Taoism
Where:
World Cup Coffee, 1740 NW Glisan St., Portland, OR (side room).
When:
Saturdays, January 12, 19, 26, 2019, 1:00-3:30 p.m.
Description:
Taoism is the ancient Chinese study of the Tao or "the way." In this modern world full of machinery, digital overload, consumer culture, and frantic schedules, many of us can feel like we are constantly swimming upstream. Taoism is the ultimate philosophy of letting go and getting into the flow. The Taoist term wu wei means "doing without doing" – acting so that your actions feel effortless and natural, like a boat floating gently downstream. It teaches the value of simplicity, receptivity, and the wisdom of the natural world.
In this workshop, we'll discuss some of the basic ideas in Taoism and then we'll read and discuss the entirety of the Tao Te Ching. Part poetry, part philosophical treatise, this Taoist classic is a text full of sage teachings that you can read again and again. We'll work together to interpret the sometimes enigmatic and paradoxical verses to reveal the ancient wisdom hidden within.
World Cup Coffee, 1740 NW Glisan St., Portland, OR (side room).
When:
Saturdays, January 12, 19, 26, 2019, 1:00-3:30 p.m.
Description:
Taoism is the ancient Chinese study of the Tao or "the way." In this modern world full of machinery, digital overload, consumer culture, and frantic schedules, many of us can feel like we are constantly swimming upstream. Taoism is the ultimate philosophy of letting go and getting into the flow. The Taoist term wu wei means "doing without doing" – acting so that your actions feel effortless and natural, like a boat floating gently downstream. It teaches the value of simplicity, receptivity, and the wisdom of the natural world.
In this workshop, we'll discuss some of the basic ideas in Taoism and then we'll read and discuss the entirety of the Tao Te Ching. Part poetry, part philosophical treatise, this Taoist classic is a text full of sage teachings that you can read again and again. We'll work together to interpret the sometimes enigmatic and paradoxical verses to reveal the ancient wisdom hidden within.
About Philosophy Workshops:
Philosophy Workshops emphasize discussion, life experience, self-examination, and practical application. They are led by philosophy professors committed to accessible language and open conversation. No prior philosophical training is necessary . . . just an open mind, a respectful approach to others, and a sense of humor!
The Theory and the Lab:
There are two portions of this discussion-based workshop: 1) the Theory, and 2) the Lab.
In the Theory portion of the workshop (from 1:00-2:30) we’ll work to understand some fundamental Taoist concepts and interpret passages of the Tao Te Ching in discussion. In the Lab portion of the workshop (from 2:45- 3:30) we will explore the ways in which these concepts can work in our everyday lives, and consider how they might be applied to our current historical moment. We will devise “experiments” for developing a greater sense of flexibility, receptivity, and simplicity, encouraged in the Taoist tradition, and we will discuss with each other how our experiments work out.
If this is your first philosophy workshop, you can learn more about what to expect here.
Philosophy Workshops emphasize discussion, life experience, self-examination, and practical application. They are led by philosophy professors committed to accessible language and open conversation. No prior philosophical training is necessary . . . just an open mind, a respectful approach to others, and a sense of humor!
The Theory and the Lab:
There are two portions of this discussion-based workshop: 1) the Theory, and 2) the Lab.
In the Theory portion of the workshop (from 1:00-2:30) we’ll work to understand some fundamental Taoist concepts and interpret passages of the Tao Te Ching in discussion. In the Lab portion of the workshop (from 2:45- 3:30) we will explore the ways in which these concepts can work in our everyday lives, and consider how they might be applied to our current historical moment. We will devise “experiments” for developing a greater sense of flexibility, receptivity, and simplicity, encouraged in the Taoist tradition, and we will discuss with each other how our experiments work out.
If this is your first philosophy workshop, you can learn more about what to expect here.
About Your Workshop Leader:
Curious Soul is excited to welcome back Danielle LaSusa as our guest workshop leader on Taoism!
Danielle LaSusa, Ph.D. is a Philosophical Coach, and co-creator and co-host of Think Hard podcast, which brings philosophy to the real world. She has a Ph.D. in Philosophy and a Graduate Certificate in Women's Studies from Temple University, and a certification in Philosophical Counseling from the American Philosophical Practitioners Association. When her daughter was born, she damn near broke her brain trying to figure out what the hell happened. Now, she helps other new moms grapple with what it means to make a person. Learn more at daniellelasusa.com.
Curious Soul is excited to welcome back Danielle LaSusa as our guest workshop leader on Taoism!
Danielle LaSusa, Ph.D. is a Philosophical Coach, and co-creator and co-host of Think Hard podcast, which brings philosophy to the real world. She has a Ph.D. in Philosophy and a Graduate Certificate in Women's Studies from Temple University, and a certification in Philosophical Counseling from the American Philosophical Practitioners Association. When her daughter was born, she damn near broke her brain trying to figure out what the hell happened. Now, she helps other new moms grapple with what it means to make a person. Learn more at daniellelasusa.com.
Book to Purchase: You should have a copy of the Tao Te Ching. There are many different translations, and they are often wildly different from one another. I recommend Stephen Mitchell's translation, as it tends to be more accessible than others. However, if you already have a copy that you prefer, you're welcome to use it and come ready to compare translations. Be sure to order your book early to account for delivery time.
Calendar:
Week 1: Excerpt from Patrick Bresnan's Awakenings (pdf provided).
The first week, we'll learn a little bit about the historical context of Taoism, and we'll discuss the basic concepts, including the Tao, te, and wu wei.
Week 2: Tao Te Ching, Verses 1-40
Week 3: Tao Te Ching, Verses 41-81
Preparation:
For each meeting, participants should read in advance the selection of text we'll be discussing, consider some questions Danielle sends by email to help us focus, and come with some marked passages to talk about.
Cost: $199 (for three afternoon philosophy sessions)
Calendar:
Week 1: Excerpt from Patrick Bresnan's Awakenings (pdf provided).
The first week, we'll learn a little bit about the historical context of Taoism, and we'll discuss the basic concepts, including the Tao, te, and wu wei.
Week 2: Tao Te Ching, Verses 1-40
Week 3: Tao Te Ching, Verses 41-81
Preparation:
For each meeting, participants should read in advance the selection of text we'll be discussing, consider some questions Danielle sends by email to help us focus, and come with some marked passages to talk about.
Cost: $199 (for three afternoon philosophy sessions)
- Are you signing up to take the workshop with a friend? Click on the "Friends Discount" button for the discounted rate of $150.
- The workshop has limited space. Please register soon to save yourself a spot!
- Registration closes on Saturday, January 5th.
- Register by clicking the appropriate button below and following instructions to use PayPal. Thanks!
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