Liu Deren (刘德仁):The founder of the Dadao School of Taoism

The Daoist Path: More Than Religion

Many Western friends ask me, "Is Daoism a religion or philosophy?" I tell them: we are both and neither. We are a way of being that predates such categories.

When the ancient sages spoke of Dao (道), they meant the fundamental principle underlying all existence - not a god to worship, but the pattern we align ourselves with. As Daoist priests, we serve as:

• Keepers of Ancient Wisdom - Preserving texts and teachings
• Community Healers - Practicing traditional medicine
• Spiritual Guides - Helping others find their path
• Cultural Bridges - Connecting past with present

The Three Treasures: Our Foundation

In the Dao De Jing, Laozi speaks of three treasures. These are not mere concepts but daily practices that shape everything we do:

In my own journey, I have learned that these treasures grow stronger through practice, like muscles strengthened through use.

The Daoist Priest's Daily Rhythm

People often imagine we spend our days in mystical contemplation. The truth is both more ordinary and more profound. Let me share a typical day at our temple:

Dawn (5:00 AM): We rise with the sun, beginning with morning prayers to the Three Pure Ones and gratitude for another day on the path.

Morning Practice (5:30-7:00 AM): Group qigong in the temple courtyard, moving meditation that circulates qi through our bodies while harmonizing with nature's awakening energy.

Study Period (7:30-9:00 AM): Reading and discussion of classical texts. Currently, our community is working through the Zhuangzi, exploring how ancient parables apply to modern life.

Community Service (9:00 AM-12:00 PM): This varies daily - consulting with visitors seeking guidance, preparing herbal medicines, maintaining temple grounds, or teaching children.

Midday Rest (12:00-1:00 PM): Simple vegetarian meal followed by brief rest, following natural rhythms rather than forcing constant activity.

Afternoon Activities (1:00-5:00 PM): Individual cultivation, ritual preparation, or specialized work (I focus on traditional medicine and calligraphy).

Evening Ceremony (5:30-6:30 PM): Community gathering for chanting, meditation, and reflection on the day's lessons.

Personal Cultivation (7:00-9:00 PM): Individual practice - meditation, internal energy work, or quiet study.

This rhythm has sustained our community for generations, creating space for both personal growth and service to others.

The Medicine Path: Healing as Sacred Work

My particular calling within our tradition is traditional Chinese medicine. This is not separate from spiritual practice but flows directly from Daoist understanding of life's interconnectedness.

Diagnostic Methods We Use:

Treatment Approaches:

Herbal Medicine: I maintain an apothecary with over 400 different herbs, each with specific energetic properties. Prescriptions aren't just about symptoms but about restoring overall harmony.

Acupuncture: Working with the body's energy meridians to redirect qi flow. Each needle placement reflects understanding of how energy moves through the human system.

Dietary Therapy: Food is medicine. I teach patients how different foods can support healing based on their individual constitution and current imbalances.

Lifestyle Guidance: True healing often requires changes in how people live, work, and relate to their environment.

My teacher used to say: "A good doctor treats the disease. A great doctor treats the person who has the disease. A Daoist healer treats the harmony between person, nature, and Dao."

Sacred Texts: The Library of Wisdom

Our tradition encompasses thousands of texts, but certain works form the foundation of every priest's education:

The Essential Canon:

Dao De Jing (道德經) - Laozi's profound verses on the nature of Dao and how to live in accordance with it. I read from this text every morning, finding new meanings as my understanding deepens.

Zhuangzi (莊子) - Stories and parables that use humor and paradox to point toward truth that cannot be grasped by logical thinking alone.

I Ching (易經) - The Book of Changes, teaching us about the constant flux of existence and how to flow with life's transformations.

Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine (黃帝內經) - Foundational medical text explaining how human health reflects cosmic patterns.

Specialized Texts:

Each text is like a facet of a jewel - alone, it shows one aspect of truth; together, they reflect the full brilliance of the Dao.

