Old Oak School of Dao



Our Lineage



Old Oak School of Dao has a variety of lineage influences. For the purposes of the training we are currently offering, we hold to one primary stream of transmission, as described below.


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Dao-De


Our Daoism is based on experiencing and appreciating our nature as-we-are – not striving to transform ourselves into something else. Laozi, the legendary originator of “wuweidao”, taught that weakness and modesty is our natural hook-up to Dao.


The contemplative path expressed in Laozi’s Dao De Jing is in some sense a pre-Han ancestor of Chan (Zen) Buddhism and greatly influenced the Chinese cultural traditions of ritual & alchemical Daoism, as well as most Chinese arts.


We are carrying forward a unique stream of orthodox wuweidao practice transmitted from mentor to disciple that recognizes the fruition of the spiritual path (Dao-De) as naturally arising. Dao-De is not really the goal of practice - we do not and cannot produce it through cultivation. It is rather the ground of practice – our real situation. Recognizing this ground, we become adepts.


We are now working to share this ground and to grow a community of dedicated practitioners in our "Original Root Order". Click below for additional information.


Original Root Order

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Liu-Family Daoism


As we see it, the originator of our lineage was an old hermit from Shaanxi Province who fled to Taiwan during the destruction of the Japanese invasion and subsequent Communist takeover of China.


“Old Master Liu” was the last lineage holder of a 1,000-year old aristocratic family tradition of Zhengyi Daoism with close ties to the Qing imperial family.


After spending 20 years on retreat in a cave outside Taipei, in 1978 he adopted westerner Charles Belyea into his family and transmitted the lineage to him, giving him the name Liu Ming.


The old master recognized that Ming held a close resonance with a very old stream of practice that pre-dated the Daoist religion. Although the stream of "wuweidao" ran through the “Orthodox Daoism” of the Liu-family, the old master acknowledged that the stream could carry forward without the formalities of Daoist religion.


He did not ask Ming to re-create the family tradition but just to carry the teaching & practice forward however seems appropriate in the West. He left behind no corpse at death.


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Liu Ming


Liu Ming (Charles Belyea) brought the ancient stream of wuwei cultivation to the United States of America in the late 1970’s.


After spending several years as a Buddhist monk, he was adopted into the Liu-family Daoist lineage and then turned in his Buddhist robes and established Orthodox Daoism of America, which later became Da Yuan Circle.


For 35 years, he taught relaxed, natural presence – expressed through fengshui, astrology, nutrition, traditional Chinese medicine, daoyin, meditation, divination, and ritual.


He enjoyed bringing historical and cultural perspectives to these arts, and always emphasized the importance of connecting “view” & “method” in order to enjoy the sweet fruits of practice.


Ming’s transmission of wuweidao was notably distinct from post-Han Chinese Daoism. His students understand that he read the Dao De Jing in light of the Nyingtik “heart-essence” teaching of Dzogchen, and Old Master Liu corroborated that this same heart-essence was present in the original pre-Han teachings of Daoism.


Many who encountered Ming were thoroughly transformed by his teaching and presence. He passed away in 2015, but his legacy lives on in the presence of his students, as well as in his recorded talks and historic translations & commentaries of the Dao De Jing & Zhou Yi Jing.


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Jacob Newell


Jacob Newell is here to bring you into an intimate engagement in the teaching of the Dao De Jing and the inconceivably simple and sustaining practice it inspires.


His approach to wuwei cultivation is inspired by decades of personal study, transmission from genuine masters, and lots of practice.


Jacob was ordained as Daoist priest Gu Shen Yu (谷神钰) in 2009. He now teaches as Wuming Chuan (無名川), inspired by the “Nameless Stream” that is our real experience.


His teaching draws heavily on his many years practicing Korean Zen, Ruyu-Taijiquan, and the Russo-Ukrainian martial art Systema. Jacob is also a practicing disciple in orthodox Daoist ritual and a humble student of classical Chinese language & culture.


He is the guiding teacher of our group and is whole-heartedly committed to bringing anyone with the appetite for Dao into a clear understanding and direct experience of this path.


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You!


Join us in this unique path of relaxing effort and releasing into the unborn Dao. This practice is not about working hard to attain something we don’t have, but finding intimacy and sustenance from that which we cannot lose.


We currently have several students practicing in our Sitting & Forgetting group, as well as our Original Root Investiture program. Many people have been reading and commenting on our blog and are finding inspiration in the teaching of wuweidao.


If our approach to Daoist practice appeals to you, we welcome you to join us at whatever level of engagement is appropriate for you. We provide heartfelt one-on-one guidance in meditation & qi-cultivation in the spirit of Laozi.


We will be opening our next practicing group at Chinese New Year 2025 - though we may hold some open introductions throughout 2024. You can reach us at oldoakdao@yahoo.com. We look forward to hearing from you.


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Original Root Order


Adepts who complete the Original Root Investiture are eligible to become vested members of Original Root Order. Click below for additional information. ​

Original Root Order

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Start your practice today.



If our approach resonates with you and you would like to join us in this practice, or if you would simply like more information, please contact us at oldoakdao@yahoo.com or fill out this form:

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