Understanding Basic Taoism - Q&A page

1. What is tao (Taoism)?
Tao is ‘reason’, a ‘way’, the ‘righteousness’, the correct path one should take.

2. Where can I find tao?
Tao is in our daily lifestyle. It's the way what we should do, how we should live.

3. What is tao cultivation (xiu tao)? Is it safe?
Tao cultivation is a study on good moral etiquette, about understanding the meaning and purposes of living, then learn a way to communicate with the deities.

4. What is the real tao (Zheng tao)? What is evil sect?
The real tao (zheng tao) is about assisting the poor and unfortunate. Evil sect practices killing and evil black magic.

5. Why is the real tao not affected by evil (xie bu ru zheng)?
Righteousness will eventually overcome evil.

6. What is real tao (zheng tao) believe based on?
The real tao (zheng tao) teaching is based on the highness Tai San Lao chun and the learning of all other Taoist deities.

7. What is the difference with other Taoist sect?
There is no differences at all.

8. What is the goal for studying Taoism?
The ultimate goal is to be a better person, assist the unfortunate, understanding human behavior.

9. Is necessary to study tao in remote places like a cave in the mountain?
Not necessary. With proper guidance (from an experienced master), one can study/practice Taoism anywhere.

10. What are the benefits in studying tao?
Firstly, one will learn a form/way of communication with deity and qigong. With constant practice, it will strengthen your body and improve longevity.

11. This form of Taoist practice known as ‘Dao Yin Su’, is it suitable for all gender and age?
Everyone have their own fate whether or not they can study Taoism. Some will have little affinity meaning they can only learn the basic in this lifespan, some with big affinity will be able to learn more successful in studying Taoism. However, false perceptions and too quick to draw conclusion is the downfall in studying Taoism.

12. Is it necessary to light joss stick and prayer daily?
Tao is nature. There is no need to light joss stick and prayer at a particular time daily. Most important is the sincerely.

13. Is it safe to study Taoism?
Taoism is the true teaching on righteousness. Therefore, it is good to study moral etiquettes, doing good deeds and assist the poor and unfortunate.

14. Will studying Taoism cause one to become insane?
Definitely no. Taoism is not an evil practice.

15. Is going vegetarian an requirement to study Taoism?
It is not an requirement. But being an vegetarian is good for your health.

16. Why must go vegetarian on one’s birthday?
Is only to purify your body.

17. When studying Taoism, can one bet?
There is no law in Taoism that forbid betting. But it should not become an oblivion otherwise one can lost a fortune thus resulting in sufferings.

18. Isn’t it better to retreat into the mountain to cultivate tao?
The peace and quietness of the remote temples in the mountain is a good place to study Taoism because there is no disturbance and the air is fresh. But it is not necessary. Taoism can be study anywhere.

19. Will cultivating tao prolong one’s life indefinitely?
It is not possible to prolong one’s life indefinitely. However, with proper study in Taoism (shen gong and gigong) one’s health is at the peak, thus a person will be able to live his/her life fully.

20. Some religions claimed that Taoist pray to devils and demons? Is it true?
In ancient times there are many cults. Some are good and some are bad. There are some religions/cults that even use to do human sacrifies (sometimes even using their own children to sacrify) to their false gods. This is evil worshipper - not taoist.
Taoist deities are all good, they always teaches mankind to be good, kind, compassion by always helping others.
So, beware of those cults/religions that involve human sacrifies. These are evil cults or religions!

21. Deities statues are man-made. Praying to these statues isn't it superstitions?
God and Goddess are God and Goddess. Statues are only statues. God and Goddess doesn't live inside the statues. These statues are only a tool used in rituals to made it more alive. Statues are just symbol or representive.

Very good my dear bro, you have summarized the teaching of Dao to a simple form for people who are not into Dao to have a better picture.

Thanks for your effort.. :P

Salute You ;)

hi once again. :lol:

there was once when a old shifu asked me: "how many realms are there in heaven?"

till this day, i have yet to find out the answer. from what i was told, there are 3 realms in the world. in hokkien: tien gai (heaven), lin gai (human) and lastly teh gai (earth;underworld).

hopefuly someone can answer my doubt. :D

This is a good qns. So when the Old Master asking you this qns is to wait for your answer or wanted you to give him a definite answer on the Realms?

Sam Gai - the 3 Realms only can be used in this World, whereas there are more than 3 Realms in the Whole Universe.

Many ppl like to say that 33 Heavens or 36 Heavens, etc.. and actually in EACH individual Heaven, there's these 3 Realms existing.

Till now, no one is able to calculate out the actual number of Universe in the Universe, Heavens in Universe, World in the Heavens, World in the Worlds... so how many Realms are there, is still an Unknown figure.

Just to add on, in the whole Universe, we can only know what we know, but in the Whole Universe, there are more Universe to be found. In each Universe, there are a group of Leading Deities, just like what we have here, now and maybe future.

hi javewu

it was SUPPOSED to be just another casual question. :P

so am i right to say that there are 33 realms in heaven? or 63 realms? :unsure:

Hi Geok,

there's no wrong or right answer in saying the both.

till today, us the human can only understand or know that we have been in these 33 or 63 Realms.

For those who have cultivated to a higher level of Strength, they will know there's another world of so and so Realms. This is beyond the human at recent to understand. :P