The Daoist Foundation (Daojiao jijin hui 道教基金會) is a non-profit religious and educational
organization dedicated to preserving and transmitting traditional Daoist (Taoist)
culture. Established in September of 2007, the foundation is a federal non-profit
organization (501[c][3]) and public charity (170[b][1][A][vi]).
The Daoist Foundation was formed by Dr. Louis Komjathy and Kate Townsend with the
vision of establishing a viable Daoist community in America rooted in Daoist practice-realization.
With over thirty years of combined experience in Daoist study and practice, they
are uniquely qualified as guides for Daoist training. Their experience includes intensive
training with lineage-based Chinese Daoist monastics and prominent second-generation
American Daoist teachers as well as formal academic study with some of the foremost
senior scholars of Daoism. As Daoist practitioners and spiritual directors, they
are committed to fostering the flourishing of authentic and tradition-based Daoist
practice, community, and culture with an attentiveness to the needs and concerns
of Western students.
Our Directors
Louis Komjathy (Kang Siqi 康思奇; Xiujing 修靜; Wanrui 萬瑞; Ph.D.; C.S.O.) is a scholar-practitioner
of Daoism with over 14 years of experience. He received his Ph.D. in Religious Studies
(Boston University; 2005), with an emphasis on Daoism under Livia Kohn. He is also
an ordained Daoist priest of the Huashan 華山 (Mount Hua) lineage of Quanzhen Daoism.
He has published Title Index to Daoist Collections (Three Pines Press, 2002), Cultivating
Perfection: Mysticism and Self-transformation in Early Quanzhen Daoism (Brill, 2007),
and Handbooks for Daoist Practice (Xiudao shouce 修道手冊; Yuen Yuen Institute [Hong
Kong], forthcoming). Louis Komjathy currently lives in Olympia, Wash., where he serves
as a senior teacher and spiritual director for the Green Cove Daoist Association
and as Co-director of the Daoist Foundation. Email.
Kate Townsend (Tang Xiang'en 唐鄉恩; L.Ac.; LMP) is a Chinese medical practitioner who
has been practicing Daoism and the healing arts for over 20 years. During this time,
she has cultivated a nuanced understanding of women's healing and alchemical practices.
Kate Townsend currently lives in Olympia, Wash., where she serves as a senior teacher
and spiritual director for the Green Cove Daoist Association and as Co-director of
the Daoist Foundation. She also oversees and practices Chinese medicine at Queen
Anne Natural Health, an acupuncture, herbal and massage therapy clinic in the upper
Queen Anne area of Seattle. Email.
