Taoism - frequently asked questions

Questions people often ask…

Where do Taoists go when they die?
Taoists do not believe in the Wheel of Life of the Buddhists nor in the Heaven or Hell of Christianity. "Taoists v iew existence as glorious. The whole Universe, they teach, is a marvelous, vibrant Unity wherein everything, visible and invisible, pulses with energy and changes. As being develops through the experience of existence, its vessels ... are swept onwards by the mighty stream of the eternal Tao to other forms of expression and activity. Man does not die; he merely extends into new fields . ... Taoists teach that the end of a person is the return to the Ultimate Reality."

Taoism seems to be very diverse and varied. Is there a single definition that sums up the religion’s core belief?
The Western Reform Taoist Congregation offers a useful definition. Although there are slight differences of emphasis among other Taoist groups, this definition offers a reliable benchmark: ‘We reject hatred, intolerance, and unnecessary violence, and embrace harmony, love and learning – as taught by nature. We place our trust and our lives in the Tao, that we may live in peace and balance with the universe in this mortal life and beyond.’