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The article mentioned in teacher Winn’s latest newsletter, written by Mr. Kaplan was originally posted in response to my asking about the Maharishi School of Management in Fairfield Iowa. This is a regionally accredited higher ed institution.
At the time I asked about that school, I was on a search for progressive higher Ed institutions that would let me get spiritual authenticity with my education. I ended up speaking with teacher Winn’s brother who described for me the situation at Maharishi School of Management and the land around it.
My quest for integral and holistic higher education led me to find a number of leading progressive schools in America (there are few). I ended up attending the two most leading, experimental schools. In my quest I learned a lot about higher education and also studied progressive (particularly peace and holistic studies/education) with the researchers/activists/academics in these fields, in America…
Interestingly in my quest, I learned that the United Nations supports a tiny university called the “University for Peace” in Costa Rica with only 200 students.
One might think an earth-centered school as supported by the UN might have lots of exposure? No, this is a tiny school only offering masters degrees, yet in quite interesting fields of study. (http://www.upeace.org/)
Anyways, that (perhaps alchemically influenced) school happens to use a YIN YANG symbol for their emblem, the Tai Chi Tui (yin yang) is also overlayed with the continents of Earth. This is a profound school logo!
My questions continue…
In America we have a Buddhist and Hindu, regionally accredited university but why not a Taoist one? Is the Tao less important than Krishna and Buddha? What is going on here? Perhaps they are all very important, but how come I did not find an explicitly Taoist home for my undergraduate studies in the “Land of the Free and home of the brave”?
I posed this question to Mr. Winn about a year ago. He directed me to a website in California affiliated with a failed attempt to set up a Taoist university in America. I would sort of like to know more about that failed attempt, on the other hand: not really.
Anyways, I am always finished with my degree and have attempted to conduct deep research into holistic education, progressivism and peace studies.
Now, seeing this Heavenly Mountain laying dormant but reawakening has brought my intuitive insight to start this thread. Here, we might discuss a Taoist University for Peace? Perhaps this is not the best venue for such a discussion, but my point is to get this idea aired and my insights out in writing here, for us.
What is going on with that Heavenly Mountain land for all the year? Perhaps this question and the resulting dialog is best directed to the Kaplan twins.
How important is research to the Taoist community? Liberation in education? Democracy in education? Combining peace and tao in that respect? Integral education? How about the golden rule? The study of pedagogy? Authentic intelligence in higher education? Meaning education for wisdom and compassion? A real framework and ethos for world peace? human peace? and peace of mind? Starting in the heart, going to the family, community and back to the species and world?
Thank you.(P.S. Thinking on this subject is influenced by Elise Boulding, said to be the peace research/education patriarch of the 21st century…basicaly she calls for the combination of peace education with research and activism.)
You can get certified to teach the Healing Tao methods through the Healing Tao. I do know allot of colleges where you can get a degree from any where from Magic to Taoist philosophy, major colleges at that. Some times you have to create your own degree. As for a peace movement, we practicing Taoist alchemists whether practicing in a group or by our selves are the un-sung heroes of peace not only on the planet but through out the universe. Well not every dimension, in some places we are very well known and felt. Are you looking for a tenure at a college?
You could always sell it as a study of Taoist alchemies effects on global warming. Or better yet Global warming effects on Taoist alchemy.:)
LoL thanks for the insights Dog!
I realized one of your points as I was falling asleep last night. Instead of setting up a whole new university and dealing with all the beaurocracy, it would be easier to work with established schools that accept this kind of work. Teacher Winn recommends Empire college, but that school is real expensive. I still think a Taoist University for Peace is a grat idea. There is so much important research we could do and are doing?
In my quest for credit in Tao studies, I ended up getting 45 undergrad credits through Goddard college. Perhaps the Healing Tao University should more explictly affiliate itself with other schools that allow for this kind of credit? Perhaps even targeting college age people who are really the heart of our society and able to work for peace with the FORMING DIRECTION of their life?
Many in our society do not beleive in God and I think this is where Taoism needs to step in and rise up! Many are craving for spiritual nourishment and not being fed, they starve and are lost- no diretion.
