The Meaning of Tao Rituals Jimmy & Jessie July 21, :40~2:25 pm

Agenda  1:40~2:00 Introduction (Jimmy)  2:00~2:25 Explanation (Jessie )

A few questions :  What is the first Treasure you were given (of Three Treasures) when receiving the Tao?  When do you ever use Three Treasures?  What benefits do you get from practicing the ritual?  Do you often come to the temple to practice the ritual ?

Shi-Zuen set up the ritual in 1939  It’s the tenth year after Shi-Zuen became the 18th patriarch in  China was in the period of political chaos, and people were in panic and filled with fear. Tao expanded rapidly with several hundreds of thousand followers.  Shi-Zuen set up the flexible and comprehensive ritual for I-Kuan Tao believers, and it was spread widely.

I-Kuan Tao Rituals Today  I-Kuan Tao incorporated the essence from Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism ConfucianismTaoismBuddhism ( 1930~1950 Tao in China )  Later, it acknowledged the validity and essence of non-Chinese religions, such as Christianity and Islam ; therefore, ‘‘ Saints of the Five Religions “ have been worshiped in the ritual until today. ChristianityIslam (1950~ today Tao all over the world )

I-Kuan Tao Rituals convey Equality & Unification  合 = 人 (People) + 一 (one ) + 口 (voice ) Reconciliation to the conflict in life  仝 = 人 (People) + 工 (work) Cultivation through doing good deeds  Holding Hand Seal,Bow, Kneel, Kowtow, Rise, Dismiss in the ritual  Ming Ming Shang Di is the Creator and the Sustainer of the universe.

Muslims Prayers Reduce Alzheimer  A Scholastic Founding: The founding was from the United States’ National Institutes of Health (NIH) in collaboration with some Israeli researchers from hospitals and universities ( University of Tel Aviv and University of Ben Gurion), and some American researchers from the University of Clubland.

 This joint Israeli American scientific study revealed that regular prayers (e.g. the five daily Muslims prayers) can reduce the risk of developing dementia or “Alzheimer’s” by 50 percent.  “Prayer is a custom in which thought is invested, and the intellectual activity involved may constitute a protective measure against the disease.” Muslims Prayers Reduce Alzheimer

Religion & Good Health  This study was not the first to find any link between religion and good health.  In 2005, researchers found that adopting a religious or spiritual lifestyle slows the progress of Alzheimer’s disease.  Also, the Israeli research group (assia) found the morbidity and mortality rates among infants were much lower in religious communities.

Bowing and doing kowtows are two basic motions of Tao rituals. Practicing Tao rituals exercises our body & mind.

Bowing  Try to roll up and unroll the spine piece by piece slowly, like doing Tai-Chi or Yoga. (Jimmy demo)  After practice, you can concentrate your mind better even though you are doing the movement quicker.

Bowing  The movements allow your True Self to manifest itself and to be the master of your body and mind.  To bow is to reflect, to learn to be humble and sense the power of gratitude, which elevates us to a new level of spirituality.  When bowing, we let go of our outward mind and look inward to our True Self, which helps the flow of our blood circulation and Chi.

Kowtows  Going back to our origin— becoming Yong  Experience the cuddle and the grace of God

Kowtow  Paying Tribute to Our True Self  The word 命 (life) is composed of three characters:  人 (person)  一 (one)  叩 (kowtow)

Kowtows  If we concentrate while doing kowtows, we can perceive the impurities in our mind being filtered out.  Do not do it too fast when practicing.

The Islamic Kneeling  Very similar to Kowtow except we have---  Hand Seal

The Hand Seal ( 合仝 )  合仝 = 合約 ( contract) The contract ( 約定 ) with God  A reminder of being a Child ( 孩 ) of God.

子 丑 寅 卯 辰 巳 午 未 申 酉 戌 亥 子 + 亥 = 孩 Have a Pure Heart of a Baby

 The hand seal reminds us that we must always keep our inner minds as pure as the original nature given to us by God. (Matthew19:13-14): Let the children come to me and do not stop them, because the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.” Unless we can be children within, we won’t be allowed to go into his kingdom.

Conclusion:  Practicing rituals is not a dogma; it is an important part of our cultivation in Tao.  Practicing rituals is doing a form of moving meditation.  We become a microcosm while doing Tao rituals.

 As you sow, so shall you reap.

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