CBD 2026: Taoist Wisdom for Today: Fire and Water in an Age of Extremes — Contemplative Harmony and Sustainable Longevity with Dr. Mao Shing Ni
In a time marked by polarization, overstimulation, and exhaustion, how do we cultivate inner steadiness without withdrawing from engagement? Drawing from Integral Way Taoist tradition and Chinese Medicine, Dr. Mao Shing Ni explores the dynamic interplay of “Fire” (activation, awareness, spirit) and “Water” (grounding, resilience, will) as a contemplative framework for understanding both personal and cultural imbalance. Integrating classical Chinese medical wisdom with contemporary contemplative insight, he offers harmony — not suppression or escalation — as the foundation of sustainable longevity. This talk invites participants to consider longevity not simply as extended lifespan, but as the ongoing refinement and balancing of activation and restoration in daily life.
This keynote is part one of a three-part series with Dr. Mao Shing Ni in the Contemplation By Design Summit.
To extend the knowledge and skills you develop during this keynote lecture, please consider attending Dr. Mao's iPause guided practice titled Fire and Water: A Taoist Meditation for Inner Balance on Fri., Oct. 23 at 7:30am and his interactive workshop titled Inner Ecology in Taoism: Practicing Fire-Water Harmony in Daily Life on Sat., Oct. 24 at 2:00pm. You are welcome to join one or all three of Dr. Mao's Summit sessions.
Dr. Mao Shing Ni is a 38th-generation doctor of Chinese medicine and co-founder of Tao of Wellness and Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Los Angeles. A bestselling author and internationally recognized expert in longevity and integrative medicine, he bridges classical Taoist contemplative practices with modern healthcare.
For over four decades, Dr. Mao has taught meditation and internal cultivation while caring for leaders, entrepreneurs, and families seeking sustainable vitality and resilience. His work integrates acupuncture, herbal medicine, Qi Gong, and internal alchemy within a practical framework that harmonizes physiology, psychology, and contemplative awareness—offering timeless methods for cultivating balance in body, mind, and spirit.
This session is part of the FREE Contemplation by Design Summit, Oct. 14-25, 2026.
The full summit schedule for this year will be posted at: https://med.stanford.edu/contemplation/summit.html.