The Taoist, or anyone who pray to Chinese deities(considered
Taoists and Taoist divines)'s actual method of greeting is cupping
our left hand onto the right hand.
Clasping both hand is the buddhist method. Due to lack of teaching
and educating, both methods are mixed up.
The Taoist way of greeting applies to paying homage to ALL divines,
ancestors or spirits. And it is the same as greeting between one
another. Just take paying homage may be done more solomn and normal
greetings will be done more casuallly.
Cupping of hands, is also the Chinese tradition way of greetings.
Remember the SARS period? Political leaders are using this cupping
of hands.
Taoism is the indigenous religion of the Chinese civilisation. This
proof that cupping of hands is the Taoist way of greeting.
Notice that in ancient time, Chinese also uses this method. Note
those chinese movies and dramas.
Cupping of hand, symbolizes a 'taiji' sign, which means the whole
univserse and 'harmony' as yin and yang are balanced. it also means
linking our sincerity and heart to the whole comsic, thus when we
pray or pay homage, it reflect our sincerity.
Left is also consider the 'good' side, yang and right is yin, dark.
thus it shows good always win over the dark. teaching us to be good
and nurture our virtues.
The common greetings for taoists are 'fu sheng wu liang tian zun',
or simply 'wu liang guang'. both means heavenly blessings upon us.
it is a short holy prayer to greet, to pray for heavenly divines
showering blessings on us.
Representing all heavenly divines.
wu liang guang means blessings in general.
Or one can just say 'ci bei', compassion in chinese. as compassion
is the key virtue in Taoism. One of the 3 treasures as expounded by
lao zi(tai shang lao jun) in the Tao te ching.
Fu sheng wu liang tian zun