First of all, Taoist teachings
1, Q: What is Taoism?
Answer: Taoism takes "Tao" as the highest belief, worships Huang Lao, takes the cultivation theory and method of Taoism and immortals as the center, informs and educates all beings with Lao Zi's "Tao" thought, pursues the harmony of the universe and world peace, and teaches people to achieve happiness, longevity and longevity through self-cultivation. □
2. Q: When did Taoism come into being?
A: According to Taoist scriptures, Taoism began before the great disaster, when heaven and earth were inseparable. The universe is chaotic and the sun and moon are not bright. Taishang Laojun was born in it and his pen name is Pangu; After Wutai (Taiyi, Taichu, Tai Su, Taishi, Taiji), it is clear and floating, heavy and turbid, and opens the world; Xuanyuan has been born again for three days. The old gentleman turned his eyes into the sun and moon, his hair into stars, his muscles into fertile soil, his bones into hard rocks, his breath into clouds, his voice and the divine light in his eyes into lightning, his blood into rivers and lakes, and his hair into vegetation? As a result, Yin Qi rose, Yang Qi declined, everything formed, and interpersonal relationships flourished. At this point, the old man returned to the Heavenly Palace, taking Taixu as his body and Taiwei as his home. Then the old gentleman incarnated several times and went through eighty-one difficulties. As soon as Xuanyuan Huangdi was born, he became a Guangchengzi, teaching Huangdi the way of keeping in good health. In the Spring and Autumn Period, he became Laozi, handed down the moral truth, and taught Guan Yinzi how to fix the truth, thus prospering.
By the middle of the Eastern Han Dynasty more than 1800 years ago, that is, when Emperor Shun Di of the Eastern Han Dynasty was in power (126 ~ 144), the old man had descended to Shu capital and awarded Zhang Tianshi Daoling the "Merit of the Righteousness Alliance" and the "Five True Classics" in Dayihe, Sichuan. During the Spring and Autumn Period, Laojun preached to Donghua Emperor Wang again. Zhong Liquan, founder of Zhengyang, Donghua Emperor in Han Dynasty; In the Tang Dynasty, Zhengyang studied under Lv Dongbin, the founder of Chunyang. At the end of the Northern Song Dynasty, Zhong Lu Erxian boarded the Ganhe Bridge and was awarded the weight.
Yang Zushi and even Tao. The founder of Chongyang gathered the ancestral traditions of the four seas in one altar, practiced asceticism in the tomb of the living dead, and preached in Shandong. Quanzhen Seven Sons continued the ancestral traditions and passed them on to future generations, and the teaching method flourished. □
3. Q: What are the basic teachings of Taoism?
Answer: Taoism regards "Tao" as the highest belief and the ultimate goal of practice. Around this core, in the process of its development and evolution, the doctrine has gradually formed. Any religion has faith, and the interpretation of faith is teaching. In order to make it easier for religious believers to master the teachings, on the basis of the teachings, a few concise words or sentences are summed up to make it easier for religious believers to remember, which is called teachings and serves as a guide for religious believers in their daily practice. These teachings are compatible with all the teachings and do not conflict with them (Chen Yingning).
Taoism takes the thought of Tao Te Ching as its main doctrine, and advocates respecting Tao and morality, reviving harmony, simplicity, unity, quietness, kindness and frugality. Taoism believes that "Tao" is the noumenon of the universe, the origin of all things, the law of the operation of all things and the moral code of the world. "Virtue" is the externalization and function of Tao. Immortals are spiritual entities that follow morality and transcend the secular in spirit, body and ethics. Immortals are not only the embodiment of Tao, but also the model of human morality. Therefore, Taoists respect Taoism and morality, and expect Taoism to be true, wonderful in form and spirit, and immortal.
