The most problematic, but fundamental, question a visitor or student of the Sanctuary of Dao will ask is what it means to be a Daoist. This is a tricky question to answer because the idea of being a Daoist is really a subjective one. No one with any authority can say exactly what a Daoist is, as there are so many ways a person can be a Daoist.

The attributed founder of Daoism himself, Lao Zi, never claimed he was a Daoist, at least not in the sense of being someone who adhered to any type of organized system of learning, religion, or established sect. Rather, he said he was purely a “person of the Way.” Since there is no definitive definition of Dao (Way), there can be no definitive type of Daoist.

Although the Sanctuary of Dao Guidebook provides brief descriptions of the five major teaching divisions of Daoism—accumulating virtue, scripture study, internal alchemy, divination, and talisman and ritual—beyond being a student of any Daoist school, a Daoist can likewise be an artist, musician, calligrapher, martial artist, acupuncturist, poet, writer, feng shui adept, astrologer, or hold any occupation or lifestyle.

As long as you are applying Daoist principles—such as those expounded in Lao Zi’s Scripture on the Dao and Virtue—you are being a Daoist.

At the Sanctuary of Dao all five major teachings are presented, but the primary teachings are focused on the Internal Alchemy and Scripture Study schools of Daoism. Since we are an organization adhering to the old Daoist tradition of student-teacher (or disciple-master) relationship, not an ordained priest-sect tradition, our only requirement is for students who seek serious training in Daoism to complete a short ceremony in which they make three vows to take sanctuary (or rely) on the Dao, the scriptures of the Dao, and the teachers of the Dao.

After completing the Triple Sanctuary ceremony, students receive a Daoist spiritual-cultivation name and are assigned a primary focus of study and practice, which falls into one or more of the Three Gateway Teachings of Daoist Philosophy, Nourishing-Life Arts, or Joining Vital-Energies Arts.

At this point, these students can be considered as formal Daoists. This viewpoint is based on the premise that by taking Triple Sanctuary, accepting a spiritual name, and engaging in one or more area of Daoist study and practice, they have demonstrated true sincerity about being a Daoist—and sincerity is an important principle of Daoist teachings. It is the root cause of all good fortune and accomplishments, no matter what endeavor in life a person may embark upon.