How do Taoist priests practice in Taoist temples on a daily basis?

The daily cultivation methods of Taoist priests mainly include the following:

I. Chanting scriptures

1. Significance:
- Chanting Taoist classics such as "Tao Te Ching", "Zhuangzi", and "Treatise on Response and Retribution" is an important part of the daily cultivation of Taoist priests. Through chanting scriptures, one can deeply understand the doctrines, philosophical thoughts, and cultivation methods of Taoism. At the same time, it is also a way to communicate with deities, express respect, and pray for blessings.
- Chanting scriptures helps purify the mind and calm the spirit, enabling practitioners to gradually enter a focused and peaceful state during the chanting process and cultivate inner peace and stability.

2. Methods:
- Taoist priests usually chant scriptures at specific times and places, such as in the halls of Taoist temples in the morning or in the scripture halls during evening classes. When chanting scriptures, Taoist priests will adopt specific tones, rhythms, and rhymes to enhance the appeal and sacredness of the scriptures.
- Some Taoist temples will also organize collective chanting activities to allow Taoist priests to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the scriptures together, promoting each other and making progress together.

II. Meditation (sitting in silence and meditation)

1. Significance:
- Meditation is an important cultivation method that helps cultivate concentration, improve inner awareness, and self-awareness. Through meditation, Taoist priests can adjust their physical and mental states, make their hearts calm and relaxed, and thus better perceive the existence and operation of Tao.
- Meditation can also help practitioners cultivate stability and endurance, enhance resistance to various distractions and temptations, and lay a solid foundation for further cultivation.

2. Methods:
- Taoist priests usually choose a quiet and comfortable place for meditation, such as a meditation room or a quiet chamber. During meditation, they adopt specific sitting postures, such as cross-legged sitting (double lotus, single lotus, or loose cross-legged), and maintain the uprightness and stability of the body.
- Then, through methods such as adjusting breathing, relaxing the body and mind, and concentrating attention, they enter a deep meditative state. During the meditation process, practitioners can focus on breathing, observe inner thoughts and feelings, or silently recite scriptures or mantras to achieve spiritual purification and sublimation.

III. Practicing skills (martial arts, qigong, etc.)

1. Significance:
- The practice of skills in Taoism includes various forms such as martial arts and qigong. The purpose is to strengthen the body, cultivate essence, energy, and spirit, enhance self-protection ability, and improve the cultivation realm.
- Martial arts can exercise the physique, improve the body's coordination and flexibility, and at the same time help cultivate courage, perseverance, and self-discipline. Qigong, on the other hand, promotes the circulation of qi and blood in the body and enhances the functions of internal organs by adjusting breathing and guiding the operation of internal qi, achieving the purposes of health preservation and cultivating internal energy.

2. Methods:
- Taoist priests will conduct martial arts training at dawn or specific times, including fist techniques, sword techniques, and saber techniques. Martial arts training emphasizes the practice of basic skills such as standing postures, kicking, and punching, and also emphasizes practical combat skills and applications.
- The cultivation of qigong is more diverse, divided into static and dynamic exercises. Static exercises mainly include sitting exercises and lying exercises. Through adjusting breathing, relaxing the body and mind, and guiding the operation of internal qi, one can achieve the purpose of cultivation. Dynamic exercises include Tai Chi, Baduanjin, and Wuqinxi. Through specific movements and coordinated breathing, they promote the circulation of qi and blood in the body and energy balance.

IV. Observing precepts

1. Significance:
- Observing precepts is an important foundation for the cultivation of Taoist priests. It helps regulate the behavior of practitioners, purify the mind, and cultivate moral qualities. By observing precepts, Taoist priests can avoid evil deeds, accumulate good virtues, and create favorable conditions for the progress of cultivation.
- Different Taoist sects and temples may have different precept requirements, but generally, they include basic precepts such as not killing, not stealing, not engaging in immoral behavior, not lying, and not drinking alcohol. In addition, there are also some precepts specific to the special status and cultivation requirements of Taoist priests, such as not being greedy for fame and fortune, not being jealous of others, and not slandering Taoism.

2. Methods:
- When entering the path of Taoism, Taoist priests usually receive the teaching of precepts and strictly observe them in daily cultivation. Observing precepts requires firm belief and self-discipline, constantly reflecting on and restraining oneself.
- Taoist temples will also regularly organize the learning and inspection of precepts to ensure that Taoist priests always maintain a good state of cultivation. At the same time, Taoist priests can also enhance their reverence for precepts and continuously improve their moral cultivation by participating in confession ceremonies, chanting scriptures and praying for blessings.

V. Participating in Taoist temple affairs and social public welfare activities

1. Significance:
- In addition to personal cultivation, Taoist priests also need to participate in the daily affairs management and religious activity organization of Taoist temples and provide services and guidance to believers. Through participating in Taoist temple affairs, Taoist priests can exercise their organizational ability, communication ability, and leadership ability, and at the same time help inherit and promote Taoist culture.
- In addition, Taoist priests should also actively participate in social public welfare activities such as poverty alleviation, disaster relief, and environmental protection publicity, and practice the Taoist concept of saving the world and liberating people with practical actions, making contributions to society.

2. Methods:
- Taoist priests will participate in various affairs of Taoist temples according to their responsibilities and abilities, such as hall management, organization of religious activities, and reception of believers. In the process of participating in Taoist temple affairs, they should maintain professionalism and service consciousness and earnestly fulfill their responsibilities.
- For social public welfare activities, Taoist temples will organize Taoist priests to participate according to the actual situation, or Taoist priests can also spontaneously participate in various public welfare activities. When participating in public welfare activities, they should give play to the advantages and characteristics of Taoism and transmit positive energy to society.

VI. Learning and communication

1. Significance:
- Learning and communication are important ways for Taoist priests to continuously improve their cultivation level and comprehensive quality. Through learning Taoist classics, historical culture, philosophical thoughts and other knowledge, Taoist priests can enrich their connotations, broaden their horizons, and provide more theoretical support and inspiration for cultivation.
- Communication with other Taoist priests and practitioners can share experiences, inspire each other, and promote each other's growth and progress. At the same time, by communicating with people from different religious and cultural backgrounds, one can enhance understanding and tolerance of diverse cultures and improve one's humanistic qualities.

2. Methods:
- Taoist priests can systematically learn Taoist knowledge and knowledge in related fields by participating in learning activities, training courses, and lectures organized by Taoist temples. They can also conduct independent learning by reading books, studying classics, and writing experience and insights.
- Communication can be carried out by participating in Taoist internal religious ceremonies, seminars, forums and other activities to have face-to-face exchanges and discussions with other Taoist priests. They can also use modern information technologies such as online forums and social media to communicate and interact with a wider range of people.