The meaning of Reverence and Faith in Taoism 什么是敬信

The meaning of Reverence and Faith in Taoism

The foremost preliminary practice of Taoist cultivation as proposed by Sima Chengzhen (司马承祯).

The meaning of Reverence and Faith in Taoism

The Zuowang Lun (坐忘论, Treatise on Sitting in Forgetting) states: "Faith is the root of the Dao; reverence is the stem of virtue. When the root is deep, the Way can grow; when the stem is firm, virtue can flourish." One who cultivates the Way must first be sincerely devoted to the Dao, harboring no doubt whatsoever about the Way one cultivates—only through deep faith can the Way grow, and only through firm reverence can virtue flourish. If "the heart of faith in the Way is insufficient, misfortune born of unbelief will reach the practitioner—what hope then of the Way?" Insufficient faith in the Way not only makes it impossible to attain the Dao, but will also bring about the "misfortune of unbelief."

Cultivation of the Internal Alchemy path absolutely requires reverence, faith, and diligent practice in order to attain the Dao: "When a person hears the words of zuowang (坐忘, 'sitting in forgetting'), believes it to be the essential practice of cultivation, holds it in reverence and esteem without any doubt whatsoever, and adds to this diligent practice—the attainment of the Laozi Way is certain!"