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Essence of World Religions
can apprehend the Tao, thereafter leading a life of “actionless activity." There is no personal God in Taoism, and thus no union with Him. There are three worlds and all beings are within them. The worship is a part of the path. Path of Attainment One who follows the Tao follows the natural order of things, not seeking to improve upon nature or to manage virtue to others. The Taoist observes "wu wei" or non doing - like water seeks and finds its proper level without any effort. This path includes purifying oneself by stilling appetites and emotions. This is accomplished in part through meditation, breath control, and other forms of inner discipline, generally under a master. The foremost practice is goodness or naturalness, and detachment from worldly things.
Synopsis The term Taoism refers both to the philosophy outlined in the Däode Jing (Tao Te Ching) (identified with Laozi or Lao tzu) and to China's ancient Taoist religion. Next to Confucianism, it ranks as the second major belief system in traditional Chinese thought. Taoism is a Chinese philosophy and way of life dating back several millennia; codified around 500 B.C. Confucius told his students that in Lao Tzu he had met a dragon. Confucius favored a multiplicity of social roles and rules. By contrast, Taoism emphasizes intuition, spontaneity, and simplicity. Three doctrines are particularly important to Taoist:
Non being (wu): The creative force brings everything into being and the destructive force dissolves everything into non being. Return (fu): Everything, after completing its cycle, returns to non being. Non action or Actionless action (wu wei): Non action does not mean no action, but desireless action in harmony with nature. This is the best way to live life. If we keep still and listen to the inner prompting of the Tao, we shall act effortlessly and efficiently, hardly giving the matter a
thought. We will be our true selves. The prominent features of Taoist religion are belief in physical
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