Tian Tao or I Kuan Tao is a modern, syncretic faith and the third most popular religion in Taiwan. The Chinese words I Kuan Tao can be roughly translated as the Religion of One Unity. It is a religious doctrine that draws upon both traditional Chinese teachings and each of the world's major religions. This religion attempts to identify common principles underlying Taoism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Hinduism. Tian Tao believes that by uncovering a single set of universal truths, the "increasing chaos" of modern times can be defeated and the world can live peacefully in harmony. They believe in a God beyond all other gods, called Ming-ming Shang-ti (the God of Clarity).
It may have its roots with the Bai Lian Jiao (White Lotus Sect) which created several political unrests for both the Qing court (1644 - 1911) and foreign powers, such as the British, French and so forth who have seized the lands from the hands of the Qing court since the Opium War. Bai Lian Jiao is closely related to the Chinese Christian cult, Tai Ping Tian Guo, founded by Hong Xiu Quan, in the late Qing dynasty. Hong Xiu Quan believed himself as Jesus Christ's heavenly brother, which was sent to Earth by Lord God to liberate Chinese people from imperial oppression. Lands were belonged by Lord God and not the Qing court, hence poor and uneducated peasants in ten of thousands accepted his teachings. Heavenly King Yang Xiu Ching, the Minister of State for Tai Ping Tian Guo, tried to seize the power and authority of Emperor Hong Xiu Quan. To legitimize his authority, he occasionally lapsed into trances in which his voice supposedly became that of the Lord's. In one of his trances, Heavenly King Yang Xiu Ching claimed that the Lord demanded Hong Xiu Quan be whipped for kicking one of his concubines. Emperor Hong Xiu Quan had Heavenly King Yang Xiu Ching murdered by Wei Chang Hui, a Tai Ping Tian Guo general. The followers of Heavenly King Yang Xiu Ching later formed the Bai Lian Jiao.
Another source stated that Tian Tao was evolved from Xian Tian Tao which was founded by 9th Patriarch Huang De Hui of the Shun Zhi period of Qing Dynasty. Huang De Hui combined the three main belief systems of China with a belief in the Wu Sheng Lao Mu (Great Mother) to form Xian Tian Tao. Bodhidharma is credited as the 1st Patriarch, the first five Chinese Chan Patriarchs are credited as 2nd to 6th Patriarchs. Bai Ma became the 7th Patriarch and the 8th Patriarch is Luo Wei Qun. The lines of patriarch of Xian Tian Tao continue into the present I Kuan Tao. The 15th Patriarch had made some major changes in the formulas and goals of Xian Tian Tao. And it is the 16th Patriarch Liu Ching Xu renamed the group as I Kuan Tao. The 18th Patriarch is the last in line of the patriarchs.
The followers of I Kuan Tao claimed that it is a distinguished lineage back over 2000 years when it begins from the ancient Chinese astrolgers, emperors, Confucius, and so forth. From 18th Ancient Patriarch Mencius, the lineage travels to the west, the lineage began from Shakyamuni Buddha, Mahakashyapa to 28th Indian Patriarch Bodhidharma. But the modern practice of Tian Tao, as we know it today, was established about 70 years ago. In the 1930, Shi Zueng Zhang Tian Ran and Shi Mu Sun Hui Ming, became the 18th Patriarch and started their practice I Kuan Tao in Chi Nan City, Shang Dong Province of China. Their work spread by word of mouth, and by 1946 I Kuan Tao became prevalent among 36 provinces of China. At the end of the Civil War in 1949, many followers in China found their beliefs incompatible with Communist doctrines. This and other reasons compelled large numbers of them to emigrate to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines. Tian Tao quickly took root in these new lands, spreading with its teachings Chinese culture and traditional family values. By increasing the number of I Kuan Tao temples, they believed that they are bringing the Buddhist "Western Paradise" to earth and creating a world of brotherhood and universal love as envisioned by Confucian teachings.
Today, they have about 4,500,000 followers in Taiwan, Korea and Japan; about 2,000,000 followers in South East Asian countries; and a growing number of adherents in countries like Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, Paraguay, Italy, France, Germany, Holland and United Kingdom. In Taiwan alone, there are over 200 large and medium-sized temples and over 30,000 family shrines.
Presently, they claimed that the founder, 17th Patriarch Lu Zhong Yi, was an incarnation of Maitreya. He has major influence and impact on the present form of I Kuan Tao. The central teaching of Tian Tao, is based on the initiation ceremony - a new formula on the Triple Gem, namely: 1. Opening of Heavenly Eye (Dian Xuan Dao), 2.Oral Transmission of the Maitreya prayer (Chuan Ko Jue), and 3. Hand Gestures (Jie He Tong). They believe that the recipient has obtained the Tao and that his name has been reserved in the heaven and erased from the lists in hell. Upon death, the recipient will ascend straight to heaven without having to endure the cycles of rebirth.
