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Divinity Degree Institute
The Divinity Degree Institute offers courses in
Taoist Studies and the Integral Way tradition.
The term “Taoism” is a broad umbrella that encompasses a diversity of traditions (religious and non-religious), teachings, and practices which have been transmitted in a variety of ways and forms throughout the ages. The Ni Family transmits a non-religious, non-monastic form of Taoism (called the "Integral Way") that is rooted in the Southern Branch of Internal Alchemy Tradition. This form of uncorrupted Taoism focuses on the original essence and the self-cultivation of one’s energy using a variety of holistic techniques and methods to promote health, happiness, longevity, and true spiritual development.
The Divinity Degree Institute offers two different tracks of learning: A short, informal course, Entering the Tao: Integral Way Course for Spiritual Self-Development, and a longer, more formal course, The Divinity Degree Program.
The Entering the Tao course is a three-level home study program that is designed for students who are new to the tradition or who have read one or more books on the Integral Way of life and want to deepen their understanding and experience of the Integral Way by applying its principles in their daily lives. For information on Entering the Tao: Integral Way Course for Spiritual Self-Development, including registration, see below. You may also write to Jono Howard at jonohoward@gmail.com.
The Divinity Degree Program is a nine-level home study course designed for those interested in learning the Ni family Tradition in more depth. This program offers a step by step, structured path for learning the Integral Way in an academic setting. Courses of study will be offered leading to the attainment of the following Divinity degrees in Integral Way Taoist Studies: Associate of Divinity (AD), Bachelor of Divinity (BD), Master of Divinity (MDiv), and Doctor of Divinity (DD). Currently, only the Associate Degree is being offered.
Entering the Tao: Integral Way Course for Spiritual Self-Development
“The College has a world-wide spiritual mission to help people awaken to their
natural spiritual self and let them see that there is a natural spiritual light that
is as much a part of their lives as their bodies and minds are.”
from Spiritual Messages from a Buffalo Rider
For beginners, this is a three-part home study program that is designed to support students who have read one or more books on the Integral Way of life and who want to deepen their understanding and experience of the Integral Way by applying its principles in their daily lives.
The three parts of the program are:
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Part I. The Integral Way of Life
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Part II. The Subtle Law of Energy Response
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Part III. Healing the Body, Mind and Spirit
Each part of the program is based on a required reading list of three books. Students will be sent the course lessons via email as PDF files. The coursework consists of guided study materials to support understanding, self-reflection and personal practice. Entering the Tao: Integral Way Course for Spiritual Self-Development is designed primarily as a self-study program, but students are eligible to participate in an online group forum throughout all three parts of the program. The online group also offers an opportunity to learn from the questions and insights of other students.
Because each student is unique in his or her way of learning and in the time they have available for their studies, there is no deadline by which the parts of the program must be completed. Unlike the artificial pressures of academic, social and professional life, spiritual studies should be as free as possible from external or unnatural influences.
Tuition for each Part of the course is $54.95, not including books. The estimated cost of books is approximately $50 plus shipping for each Part. Total costs for each Part, therefore, are about $100. The estimated cost of tuition and books for the complete program is about $300.
In order to keep the course as affordable as possible, study material is emailed in Adobe PDF format upon receipt of registration.
A Certificate of Completion is granted to students who submit written reports at the conclusion of each Part of the program, but the written reports are not required if one does not wish to receive a certificate.
Registration for Entering the Tao: Integral Way Course for Spiritual Self-Development
Click Here
For more information on the Entering the Tao: Integral Way Course for Spiritual Self-Development,
contact Jono Howard at jonohoward@gmail.com
The Divinity Degree Program.
Study for the divinity degrees will include certification in one or more of the Ni Family movement or meditation arts (e.g., Harmony Tai Chi, Dao-In, 8 Treasures Qi Gong, Self-Healing Qi Gong, Crane Style Qi Gong, Taoist Meditation Levels 1 & 2) by the College of Tao's Chi Health Institute.
The successful degree candidate will be enrolled as a COT Taoist Mentor. Such a credentialed Taoist Mentor will be able to: (1) engage more profoundly in their own self-cultivation, (2) teach the Ni Family movement or meditation art for which they are certified, (3) lead study groups and workshops regarding the materials covered in their Integral Way Taoist Studies degree program, and perhaps (4) open their own Taoist Center offering movement and/or meditation art and Taoist study groups.
All courses are in distance-learning PDF format and cover the following texts, available from https://taostar.com:
(1) The Complete Works of Lao Tzu
(2) Stepping Stones to Spiritual Success
(3) Attune Your Body with Dao-In
(4) 8,000 Years of Wisdom Vol 1
(5) 8,000 Years of Wisdom Vol 2
(6) Spiritual Messages of a Buffalo Rider
(7) The Golden Message
(8) The Key to Good Fortune
(9) Taoism: The Road to Immortality (Amazon)
You can find more information about the Divinity Degree program by clicking here,
or contacting Jono Howard at jonohoward@gmail.com.
Click here for Divinity Degree Application
Click here for Associate Degree Course Enrollment Form
The following movement & meditation arts are recommended for AD candidates who are distance learners: Dao-In, The Eight Treasures, Self-Healing Qi Gong, Taoist Meditation Levels 1 & 2. These arts may be easily learned through our
audiovisual (DVD and book) materials available at https://taostar.com/shop-products/tai-chi-chi-gong/