Ten Things that Taoist Priests Must Know

A Taoist master once said that there are ten things that a Taoist priest must know.
The first thing is the origin and development of Taoism. During its nearly two-thousand-year development, Taoism has produced many sects. Every Taoist priest belongs to a certain sect. Up until the Ming Dynasty, the Taoist sects were mainly divided into the Zhengyi School and the Quanzhen School. No matter which sect one belongs to, the root is the same, that is, the "Tao". Therefore, when a Taoist priest practices, they should learn the fundamentals of Taoism. Both the Zhengyi and the Quanzhen are parts of the entity of Taoism.

The second thing is the Taoist scriptures and talismans. Tao, scriptures, and masters are the three treasures of Taoism. A Taoist priest must know the classics of Taoism. Each sect has its own classics. The "Tao Te Ching" is the mother of all Taoist scriptures and should be memorized by every Taoist priest. Talismans are granted to Taoist priests according to their different levels of spiritual cultivation. Taoist priests should read scriptures during their morning and evening classes. The belief of Taoism lies within the scriptures and talismans.

The third thing is sitting in seclusion and maintaining tranquility. "Yuan" refers to a small round room built with walls. Taoist priests cultivate and meditate in this room. This was actually a common practice mode in the early days of the Quanzhen School.

The fourth thing is the fasting and penance. Fasting and penance are not only the means by which Taoist priests serve believers and eliminate disasters and difficulties, but also a form of self-cultivation for the Taoist priests themselves. Since Lu Xiujing, a highly respected Taoist master in the Six Dynasties, all the highly respected Taoist masters throughout history have attached great importance to the practice of fasting and penance. The Luo Tian Grand Ceremony held in Maoshan some time ago is clear evidence of this.

The fifth thing is the transmission of Taoist methods. There is a saying in the Taoist sect: "The Tao is not easily transmitted, and the Dharma is not cheaply sold." To maintain the inheritance of the Taoist sect and the purity of the Taoist methods, one must be clear about the rules and admonitions of the sect regarding the inheritance of the Taoist methods. Passing it on to the wrong person will bring disasters upon oneself. Taoist priests must be extremely cautious when passing on the Dharma.

The sixth thing is the abbot and leader. The development of a religion ultimately depends on people. As the entity of Taoism, Taoist temples need an abbot to organize and carry out various daily operations. Whether a Taoist priest is practicing or traveling far, they need to understand the organization of the sect. It is very necessary to be clear about the qualifications and rules that the abbot and leader should abide by.

The seventh thing is visiting and learning. In addition to practicing hard according to the teachings of their masters, Taoist priests also need to learn from the strengths of others. There are many Taoist sects, and each sect has its own unique practices. Therefore, visiting and learning can greatly enhance their skills and abilities. At the same time, it can also strengthen the connections among Taoist priests and indirectly enhance the overall strength of Taoism.

The eighth thing is establishing and managing Taoist temples. Taoist temples are the physical manifestations of Taoism and are of great significance to the survival and development of Taoism. Therefore, Taoist priests must know the clear rules and admonitions for establishing and protecting Taoist temples and be able to exert the function of self-cultivation and helping others through the temples.
The ninth thing is financial management. When a Taoist priest practices, they must have four conditions fulfilled: wealth, Dharma, companion, and place. "Wealth" comes first. Without a certain economic strength, not to mention practicing, even basic survival would be a problem. Therefore, Taoist priests must also know about financial management.

The tenth thing is the repair and maintenance of Taoist temples. To serve believers for a long time and achieve the goal of helping the world and saving people, Taoist priests naturally need to ensure that the Taoist temples are in good condition and not dilapidated. Therefore, ancient Taoist priests also needed to have some knowledge of the repair and maintenance of Taoist temples.
If one can know the above ten things, they can basically become a qualified Taoist priest.