TAOISM

ORIGIN CREED CODE CULT

 Originated from China  Yin and yang Taoists generally follow a sort of  Rituals attempt to bring
 551-479 BCE  Emphasizes on the union of the Golden Rule, but the principal Taoist the universe, the world,
 Founder was Lao Tzu which opposite and complementary ethic is called Wu-wei, or no-action, the society, and the
means “Old Master”. meaning to seek equilibrium and
forces individuals into harmony
Whether or not if Lao Tzu follow the natural order.

really existed is still a matter  Stresses harmony with nature,  Implies action that is Praying to deities
of debate. benevolence, immortality, self spontaneous, natural, and  Purification
improvement, and helping effortless  Meditation on talisman
society and the world  This behavior simply flows  Making offering to deities
 The Tao can’t be defined through us because it is the  Has a complicated nature
right action, appropriate to its
(according to Taoism) so rituals are made by
time and place, and serving
 Tao-ultimate creative energy of the purpose of greater priests and the assistant
the universe, the organic harmony and balance (chant, dance, and play
universe of the cosmos, and the percussion and wind
way of nature and the world The Ten Precepts of Taoism instruments)
 Everything rely on Tao even  Classical rules for the Taoist seeking  The chiao (jiao)- important
to attain the rank of  ‘Disciple of
the deities ritual for cosmic revival
Pure Faith’
 Each person must nurture the  More concerned with ethical  Temple rituals-seek
Ch'i (air, breath) that has been behavior of the individual, than with stabilization of the yin and
given to them. the individual’s attitude toward yang for the individuals
their gods
 Development of virtue is one's and the community as a
chief task. The Three Jewels to 1. Do not kill but always be whole
be sought are compassion, mindful of the host of living  Feng shui and fortune
moderation and humility. beings. telling is part of Taoism
 Taoists follow the art of "wu 2. Do not be lascivious or think
 wei," which is to let nature take depraved thoughts.  Sacrifice of animals
its course. For example, one 3. Do not steal or receive  They celebrate festivals
should allow a river to flow unrighteous wealth.  Street parades during
towards the sea unimpeded; do 4. Do not cheat or misrepresent
festivals
good and evil.
not erect a dam, which would  Installing a “Tian Gong”
5. Do not get intoxicated but
interfere with its natural flow. always think of pure conduct.  There are two types of
 Taoists believe that "people are 6. I will maintain harmony with prayers: ritual prayers and
compassionate by nature...left my ancestors and family and the common prayers.
to their own devices [they] will never disregard my kin. Ritual prayers are
show this compassion without 7. When I see someone do a
conducted during special
good deed, I will support him
expecting a reward." occasions and festivals.
with joy and delight.
8. When I see someone Only a Taoist priest can
 Tao literally means "the path" unfortunate, I will support perform such prayers.
or "The Way". It is the him with dignity to recover Morning and evening rites
undefineable, harmonious good fortune.
power that flows throughout are practices that not only
9. When someone comes to do
the universe. It flows through seek blessings but are a
me harm, I will not harbor
all entites--living and non- thoughts of revenge. form of cultivation. Lay
living. One of the goals of a 10. As long as all beings have Taoists offer incense and
taoist is to become in tune with not attained the Tao, I will respect to the Divine every
Tao. not expect to do so myself. morning and evening; this
is known as ‘common
 Wu Wei means "non-action"
literally translated. It is the prayers’.
idea of "actionless action". One
does not need to be agressive
to make things happen or to
 win battles. It ties in with the o A Taoist is kind to other
Taoist virtue of individuals, in part because
nonagression/noncompetition. such an action tends to be
reciprocated.
 A yin yang is a Taoist symbol o Taoist propriety and ethics
that represents the opposite emphasize the Three Jewels of
components of Tao. The yin is the Tao: compassion,
the dark, passive, feminine moderation, and humility,
part. The yang is the active,
light, masculine part. These
equal parts balance and Basic Principles
compliment each other as  Selflessness
opposites in the world and the  redefinition of "self" or "ego"
universe naturally balance and  Moderation
compliment one another.  Maximum freedom is
experienced when one is in the
middle between the upper
bound and lower bound
limitations, in other words,
moderation. (Taoist ethic of
freedom through moderation.)
 Embracing the Mystery
 Taoists still retain their basic
innate fear.
 Mystery is what makes life fun.
 Non-contrivance
 Tao Te Ching warns against
contrived, or consciously
manipulated morality.
  Because nature is dynamic and
contrived morals are stiff,
contrived morals go against
nature.
 Detachment
 The Tao Te Ching teaches that
learning is a part of life, but
what you learn doesn't belong
to you.
 To attach to life and fear
death is to misunderstand life.
 Humility
 Humility means doing your job
with detachment from the
outcome.