The followers of this organization must be a strict vegetarian. It is said that they will not teach and liberate three groups of people: they are butchers, fishermen and prostitutes.
Usually, their temples are painted in pure white. And they have large followers in Asia. Their selection for potential followers are very strict. Non-members of this organization are not allowed to step into their temple compound. They can only enter the temple compound through the invitation from the senior members. On the day itself, the new recruit will make to vow to keep secrets on what he/she has learnt from the temple. Why? Without asking of consert, he/she is sent to receive the "secret" formula, so-called "Triple Gem". If he/she has failed to keep the secrets, and leaked out these secrets to non-members, he/she will be killed by the 5 heavenly thunders (Wu Lei Hong Ding).
There are many works written by this cult group. There are few popular ones. For example:
1. "Maitreya Sutra" (Chinese: Mi Le Zhen Jing) is their own version of Maitreyavyakarana Sutra. It is said that this scripture was spoken by the Buddha. It talks about the benefit on having faith on Maitreya Buddha. The retinue of protectors are non-Buddhist ones, most of them are from the Chinese folk religions and not to mention the main character, Lao Mu who is Wu Sheng Lao Mu in short.
2. "The Travelogue for the Hell" (Chinese: Ti Yu You Ji) revealed by Ji Gong, a Chinese folk religion deity whose origin is unknown. This work explains about hell.
These books can be found in the free book distribution corners in the Chinese folk religion temples.
"The group is known as Ee Kwang Tao. I was invited to attend the opening of one of their 'Holy Houses'. It was one of the strangest rituals that i have ever witnessed. Following the ritual we were invited to go before the 'Master' to receive initiation. I declined on the grounds that I had been invited to attend the opening but not to join anything. After a while they approached me again and they said that the 'Master' was waiting for me and I MUST go before the 'Master'. I replied that I must not do anything of the sort as I am a traditional Buddhist and had no wish to join their organisation. I thanked them for their hospitality and said that I was leaving. As each person arrived they took their name. As I left they asked me for my name as they said that the names were being sent to heaven and, as I refused initiation, my name would have to be struck off the list. I consulted a Chinese friend about my experience and he immediately identified it as the Ee Kwang Tao cult which, as was said, is proliferating in Australia. The initiates are sworn to secrecy with the threat of harm to themselves and their family if the secrets are revealed. This dangerous cult bears no relation to Buddhism so beware of them." Graeme Lyall (Australia), 1999.
At times, their activities are not restricted in the temple compounds. In Singapore, the very senior members who hold the posts of "Tang Zhu", can convert the new comers in their own houses. The main Singapore centre is located at Bukit Merah Central, and it is known as "Chong Hua Tong Tou Teck Hwee Building". You can see the name of the building at the main gate. It is also stated that it is "strictly for members". Their first centre was located at Upper Serangoon Road, and was demolished recently. And there are many smaller temples or community welfare centres scattered around Singapore. They are registered with Registry of Society as "Xin Jia Bo Zhong Hua Tang Dao De Hui" (Sing Gah Ball Chong Hua Tong Tou Teck Hwee) and they also work hand-in-hand with "De Jiao" founded by Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society and also with Chee Hoon Kog Moral Promotion Society for those community welfare services.
The other schools which are evolved from Xian Tian Tao, are Tung Shan She, Tien De Sheng Jiao, Tao Yuan and Tzu Hui Tang. They are independent groups and do not share the same leadership.
Rather than uniting the different religous traditons, it seems to be a new religion.In fact any new religion that has purported to synchrnise different religous traditions has always become a religion unto itself,one that negates ideologically the relevance of the the traditions that it purports to preserve.
Traditions that can be said to be sufficently alive in the contemporay world i thnk are sufficently flexible and deep to allow one to transcend the seemingly exclusive nature of a particular revelation into a universalism that encompasses reality outside of those traditions.
The world does not need any knew religions or ones that purport to unite them,i think it need for a deeper understanding of the ones that already exist!!!!!