Seasonal Celebrations: Living the Cosmic Calendar

Our festivals connect human activity with natural cycles, helping communities stay in harmony with larger patterns:

Major Celebrations:

Spring Festival (Chinese New Year): Renewal ceremonies, blessing homes and businesses, setting intentions for the coming year. I spend weeks preparing special blessing talismans.

Qingming Festival (Tomb Sweeping Day): Honoring ancestors and deceased teachers. We clean grave sites, offer food and incense, and share stories of those who walked the path before us.

Dragon Boat Festival: Celebrating protective power, purifying influences, gathering medicinal herbs at their peak potency.

Mid-Autumn Festival: Harvest gratitude, family reunion, contemplating the moon as symbol of completeness and the eternal Dao.

Winter Solstice: The return of yang energy, longest meditation retreat of the year, internal cultivation as nature rests.

Each celebration reinforces our understanding that human life cannot be separated from cosmic rhythms.

Daoist Ethics: The Gentle Way

Unlike moral systems based on commandments, Daoist ethics flow naturally from understanding our interconnection with all life:

Wu Wei (無為): Effortless action, not forcing but flowing with circumstances while maintaining clear intention.

Pu (樸): Returning to simplicity, the "uncarved block" that holds infinite potential.

Ziran (自然): Naturalness, allowing things to unfold according to their inherent nature rather than imposing artificial control.

Yin-Yang Balance: Recognizing that apparent opposites are actually complementary aspects of unified wholeness.

These principles guide every decision, from how I speak with troubled patients to how we manage temple resources.

Common Questions from Western Visitors

"Do you believe in God?" We recognize the Jade Emperor and many deities, but these represent aspects of cosmic principle rather than separate supernatural beings. The ultimate reality - Dao - is both transcendent and immanent, beyond personality yet intimate as breath.

"What happens after death?" Individual consciousness returns to the greater Dao, like waves settling back into ocean. Through cultivation, we can maintain more coherent awareness through this transition.

"Can women be Daoist priests?" Absolutely. Our tradition has always honored both masculine and feminine aspects of spiritual authority. Some of our greatest masters have been women.

"Is Daoism compatible with other religions?" The Dao flows through all traditions. Many practitioners maintain dual affiliations, finding that Daoist cultivation enhances rather than conflicts with other spiritual paths.

Learning the Way: Advice for Sincere Seekers

If your heart resonates with what I've shared, consider these steps:

Beginning Practice:

1. Read the Dao De Jing slowly - One chapter per day, contemplating rather than analyzing
2. Learn basic qigong - Start with simple breathing exercises
3. Observe nature mindfully - Spend time outdoors without agenda
4. Practice wu wei in small things - Notice when you're forcing versus flowing

Finding Teachers:

• Seek authenticated lineage holders
• Observe how potential teachers embody the principles they teach
• Be patient - the right teacher will appear when you're ready
• Remember: books are guides, but living transmission comes through relationship

Deepening Understanding:

• Visit Daoist temples and sacred mountains
• Learn some Chinese to access texts in original language
• Practice traditional arts (calligraphy, tea ceremony, martial arts)
• Engage with Chinese cultural practices that express Daoist values

The path is long but each step brings its own reward. As we say: "The journey of returning to simplicity begins with a single breath."

Final Reflections: The Timeless in the Contemporary

In our rapidly changing world, ancient wisdom faces new challenges. How do we preserve authenticity while remaining relevant? How do we share Eastern insights without cultural appropriation?

As Liu Deren, I see my role as building bridges of understanding. The Dao that flowed through ancient China flows equally through modern America, Europe, and every land where sincere seekers open their hearts to timeless truth.

The techniques may adapt, but the essence remains: living in harmony with the natural order, cultivating virtue and compassion, serving others while continuing our own development, and recognizing the sacred dimension of ordinary existence.

May your path be blessed with discoveries that surprise and delight you. May you find teachers who guide without controlling, wisdom that liberates rather than binds, and practices that bring you home to your authentic nature.

Master Liu Deren (刘德仁)
Ordained Daoist Priest and Traditional Medicine Practitioner
Keeper of Ancient Wisdom, Servant of the Contemporary World

"In stillness, all things are revealed. In movement, all things find their proper place. In service, we discover our true self."