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Taoism Beliefs Taoism beliefs include a mixture of ancient Taoist traditions, Lao-tzu, rituals, superstitions, magic and faith. The Religious Beliefs Includes the
worship of Lao-tzu deified, seen as an incarnation of Tao itself. Also they include sacrifices and rituals due to local deities, spirits and most of all to the family ancestors. All these are intended for life preserve and good luck. The faith in the Immortals (Hsien) is also striking. Who are they? Persons who didn't perish after death, like ordinary individuals, that is they didn't departed from their bodies. Therefore they continue to live on earth or above,
in the spiritual realms.
I read that Chinese people believe in spiritual immortality. This is inaccurate. The immortals are persons like us, living in their body, only they developed certain skills and spiritual knowledge by practicing specific techniques (such as the inner or outer alchemy). Religious Taoists show interest in talismans and amulets, meant to protect one for the danger of the malignant spirits. They also practice witchcraft and offers prayers to chase the bad spirits. Divination Through I-ching They use the I-ching and others similar means to reveal the future. Divination accompanied sacrificial offerings and almost
everything regarding the life of people and Kings.
Philosophical Taoism and the Pure Being The Taoism created by Lao-tzu and mainly described in his Tao-te ching, is not interested in immortality. It simply states
that life and death are kind of a come-and-go process that can not be reversed or suspended. The disciple strives to emulate the Tao, the creator and sustainer of the Universe, through meditation (stillness), wu-wei (nonaction) and indifference to the worldly matters. By doing these, it is said the disciple acquire the nature of a new born child, that is, the pure being. Lao-tzu wrote about the transformation of the disciple:
He who has in himself abundantly the attributes (of the Tao) is like an infant. Poisonous insects will not sting him; fierce beasts will not seize him; birds of prey will not strike him. (Quote from Tao-te ching, chapter 55, James Legge translation)
Taoists of the philosophic school don't believe in either life preserving practices. Contrary to what we may think, they state that the disease appear as naturally as it cured itself. Proof is Yang-tzu dialogue published in the Lieh-tzu book. Tao is Not God The Tao is not God (as the Christian God, for example) but the invisible condition of being of everything in the Universe. It includes the yin-yang law that rules over the (changes of the) world, be they cosmic or human. Learn Taoism Online
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