"My life depends on whether I am in heaven" is another important doctrine of Taoism. The original intention is that a person's long life depends on himself, not fate. Generally speaking, fate is not in the hands of others, not in the hands of some invisible mysterious force, but in our own hands, that is, life is in my hands and wealth is not in the sky. As far as healthy living is concerned, people can achieve the purpose of prolonging life by taking medicine and guiding qi, and recuperate before getting sick to make their bodies healthy. The ancients said: nip in the bud, nip in the bud, and help the affected people solve their difficulties. This positive thought of "My life depends on my not going to heaven" is the fundamental guiding ideology of Taoist practice and changing fate. □
4. Q: What are the basic beliefs of Taoism?
A: The basic belief of Taoism is "Tao". Believers take learning, practicing and practicing Taoism as their religion, so it is called Taoism. Respect the Tao Te Ching (Laozi) as the main scripture. According to the Taoist scriptures, Tao is "the system of nothingness, the root of nature, the foundation of God and the yuan of heaven and earth", and "everything is born from it, and the five elements are formed from it". In other words, the universe, yin and yang, and everything are born from this. In the world of Taoism, besides the world where people live, there are fairyland where immortals live, such as "ten caves, thirty-six caves and seventy-two blessed lands".
It is divided into three kinds of gods, and then divided into three supreme gods: Yuanshi Tianzun, Lingbao Tianzun and Moral Tianzun.
Taoism has a huge god system, and it believes in many gods, such as Jade Emperor, Four Imperial Gods, Five Ancient Gods, Doulao Yuan Jun, Three Official Emperors, Four Valued Gongcao, Six Ding Liu Jia, Thirty-six plough, Seventy-two Underground Palace, Zhenwu Emperor, Dongyue Emperor, Bi Xia Yuan Jun, Guan Sheng Emperor, Huang Cheng, Land, Chef and so on.
Another important content of "Tao" belief is that Tao has eternal life. If you get it and keep it, you can live forever, which is also called "virtue". Virtue is gain, and virtue is gain. So people can practice Buddhism and live forever, and become immortal through enlightenment.
Taoism is reborn, cherishes life and pursues immortality. People can achieve the "unity of life and Taoism" through learning Taoism, monasticism and practice, so as to gain Taoism and last for a long time. They can not only enjoy the happiness of the world, but also return to the original, integrate with Taoism, return to the "baby", live in the fairy world, and reach the realm of eternal life. □
5. Q: What is the purpose of Taoism?
A: The aim of Taoism is "immortal Taoism cherishes life and has boundless people". "Refine form to preserve spirit", "both form and spirit are wonderful", "Tao is true" and "enjoy life". Taoism is a religion that actively pursues life and attaches great importance to the unity of form and spirit.
Saving people from seclusion is mostly manifested in the pursuit of Taoist medical skills and the help of ghosts and gods in the practice of ghosts. Those who think of exorcism and blessing at the mention of Taoism are actually misled by some novels or movies.
6. Q: Was Taoism founded by Zhang Daoling? Or "Lao Zi"? What is the relationship between Taoism and Laozi's "Tao"?
A: Taoism originated in China and began in Xuanyuan Huangdi. It is an inherent religion of the Chinese nation. Taoism existed long before Zhang Ling Shi Tian. For example, Fangxian Road, Huanglao Road, Taiping Road and so on. Early Taoism was called alchemist or feather scholar. Only in modern history, Zhang Ling is the symbol of the formal establishment of Taoism. Taoism takes Laozi's Tao Te Ching as its fundamental classic. The core teachings of Taoism basically come from this. Respect for "Tao" is the highest belief, and Tao is above all gods. However, due to the transformation of "Tao" into "Sanqing" in one breath, Jade Qing, Shangqing and Taiqing represent the three periods of Taoist universe generation, namely, mixed yuan, Hongyuan and Taichu, which are the concrete manifestations of Taoist universe generation theory. Therefore, the supreme in Sanqing directly represents Tao and represents different aspects of Tao's ontology, so it is often said that Sanqing is "Tao". Later, Taoist gods such as heaven, earth and three realms were derived, which was the basis of the gods. □
7. Q: Why is Taoism an inherent religion in China?
A: Taoism originated from the Yellow Emperor, combined with Laozi, and developed in Zhang Daoling, Shi Tian. Confucianism in the Warring States, Qin and Han Dynasties praised the learning of Huangdi and Laozi and called it Taoism. Tang and Song Dynasties surrendered to each other.
