Are you a Taoist?
If you are asked such a question, you might feel surprised: why? Why should you ask me such a question? How can I be a Taoist? You take it for granted that Taoists are a type of people living in China and a small number of people…
修道 xiudao means to cultivate Tao or Taoist cultivation. Most people would not think themselves as Taoist cultivators. They would say, without any hesitation, that they haven’t cultivated and won’t in future.
As a matter of fact, you can be a Taoist ( or Daoist ). Well, if we change “to cultivate Tao” with “ to obtain happiness”, i mean if I ask you “ do you like to obtain happiness? “ You would again without any hesitation say “ Of course, i like to have happiness!”
That’s the point! Don’t think of Taoist people too mystic; they are simply exploring one important issue: how to live long and well! What they practise, Tai chi or Taiji, Chi Kung or Qi Gong, meditation, however you call it, is simply for physical and spiritual cultivation.
Are you a Taoist?
If this question is raised to me, my answer is a “nes” one: half yes half no. I am not a Taoist and I am a Taoist. You know, i am not a temple Taoist. I am a martial Taoist and philosophical one.
In the Taoist circle or within the Taoist gate ( here i mean more the Temple Taoists) they say:
下士烧香，中士修道，上士弘道。Xiashi shaoxiang, zhongshi xiudao, shangshi hongdao.
The lower level Taoists simply burn incense; middle level cultivate Taoism; high level spread Taoism.
Me the Poor Taoist, based on Mt. Wudang, have been practising Taoism and promoting it. Please judge whether i am a Taoist :)
Master Gu sitting meditation on Mt. Wudang in central China.