How Does Taoism View Fate?

  Taoism advocates the idea that "My fate lies in my own hands, not in the heavens." This means that an individual's life, just like that of heaven and earth, is created by the natural qi. Therefore, if one practices Taoism, guards the qi, and returns to the root, one can be in harmony with the Tao and enjoy a lifespan as long as that of heaven. It emphasizes that an individual's life can be determined by oneself, not controlled by heaven and earth.

Taoism regards life as a joy, values life highly and abhors death. Thus, it emphasizes "valuing life and precious techniques" and pursues longevity. In the "Inner Chapters of Baopuzi · Huangbai" by Ge Hong, a Taoist priest in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, it is stated, "My fate lies in my own hands, not in the heavens. Once the elixir of immortality is made into gold, it can last for hundreds of millions of years." This implies that the survival and the length of a person's life are determined by oneself, not by the mandate of heaven. It is believed that through cultivation, one can extend one's lifespan, and with consistent cultivation over a long period of time, one can even become an immortal.

The "Xisheng Jing" extols "emptiness" and "nature." It holds that emptiness gives birth to nature, nature gives birth to the Tao, the Tao gives birth to qi, qi gives birth to heaven and earth, and heaven and earth give birth to all things. Fundamentally, both heaven and earth and human beings are created by qi. Therefore, they are equal. As long as one abandons knowledge and nourishes the spirit, and firmly guards the original qi, one can "remain with the Tao for a long time," and all of this is brought about by "nature." It is believed that the Tao gives birth to all things, the Tao and life accompany each other, and life and the Tao protect each other. They are two in one and one in two, and they are inseparable for a moment.

Taoism believes that living in the world is a joy, while death is a painful thing. Therefore, the teachings of Taoism advocate cherishing life and valuing life highly, emphasizing that "the way of immortality values