Principal beliefs:
The principal belied in Taoism is the longevity of the believer, eternal life is the quest. Taoists long for immortality and live a lifestyle following the Tao.
Belief in the Tao-
Tao is the origin of heaven and earth. Not easily defined by words, it is the underlying force for all things that exist. It is believed to give rise to all beings, though Tao is not a being itself. It provides a source of belief for those on the human search for meaning.
Deities-
Taoists worship many gods, most borrowed from other religions, though Tao is not one of them. All these deities are themselves subject to the Tao and are not seen as omnipotent beings beyond the cosmos who created and control earth. These deities are a source of hope and faith for Taiosts.
Concepts within Taoism:
Wu and Yu-
Wu and yu and are being and non-being. Wu also represents limitlessness and it is suggested that Wu can be experienced by humans.
Te-
Te, translated as virtue, is described as an awareness of the Tao and human capabilities to follow Tao. "There is something fundamentally honest and psychologically healthy in being oneself and striding forward with one's vision facing directly ahead, instead of trying at every turn to satisfy abstract standards of goodness established by a reigning orthodoxy. This is what Te is all about." - Professor Victor Mair.
Wu Wei-
Wu Wei, natural non-intervention, is the method of following Tao. It means to go by the true nature of the world without obstructing Tao, letting things take their natural course. Taoists live a life of balance and harmony. "The world is a spiritual vessel, and one cannot act upon it;one who acts upon it destroys it." - Tao Te Ching. Taoist can not be ego-driven, but can still be proactive so long as their activities fit into the natural patterns of the universe.
Pure Taoism requires individuals to live on the basis that the world is working properly, and that they therefore should not interfere with it. (BBC - Religions. 2014)
Yin Yang -
Yin Yang is the principle of natural and complementary forces. Yin and yang are opposite, but opposites that work in harmony and depend on one another. Yin and yang are interdependent - cannot exist without each other - nothing is totally Yin or totally Yang. Constantly transform into each other, Yin contains seed of Yang and vise versa. One can change into the other, but it is not a random event, happening only when the time is right. For example: Spring only comes when winter is finished. (Sacred Lotus. 2014) Yin Yang examples include:
- Masculine and feminine
- Darkness and light
- Winter and Summer
- Action and inaction
- Wet and Dry
The Taoist Body-The body, as much as the larger universe, is ruled and lived in by the gods - the multifaceted manifestations of spirit, the visible and accessible aspect of the Tao on earth. (Livia Kohn - The Taoist Experience: An Anthology. 1993) Taoists view the body, filled with Tao, as miniatures of the universe. All parts of the body have their physical counterparts in features of the universe.
Qi-
Qi or Ch'i is the vital cosmic energy that enable beings to survive and as a whole links them to the universe.
"Qi is the basic material of all that exists. It animates life and furnishes functional power of events. Qi is the root of the human body; its quality and movement determine human health. Qi can be discussed in terms of quantity, since having more means stronger metabolic function. This, however, does not mean that health is a byproduct of storing large quantities of qi. Rather, there is a normal or healthy amount of qi in every person, and health manifests in its balance and harmony, its moderation and smoothness of flow. This flow is envisioned in the texts as a complex system of waterways with the "Ocean of Qi" in the abdomen; rivers of qi flowing through the upper torso, arms, and legs; springs of qi reaching to the wrists and ankles; and wells of qi found in the fingers and toes. Even a small spot in this complex system can thus influence the whole, so that overall balance and smoothness are the general goal." (Livia Kohn. Health and Long Life- The Chinese Way.)
Immortality-
Taoist believe in immortality, not so as to live forever in the present physical body, but in spirit. In Taoism, the idea is in life a Taoist gets closer and closer to nature, until in death they are taking the final step in achieving unity with nature and the universe.
Taoists have different stages/levels of immortality:
1. Phantom immortal - the immortal among devils
2. Human immortal - One is not immortal, but moreover each man in his life passes through this period. It is the peak of the blossoming physiology.
3. Earth immortal - Considered only as an intermediate stage, this is the immortality to living of physical body on Earth. Though this can be achieved external destruction can destroy a body's ability do exist indefinitely on Earth.
4. Spiritual immortal - The spiritual fetus is born into the spiritual world and needs to be educated and developed. After it's strengthening the spirit is free to move around the Universe and cannot be killed.
5. Heaven immortal - Though the previous stage can go on endlessly the spirit has not transformed body. After 9-10 years of immobility the body and spirit can merge into the body of light. This is a most difficult task and when the achievers leaves the world nothing is left.
