Organizations

The Daoist Foundation is an umbrella organization that includes the Center for Daoist Studies (research and education), the Daoist Ministry (community outreach and spiritual direction), the Clarity-and-Stillness Order (Daoist religious order), and a variety of local Daoist associations (community meeting places).

Gallagher Cove Daoist Association

Located in Olympia, Washingon, the Gallagher Cove Daoist Association (Gewan daohui 葛灣道會) is the second local Daoist association of the Daoist Foundation. It was established on the lunar New Year of 2009 and held its first monthly retreat on February 8, 2009. The association is the primary Pacific Northwest Daoist association of the Daoist Foundation and offers tradition-based Daoist retreats emphasizing holistic and integrated training.

Senior Teachers: Louis Komjathy and Kate Townsend

Caretaker and Assistant Teacher: Steve Plaza

Floating Bridge Daoist Association

The Floating Bridge Daoist Association (Fuqiao daohui 浮橋道會) is a travelling Daoist association and non-local community connected to the Daoist Foundation and the Clarity and Stillness Order. Modelled on earlier Daoist travelling canteens, it was established on the Qingming (Clear Brightness) day of 2011. It offers tradition-based Daoist retreats emphasizing holistic and integrated training throughout the world and provides a bridge between our local associations. At present, this association also serves as a transitional step towards establishing a permanent San Diego Daoist community.

Senior Teachers: Louis Komjathy and Kate Townsend

Meetings: Sundays 9:30-11:30am in Balboa Park

Green Cove Daoist Association

The Green Cove Daoist Association (Qingwan daohui 青灣道會; 2007-2009) was a local Daoist community in Olympia, Washington. It represented the first local Daoist association of the Daoist Foundation. The Green Cove Daoist Association provided tradition-based training for participating members. Its offerings included meditation instruction and practice, women's Daoist training, health and longevity practice, scripture study, and formal public talks. Following the lunar New Year of 2009, the Green Cove Daoist Association was absorbed into the Gallagher Cove Daoist Association, which is now the name of our Olympia Daoist community.

Hermitage for Cultivating Stillness

Modelled on early Quanzhen meditation enclosures, the Hermitage for Cultivating Stillness (Xiujing an 修靜菴) is the solitary practice space of Louis Komjathy. At present the hermitage is located in a semi-secluded guest-house in San Diego, but the plan is to establish a more permanent location in a nearby rural or wilderness area such as Julian.

Center for Daoist Studies

The Center for Daoist Studies (Daoxue zhongxin 道學中心) is dedicated to research and education on the Daoist tradition. It aims at providing reliable resources for the study of Daoism. Its principal activities focus on researching the history of the Daoist tradition, educating the general public about Daoism as a Chinese religious tradition, translating classical and contemporary Daoist literature into English, collecting and archiving significant materials related to Daoism, and disseminating accurate and relevant information on Daoism in digital and media formats. It also facilitates dialogue and networking among Daoist scholars, practitioners and communities both in North America and throughout the world. For more information, please visit the website of the Center for Daoist Studies.

Daoist Ministry

The Daoist Ministry (Daofeng shehui 道風社會) offers community outreach and spiritual direction. Its principal activities include hospice visits, inter-religious dialogue, prison fellowship, and public talks. It also provides Daoist spiritual direction in order to assist individuals in developing a deeper connection with the Dao and authentic Daoist lifeways. For more information, please see community outreach and fellowship.

Clarity and Stillness Order

The Clarity and Stillness Order (Qingjing dao 清靜道; C.S.O.) is an American Daoist religious order. It offers Daoist religious training for those with an authentic vocation to become ordained clergy members. With roots in the Huashan 華山 (Mount Hua) lineage of Quanzhen Daoism, it draws its primary inspiration from the Qingjing jing 清靜經 (Scripture on Clarity and Stillness). Joining the religious order requires long-term training, taking refuge and vows, and complete dedication to a Daoist religious path. It is the path of those who are called to serve the Daoist religious community. This training culminates in formal ordination. Ordinands follow foundational Quanzhen Daoist religious commitments, including sexual propriety, vegetarianism, and abstinence from intoxicants. See Ordination Registry.