[ The central teaching of Tian Tao, is based on the initiation ceremony - a new formula on the Triple Gem, namely: 1. Opening of Heavenly Eye (Dian Xuan Dao), 2.Oral Transmission of the Maitreya prayer (Chuan Ko Jue), and 3. Hand Gestures (Jie He Tong). They believe that the recipient has obtained the Tao and that his name has been reserved in the heaven and erased from the lists in hell. Upon death, the recipient will ascend straight to heaven without having to endure the cycles of rebirth. ]
>>>i assume the writer did 'qiu dao' before or u might have heard from other cultivators in tian dao. this in true as we indeed received the triple gem from our holy masters who have the permission from our heavenly mother to be able to give us the 3 treasures.
however, the following quotes :
[On the day itself, the new recruit will make to vow to keep secrets on what he/she has learnt from the temple. Why? Without asking of consert, he/she is sent to receive the "secret" formula, so-called "Triple Gem". If he/she has failed to keep the secrets, and leaked out these secrets to non-members, he/she will be killed by the 5 heavenly thunders (Wu Lei Hong Ding).
>>>it is indeed that we have to keep the triple gem secrets to ourselves. the writer wrote "killed by the 5 heavenly thunders" if the triple gem are revealed. From this sentence, i can know that the writer does not know much or should say nuts of what I kuan Dao practices. We do have to assure that secrets of the triple hem will not be revealed. however, the vow we made indeed says wu lei hong ding. but this wu lei hong ding does not mean the Thunders as what the writer wrote. the wu lei hong ding in the vows made is to be meant our 5 senses.
[The followers of this organization must be a strict vegetarian. It is said that they will not teach and liberate three groups of people: they are butchers, fishermen and prostitutes. Non-members of this organization are not allowed to step into their temple compound. They can only enter the temple compound through the invitation from the senior members]
>>> this is true to certain extent. however, if the person who really wish to Qiu Dao and he/she has done wrongs before, he/she will still be able to qiu dao if he/she is willing to turn over a new leaf. "Non members" or i should say the perople who did not Qiu Dao are not suppose to go into the main temple as there are holy lamps lighted and the triple gems could be revised. however, when "non members" enter and they overheard the "members(xiu dao ze) discussing about triple gems etc, it would be considered "xie lou tian ji"- revealling the holy secrets.
Religion requires "belief" in something. Cults require belief in something that enslaves the person.
If any religion tells you they have the key to personal happiness, and that you have to do it their way to get there, and that you have to keep their secrets, and that you must bow in respect to their Masters - it's a cult IMO.
It really made me laugh when I visited an I Kuan Tao temple and the members kept asking me: "Have you received the Dao?" Uh oh - let me check! Yep - it's there!
How silly for anyone to think they have some sort of Key to Dao. And that they can reveal it to you if you promise to keep it secret.
so are u trying to say that I kuan tao is a cult?
just to clarify, we don't have the KEY to Dao.. but we do know what's the path back to our true self. i suppose that since you've been to I Kuan Dao temple, you've the affinity with your friend who brings you there. instead of thanking your friend, you are indriectly saying that your friend brings you to the wrong path. i'm quite surprised that since you've qiu dao, yet you don't know what is it about. if you do have the time, ask your friend who brings you to the temple again, and clear your doubts about I Kuan Dao..
it must be something like a social security number, or an ATM pin, or other intellectual comodety. In other news...The DAO went up three points today as several international mergers went global, this was after a startling decline following the ENRON scandle, however it seems that things are looking up as the average citizen accepts his/her spoonfull of shit once again. Good night, and be kind.
I'm not saying I Kuan Tao is the WRONG path - it's the wrong path for me. If you and others are happy there, then I'm happy for you. Whether or not it's a cult shouldn't bother you if you believe in it? I just think others might be interested in keeping their eyes open when approaching any Daoist religion in search of more info on what the ancients were talking about in re: Dao.
Although I've studied many of the ancient texts, religions, and philosophies about Dao (not all of them), what speaks to my heart most are the words of Laozi and Zhuangzi. Both of those "fools" point to the elimination of rituals and dogma. That doesn't mean we don't need to cultivate a better connection with Dao and with the 10,000 things around us - through observation, experience, contemplation and meditation.
I am no longer in contact with the "friend" who took us to the I Kuan Tao temple. His path is so completely different from mine that there's really nothing to communicate about.
Could you tell me, Xuan, what your definition of a cult is?
Thanks-
Nina
P.S. Aku- If you join I Kuan Tao you get a neat little card to carry around in your wallet saying you're a Daoist!
in my opinion, there isn't any religion to me is a cult. we should respect what everybody practices and not say that what they believe is a cult. this is a form of respect. everyone wishes to have a virtual support when crisis comes. this is what they hold on to.
to me, even thou my belief is I Kuan Tao, i do still go to the temples outside and churches when my friend asks me to. this is because we believe all the god exists in different is to save different kinds of people(differect races etc). this is just like there are a lot of different schools with different principals to guide the students.
also {P.S. Aku- If you join I Kuan Tao you get a neat little card to carry around in your wallet saying you're a Daoist!}
>>> erm... i don't think there is such a card for you to carry around
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