The Daoist tradition of life release (Fangsheng) has a long history, originally intended as a practice of compassion and respect for life. However, contemporary society has witnessed absurd phenomena such as “releasing mineral water” and “releasing fish tofu,” alongside a commercialized release industry. These practices completely deviate from the essence of life protection and cause severe ecological damage. This article analyzes these issues and returns to the Daoist wisdom of “the unity of heaven and humanity” and scientific life release.

1. The Origin: The Compassionate Practice in Daoist Tradition

• Core Philosophy: Rooted in the concept of “the unity of heaven and humanity,” emphasizing respect and reverence for all living beings.

• Significance in Cultivation: It is not only a concrete act of “rescuing life” but also a vital path for practitioners to cultivate compassion and accumulate merit.

• Scriptural Basis: The teaching in The Treatise on the Response of the Tao that “even insects, grass, and trees should not be harmed” reflects care for all life.

2. The Distortion: Absurd Practices in Modern Society

• Ritualization and Absurdity: Practices like “releasing mineral water” (claiming it contains “84,000 insects”) are baseless and wasteful, reflecting a grave misunderstanding of the practice's essence.

• Commercialized Industry Chain: A vicious cycle of “capture — sale — release — re-capture” has formed, twisting compassionate action into a profit-driven “merit industry,” betraying its original purpose.

• Ecological Disasters: Releasing invasive species (e.g., alligator gar) or releasing animals in inappropriate locations (e.g., venomous snakes in mountains) has damaged local ecosystems and even caused human fatalities.

3. Returning to the Right Path: The Daoist-Advocated Way of Scientific Release

• The Scientific Principle: Choose native species and understand their habits; select appropriate timing, location, and scale to ensure animal survival and ecological balance.

• The Legal Principle: Strictly adhere to laws and regulations like the Biosafety Law, prohibiting the release of listed invasive species.

• Returning to the Essence: The core of release is cultivating genuine inner compassion and wisdom, not pursuing external form or utilitarian merit. The China Daoist Association calls for a deeper understanding of true “compassionate life protection.”

4. Beyond Form: Modern, Diverse Ways to Practice Compassion

• Redirecting to Effective Charity: Channeling resources into supporting education, aiding stray animals, or funding environmental projects often yields more direct social benefits.

• Participating in Ecological Conservation: Engaging in tree planting or wetland protection is practicing “the unity of heaven and humanity” on a broader scale.

• Engaging in Community Service: Volunteering to visit the elderly or help people with disabilities are concrete expressions of the ideal of “universal and equal compassion.”
  The regulation and reflection on life release practices serve as a positive example of integrating Daoist tradition with modern civilization. Only with a scientific, legal, and sincere heart towards life and the environment can this ancient tradition be revitalized and truly contribute to ecological civilization.