The Way of Water (or The Strength of Weakness) 

The Book of the Way and its Potency (or Virtue), attributed to Laozi, is one of the most important texts of Daoism. It is also one of the most prominent works ever written on how to find enough meaning in the universe to conduct a personal life based on what is behind and beyond this life. It is a text that can be fruitfully studied and meditated even today, and it still inspires many people’s lives.

The Way of Water or The Strength of Weakness

100% Online
With English Auto-generated Subtitles

4:00 hours 
On-Demand Video

Complete Text Handout

Certificate On Completion
CEU/CPD/PDAs

By taking this course, you will

  • Analyse the metaphors of water in the Daodejing and other related texts.
  • Explain how the concepts of suppleness, yielding, and endurance can overcome force and violence.
  • Evaluate the significance of “The Strength of Weakness”
  • Demonstrate an understanding of how adopting a new perspective on human relationships and life can lead to success and the nurturing of life.
  • Assess the contemporary relevance of the Daodejing, exploring its capacity to inspire and enrich personal lives through study and meditation.

Course Overview

The Book of the Way and its Potency (or Virtue), attributed to Laozi, is one of the most important texts of Daoism. It is also one of the most prominent works ever written on how to find enough meaning in the universe to conduct a personal life based on what is behind and beyond this life. It is a text that can be fruitfully studied and meditated even today, and it still inspires many people’s lives. 

Images of water permeate the book with metaphors that show how suppleness, apparent weakness, and the ability to yield and endure can overcome force and violence. ‘The strength of weakness’ is presented as a way to succeed and nurture life, for which one must shift internally and adopt another view on human relationships and how life proceeds. When this change is achieved, ‘The Way of Water’ reveals its richness and its marvellous efficiency, bringing us close to the source of life. 

During this course, this perception will be demonstrated through several selected Daodejing chapters. Several other texts of the same period (the turn of the 3rd century BC) sharing the same approach will also be presented. 

Handouts provide the Chinese text (with pinyin) for the selected chapters, along with R.G. Henricks’s translation, one of the several good available English translations. It is not necessary to know Chinese to follow the lectures. 

According to the Daodejing 道德經 – ‘The book of the Way and its Potency’ by Elisabeth Rochat de la Vallée 

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4 AOM-OM
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4 Hours | Group 1


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By registering for this course, I agree to abide by the NCCAOM PDA Course Participant Attestation.

I understand that the information in this course presented by the Provider and/or Instructor(s) is for educational purposes only and should only be applied with appropriate clinical judgment and used by a trained and licensed
practitioner. Governmental laws and regulations vary from region to region and the contents of this course vary in permissible usage. The participant is required to check their local, state, and federal laws and regulations regarding the practice requirements and scope of practice issues and the use of the information of this course including, but not limited to, theory, herbal medicine, and acupuncture. I acknowledge that NCCAOM does not endorse any specific treatment regimens of any kind. Furthermore, if I use any modalities or treatments taught in this course, I agree to waive, release, indemnify, discharge, and covenant not to sue NCCAOM from and against any liability, claims, demands, or causes of action whatsoever, arising out of any injury, loss, or damage that a person may sustain related to the use of the information in this course. I understand that this Release is governed by the laws of District of Columbia, U.S.A. and shall survive the termination or expiration of this course.

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CEU/CPD/PDA

Unless otherwise stated, CEU/PDA/CPD requirements must be completed within 1 year of the purchase. You are advised to print and save your certificate for your records and under your association requirements.

Dimploamtes of NCCAOM & Floridas members need to fill in a form after completing their courses for us to submit the points. CAB & Fachverband members need to write to us an email upon completing their courses to get the required documents. Look for our email after the completion of the course.

About the Teacher

Elisabeth Rochat de la Vallée

Senior sinlogist Elisabeth Rochat de laVallée has been studying and translating the classics of Chinese Medicine and philosophy for over 40 years. She continues teaching worldwide.

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Course Includes

  • Course Credits

    AACMA Image AACMA4 CPD's
    ACI Image ACICertificate
    AGTCM Image AGTCMCertificate
    NCCAOM Image NCCAOM4 CEU's
    Fachverband Image TCM FACHVERBAND4 Hours

    For further infomation see the course description

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