1. Practice of the Tao Receiving Ceremony ( I )
( Ritual Preparations )

2. Essence of I-Kuan Tao Lineage of Tao
Tao is the Truth 道真
Principle is the Truth 理真
Heavenly Decree is the Truth 天命真
The Holy Teachers’ heavenly mandate 明師
The Three Treasures 三寶

3. Tao is unspeakable Respect Carry out Tao that is within us..
Maintain the sincerity & harmony in our heart
Carry out the modest behaviors through the rituals.
Respect
The Heavenly Mater, The “Truth” of Universe - Tao.
The Holy Spirits (Buddhas, Sages & Saints)
The “True Buddha Nature” within ourselves.
All living beings.

4. Terminologies 點傳師 diǎn chuán shī Transmit Master 引師 yǐn shī Introducer
保師 bǎo shī Guarantor
上執禮 shàng zhí lǐ Primary Ritualist
下執禮 xià zhí lǐ Secondary Ritualist
求道人qiú  dào rén Person who is going to receive Tao

5. Terminologies 母燈 mǔ dēng Holy Lamp ( center )
Middle lamp representing the light of Heavenly Mater
兩儀燈 liǎng yí dēng Holy Lamps
Two lower front/sides lamps as Ying & Yang
八卦爐 bā guà lú Incense Burner
龍天表 lóng tiān biǎo Heavenly Document
拜墊 bài diàn Kneeling pad
供茶 gōng chá Offering tea

6. Terminologies 獻供禮 xiàn gong li – Offering ritual
請壇禮 qǐng tán li – Invocation ritual
排檀香 pái  tán xiāng – arrange sandalwood incense
發爐 fā lú – burning incense burner
傳合同 chuán  hé tóng – transmit holy hand sign
作揖 zuò yī – half circle bowing (holding holy hand sign/unification)
跪 guì - kneel

7. Meaning of Zuoyi / Bow Humble our heart
harmonize our mind – inner peace
Self-reflection – practice of cultivation
Mediate our mind, body & soul between the motion & silence

8. Zuoyi / Bow Zuoyi means the following "bowing" procedure:
First hold the Unification on your chest and bring your hands to the Gate; then, while still holding the Unification, extend it out while bending your body until your hands have reached the knee. This results in a half-circle motion. Then go back on the same motion in a half-circle manner, bringing your body back up to a standing position.
while holding the Unification, place your hands on the kneeling pad and position your head about one fist's distance above lift up the hands from the kneeling pad and place them back down. Your head should also follow your hands' motions by moving from the waist, not from the neck.

9. Tao Receiving Ceremony
Registration
Preparations
Introduction to Tao
Offering Ritual
Invocation Ritual
Transmit Three Treasures
Review of Three Treasures
Conclude

10. Participants 1 facilitator for the ceremony
Primary ritualist and Secondary ritualist (same gender)
5 people for offering ritual / invocation ritual (no. is flexible)
1 person for offering towel to transmitting master (same gender)
Registrar
Tao Transmitting Master
Tao receiver
Introducer/guarantor (same gender)
Female/female
Male/male

11. Registration
As the Persons to Receive Tao arrive, offer towels to them to ask them to clean their hands, and then lead them inside the temple to pay respect to God and the Holy Spirits.
Introducer should make sure the person agrees to receive the Tao before bringing him or her into the temple to register.
Print legibly on the Registration Form. The Introducer should assist the Person to Receive Tao in filling out the Form and make sure every part is completed.
Introducer is responsible for explaining the meaning of the merit fee. It is not appropriate for the temple staff to explain the merit fee.

12. Registration
The Introducer should explain that the merit fee is an once a lifetime fee to show the person's sincerity to receive Tao, and that the merit fee is to do charity work on behalf of the person, and that the merit fee has nothing to do with any of the temple staff.
The registrar should not place the merit fee on the table but instead should collect the merit fees together and place them in a safe place. The registrar and the Introducer should not thank the person (as the money is not for them), instead they should say, "Your merits are boundless" or "Congratulations."
The registrar should collect all the merit fees together, clearly count the amount of the money, and give all merit fees to the Transmitting Master.

