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Practice of Taoism
By peace | May 23, 2008
“The Three Pure Ones” is the avatar of Taoism. The Three Pure Ones are the highest Deities in Taoism. “The Three Pure Ones” transcend the entire hierarchy of Taoist deities. In the middle is the ultimate highest deity of Taoism, the Primordial Heavenly Worthy. To your right is the Spiritual Treasure Heavenly Worthy, and to your left is the Supreme Way Heavenly Worthy.
Taoism offers many rituals, charms, prayers and prescriptions for dealing with physical ailments and psychological troubles. Joss paper is burnt during special occasions and worship in Taoist temples. They are special offerings for the spiritual realm. To the divine, it is an act of sincerity. To the ancestors, it is a form of filial piety and to the spirits, it is to show compassion to them.
Taoists celebrate a large number of festivals. Some festivals are commonly known as the Spring Festival and Dragon Boat Festival, which are actually Traditional Chinese Festivals. During Taoist festivals and also on the first and fifteen of every lunar month, Taoists may choose to consume a vegetarian diet.
Common Taoist practice includes installing a ‘tian gong’ urn outside the house to worship the heaven and the divine. Sometimes, an Earth deity shrine may be set up to accord respect to the Earth deity. It is a way of putting the Taoist precept — respecting of Heaven and Earth — into practice.
There are two types of prayers: ritual prayers and the common prayers. Ritual prayers are conducted during special occasions and festivals. Only a Taoist priest can perform such prayers. Morning and evening rites are practices that not only seek blessings but are a form of cultivation. Lay Taoists offer incense and respect to the Divine every morning and evening; this is known as ‘common prayers’.
Household deities and ancestors are worshipped to thank them for their blessings. During auspicious events like birth and marriages, traditional Chinese rites are carried out. The colour red is widely used.
Death is regarded as the beginning of the spiritual stage of life. Taoists undertake Chao Yu, a ritual that facilitates the deceased’s spirit’s journey from the realm of Jiu You to the Eastern Land of Eternal Bliss realm, the eternity of the other world. They offer a ritual every seven days until the 49th day so that the deceased can be fully at rest and have the ability to bless living descendants from that other realm. The Taoist mercy deity, Lord Tai Yi of Salvation, is in charge of the deliverance of all spirits to the Eastern Land of Eternal Bliss and salvation to Mankind.
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