Where are the roots of folk Taoist priests? I heard it was Buddhism, but how did it develop?
Huangdi is the ancestor, Laozi is the ancestor, and Zhang Ling is the ancestor [2]. Daoli has a history of more than 4700 years.
The name Taoist began in the Han Dynasty, when it referred to a wide range. In addition to the followers of the sects of "Wudou Mi Dao" and "Taiping Dao", alchemists, magicians and some Taoists can also be called Taoists. Kou Qianzhi of the Northern Wei Dynasty reformed Taoism in Shi Tian, stipulating that Taoists could set up altars at home and worship day and night without becoming monks. During the Jin and Yuan Dynasties, Quanzhen Taoism flourished, and it was stipulated that Taoist priests should not keep their wives and be cruel, but should become monks and live in seclusion in the jungle. Therefore, the Quanzhen Taoist priest who became a monk and the Zhengyi Taoist priest at home separated. Taoist priests are generally handed down from master to apprentice. Taoism believes that if you don't teach you, the Tao will not fail; To preach, you must choose people of noble birth and good nature. Those who want to become Taoist priests and female crowns must practice Buddhist precepts, build altars in Taoist temples, and practice fasting and quiet rooms. Disciples are required to receive scriptures, gold and silver, jade, silk and other keepsakes. After entering the Tao, only the Tao is the business, fasting and worshipping Buddha, chanting scriptures, burning incense and burning lamps, and not miscellaneous affairs. The name "Taoist" began in the Han Dynasty. During the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, the names of Taoism were even confused with the names of Buddhist monks. It was not until the Sui and Tang Dynasties that Taoist priests and their corresponding appellations, such as Taoist priest, feather scholar, feather guest, feather man and Huang Guan, gradually became proper names of Taoist clergy. With the increase of women's contact with Taoism, there have also been titles such as female crown. In general, honorifics are Taoist priests.
Most people collect money everywhere under the banner of Taoist priests, and few people really practice.
What is a Taoist priest? My personal understanding of Taoist priests has several meanings to explain.
The first monk was a Taoist. This monk doesn't have to practice in Taoist temple. Because the orthodoxy of Taoism is that Huoju Taoist can practice at home, but Huoju Taoist has received a formal Taoist lecture ceremony and is considered a monk. A single Taoist believer can only be said to be a Taoist believer. Learn the teaching method of Taoism on the basis of faith, and convert to Taoism is a layman. On the basis of lay people, people who spread it are called Taoist priests. I have a strict knowledge of becoming a monk in northern Taoism, and I want to go to Taoist temple to practice. In this respect, there are many differences between the north and the south.
Second, learn the teaching methods of Taoism. Taoism is a religion, and religion has its teachings. "Taixiao Shu Lang Jing" says: "Pedestrian Avenue is called Taoist Temple." "Body and mind are logical, only the Tao is obedient, and the Tao is the thing, so it is praised." There are eight Taoist teachings:
Respecting Taoism and Morality —— The highest belief of Taoism
Immortality and attaching importance to life-the distinctive features of Taoism
Loneliness and no desire-the code of conduct of Taoism
Natural inaction-Taoist attitude towards life
Inevitable weakness-Taoist cultivation
Returning to simplicity and truth-the ideal realm of Taoism
The Unity of Heaven and Man —— The Main Body of Taoist Culture
Inheriting Heaven-the retribution of good and evil in Taoism
Double cultivation of life-the key to Taoist cultivation
Therefore, a monk who studies Taoist teachings and studies them according to them is a Taoist. Let's talk about my personal opinion. A person who can only tell fortune, practice, shake hexagrams and draw symbols is not a Taoist, Taoist or Taoist. Taoism has five techniques, as I said in my last article, but these five techniques are techniques. Only a magician, not a Taoist, can master magic. Taoism is cultivated, and the Taoist scriptures, mainly the Tao Te Ching, all talk about enlightenment and how to achieve a quiet and natural inaction. Some people think that a Taoist is not a Taoist if he can't tell fortune, divination and operation. This is a wrong view. A Taoist who practices Taoism is a Taoist. There are also many people who want to be Taoist priests, but it is wrong to ask them the fundamental reason for learning these technologies. Art is a method of assisting monasticism and missionary work. Taoist priests must understand the meaning of Tao in order to be loyal to it. Don't use the heart of seeking, but the heart of doing something to think that it corresponds to inaction.
Third, spread Taoism. A Taoist should not only realize the Tao by himself, but also practice according to the thought of the Tao, to spread and carry forward the Tao. This is the difference between a Taoist and a layman. As clergymen, Taoist priests have the responsibility and obligation to inherit and carry forward Taoism.
So if you want to be a Taoist, I think you must first understand why you are a Taoist. Second, we must think clearly about what to do when we become a Taoist. Don't do it blindly, and don't misunderstand the Taoist priest. Taoism is a sacred name. Don't reduce the great distortion of Taoism to that little skill. In particular, some people think that being a monk can cook without working, for example, without burning firewood, and you can cook by saying a spell. Well, I can only say that it is childish. Tao is natural, not lazy. Some people think that when a Taoist learns magic, he can make a lot of money. It is unnatural to know that such an idea itself is against the Tao. Alas, you must think clearly if you want to be a Taoist.
Taoism and Taoism are two different things, and many people say home. Taoism is the predecessor of Taoism and a school of thought in the Spring and Autumn Period. At that time, it had not yet become a religion or a perfect belief. Until the bodhi old zu Shi Tian began to turn Taoism into a Taoist belief. So many people say home, which is not accurate.
Taoism has no harmful spells, because every Taoist practices according to teachings, not witchcraft. Witchcraft itself is anti-Taoist, so those who want to harm people don't look for Taoist priests. A real Taoist is not like this. Leave some peace for the Taoist priest.
Many people don't take Taoism recorded in Taoist collections and Taoism recorded in history as the basis. Instead, some folklore or novels are used as the basis of Taoism. Of course, the most terrible thing is based on novels written by modern people. I can only say that it is stupid. Read more Taoist scriptures and don't rely on those novels and legends. Especially in the current novels, what is true and what is supernatural is bullshit. Alas, respecting Tao begins with a correct understanding.