With Heavenly Mountain sitting dormant most of the year, I must ask myself and the community: What oppotunities to realize Earth peace through individual peace should we recognize? Develop? Cultivate? Nourish? How can our society and intelligencia awaken to the holistic and integral revolution that is inner/world peace of Tao?
I wonder what other colleges you are referring to that enable one to get such degrees/build personalized ones? As far as I know, very few exist and I have investigated them all – please share. Perhaps even call me at 860 202 4919.
“Are you looking for a tenure at a college?”
I still have to do my masters (and perhaps PhD degree) but I am interested in this track and love to get your insights about grad studies or future “career” work. I know that whatever I/we do, it should have a strong idealistic, research and practical component? Education and Tao are made to go together, people are awakening to this (if we speed it up or not)!The whole Taoist alchemy research in relation to global warming thing HAS been on my mind a lot recently. Always funny to switch that up and enjoy the warmth while people may die from it, NOT! (but we do love the warmth?) 🙂
PEACE AND TAO, TAO AND PEACE! One love!
I believe that there are various acupuncture schools that proclaim themselves to be taoist. I graduated from one of them, the Tai Sophia Institute http://www.tai.edu which operates with the principle that we are all one. This school offers master degrees in acupuncture herbal medicine and applied healing arts. I think there is one in hawaii and one in north carolina as well. And I also would like to see more!
Blessings!This is the vision and mission of the school:
Vision
Rooted in nature and timeless wisdom, Tai Sophia Institute will be an anchoring academic institution for a global wellness community that enables all of us to practice the arts of living and dying.Mission
Tai Sophia Institute is a graduate school for the healing arts and sciences characterized by our values-driven learning community and our commitment to shape the future of healthcare through personal and public service.Our transformative and relationship-centered programs and services integrate the timeless wisdom of nature and ancient healing traditions with contemporary knowledge to develop practitioners and leaders capable of creating and sustaining individual and community wellness.
Values All members of Tai Sophia Institutes community faculty, staff, administration, and students will:
Operate from an acknowledgement and declaration of Oneness. Use nature and the rhythms of the earth as a guide in teaching our students and one another.
Foster and teach the deep sensory skills that allow us to observe ourselves and others.
Recognize that healing occurs in relationship and is more than the implementation of a treatment technique.
Continue our learning in the presence of one another, acting not as truth-tellers but as guides for mutual self-discovery.
Honor the individual gifts of each member of our community and hold one another in the highest possible regard.
Honor the diversity of all healing and philosophical traditions and build upon the common foundation that joins them at the deepest level.
Cultivate the next generation of teachers and leaders within the community to serve the mission and ongoing life of the institution.
Make all judgments and decisions in the context and light of the seven (past three, future three, and present) generations.
Ground all of our actions in honesty and integrity.
Cultivate the ability to observe ourselves and our intentions to enable us to take responsibility for our learning, actions, and well-being.
Be coachable: able to give, receive, and effectively respond to feedback.
Take the time to listen deeply to one another–making sure we hear one another and are being heard.
Consciously and courageously use our words, presence, and touch as instruments of healing–with deep respect, thoughtfulness, and compassion.
Hold healing in partnership with illness and death. Embrace all aspects of life as part of healing and health.
Acknowledge and engage in self-reflection and transformative practice as keys to healing and healing presence.
Recognize that there is no Tai Sophia independent of the individuals who make up the Institute.Isaac Bonewits got a degree in Magic from Berkley. His web site is http://www.neopagan.net/. I think this web site is a great resource especially with its new FAQ. I believe Taoist Internal Alchemy would best be suite in a trades school then “higher” learning. Again we will not get much praise for our pratices few have the ears to hear our song, or the eyes to see our colors. The greatest buildings or temples have nothing on the amazing creation that is your body, it is one of your greatest works.
I think you could do a great study in a college environment on how Taoist cosmology, Feng Shui, and the I Ching can help support an environment that would be conducive to developing healthy balanced human beings. This world needs those sharp individuals like Ken Wilber that can use a paper of authority from a college plus the power of great reasoning to create more peace on this planet..