(Immortality in Taoist Alchemy. 2014)
Belief in the Tao-
Tao is the origin of heaven and earth. Not easily defined by words, it is the underlying force for all things that exist. It is believed to give rise to all beings, though Tao is not a being itself. It provides a source of belief for those on the human search for meaning.
Deities-
Taoists worship many gods, most borrowed from other religions, though Tao is not one of them. All these deities are themselves subject to the Tao and are not seen as omnipotent beings beyond the cosmos who created and control earth. These deities are a source of hope and faith for Taiosts.
Concepts within Taoism:
Wu and Yu-
Wu and yu and are being and non-being. Wu also represents limitlessness and it is suggested that Wu can be experienced by humans.
Te-
Te, translated as virtue, is described as an awareness of the Tao and human capabilities to follow Tao. "There is something fundamentally honest and psychologically healthy in being oneself and striding forward with one's vision facing directly ahead, instead of trying at every turn to satisfy abstract standards of goodness established by a reigning orthodoxy. This is what Te is all about." - Professor Victor Mair.
Wu Wei-
Wu Wei, natural non-intervention, is the method of following Tao. It means to go by the true nature of the world without obstructing Tao, letting things take their natural course. Taoists live a life of balance and harmony. "The world is a spiritual vessel, and one cannot act upon it;one who acts upon it destroys it." - Tao Te Ching. Taoist can not be ego-driven, but can still be proactive so long as their activities fit into the natural patterns of the universe.
Pure Taoism requires individuals to live on the basis that the world is working properly, and that they therefore should not interfere with it. (BBC - Religions. 2014)
Yin Yang -
Yin Yang is the principle of natural and complementary forces. Yin and yang are opposite, but opposites that work in harmony and depend on one another. Yin and yang are interdependent - cannot exist without each other - nothing is totally Yin or totally Yang. Constantly transform into each other, Yin contains seed of Yang and vise versa. One can change into the other, but it is not a random event, happening only when the time is right. For example: Spring only comes when winter is finished. (Sacred Lotus. 2014) Yin Yang examples include:
- Masculine and feminine
- Darkness and light
- Winter and Summer
- Action and inaction
- Wet and Dry
The Taoist Body-The body, as much as the larger universe, is ruled and lived in by the gods - the multifaceted manifestations of spirit, the visible and accessible aspect of the Tao on earth. (Livia Kohn - The Taoist Experience: An Anthology. 1993) Taoists view the body, filled with Tao, as miniatures of the universe. All parts of the body have their physical counterparts in features of the universe.
Qi-
Qi or Ch'i is the vital cosmic energy that enable beings to survive and as a whole links them to the universe.
"Qi is the basic material of all that exists. It animates life and furnishes functional power of events. Qi is the root of the human body; its quality and movement determine human health. Qi can be discussed in terms of quantity, since having more means stronger metabolic function. This, however, does not mean that health is a byproduct of storing large quantities of qi. Rather, there is a normal or healthy amount of qi in every person, and health manifests in its balance and harmony, its moderation and smoothness of flow. This flow is envisioned in the texts as a complex system of waterways with the "Ocean of Qi" in the abdomen; rivers of qi flowing through the upper torso, arms, and legs; springs of qi reaching to the wrists and ankles; and wells of qi found in the fingers and toes. Even a small spot in this complex system can thus influence the whole, so that overall balance and smoothness are the general goal." (Livia Kohn. Health and Long Life- The Chinese Way.)
Immortality-
Taoist believe in immortality, not so as to live forever in the present physical body, but in spirit. In Taoism, the idea is in life a Taoist gets closer and closer to nature, until in death they are taking the final step in achieving unity with nature and the universe.
Taoists have different stages/levels of immortality:
1. Phantom immortal - the immortal among devils
2. Human immortal - One is not immortal, but moreover each man in his life passes through this period. It is the peak of the blossoming physiology.
3. Earth immortal - Considered only as an intermediate stage, this is the immortality to living of physical body on Earth. Though this can be achieved external destruction can destroy a body's ability do exist indefinitely on Earth.
4. Spiritual immortal - The spiritual fetus is born into the spiritual world and needs to be educated and developed. After it's strengthening the spirit is free to move around the Universe and cannot be killed.
5. Heaven immortal - Though the previous stage can go on endlessly the spirit has not transformed body. After 9-10 years of immobility the body and spirit can merge into the body of light. This is a most difficult task and when the achievers leaves the world nothing is left.
(Immortality in Taoist Alchemy. 2014)