society and its artificial values; the principles of Nature. In order to lead a contented life, the individual must understand the principles of Nature, the values of the social structure in which he must forge a life, and his own internal wants and needs. According to Taoism, what is good and bad varies over time and between societal groups, therefore, unlike the principles that guide Nature, the values of a given society are arbitrary and artificial.
[edit] Wu Wei
Main article: Wu wei
Much of the essence of Tao lies in the art of wu wei (action through inaction: taking no-action is, in itself, an action). However, this does not mean "sit doing nothing and wait for everything to fall into your lap". It describes a practice of accomplishing things through proper action by knowing when to and when not to act according to one's personal capabilities/limitations and desires, as well as knowing one's place in the overall scheme of things (Tao). For one who has embraced this mindset, accomplishing goals becomes seemingly effortless. An individual who has mastered the art of wu wei is said to have reached a state of "tzu-jan", which may be roughly translated as "harmony with nature".
Wu Wei works once we understand our true desires and capabilities in their proper (natural) context, as opposed to those we adopt for various superficial reasons. In other words, by trusting our nature rather than our mental contrivances, we can find contentment without a life of constant striving against forces, real and imagined.
Wu Wei has been metaphorically described as flowing down the river of Tao, while maintaining the ability to steer correctly.
However, one of the lesser addressed principles of wu wei in western descriptions of Taoist philosophy is that of "non-interference". The Taoist strives not to interfere in the paths of others, nor to allow others to interfere in his or her own. Therefore, actions are not taken that are not aligned with Tao.
[edit] Rituals
Though the Tao Te Ching or Zhuang Zi do not mention specific religious aspects, as Taoism spread through the population of China it became mixed with other, pre-existing beliefs, such as the Five Elements theory, alchemy, ancestor veneration, and magic spells. Taoist philosophies also directly influenced Chinese Chan Buddhism. Eventually elements of Taoism combined with elements of Buddhism and Confucianism in the form of Neo-Confucianism. Attempts to procure greater longevity or immortality formed a frequent theme in Taoist alchemy and magic, with many extant spells and potions for that purpose. Many early versions of Chinese medicine had roots in Taoist thought, and modern Chinese medicine as well as Chinese martial arts and Chinese fine arts still in many ways deal with Taoist concepts such as Tao, Qi, and the balance of Yin and Yang. Many of these spells and alchemic formulas can be found in the later Taoist text known as the Daozang (Taoist Canon). This was produced many years after the original core texts of Tao Te Ching and Zhuang Zi and was more of a collection of many commentaries and elaborations by numerous masters over the years.
In addition, an organized Taoist community formed, originally established in the Eastern Han dynasty by Zhang Daoling. Many sects evolved over the years, but most trace their authority to Zhang Daoling in one way or another. For example, the original followers of the Shangqing school in the 4th century were ordained priests in Zhang Daoling's tradition. The Taoist temples incorporated entire pantheons of deities, including Lao Zi, Zhang Daoling, the Yellow Emperor, the Jade Emperor, Lei Gong (the God of Thunder) and others. Two major Taoist churches function today: the Zhengyi Sect (evolved from a sect founded by Zhang Daoling) and Quanzhen Taoism (founded by Wang Chongyang).
Today, many people whom researchers (and sometimes government bodies) label as "Taoists" do not recognize themselves as such. One problem is that Taoism is often difficult to distinguish from the Chinese folk religion in general. To the extent that these are different, an ordinary Chinese person might assume "Taoist" to refer to a Taoist priest. This folk religion has no particular name and includes Buddhist as well as Taoist elements, often without differentiation.
[edit] Taoist places of worship
Typical Taoist temples are set in areas far away from busy centers of the world. The inside of a taoist temple has open courtyards where the priests can commune with nature. The temples also have shrines to different deities . The deities chosen vary on where the temple is located, and what time of year it is.
One of the largest and most famous Taoist temples is the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. It was the personal temple for the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties where they would pray for favorable weather, good harvests, etc.