Ohh yeah writing a book is a great step to that PHD or Tenure. Nothing says I know my shit like a book.
Wishing you the best
DogIsaac Bonewits got a degree in Magic from Berkley. His web site is http://www.neopagan.net/. I think this web site is a great resource especially with its new FAQ. I believe Taoist Internal Alchemy would best be suite in a trades school then “higher” learning. Again we will not get much praise for our pratices few have the ears to hear our song, or the eyes to see our colors. The greatest buildings or temples have nothing on the amazing creation that is your body, it is one of your greatest works.
I think you could do a great study in a college environment on how Taoist cosmology, Feng Shui, and the I Ching can help support an environment that would be conducive to developing healthy balanced human beings. This world needs those sharp individuals like Ken Wilber that can use a paper of authority from a college plus the power of great reasoning to create more peace on this planet..
Ohh yeah writing a book is a great step to that PHD or Tenure. Nothing says I know my shit like a book.
Wishing you the best
DogJust a brief word here from my heart’s spontaneous reaction to this conversation.
I hear agendas all over the place and they are a turn-off!
I hear the calculating masculine mind trying to determine the best way to change the world and I know true change will not come from that approach. (That’s not Daoist, anyway!)
Stop trying to figure it all out.
Follow your wonderful excitement, but don’t let it go to your head.
Relax. Get in the center. Be spontaneous.“The greatest temples and buildings have nothing on the amazing creation that is your body.” -Dog
Now that’s wisdom!
Love, S
Yeah I borrowed that wisdom. If you like it you can have it, just remember to return it when your done. 🙂
I just think people should have an opportunity to read about this SORT OF practice, perhaps have a bit of an experience and write about it in a setting where these things might evolve, even.
Is that not the sacred feminine?
We have West Point in America, but where is the central point? The Pentagon? The remote viewers who didnt find the weapons of mass destruction? Or the Tao learning experience.
That is, the sacred or cosmic feminine in human potential. Am I making any sense?
I just think people should have an opportunity to read about this SORT OF practice, perhaps have a bit of an experience and write about it in a setting where these things might evolve, even.
Is that not the sacred feminine?
We have West Point in America, but where is the central point? The Pentagon? The remote viewers who didnt find the weapons of mass destruction? Or the Tao learning experience.
That is, the sacred or cosmic feminine in human potential. Am I making any sense?
…when all the inner pieces are in place.
Jsrit- This is what I am responding to that you have put forth:
“I still think a Taoist University for Peace is a grat idea. There is so much important research we could do and are doing?
In my quest for credit in Tao studies, I ended up getting 45 undergrad credits through Goddard college. Perhaps the Healing Tao University should more explictly affiliate itself with other schools that allow for this kind of credit? Perhaps even targeting college age people who are really the heart of our society and able to work for peace with the FORMING DIRECTION of their life?”
Your motivation here is clearly to swerve people to your own way of thinking so that the world can come to peace. This is zealotry, not Daoism.
I understand your enthusiasm. But why try to couch a new paradigm within an old one? I see no need to create “an accredited institution” of Daoist philosophy and practice. Isn’t that just a way of gaining the approval of the powers that be? Showing the old that the new is valid? This is like the effort to prove scientifically to skeptics that the lifeforce exists. It is not our job. It is an entanglement to release from our systems. Better to simply present the teachings, as Michael has done, so that people can participate in them as their self-motivation directs, and let the lifeforce do the rest of the orchestration of the field.
And, on the other hand, if you have a true, heartfelt motivation to do something within the traditional paradigm, then intend that and see what happens. All energy goes eventualy towards a positive end. But if I were you, I would spend some signiificant time sitting in the neutral space until my intensity for external change mellowed into peacful acceptance of what is.
Sincerely, Sophia
I love “what is” Sophia.
Many do not know the Tao even exists.
My heart goes out to anyone living in such shelter.
I know I was lost until I found the Tao! Can a Taoist Bodhisattva exist? Either way, its all good.
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