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Various Questions
By Jagannatha Prakasa © January 2005 (last updated March 29, 2017)

Subject: Please help, I am stuck....and its my final. Question:



I dont mean to bother ou but I have 10 questions for my final in college, and i have to find an expert in Taoism. I was raised Baptist so this is beyound me and so far i am pretty close to failing this class. I have never had such a hard class, and this religion is going to kill my grade, please help if you can, I will be so grateful.

My question are as follows.....

My Answer:

Hi "M",

Studying other religions is a great growth process. It opens ones mind and expands ones horizons. I would encourage you to read the Tao Te Ching and the Chang Tzu, two of the principle Taoist scriptures. Jesus says, "I have other sheep who are not of this fold..." Who those sheep are is often debated, but surely God loves everyone. Therefore, understanding the beliefs of others is a great way to honor ones own religion.

From your request it appears that you were to interview someone right?

I'd hate to think I was doing your homework for you. This would be cheating you.

Anyway, following are my answers. Let me know how it turns out:
What are the important holidays and traditions of this religion?

    See this part of the answer here


How has religion shaped your life?

    Religion is the governing principle of my life. Every major and many minor decisions are based on it. It has led me to other countries, to earn my MA degree and various ordinations. The importance of religion in my life cannot be over stated.
    I am not a Taoist, however I have studied it extensively and lived in Taoist communities.


What are the challenges, if any, to practicing this particular religion?

    One living in the West has difficulties finding other Taoists. Much of what goes for Taoism in the West is really a form of Buddhism, New Ageism, Shao-lin etc. There are not many real Taoists in the West.
    In China and other countries where Taoism is a principle path (or incorporated into other local traditions, especially Buddhism and Neo-Confucianism, it is much easier to find others and to practice.
    As Taoism for the populace is not very demanding, those raised as Taoists have little or no difficulty, those who come to Taoism later in life have various difficulties depending on their backgrounds, cultures, country, etc. Like adherents of other religions, Taoists range between the ultra devout and those on the fringes. It should be stated that there are two essential forms of Taoism: Philosophical and Practical.

    Many Westerners have been moved by Philosophical Taoism. For such people, the only real difficulty is attaining right mindedness, maintaining the proper mental composure. Practicing traditional or Practical Taoism is very rare in the West and quite difficult.


Do you mix Taoism with any other of the Chinese religions?

    One of the great strengths of Taoism is that it does not demand solitary loyalty. It isn't so much a religion as a "way of life." Taoism is mixed with all religions, be they Chinese based or not. One who understands the Tao and the heart of Taoism, its influence can be seen everywhere. This is true in part because the Tao is not a thing in itself, but the amalgamation of all things, the harmony of all that is. Tao is not Yin plus Yang. It is closer described as the point where Yin and Yang dissolve into each other, and yet, within Tao there is neither Yin nor Yang because the two are ever complementarity apart as they reside within Tao. This truth is implied in the yin/yang symbol where the white dot is seen in the black and the black dot in the white. "The Tao that can be named is not the true Tao."

    When in Buddhist sangas, my consciousness always includes the glorious simplicity of Tao.


Is there any particular Shen that you identify with more then the others?


    By definition Shen is one and countless. I assume you are referring to the Shen other than self, such as Cai Shen. Each being possesses two "souls," shen and kwei, the celestial and terrestrial. realizing the harmony of these two is the primary occupation of the Taoist. The various spirit beings (introduced by Lao Tsu's disciple Chuang Tzu, have importance for many Practical Taoists, but not really for me as I prefer the more philosophical path of Taoism expressed in Tao Te Ching. I seek to focus on uniting the universe and realizing Tao. So no, I don't prefer one to the other.


When a member of your temple dies, are they offered "heaven visas" or paper money of a certain style?

    Death is not viewed as an end but merely as a point along the way that should be neither feared nor desired. When a person dies, as a social courtesy, there is often a memorial service after which the body is usually cremated and disposed of as the family wishes, often the ashes are spread over hills, streams etc.


Yin and Yang are eternally balanced. Were they to become unbalanced the universe would be destroyed and Tao or Wholeness would be shattered.
Yin or yang may predominate in an individual, but in the universe there is harmony, regardless of apparent current imbalances.


Do you perform the traditional "brides dowry" ceremony here?


    I have no relationship with such things. In villages people do as they do. This is a real problem as many people abuse this old tradition.


In China business’s close for several days for the New Year observation, do you do the same here(in the USA?)


    In the US New Years Day comes on January 1. Some people stay up until midnight and drink and party with family and friends. Some kiss their spouses or significant others as the clock strike midnight. Some religious people stay up and perform prayers etc. at midnight. Beyond this however, New Years is a single day and of little importance.


The Chinese government regulates the religious practices in the homeland; do they have as much regulation control here?


    No country on earth has the degree of anti-religious government regulation that China does. In the US the government is currently working to restrict religious freedoms and expressions. Thus far however, religions are mainly free to do as they will. Religions that register with the government (and thereby become exempt from taxes) are not allowed to support political causes, even though in practice they mostly do... There are laws restricting the exercise of religious beliefs in public places.
    For instance, it is illegal for children to bring religious items (Bibles etc.) into many public schools, it is illegal to pray in these schools, it is usually not allowed to place religious images (crosses, creches, menorahs etc.) on government properties, including parks, etc. These are fairly recent restrictions on civil rights here. Even with such government interference, the US is much freer than China in every way (though again we are currently losing our rights and these freedoms may not last much longer).

M's Reply:

    No Hun you are not cheating me by answering and I so appreciate it. You see I live in a microscopic very limited ethnic diversity town in Tennessee and there was no way to get answers that I needed.

    Thank you so much, and yes I am finding this religion class so interesting, though my teacher is so hard to please that I am almost failing it.

    Still I am learning...

My reply: Hi "M",

Always glad to help. By the way, I grew up in a small North Georgia town so I can relate ;-)

The Tao Te Ching (text 47) tells us that:


    Without going outside, you may know the whole world. Without looking through the window, you may see the ways of heaven.
    The farther you go, the less you know.
    Thus the sage knows without traveling;
    He sees without looking;
    He works without doing.


The glory of Tao, the glory of at-one-ment is that from small Tennessee (or Georgia) towns, one can know the entire universe.

Best of all good things to you,
Peace, Love, and Light!