Exploring the Afterlife
Q: Describe the Afterlife for Daoism
A simple answer: A Person is eternal in their own life.
Death illustrated from the Chuang-Tzu:
“Since life and death are each other’s companions,
why worry about them? All beings are one.”
Diving Deeper into the Afterlife
In Taoism, death is neither feared nor desired instead a person enjoys living.
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A few basic concepts which define the nature of Afterlife for Taoism:
- In one sense: afterlife doesn’t exist regarding a Taoist belief system. It’s in life that we are eternal in Taoism. The afterlife is within life itself. We are of the Tao when living and upon death are the Tao again. We are always, eternally, within our essence. Death, on the other hand, is when you are outside of your story. Understand the expression of a life is within life.
- We touch upon echoes of existence. So, for example:
- When you die, you still live, in the memories of others.
- When you die, your essence reincarnates into a new form and story.
- When you die, you bounce back into your own life and have the opportunity to experience another variation of your life.
- When you die, you rejoin the universe and are one with God if you believe in God.
- When you die, you discover so many truths exist
One way some people think of this is as: Afterlife in Taoism becomes what you hold as being true. If you keep only a single truth, then this statement is acceptable within Taoism. If you embrace only a single truth, you just see one color and have only one option amidst the rainbow of possibilities.
- Many variations exist within Taoism. Taoism is quite open on this question, and as Taoists, we like it that way. In some of the religious branches of Taoism, we have immortal deities. Many stories exist where some Taoist is chasing after various forms of immortality. Chasing immortality isn’t an afterlife as much as a pastime.
- Many Taoists don’t even worry about the afterlife; it’s a non-issue. I love my friend Donna’s answer from Changing Places when she said to me:
“The Tao is simply logical. There’s no mysticism or need for invisible sky gods or some weird belief that you’re important enough to be reincarnated – you simply return to the Tao when you die. And you’re already there anyway, so what’s the big deal?”
And that’s a perfect Taoist answer about Afterlife.
To quote from the Chuang-Tzu:
“The true men of old did not know what it was to love life or to hate death. They did not rejoice in birth, nor strive to put off dissolution. Unconcerned they came and unconcerned they went. That was all. They did not forget whence it was they had sprung, neither did they seek to inquire their return thither. Cheerfully they accepted life, waiting patiently for their restoration (the end). This is what is called not to lead the heart astray from Tao, and not to supplement the natural by human means. Such a one may be called a true man. Such men are free in mind and calm in demeanor.”
Or more simply: Live and be yourself. Afterlife is not even a concern to a true Taoist in the Chuang-Tzu.
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To me, this is so very simple as it just is. I did die once and as a result, embrace all those answers as truth from my experience. To explain isn’t as easy since it’s not a concept based on the fire of life. All our references in language are based on life experiences. So, as a result, you get all these contradictory statements trying to explain afterlife, which is just a reflection of life itself.
So the best answer for a Taoist is:
- To make life what you want it to be now. The rest will follow.
When facing death, many people reconsider their faith. If you are considering becoming a Taoist, discover this simple truth: Taoism teaches how to have faith in yourself. Not even death changes who you are now in life.
Several AfterLife References to Consider
Death
Immortality
The Tibetan Book of the Dead
Colbert Asks: “What do you think happens when we die?”
Keanu Reeves Answers: “I know the ones who love us will miss us.”
Remember flip considerations about death to also reinforce how to live better while alive.
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My thoughts are to remove thoughts. Allow feelings.
Studying Taoism has helped understand a new way regarding life. To live the best we can with peace and kindness. Death will come much easier and peaceful. I try to enjoy every moment of every day to its fullest.
I am really mind blown by the exquisite simpleness and yet the Tao remains the complexities of life, just to allow not to worry about something when will not even know has happened, death right? Disillusioned with spiritualists, Christians and others I think I have found my home.
Enjoy exploring Tao and finding your Personal Tao Allan.
I am not even worried about my death at all, but I cannot even begin to imagine how I will cope after the passing away of my beloved ones. A Zen monk once said upon asking why he is grieving his passed one when questioned if life is an illusion: “But it is such a beautiful illusion.”
Stumbled in here, I notice LIO is examining characters chinese here. There is in vedic literature, and an explanation by Ramana Maharshi of the concept you are trying to identify I think. Seems to resonate anyway, It is not this, it is not that, it is not this and that, it is not this and not that. All of the options are closed, it is beyond, so the thrust of the teaching as I understand, is it is beyond our comprehension, yet a recognition of more. To continue, Ramana: If asked Which of these three is final liberation, With Form,… Read more »
I love this perspective. I have always held it though would have described it slightly differently at different stages of my life. I really love Donna’s words.
Hi, I’m Mckenzie. I have been reading up on Taoism lately and I understand the concept of the afterlife, but one thing I do not know is if Taoism has an idea of the soul or spirit in general, not just in death.
@Mckenzie: One thing I do when teaching, is to remove the word Soul, and only use it carefully. Soul is too overloaded, with too many thousands of years of history, definitions and ideals (judgements) I like the fact the Chinese (and also Norse and also other cultures) break it out more deeply, but don’t use the Chinese or other cultural terms since people in the west then don’t connect to the terms, so I base line it back around to essence as a result. As a result I tend to use the word essence more than soul as essence can… Read more »
@Gabriel: I am glad this article on how we work with life and afterlife was helpful.
In being a Taoist never forget how to fully live as yourself. Yet to center against the kindness in all interactions with others and the universe as you explore each day anew.