In the Tao Te Ching, and more poignantly in the book of Chuang Tsu, death is portrayed as part of the natural cycle; as part of the Tao itself. However, in the arguably more influential Daozang, death is something that can (and damn well should!) be avoided entirely if you recite enough scripture and drink the right concoctions. For this reason, primarily, Taoist adepts are portrayed in popular Chinese culture not as sages but as sorcerers.

Chinese folk Taoism (“popular Taoism”) — which is a sort of derivative of a standardized form, with antiquated pop-culture and Confucian influences — places a very high value on life extension. In this respect it parallels Transhumanism. For although the philosophical roots of Transhumanism lie in taking charge of our own evolution and enhancing our physical and intellectual capabilities, we can see how it has developed as a movement… From those lofty and ennobling goals to a cryonics obsession and an almost single-minded focus on life extension.

Having said that, our future will eventually be a transhuman/posthuman one. And the only established spiritual/religious tradition that’s fully compatible with this future is Taoism. It may be possible for each of those two movements to bring out the best in the other. Spirituality on the one hand, and intellectual and physical ascendancy on the other.

You don’t, obviously, ‘cuz Azathoth doesn’t care about such things. Shipwrecked? Yes we are, on a tiny mote called Earth, adrift on black seas of infinity, and there’s no rescue ship coming. Hahahahahahaha. Azathoth akbar!

http://www.johnderbyshire.com/Reviews/Religion/daodejing.html

“In the Confucian analects, we are told that Confucius, while traveling from state to state, met many men whom he called yin che, “those who obscure themselves,” and described them as persons who had “escaped from the world.” (XIV, 39) These recluses ridiculed Confucius for what they described as his vain efforts to save the world. By one of them he was described as ‘the one who knows he cannot succeed, yet keeps trying to do so.'”
-History of Chinese Philosophy, by Fung Yu-Lan

Lao Tzu advocated the rule of sages, effectively Philosopher-Kings, with the understanding that their rule would necessarily be, in practical terms, an extremely liberal one. “The more restrictions and prohibitions there are in the world, the poorer the people will be… the more laws are promulgated, the more thieves and bandits there shall be.” (Tao Te Ching. Chapter 57.) “Tao abides in non-action, yet nothing is left undone. If kings and lords observed this, the ten thousand things would develop naturally.” (Chapter 37.)

He also said: “The world can be conquered by non-action; by action one cannot conquer the world.” (Chapter 48.)

What Taoists call “the Tao” is exactly what we call Gnon. It is the primordial essence of reality, the arrow of time and the tendency of things towards entropy, a representation of the whole of natural law. Taoists aim to comprehend it and live in harmony with it… inasmuch as possible.

Also of note is the fact that Taoism’s most popular interpretation stresses that immortality can be attained in this physical world. Therefore, its most devoted adherents have been, by and large, obsessed with becoming immortals. “Taoist Alchemy” was one method. Science may soon devise more certain methods. Taoists and Transhumanists should therefore share many common goals.

(Ironically, the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, died after ingesting a mercury-based “elixir of immortality.” His far-ranging quest for this sort of elixir may have lead to an influx of Chinese adventurers into Japan around 210BC — which may have either initiated or invigorated the Proto-Japanese Yayoi culture.)