Conference Presentations

Among the many facets of Daoism, the 5th Century BCE classic, Dao De Jing, remains the most brilliant. It is the philosophical heart of Daoism but also the most ancient guide to actual techniques of meditation, breathing, and spiritual cultivation. Learn how this great work fits into the larger context…

Yin is often described in terms of rest, stillness, receptivity, and the feminine. While these qualities are essential, they represent only part of a much richer understanding of Yin and its role in our lives. Drawing on Daoist philosophy, Chinese medicine, and the wisdom of natural cycles, Dr. Christine Sanmiquel…

A tranquil heart allows our original nature to come forward. Drawing on the Daoist Scripture to Purify the Heart (净心神咒), this session explores the depth of prayer and ritual as practices that carry us beyond habitual patterns into a living relationship with the sacred. Prayer opens the heart, meditation deepens…

Dr. Nate Rifkin found Daoism in the darkest time of his life. He was alone, addicted to alcohol, struggling with undiagnosed autoimmune disease, and spiraling into bankruptcy. The worst pain didn't come from his challenges. It was because he felt powerless to change. But his circumstances contained a hidden gift.…

In this presentation explores the She Sheng Xiao Xi Lun (攝生消息論), or Discourse on the Subtle Essentials of Nourishing Life, attributed to the renowned Quanzhen Daoist master Qiu Chuji (丘處機). Drawing upon the text's teachings, we will examine the Daoist understanding of health and longevity through alignment with the natural…

There is only one truth, but you can only see as much of it as you are able to hold. Past wounds limit what you can access. They shape what you notice, what you believe, and what you can accept as real. As you heal and change, more of the…

Chapter 38 of the Daode Jing holds a very special place in the text and its structural organization. Historically, it would have been positioned in a very different place than it is currently, at the 38th position. This movement and reorganization is very telling and forms the nexus of an…

The Tao cannot simply be studied, understood, or believed. It must be lived, experienced, and embodied. In this experiential presentation, Sifu Harinder Singh explores the Taoist art of rooting the mind—moving beyond intellectual understanding to discover the body as a living laboratory for investigating the Tao. The journey begins by…

In this presentation, shifu Michael (Lichangdao), a long-time zuowang practitioner (30+ years) plus 20+ years of Buddhist and Catholic contemplative practices, will take a deep dive into the Daoist internal alchemy of zuowang-sitting in forgetfulness. Shifu Michael will present a brief history and practice method for this ancient, still-current method…

Daoist masters spent centuries drawing maps of what most people only sense: how energy moves in the body, how the mind settles, and how timing shapes results. They built these maps to be used, step by step. In a time of new beginnings and constant change, these teachers feel more…