Taoism: Growth and Religion - Essay Example

DAOISM Daoism is both philosophical as well religious Chinese traditions that advocates for living in harmony in the community. The word is derived from ‘Dao’ which implies philosophical and religious principles in accordance with the Chinese culture. ‘Tao’ could also mean some source or individual’s driving force to observe such principles in the society. This work is about Daoism as religious and philosophical values in Chinese culture (Fowler, 24). Daoism is based on some special books on the Chinese society. However, it is important to mention that Daoism teachings were incorporated in various ancient and modern learning institutions. The ethical implications from Daoism lessons varied, depending on the nature of the learning institution but the basics behind the teachings were to ensure some sort of actions with regard to naturalness, simplicity and being spontaneous among other elements. One was expected to demonstrate good understanding of compassion, moderation as well humility. The training was meant to produce useful societal members who lived in harmony and respected one another in the society. Militants were also to incorporate such principles with their interactions with the civilians. Daoism was also meant to appreciate every society member and improve self-esteem. Daoism was a basic course or training that each society member should have despite the modern education. Daoism believes in physical exercises as a way of connecting to the Supreme Being. Believers are required to offer their rituals and engage in physical exercises which eventually lift their souls and connect them with the Supreme Being. Physical trainings would also improve human beings’ health and increase their life span, hence immortality. The religion had a special formula of being immortal. The religious leaders would lead their subjects to exercise sessions; however, one was to undergo some social and psychological teachings before joining the exercise sessions. Daoism valued ethics, harmony and respect among other societal elements in the society. It was believed that other practices and rituals would only yield once one appreciated the essence of harmony in the society. Physical exercises were also meant to reduce the levels of social and psychological stress and depressions. The exercise involved controlled breathing and limb movements in a certain pattern. One would leave the training rooms stress free and motivated. Family members would always gather and go through the exercise once or twice before the day ends. The exercise would also improve blood or circulatory system among the believers. There is no single report that records the difference brought by exercise among the believers but , it is a super nature concept that good exercise would always improve individual health. Historians believe the religion was founded by Laozi, whose believe was based on some five basic societal facts. Yin and Yang imply the positive and negative nature of human. It is represented by black and white. Black implies the entire negative societal of human aspects while white implies the positive issues in the society. Nature and ethics are another great consideration with the Daoism believers. Ethics is to ensure harmony and good relationships between the believers and the society at large. The religion requires its members to remain humble and respect every mankind. The element of nature applies to the fact that it requires all its members to respect nature, more so the ling organisms. Daoism does not encourage the killing of animals, domestic animals included. Daoism priests taught on the importance of being vegetarian as a way of conserving nature. The members would be taught how to attach their feelings and breathing pattern with those of the wild animals and create harmony. Since its introduction, Daoism has great influence on the ancient and modern Chinese culture. It became more famous after the literature of Laozi as well as Zhuangzi and some of the teachings were published in the famous Daozang. The Chinese valued such teachings until it was dubbed ‘state religion’. Daoism was initially taught and practiced in the republic of China but later adopted by neighboring states for the implications it had on the society (Zhao, 69). Currently, it is one of the most common religions in China and its surroundings. The attacks of Daoist temples made it even more famous. The religion grew further as the Chinese economy thrived further. Reports indicate that the religion has more than 20,000 members or believers in the country with over 1000, temples. The religion has gone some changes since it was established. It first emerged as a way of meditation or improving human breathing system. One would sit on his/her leg, close the eyes the breath quietly and slowly during the meditation process. This would refresh one’s memory and improve the breathing system. Physiotherapists used Daoism principles and practice to calm their patients. One would be guided through the practice until his/her heart beat and pulse rate become normal. The religion later included reincarnation as well as cosmology among other practices. Historians lament that such practices were adopted from various religions within and without China. Lingbao School involved the application of talismans and alchemy in their teachings. Other learning institutions also adopted such teachings in their curricula. Daoism had different practices and believes depending on where it was being practiced. Some institutions updated its beliefs and practices before others. In the 6th century, Daoists in Zhengyi practiced talismans protective practices and rituals (Despeux, 112). They offered their rituals and thanksgiving through repentance as well as abstaining from other sinful activities according to the religion. Later, Priest Wang Chongyang (Daoist) taught his religious members on some vegetarian lessons. The priest believed such diet would improve human health hence long life. He also taught on effective meditation and breathing methods to improve the general health of his religious members. He also incorporated Confucianism and Buddhism among other Chinese religions into his teachings. The impact was that very few would differentiate the three religions. The religion values not only human being but also other living things. For instance, it teaches and dictates how man can live with other animals, both domestic and wild. The religion appreciates the fact that every organism has its peculiar emotions and habits. The priest taught on how human can calm down and read the emotions of dangerous animals like the snake and tiger among others. The first step is to stay calm and collected. This itself is an indication that has no bad intention with the animal, hence the latter will also stand still and learn from the man. Daoism believers who happen to practice martial arts must undergo a 7 week program that deals with animals’ emotions. The snake is regarded the best active animal when it comes to being attentive and responses. The religion also appreciates the fact that wild animals could be more dangerous that enemy humans due to some basic social and psychological principles. First, wild animals cannot communicate with humans; hence the best