"Be still like a mountain and flow like a great river." Lao Tse
The founder of Taoism is believed by many to be Lao-Tse (604-531 BCE), a contemporary of Confucius. (Alternate spellings: Lao Tze, Lao Tsu, Lao Tzu, Laozi, Laotze, etc.). He was searching for a way that would avoid the constant feudal warfare and other conflicts that disrupted society during his lifetime. The result was his book: Tao-te-Ching (a.k.a. Daodejing). Others believe that he is a mythical character.
Taoism started as a combination of psychology and philosophy but evolved into a religious faith in 440 CE.
The Tao is the natural order of things. It is a force that flows through every living and sentient object, as well as through the entire universe. When the Tao is in balance it is possible to find perfect happiness.
Taoism encourages working with natural forces, not against them. Taoism teaches the path of wu-wei - the technique of mastering circumstances, not trying to control them. Teachers of the Tao often use examples of the bending reed or grass blowing in the wind to illustrate this important point. A Taoist would encourage an individual to work with their obstacles and problems instead of fighting adversity at every turn.
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The
most common graphic representation of Taoist theology is the circular
Yin Yang figure. It represents the balance of opposites in the universe.
When they are equally present, all is calm. When one is outweighed by
the other, there is confusion and disarray. The Yin and Yang are a model
that the faithful follow, an aid that allows each person to contemplate
the state of their lives.
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Taoists believe that nature and the earth is constantly in flux. Simply, the only constant in the world is change. When individuals learn that growth and movement are natural and necessary, they can become balanced. Reality is perpetual change.
Another essential element of the Tao is the term P'u or the uncarved block. A person who exemplifies this characteristic is one who is simple and looks at the world without preconceptions. P'u is the student, always held in wonder by the world and its constant change.
More a listening technique than an actual theology, Taoism asks that each person focuses on the world around them in order to understand the inner harmonies of the universe. It is a religious system heavily focused on meditation and contemplation. The Tao surrounds everyone and one must listen to find enlightenment.
http://mcel.pacificu.edu/as/students/vb/Taoism.HTM
Taoist Beliefs and Practices:
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Tao is the first-cause of the universe. It is a force that flows through all life. |
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Each believer's goal is to become one with the Tao. |
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The priesthood views the many gods as manifestations of the one Dao, "which could not be represented as an image or a particular thing." The concept of a personified deity is foreign to them, as is the concept of the creation of the universe. Thus, they do not pray as Christians do; there is no God to hear the prayers or to act upon them. They seek answers to life's problems through inner meditation and outer observation. |
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In contrast with the beliefs and practices of the priesthood, most of the laity have "believed that spirits pervaded nature...The gods in heaven acted like and were treated like the officials in the world of men; worshipping the gods was a kind of rehearsal of attitudes toward secular authorities. On the other hand, the demons and ghosts of hell acted like and were treated like the bullies, outlaws, and threatening strangers in the real world; they were bribed by the people and were ritually arrested by the martial forces of the spirit officials." (http://www.askasia.org/frclasrm/readings/r000005.htm) |
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Time is cyclical, not linear as in Western thinking. |
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Yin (dark side) is the breath that formed the earth. Yang (light side) is the breath that formed the heavens. They symbolize pairs of opposites which are seen throughout the universe, such as good and evil, light and dark, male and female. Intervention by human civilization upsets the balances of Yin and Yang. The symbol of Taoism, seen at the top of this page, represents Yin and Yang in balance. |
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"The Tao surrounds everyone and therefore everyone must listen to find enlightenment." (http://ssd1.cas.pacificu.edu/as/students/vb/Taoism.htm) |
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Taoists generally have an interest in promoting health and vitality. |
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Five main organs and orifices of the body correspond to the five parts of the sky: water, fire, wood, metal and earth. |
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Each person must nurture the Ch'i (air, breath) that has been given to them. |
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Development of virtue is one's chief task. The Three Jewels to be sought are compassion, moderation and humility. |
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Taoists follow the art of "wu wei", which is to achieve action through minimal action. "It is the practice of going against the stream not by struggling against it and thrashing about, but by standing still and letting the stream do all the work. Thus the sage knows that relative to the river, he still moves against the current. To the outside world the sage appears to take no action - but in fact he takes action long before others ever foresee the need for action." (http://www.interfaithcenter.org/taoism.html ) |
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One should plan in advance and consider carefully each action before making it. |
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A Taoists is kind to other individuals, largely because such an action tends to be reciprocated. |
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Taoists believe that "people are compassionate by nature...left to their own devices [they] will show this compassion without expecting a reward." (http://www.interfaithcenter.org/taoism.html ) |
Taoism was born in the end of the second century in China. When it came to Vietnam it mixed with local folk beliefs and practices. Taoism in Vietnam became a richly textured religion of gods, super heroes and ghosts, and it integrated shamanism, agricultural religious beliefs, ancestor worship and the worship of heroes, especially the guardian spirit of the village. Buddhism developed in Vietnam in the Middle Ages and became the spiritual foundation of ordinary people, while Confucianism became the basic ideology of intellectuals and state officials called mandarins. When Buddhism integrated with Taoist and folk beliefs in Vietnam, it became transformed into a new religion, called "Folk Buddhism." For example, the folk-female Vietnamese deity, the goddess of rain, merged with the Buddhist pantheon. She is still worshipped for her powers over rain at the Dau Buddhist pagoda where her statue is larger than Buddha's. A yearly festival is organized to pray to her for rain and a good crop. Festivals are an encyclopedia and living museum of Vietnamese spiritual and cultural activities, of mores, traditions and mythology.
Sources:
http://www.thingsasian.com/goto_article/article.612.html
http://mcel.pacificu.edu/as/students/vb/Taoism.HTM
http://www.religioustolerance.org/taoism.htm