TAOISM

Q.A.

 Taoism is an Eastern religion/philosophy with perhaps 225 million followers.

Although it is more accurately referred to as a philosophy

 books on world religions inevitably include it with other religions from

Buddhism to Zoroastrianism.

 The Chinese word Tao is usually translated as "way", "path" or "principle",

although this usage takes its meaning from "reality" or "nature", which the
word Tao can also mean.

 The proper path in life, says Taoism, is one that works in harmony with reality,
the essence of the natural universe.

 The keystone work of literature in Taoist philosophy is the Tao Te Ching, a

concise book containing teachings attributed to Laozi, or "the Old Teacher", in
ancient China.

 According to tradition, it was written around the 6th century BC by the sage
Laozi (or Lao Tzu, "Old Master"), a record-keeper at the Zhou Dynasty court,
by whose name the text is known in China.

 The text's true authorship and date of composition or compilation are still
debated, although the oldest excavated text dates back to the late 4th century
BC.

 A number of widespread beliefs and practices that pre-dated the writing of the
Tao Te Ching were also incorporated into religious Taoism.

 After Laozi the literature of Taoism grew to vast proportions as the inherited
beliefs and practices continued to evolve.

 The philosophy, its literature, and the religious rituals profoundly influenced
the culture of China and surrounding societies in Asia.

 Philosophical Taoism, individualistic by nature, is not institutionalized.

 Religious Taoism has been institutionalized for centuries and has been
influenced by a variety of cultures and traditions.

F.B.
  Today the philosophy exercises a profound influence on modern thought worldwide:
the Tao Te Ching is, after the Bible, the book most often translated into
English.

 Taoist propriety and ethics emphasize the Three Jewels of the Tao:
compassion, moderation, and humility,

 Taoist thought generally focuses on nature, the relationship between humanity

and the cosmos (天人相应); health and longevity; and wu wei (action through
inaction).

 Harmony with the universe and its source (Tao) is the intended result of Taoist
practices.

 Religious Taoism traditionally features reverence for ancestors and immortals

along with a variety of divination practices.

 Clerics of institutionalised religious Taoism (Dàoshi) often take care to note

distinctions between their ritual tradition and the customs and practices found
in popular ("folk") religion.

 Zen Buddhism, several Chinese martial arts, traditional Chinese medicine, feng
shui, and many styles of qigong have been intertwined with Taoism throughout
history.

On Emptiness

We put thirty spokes together and call it a wheel;

But it is on the space where there is nothing that the usefulness of the wheel
depends.
We turn clay to make a vessel;
But it is on the space where there is nothing that the usefulness of the vessel
depends.
We pierce doors and windows to make a house;
And it is on these spaces where there is nothing that the usefulness of the house
depends.
Therefore just as we take advantage of what is, we should recognize the
usefulness of what is not. (chap. 11, tr. Waley)

Philosophical vacuity is a common theme among Asian

wisdom traditions including Taoism

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