It is more worthy to practice Tao than to call oneself a Taoist. Alas many who are denoted as Taoists are actually practicing popular ethnic culture. This is the reality we have to face.
There is a close parallel we find in the sayings of Lord Bo Tien. He says that it is the doctrine and practice of it that matters. He is not here to start a new religion or sect or to favor any.
He is here to show that basic truth or doctrine is in any religion or sect. He did choose the setting of popular ethnic Chinese culture or religion to prove the point.
He says that the image of him in his shrine at a temple in his name is the doctrine. He even said that the doctrine is his image. He who knows the doctrine knows him and he who does not knows him not.
Sad to say that a very temple in his name may well be a temple where there are those who know not the doctrine and though seeing the image of the good lord will not know the lord. The one who is at another corner of the world away far away may well see and know the good lord even if he is not near an image of the lord. The far may be near and the near far. This did he say.
It is more worthy to know the doctrine or Tao / Way than to proclaim oneself a member or devotee of the lord. Alas many who are activists at a temple of the lord are actually practising popular social culture.
Isn't this a close parallel to what is stated in first paragraph. It is more worthy to practice Tao than to call oneself a Taoist. Alas many who are denoted as Taoists are actually practicing popular ethnic culture. This is the reality we have to face.
Thus the mission of the lord to save souls may be undermined even unintentionally by those who are not in the know or who are not bothered to know more of the doctrine. This is for real though sad somewhat.
What is the problem? The problem lies in this. The problem is that the basic is the same in all religions and sects but over the years due to cultural and society needs, it is the tendency of men to elaborate it to the extent that the leaves cover up the trunk and the main branches till men only see the leaves and not the trunk and main branches.
Go for the trunk and main branches but not the canopy of leaves though leaves and flowers are more attractive. This is what all need to do and remind themselves.
Thus doctrine is paramount. It may be more worthy to practice the doctrine than to proclaim oneself a follower, a Buddhist or Taoist. It may be better to be a non-Buddhist or non-Taoist but yet practising the doctrine.
What is the doctrine? It is that there is God or Divinity and men need to cultivate goodness and purity by balancing the yin and the yang - the often conflicting and troubling vicissitudes and approaches such as gain-loss, honor dishonor and denial-indulgence of life. This will enable the peace in life.
This is Tao. Even a non-Taoist can be adept in Tao and to be a master and teacher of Tao though he may not call it Tao and not at all a Taoist. A rose by any name is still a rose.
Balancing of life, the yin and yang is the Tao.
This is as depicted by feet on elements.
Left hand in salutation bids us to persevere.
Right hand holding on scepter reminds us
that Tao is the way to save souls.
The mission is to infuse Tao
in men regardless of religions or sects
or diversity of color creed and race
as depicted by the multiplicity
of color and hues of his armor.
The above sums up the clarity
for Mission to save souls.
The lord saint is like the big ocean
that reaches out to distant lands
Left hand in salutation bids us to persevere.
Right hand holding on scepter reminds us
that Tao is the way to save souls.
The mission is to infuse Tao
in men regardless of religions or sects
or diversity of color creed and race
as depicted by the multiplicity
of color and hues of his armor.
The above sums up the clarity
for Mission to save souls.
The lord saint is like the big ocean
that reaches out to distant lands
