Imagine a three-legged stool where Confucian morality, Taoist cosmology and Buddhist compassion hold everything aloft—that’s Yiguandao in a nutshell. At its heart lies the belief in a single, boundless Source (often called the Supreme Ultimate or Wuji), from which all things spring and to which one ultimately returns. Harmony with this original unity drives every teaching.

Ethical conduct borrows directly from Confucianism: filial piety, loyalty, honesty and respect. Yiguandao followers steer clear of excess—no alcohol, minimal meat—keeping body and mind clear for spiritual work. Daily ritual involves chanting sutras, bowing to the Three Pure Ones and seeking guidance through talismans or “registers” that link individual karma to cosmic grace.

Taoist influence shows up in the smooth flow between yin and yang, the dance of change that every practitioner learns to read in nature’s cycles. Meditation, breath exercises and alchemical imagery help align inner Qi with the rhythms of heaven and earth.

Buddhist threads appear in the emphasis on karma, reincarnation and the promise of salvation under Maitreya, the future Buddha. Yiguandao holds that these are transformative times: as world events ripple from climate shifts to economic upheavals, turning inward and cultivating virtue become ever more urgent.

Contemporary life pulses through Yiguandao’s community service—volunteer brigades still comb disaster zones, whether cleaning up after Taiwan’s typhoon season or delivering hot meals at local shelters. A massive vegetarian banquet in Taoyuan made headlines in 2019, showing how faith can feed both body and soul. By weaving together those three great traditions, Yiguandao offers a roadmap for personal betterment and collective harmony, grounded in age-old wisdom but ever adaptable to modern twists and turns.