Learning, believing and worshiping Taoism from generation to generation is an important part of China's national culture, which has a far-reaching influence on the formation of Chinese national spirit and national character. So Taoism is an inherent religion in China. □
8. Q: Why should Taoism be taught in the name of Taoism?
A: Taoists should believe in Taoism, study Taoism, inherit Taoism, carry forward Taoism and practice Taoism. Therefore, Taoism teaches in the name of Tao because they "take Tao as a thing" and "educate all beings with Tao". □
9. Q: What is Tao and virtue?
A: Lao Tzu's "Tao" is the core of Taoist teachings, and it is a kind of "Tao" that is "static for teaching, nothingness for the body and powerless for use". This "Tao" is the origin and master of the universe. It is all-encompassing and everywhere. It is the beginning of all things, the biochemical person of all things.
Tao Te Ching says, "Tao gives birth to one, one, two, three and three things". Laozi's "Tao" refers not only to the universe itself, but also to the laws of nature. Therefore, "Tao" can make all beings equal before the Sanqing gods, regardless of rank, wealth, intelligence and stupidity. Taoism emphasizes that anyone can believe and learn Taoism. "Old Xiangzi Jules" says "Tao": "Scattering is neat, gathering is handsome. Always stay in Kunlun, or talk about nothingness, or talk about nature, or talk about anonymity, all in one ear. " The Shengji of the Emperor of the Mixed Yuan Dynasty also said: "Laozi is an old gentleman, which is the body of Tao, the ancestor of vitality and the foundation of heaven and earth." Therefore, the old gentleman is the embodiment of Tao.
"Virtue" and "Tao" are a whole and become the core of Taoism. The "virtue" mentioned in the Tao Te Ching refers to this kind of "virtue". The Book of Changes says: "Don't fight for the master, fight for the corporal, be virtuous but not virtuous, be virtuous and persistent, and be non-virtuous. All beings are so ignorant of the truth that they have a false heart? " . Therefore, Taoism must attach importance to "self-cultivation". And take "Tao" and "morality" as the most fundamental principles of belief and action, so as to achieve both self-cultivation and moral accumulation. "Daoism and Moral Meaning" says: "Morality is an organic whole, but it has two meanings. One is different and the two are not unique. " Therefore, it can be said that everything that meets the standards of "Tao" is "virtue"; Any violation of the norms of Tao is "immoral". The Preface to the Ascension of the West says: "Tao is in my virtue". According to the principle of "Tao", "keeping fit is true; Repairing at home has more virtues; The virtues cultivated in the countryside are long-lasting; It is virtuous to cultivate it in the countryside; It is the virtue of the world. " Taoism emphasizes self-cultivation, keeping the family in order, and governing the country, so that "Tao Pu De Yi" can reach the ideal state of peace and benevolence.
Taoism divides "virtue" into "yin virtue" and "yang virtue" according to attitude. The so-called "yin virtue" refers to the virtue that individuals are not known to others; The so-called "Yang De" refers to the well-known virtue of individuals. Taoism advocates "Yin De", and "the big one benefits people, while the small one benefits things, Xiu De". □
10, q: what are the three treasures of Taoism?
A: Taoism regards Jade Qing Tianbao Jun, Qing Ling Bao Jun and Tai Qing Shen Bao Jun as the three treasures of Taoism and respects them as the highest gods.
However, because Taoism is based on learning Taoism, monasticism and practice, there are three essentials based on this, which are honored as three treasures:
(1) Learners of Taoism: Jade Qing's pastoral respect is regarded as Tao Baozun, Qing Lingbao Tianzun as Bao Jingzun, and Tai Qing's moral Tianzun as Shi Baozun, as the three treasures of "Tao, tranquility and teacher" who converted to Taoism.
(2) Monks: take the "essence, spirit and spirit" of the human body as the three treasures, cultivate self-cultivation and make contributions to the world.
(3) Walker: Take "benevolence, frugality and concession" as the foundation of the Tao, and make it the three treasures of WTO accession. "Lao tze? Sambo said: "I have three treasures, which I cherish. First, I am kind, second, I am thrifty, and third, I dare not be the first in the world. " □