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Taoist doctrine
Taoism, when treated as a religious system of thought, involves the body of
beliefs, or Taoist doctrine, with which this article deals.
1 The Three Jewels
2 Beliefs
3 Precepts
4 Wu Wei
5 Rituals
The Three Jewels
The Three Jewels (or Treasures) of the Tao are
compassion
simplicity
patience
Beliefs
The Tao caused the creation of the universe.
The Tao is the energy that flows through all life.
The Tao surrounds everyone in the form of nature.
Everyone must observe and reflect on nature to find enlightenment.
An adherent’s goal is to become one with the Tao.
Everything is of the one Tao.
Everything is cyclical.
Each person must nurture the Tao or 3 bodily energies (Jing, Ch’i, Shen) through
activities such as exercise and meditation.
One should be prudent and think before acting.
People are inherently good.
Follow the art of wu wei: let nature take its course.
All followers are called upon to develop these three characteristics:
Compassion / Love
Simplicity / Moderation
Patience / Humility
Taoist philosophy teaches the following central precepts:
From the Tao arises (one unified force or path from where all things in the
universe arise), yin and yang-the dual nature of all manifestations of the Tao.
Act in accordance with one's nature.
One should find the correct perspective for one's mental activities until one
finds a deeper source for guiding one's interaction with the universe (see 'wu
wei' below).
Oneness: By realizing that all things (including ourselves) have their origin in
the Tao, we come to see all things as they are, and ourselves as a simple part
of the current moment. This understanding of oneness leads us to an appreciation
of life's events and our place within them as simple miraculous moments which
"simply are" in the present.
Duality, the opposition and combination of the Universe's two basic principles
of Yin and Yang (Simplified Chinese) forms a large part of the basic philosophy.
Some common associations with Yang and Yin, respectively, include: male and
female; light and dark; active and passive and motion and stillness.
Taoists believe that neither side out-ranks or surpasses the other; indeed,
neither can exist without the other, as they form equal aspects of the whole.
They ultimately provide an artificial distinction based on our perceptions, so
only our perception of them really changes. See taiji.
Taoism sees existence as an interplay between three elements: the individual;
society and its artificial values; the principles of Nature. In order to lead a
contented life, the individual must understand the principles of Nature, the
values of the social structure in which he must forge a life, and his own
internal wants and needs. According to Taoism, what is good and bad varies over
time and between societal groups, therefore, unlike the principles that guide
Nature, the values of a given society are arbitrary and artificial.
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