way to protect themselves is to either dark away or attack. Secondly, such animals have poisonous venoms or tangs that could cause instance human deaths and finally, wild animals have unique characters that would enable them to come out of danger, and human life is more valuable. The priests were offended whenever they learnt their religious members attacked and killed certain wild animals. They believed in staying calm and learning the animals’ emotions and letting it imitate you. There is no complete evil or good according to the Daoism, in accordance to Dao. The Ying-yang symbols indicate the implication of both positive and negative aspects in the society. The white coloration in the symbol represents yang while black represent Yin. Yang implies strength, passion, progress among other positive traits while Yin represents weakness, surrender, sickness and sadness among negative societal traits. The two colors join each other and one is another, in other word the symbol has no pure black or white. This indicates that no human can be completely pure and no human is completely wicked as well. These human principles were used in making judgments once one was accused of some wrong doing. Daoism believes that even that neglected being may have some positive in him or her. This helps to advocate for respect and harmony in the society. Human life is important and should be respected despite of the individual’s ethnicity, race or economical status. The religion also questioned the good character believing that every being has some negative traits. This principle and beliefs were to be used by Daoists in settling their domestic conflicts. One was to understand his/her partner as a normal human being, having both the positive and negative traits. The principles enabled the society to stay in love, peace and harmony, just from understanding and appreciating one another. De is another important element in Daoism. It implies that the religious beliefs and principles apply in almost every aspect of human lives. De is defined through three main societal issues, namely virtue, integrity as well as immortality. Immortality is the aspect of beating death among other supernatural wraths in the society. The believers believed that a human could live longer through meditation and improved breathing. The religious members could gather in a spacious room then follow their priests, who taught on the best meditation and breathing techniques. They would sit with their legs and maintain an upright posture for a long time. The aspect of maintaining the sitting style and posture was believed to improve human health. It ensured good blood /circulation system among the believers. They could then close their eyes and open their minds as they control their breathing patterns to match that of the priest. It was also believed that good breathing pattern and meditation would drive away some disease causing spirits. Daoists believe that the bad spirits are also concerned with the human mind. It is through the mind and soul that human nature can be controlled (Robinet, 37). Meditation is letting the mind wander on positive societal aspects, and this would either confuse the bad spirits or scare them away. Hence one would remain healthy and immortal by such practices. Meditation would also help relieve psychological stress and depression. It would help one focus his/her mind on the positive aspects of life and get motivated. Social researchers indicate that personal motivations reduce stress and depression by some percentage. The religious members would create some family time and gather in the sitting room or any other spacious room and practice meditation and controlled breathing. The priests also used special minerals to detect the immortality elixirs. It was believed that one would turn to an immortal being after demonstrating some helpful traits in the society. Every Daoist maintained recommendable behaviors and helpful characters to be immortal in the long end. Nobody wished for death, hence the society was composed of humble, honest, respectful, non-judgmental and active individuals. Immortality was one of the ultimate goals of every believer. The priest would always mention the importance of De, with respect to immortality rewards. It would be useless for a Daoists to undergo all the religious rituals and practices and miss being immortal. Every believer would look troubled whenever the priest mentioned the phrase,’ missing immortality’. Several Chinese religions adopted the element of immortality but in different ways. But the ultimate gift was to calm and humble the society members. No one would wish to miss being immortal and hence die after all the religious sacrifices and practices. Currently, Daoism is applied in several Chinese practices. History records that the religion has been practiced for over 2005 years in China (Kohn, 67). Although some aspects have been modernized due to advanced technologies and practices, the basics is same. Martial arts like Ti-Chi applies meditation and breathing to relax the mind and improve individuals focus. The martial artist also believes in respect and humble in the society. Any Ti-chi student is first taken through important social and psychological lessons before the physical sessions. A student can be expelled from a certain Ti-chi venue on violating some social norms. For instance, the students should be the role models in the society. The religion is currently practiced in Australia, Brazil and England, among other nations. The world appreciates the religious norms and beliefs and hence it gained favor in the eyes of the majority. To conclude, Daoism is a religious belief that was traditionally practiced in China, however, it is observed in several parts of the world despite economical or ethnicities. Daoism was concerned with important or practical aspects of human life. The religion observed respect to mankind and other living organisms. It is believed that Daoism would encourage human immortality due to the physical exercises incorporated in its teachings. It also observed the fact that human nature can neither be completely good or bad. The symbol OF black and white in Yin Yang implies the importance of human life despite the negative accusations. These principles were used in making critical judgments in the society. It was believed that even the worst society member had some admirable traits, but this could only be realized after thorough investigations. This religion also believes on immortality to the members who observes the stipulated regulations. Immortality is also a subject of improved breathing, diet and meditations. The rest of the world appreciated the religious principles and the religion is currently practiced in over 234 nations of the world. The physical exercise and philosophical principles are currently applied in the martial arts like Ti-chi among others. Works Cited Fowler, Jeaneane. Chinese religions: belief and practices. London: Sussex Academic press, 2008. Kohn, L. Daoism Handbook. New York: BRILL, 2000. Kohn, Livia. Women in Daoism. New Jersey: Three pines press, 2003. Robinet, Isabelle. Taoism: Growth and religion. London: Stamford University, 2002. Zhao, Yanxia. Chinese Religion. New York: Continuum International Publishing group, 2010. Read More