Taoism

cctv.com 09-15-2003 09:05

To be or not to be is not a Taoist question. According to Taoism, The only thing that is constant is change. Life goes on endlessly in a circle transformation from non-being to being to non-being. Secular losses and wins are meant to be only temporary, nothing to worry about.

Taoism finds the only answer to life is the order and harmony in nature. Tao, as unspeakable as it is, literally means the natural rule, the way to be. By observing nature, acting according to Tao, one is believed to be able to achieve physical vitality and mental well being, and lead a balanced and happy life.

All exercises, many in imitation of animals, preferably done in natural surroundings, are intended to practice both Qi-- Humans internal life energy and external physical strength.

Leading Qi flow smoothly through entire body under the guidance of consciousness is the purpose of most Wudang internal exercises.

Entitled as Zhenren, meaning human ideal, the true person, a person who lives in accord with Tao. Have a free-and-easy approach to life, rather than attempting to live by analysis or daily planer. You also can become a 'true man", achieve the real state of being.

Whereas western doctors tend to address a patients problem in a relatively isolated way by treating injured and affected part directly, Taoist doctors takes and treats the body as a whole.

Our system emphasis on self-healing. A conscious and balanced body is one's own elixir to ones all physical problems.

"External exercise" is necessary to do regularly in order to strengthen the bones, muscles and ligaments, while "internal work" is also important to activate or mobilize qi鈥攖he internal life energy and prolong life.

"External alchemy" which seeks to discover the elixir of perpetual youth, but also through "internal alchemy," which seeks to invert the normal aging processes by an energizing marriage of yin yang.

In Chinese history, people weary of pressures of society or aware of the limit of personal achievements would retreat from the worldly life, turn to nature for comfort. They call themselves-- those living like 'immortals on the earth'!

Accompanied by like-minded souls, an immortal on earth would spend days to recite poems, write calligraphy, visit places of interests鈥aoist 'wuwei' doctrine that encourages living spontaneously and free from social losses and win caters to this group of people especially.

Laozi, the Taoist legendary founder, who described tao as 'indescribable', pointed out clearly the way of achieving Tao though -- wuwei, keep a piece of quiet mind, learn from the nature.

Editor:Han Ling  Source:CCTV.com