What is Taoism?There are two kinds of Taoism:
- the philosophical Taoism, also called tao-chia (school of tao), and
- the religious Taoism called tao-chiao or the religious or mystical school.
The 3 sages: Lao Tzu, Confucius and Buddha |
Tao-chia flourished in China during the period of the Warring States, that is 5-4 century BC.
A way of life inspired by Lao Tzu in his writing Tao Te Ching (translated the Classic of Tao and Te). In short, Taoism draws from the basic philosophical concepts developed by Lao Tzu
such as the emptiness (wu), nondoing (wu-wei) and return (fu). Tao itself - the main concept in Taoism - is presented by Lao Tzu as something that
can not be described, that stands at the origin of all things and beings (the 10.000 things) in the Universe. The Taoist adept must conform his life and deeds to the Tao or the Way, that is he
must follow the Tao in his/her pursuits.
Wan-wu, the Chinese character for the 10.000 things meaning
the entire universe |
The tao-chiao equals our religious systems such the Christian one. It has gods and spiritual practices, rituals, and rules concerning
food and life customs, and so forth.Also tao-chiao includes all the esoteric schools concerned with life-prolonging techniques and the search for immortality, the
alchemical schools, those practicing sexual rituals or based on meditation and breath control. Still Lao Tzu concepts may be found only in the tao-chia - or the
school of Tao - which based its entire knowledge on Tao Te Ching and other such esoteric books.
-> Learn more about the Taoist concepts developed in the Tao Te Ching:
- Tao
- Emptiness
- Nondoing
- Fu (coming soon)-> See also the Tao Te Ching page
here.
-> More about Taoism may be found on Taoism Initiation Page official website at http://www.taopage.org (this site is owned by the Way of Perfect Emptiness Taoist organization). |
