Many believers are quite confused about how to practice at home, as there are various trivial matters, and they cannot immerse themselves in the rich atmosphere of Taoism every day like the priests in temples. In fact, practicing at home is essentially the same as living in a temple; it is just different in form and lifestyle. Today, let’s discuss how home practitioners can cultivate their path.
In simple terms, modern people’s pace of life is relatively fast. Home practitioners should pay attention to health maintenance, cherish their bodies, and maintain a good mindset to contribute more to their families and society.
For health maintenance at home, the first step is to properly arrange a regular daily schedule and establish reasonable eating habits. After getting up in the morning, practice a set of Tai Chi to stretch your muscles and promote blood circulation. A suitable midday nap can be beneficial. For dinner, try to eat less, especially for the elderly.
It is best to rest before eleven o’clock at night. Before going to bed, you can sit quietly for a while; this helps relieve the fatigue of the day and improves sleep quality.
On the first and fifteenth days of each month, it is best to eat vegetarian meals. If you can be vegetarian regularly, it will also greatly benefit your health and accumulate blessings.
Home practitioners can also sincerely worship deities at home, such as Taishang Laojun (the Supreme Old Lord), Xuantian Shangdi (the Emperor of Dark Heaven), Lü Zu (Master Lü), and Fude Zhengshen (the God of Wealth).
Due to family and work reasons, home practitioners cannot engage in systematic cultivation like temple priests. So what should they do?
1. They can recite classic texts from their ancestors; such as the “Tao Te Ching,” “Qingjing Jing,” “Xuanmen Morning and Evening Practices,” etc.; they can also chant the names of heavenly deities; such as ‘Yuhuang Shenzi’ (Jade Emperor) or ‘Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun’ (Great One Who Saves from Suffering).
2. By reciting classic texts from ancestors and chanting heavenly deities’ names, one can receive protection from ancestors and accumulate blessings. When interacting with family members, it is essential to maintain harmony and love while cultivating together for happiness.
3. Choose times to visit temples for worshipping sacred truths. On the first or fifteenth days or during deities’ or ancestors’ birthdays, one may choose time to visit temples for worship.
The night before worshipping should involve fasting and bathing to cleanse body and mind while adhering strictly to vegetarianism. Before entering the temple, pay attention to your attire; avoid wearing revealing clothing. Female practitioners should not wear short skirts or shorts; male practitioners should not go shirtless or wear flip-flops. Smoking is prohibited inside the main hall, as well as taking photos facing deity statues; offerings may be brought along for worshipping during visits for accumulating blessings across three realms. After offering incense and paying respects to deities, clasp your fists together in salute while bowing three times with nine prostrations. The deities enshrined in Taoist temples are referred to as Tianzun (Heavenly Lords) or Zushi (Ancestors). If a priest strikes a bell during your prostration ceremony, express gratitude by clasping your fists together again after finishing your bows.
When visiting temples, you can engage in tasks within your capability such as cleaning or printing scriptures which contribute merit while sincerely supporting ancestral teachings. When encountering priests during greetings with clasped fists say “compassion.” Some practitioners wish for deeper understanding of Taoism or want guidance from priests; after greeting with clasped fists regardless of gender they refer respectfully as “Shifu” (Master) or “Daolong” (Priest). During conversations maintain polite speech and behavior. In Taoism there are three things that are not asked: first age; second place of origin; third worldly matters or disputes.
by – Master Wang Ye Dao