13. Preparation-Documents
Registration document
Name ( no nickname, no husband’s last night )
Gender: Male, Female, Boy and Girl (< 16 yrs old )
Merit fee
Introducer
Guarantor
Heavenly document
Date (lunar calendar), Time
Location (address, name of the temple)
Names of our Patriarch Chang, Matriarch Sun
Introducer, Guarantor
Name of new Tao member(s) & merit fee

14. Holy Teachers’ Name 師尊 道號 姓 張上光下璧 師母 道號 姓 孫上慧下明
Patriach Zhang, given name as Kuisheng, also called Guangbi
師尊 道號 姓 張上光下璧
Matriach Sun, given name Mingshan, also called Huiming
師母 道號 姓 孫上慧下明

15. Notable Rules for Being Introducer and Guarantor
Immediate family members cannot be Introducer or Guarantor for each other.
One cannot be an Introducer or Guarantor for a relative of an older generation.
Introducer and Guarantor must be of the same gender.
Introducer guarantees the Person to Receive Tao is a good person worthy of Tao.
Guarantor guarantees that the Tao is true, and Principles are true, and the Divine Authority is true.

16. Preparation-Fruit Offering
Preparing offering fruits:
< 10 people – 5 plates of fruits
=>10 people -10 plates of fruits/cookies/candies
Organizing fruits – 1, 3, 5…odd number ( normally )
One should be have a sincere and respectful attitude in picking out the fruits or foods for offerings. Select good quality of fruit
Apples are needed for the new Tao members

17. Preparation-Fruit Offering
Only vegetarian food or cookies ( no eggs, no garlic, no onion..)
If anything is dropped to the ground, avoid using it.
Remove all the labels or tags
Pre-arrange the offerings so that they will look neat and orderly on the altar.
Normally offer five plates in a row. After five plates, offer the next plate in a new row.
Label or marking of packaging - facing altar

18. Preparation-Tea Offering
If the Tao receiving ceremony is in the morning, there is no need to change tea/water.
If the ceremony is in the afternoon, then we will need to change the tea/water for Ming Ming Shangdi.
shang qing (right side): Hot water
xia zhuo (left side): Tea

19. Preparation-Tea Offering
This is called, "上清 shang qing, 下濁 xia zhuo" or purity above and turbid below. It is a symbolism for Heaven, who is both empty and manifesting.
When making the offering, remember to raise the cup at the level of the eyebrows to show respect. Also remember to open the top using the left hand to let some steam out; show our sincerity of offering tea to the holy spirits.

20. Preparation-Altar Clean Altar Make sure the lamp oils are filled
Sandalwood Incense Arrangement
Preparation for the heat incense burner
Set the transmitting incense (long one) on the altar
Vase for the long incense
Kneeling pads arrangement

21. Heat the Incense Burner
Start heating the incense burner about minutes before the Offering Ritual is to start.
Push the incense ash aside in the middle of the incense burner for about 2 inches in depth.
Add incense powder in the middle of the incense burner.
Mix the powder with the ash.
Lightly flatten the ashes in the incense burner. Do not press down.
Take 3-5 long incenses and light them. Use a pair of tweezers to break off the lit portions and insert them vertically into the middle part of the incense burner (where the powder mix is).
Repeat until you feel the burner is warm.

22. Sandalwood Incense Offering3 5

23. Sandal Wood Incense Sticks
Offering Ritual: 3
Invocation Ritual: 5
3 – 3 – 3 ( 1,2,3 – 4,5,6 – 7,8,9 )
Introducer/Gurantor:
Male representative: 3
Female representative: 3
New Tao Receiver:
Male representative : 3
Female representative : 3
Note: please use left hand for the sandalwood incense offering; lift up the incense to the forehead first and then put the incense in.

24. Position of Kneeling Pad
Offering Ritual 3 1 2 5 4
Make bow to the holy spirits when facing the altar

25. Position of Kneeling Pad
Invocation Ritual 3 1 2 6 4 5
Make bow when facing the altar
Step back and let the predecessor pass
Go behind the predecessor

26. Offering Towel to Tao Transmitting Master
Before the Transmitting Master offer the incense.
After the Transmitting Master offer the incense.
After the Transmitting Master stands at the side of the altar.
After the Transmitting Master transmits Tao to the gentlemen.
After the Transmitting Master transmits Tao to the ladies.