Management Committee of the Temple of the True Lord of Fire Virtue, Beijing
It is said:
The Most High transmitted the scripture at Hangu Pass; the Patriarch opened the teaching on Mount Longhu (Dragon and Tiger Mountain).
Emperor Taizong conferred a title upon the Fire God; the Celestial Master came to court to administer the affairs of the Tao.
Throughout the thousands of years of the Taoist tradition, all its followers have devoted themselves to cultivating the Tao and establishing virtue, helping the world and benefiting people. Of all the paths for studying the Tao and seeking the truth, none comes before the precepts. To expound and spread the Taoist way, to invigorate the mysterious tradition, and to let those who follow the Tao know what to rely on, the Temple of the True Lord of Fire Virtue (Huode Zhenjun Miao) in Beijing—which inherits the Zhengyi (Orthodox Unity) teaching and whose Taoist conduct shines brightly—now, in a time of prosperity, has compiled the Proclamation of Monastic Rules of the Temple of the True Lord of Fire Virtue in Beijing in accordance with ancestral rules. Above, it answers to the heart of heaven; in the middle, it establishes norms; below, it gives peace to the Taoist community. Let all observe it together, so as to rectify Taoist conduct, make the purpose of the Tao clear, and jointly uphold the mysterious principles. The monastic rules are listed below. Let the Taoist community take them as its standard, refrain from all evil deeds, and establish all good works, praying that the true tradition may shine forth and the transforming influence of the Tao spread widely. The Three Treasures of the Tao, the scriptures, and the masters are all present—how can one not be careful!
1. Love the country and love the religion; observe the rules and abide by the law; keep the precepts and guard the register; be upright in body and correct in heart. Violators shall be expelled from the Taoist order;
2. Whoever violates criminal law shall be expelled from the Taoist order;
3. Whoever speaks recklessly on political affairs, turns against the Tao and abandons virtue, fails to cultivate the right path, disparages their own religion, or undermines harmony among religions shall, in lighter cases, be made to reflect on their faults before the gods, and in serious cases be expelled from the Taoist order;
4. Within Taoist temples and monasteries, whoever is irreverent toward the halls, disrespectful to the sacred images, careless with scriptures and ritual objects, improperly dressed, gambles, smokes, or drinks alcohol, and so loses dignified deportment, shall be made to reflect on their faults before the gods; whoever gets drunk and causes trouble shall be expelled from the Taoist order;
5. Whoever, in charge of the shrine halls, allows ritual implements to become soiled or the altar to become unclean shall be made to reflect on their faults before the gods;
6. Within and without the altar and oratory, one must be full of virtue within, complete in dignified deportment without, and meticulous and strict in keeping the precepts; violators shall be made to reflect on their faults before the gods;
7. Whoever, during fasts and audiences with the sacred, kneels and bows without reverence, skips passages of scripture or cuts short the proceedings, or is absent-minded shall be made to reflect on their faults before the gods;
8. Whoever does not honor their master, does not respect their elders, is unfriendly to the Taoist community, behaves lewdly, forms cliques, bullies and brawls, envies the worthy and the able, spreads rumors and stirs up trouble, or damages others’ reputations shall, in lighter cases, be made to reflect on their faults before the gods, and in serious cases be expelled from the Taoist order;
9. Whoever insults the faithful, is impatient with their affairs, or extorts offerings shall be made to reflect on their faults before the gods;
10. Whoever has been made to reflect on their faults before the gods three times shall be expelled from the Taoist order;
The above monastic rules must be observed by all—the resident community of this temple, ordained disciples, disciples who have received the rite of taking refuge, and all Taoist followers alike. Let everyone examine themselves so as to be free of error, and obey with bowed reverence. Should anyone violate them, regardless of age, closeness of relationship, or rank of office, all shall be punished according to the rules. The teaching of the Most High is no light matter; the gods passing through the clouds and the void observe all with reverence.
Hereby proclaimed, and made known to gods and people
Management Committee of the Temple of the True Lord of Fire Virtue, Beijing