7th International Conference on Daoist Studies -- Nanyue (Changsha), June 24-28, 2011

The seventh in a series of major conferences on Daoist studies and modern application, this follows a tradition that began in Boston (2003) and continued through Mt. Qingcheng (2004), Fraueninsel in Bavaria (2006), Hong Kong (2007), Mt. Wudang (2009), and Los Angeles (2010).

A specialized symposium on Dao De Jing will take place as an independent part of the conference “Education and Sustainable Life”, Prague & St. John under the Rock, Czech Republic, June 22–26, 2010 (details: http://www.svatojanskakolej.cz/html/2010circular.htm).

UPDATE: due to an additional source of funding it is possible to reduce the conference fee to 150 EUR. The deadline is extended to April 20th, 2010. (Those who have paid the original fee will be reimbursed at the registration).

Come to a spectacular mountain in New Mexico and explore how living a Daoist life can make a difference in the world today, how Daoism can provide a more appropriate worldview, conceptual structures, and behavioral guidelines that allow us to treat self, society, nature, and the cosmos as one interconnected webwork and thereby bring healing to the people and harmony to the world.

To immerse ourselves in Dao, our day begins with qigong stretches. After breakfast we explore six areas of progressive unfolding: cosmic thinking, mental ease, energetic potency, body awareness, social connection, and being in nature. In each case, we use original sources from key religious scriptures. Lunch follows, and a break period for resting, hiking, or more active practice.

In the afternoon, we experiment with a form of Daoist cultivation: sitting in oblivion, visualization, dietetics, daoyin exercises (breathing, qi-guiding), interpersonal connection, and Feng Shui. Preparing a healthy, whole-foods dinner while applying positive internal energy, we continue our discussion of Daoist worldview and lifestyle choices and as well as of issues of social transformation and global vision, ever more ready to live a Daoist life full of harmony and integration.

Dates: Sept. 11-18, 2010

Location: Bear Mountain Range, Cibola National Forest, south of Albuquerque

The first International Summit on Laozi and Daoist Culture will be held in Beijing from November 5-7, 2009. Organized by Prof. HU Fuchen, president of the Laozi and Daoist Culture Research Association (老子道家文化研究会), the summit will take place in Beijing and feature a reception in the Great Hall of the People.

http://summit.laozidaoism.org/