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Level 1 Mentor Application & Renewal
Self-Cultivating QI and Self-Educating
A warm welcome to potential Integral Way Mentors. We welcome you into a wonderful fellowship of dedicated spiritual teachers and students who have made healing and cultivating themselves and helping others heal and cultivate an essential part of their lives. Integral Way (IW) Mentor Level 1 focuses on self-cultivating Qi (building your energy) and self-educating oneself on how to live a naturally inspired healthy life. There are some reading assignments from OmNi’s books. These books will become your friend, mentor and guide to the healthiest version of yourself. This first level also requires one to develop a meditation practice through the College of Tao (COT)’s International Taoist Meditation Institute. Meditation calms one's mind and allows one to grow sensitive to the more subtle energies of your spirit and intuition. Completing Mentor Level 1 gives you the option of applying to the Advanced Traditional Practices (ATP) Levels 1 – 4. These are the esoteric practices of the Ni family Tradition.
A: MENTOR LEVEL 1 REQUIREMENTS
Complete the coursework, fulfill the reading assignments, mark off the checklist and submit your application.
1. If you need any help, contact taoistmentorship@gmail.com and we will personally assist you or assign you a Mentor advisor to guide you through the Mentorship program.
2. Complete the course Entering the Tao: Integral Way Course for Spiritual Self Development, Part 1 (Only):
"The Integral Way of Life” to learn how the ancient spiritual path relates to one's everyday life. (Yo San University students are exempt from this course, if they have successfully completed the Fundamentals of Taoism Course.)
3. Complete “ITMI LEVEL 1” International Taoist Meditation Institute (ITMI) Level 1 Course
(This class traditionally starts once a year. Check www.collegeoftao.org)
4. For self-reflection, frequently consult The Heavenly Way booklet. There is a free download in the menu of the site.
5. Discover your personality type, based on the Five Elements. Learn how to empower yourself by exploring how your elemental personality-type affects all your relationships. Dr. Mao Shing Ni’s book will be a valuable resource for your whole life. Here is a link to: The Five Element Personality Quiz and Live Your Ultimate Life by
Dr. Mao Shing Ni
6. We suggest that you read The Power of the Feminine by Hua-Ching Ni to connect with your original feminine energies. We live in such a yang culture that it is important for our balance to rediscover the receptive feminine yin energies.
7. You will be asked to submit some brief biographical information, and sign some sincerity commitments.
“Part of my individual duty to help the world is to find and support other responsible individuals who have a ruby heart and selfless motivation to work as helpers toward a healthy, cooperative Society. They are not “warriors” or “elite.” In fact, they have no formal title that sets them above or separates them from others. I call them Mentors of the Integral Way. They may formally teach, or help in other useful ways, or they may simply live their lives in accordance with universal consciousness as models of the Integral Way.”
Enrich Your Life with Virtue by Hua-Ching Ni pages 97-98
B: INTEGRAL WAY ANNUAL STATEMENT OF DEDICATION
As a Mentor of the Taoist tradition, known as the Integral Way, I dedicate my life to cultivating my essential nature and to helping others do the same. I will assess the physical, mental, spiritual, moral, and financial aspects of my life, and where necessary, make changes in order to cultivate balance. As I gradually move away from superficiality and strive for simplicity, my ultimate goal is to realize the peaceful harmonization of all the areas in my life. I will try to do my best to avoid negative, destructive behavior because this lowers my spiritual energy. I will not abuse my life or the life of others. I will not engage in the inappropriate use of drugs or alcohol. I do not encourage any form of internal, social, or political disharmony. Instead, I seek to clear my mind and unite with the calm presence of my being in order to influence my circle of family and friends in a gentle, positive way. I will do my best to express the virtuous qualities inherent in my heart. I will do my best to cultivate kindness, selflessness, courage, fairness, honesty and contentment. These qualities reside deep within me - I intend to awaken these integral parts of my spiritual nature. I make myself available to these virtuous qualities and forgive myself when I do not live up to my own expectations. At every stage of my growth, I remember that true cultivation occurs when I gather good, balanced energy within and use it to positively serve humanity. Thus, my service to the world will become an integral part of my self-cultivation. I allow myself to adapt to ongoing changes in the world. I wholeheartedly embrace and honor my physical life, and I wholeheartedly embrace and honor my awakening to the subtle experiences of my spiritual light. I commit to integrating both outer and inner realms as one. I am ready to continue to develop my deep understanding of the teachings of the Integral Way, which resulted from the keen observations and intuitions of sagely women and men of Tao. They recognized the deep harmony in Nature and sought to balance their own lives in accordance with it. With deep sincerity, I now dedicate myself to cultivating positive energy in my life and to helping others embrace positive energy in their lives.
C: SOCIAL MEDIA GUIDELINES
Legally, a tax-exempt religious organization (like College of Tao and the Mentorship Program) cannot endorse or promote a political candidate or movement. This extends to social media. Naturally, you are allowed your private opinions and personal vote. One can advocate for spiritual freedom but Mentors of the Integral Way do not advance political positions or promote political views. This has been the posture of the Integral Way Tradition for millennia.Therefore, we strive to remain non-judgmental.
Detailed Resolution Protocols are in the Code of Ethics section of the Mentor of the Integral Way Handbook.
“If you wish to recognize the truth, then hold no opinions for or against anything.
To set up what you like against what you dislike is the disease of the mind.”
from Hsin Hsin Ming’s treatise, Cultivating Pure Mind,
in Taoist Inner View, Chapter 19, by Hua-Ching Ni
D: ADVANCED TRADITIONAL PRACTICES/OPTIONAL
(ATP is not a requirement for becoming a Level 2 Mentor, but to most it has been a treasure to be allowed to learn and embody these advanced spiritual cultivations.)
Upon receiving your Level 1 Mentor Certificate, you may apply for Levels 1 - 4 of the Advanced Traditional Practice Program (ATP). The ATP was first developed by OmNi for Mentors in 1995. It consists of 36 levels of spiritual cultivations, one level per year, usually taught at the annual Chinese New Year Retreat. This process progresses until one completes all 36 Levels. The ATP participant has the option of learning ATP for one’s own development or as a healing modality to benefit others. Continuation beyond Level 4 of ATP can happen as one progresses through Mentor Level 2 and Mentor Level 3 of the Mentor Program.
For further information contact Peter Stege: atp.cot@gmail.com
Renewal Application Follows Mentor Application