The so-called "Tao" is the law of the change and development of all things. It exists objectively, independent of people's will, illusory but ubiquitous. The so-called "respecting Tao" means that people respect the law of the change and development of things, and everything should conform to the law and not move against it.
The so-called "virtue" is the code of conduct formed on the basis of "Tao". The so-called "virtue" means respecting and obeying the code of conduct of people who conform to the "Tao" of all things, and doing things according to "virtue" instead of doing a trip without "virtue"
Taoism respects Laozi's Tao Te Ching as a classic, and all his thoughts come from this book.
According to the Tao Te Ching, the main idea of Taoism can be said to be the unity of man and nature, learning from nature, being pure and doing nothing, and preserving health and prolonging life.
One of the most important characteristics of Taoism is rebirth, which holds that "Tao" and "destiny" are in harmony, and "destiny" and "Tao" are in harmony and inseparable. Getting the "Tao" means "longevity", even immortality.
Taoism believes that among all things, besides the world where people live, there are so-called ten caves, thirty-six caves and seventy-two blessed places, all of which are places where immortals live. Also said that there are days behind, * * * 36 days. The top floor is Luo Tian, and the world is Sanqing Day, also called Sanqing Land. That is, it is slightly sunny-Jade Qing, sunny in Yu Yu, sunny in Tai Chi Tiantai. There are still 32 days under the Sanqing boundary, each with its own name. Every cave is blessed by heaven, and there are special gods to govern it. To worship Taoism is to firmly believe in the existence of this wonderful and complicated fairy world and worship it. Taoism believes that immortals are the masters of all things in the universe. Taoism is a polytheistic religion with a huge system of gods, gods, people and ghosts. "Tao" is everywhere, that is, God is everywhere, even the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, teeth, hair and five internal organs of the human body have God.
Taoism worships three supreme gods, namely, Yuanshi Tianzun, Lingbao Tianzun and Moral Tianzun, and lives in Sanqing. Therefore, the three gods are also collectively called Sanqing. It is also said that the three Buddha statues are all gasification and the embodiment of the old gentleman. This is the meaning of "one gasification and three cleanings" that Taoism often says. Sanqing is the embodiment of Tao. In addition to Sanqing, there are many gods believed in Taoism, and the system of gods is very huge. Such as the Four Emperors, Jade Emperor, Three Officials and Two Emperors, Four Gongcao, Six Ding and Six Jia, Thirty-six plough, Seventy-two Underground Palace, Queen Mother, Lv Dongbin, Li Hanzhong and He Xiangu. Qiu Chuji, Tan Chuduan and Sun Buer. Zhenwu Emperor, Dongyue Emperor, De, Lishan's mother, De Guan, Sun Simiao, Vulcan, Town God, Land, Kitchen God, Door God and so on.
Taoism believes that "cultivation" can make people return to their original nature, integrate with "Tao", become immortal, get rid of worldly sufferings and troubles forever, live forever and be happy. Taoism believes that people's life span is not entirely determined by "heaven", and there is a saying that "my life is not determined by heaven". The rebirth of Taoism is just the opposite of the expensive death of Buddhism. Taoism pursues happiness and longevity. It is believed that people can obtain the Tao by seeking the protection or cultivation of God, not only can they enjoy the happiness of the world, but also can return to their original nature, be the same as the Tao, live forever, ascend to heaven in the daytime, and live forever in the celestial world. So Taoism calls death a feather, and Taoism calls it a feather guest. Feather means it can soar. Taoism believes that immortals also have different levels, such as soaring and autopsy. The so-called autopsy means that although the body is left, the person has become immortal and quietly left.
Taoism pursues immortality in many ways. Among them, the methods of the Fulu school are mainly to exorcise ghosts and get rid of diseases by prostrating, chanting, worshiping God, chanting, praying for blessings, fasting, praying for God's blessing and so on. On the other hand, Waidan School believes that taking Waidan can prolong life. The so-called external elixir is made of cinnabar, realgar, mica, azurol, sulfur, Yan Rong, saltpeter, orpiment and other drugs by burning in the fire. Neidan Sect hopes to live forever by refining Neidan. The so-called Inner Dan means not using special drugs such as sand and realgar and tools such as clay stoves and iron pans, but using essence, qi and spirit in one's body as drugs, burning with spirit, and using one's body as a cauldron to condense essence into Inner Dan. Taoism also advocates practicing through breathing, guidance, persuasion and fetal breathing, which is actually Qigong in ancient China, and can be beneficial to health.