EVENING SEMINARS - The study of key texts in small seminar groups

Tuesday 27 October – Tuesday 1 December 2026, 6 weekly meetings

Time             6.30 – 8pm 

Venue           The London Jesuit Centre, 114 Mount Street, W1K 3AH

The Daode jing Laozi

Leader           Dr Sandra Hill

Text                the penguin classics edition - Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu (D. C. Lau translation)

The Daode jing (also referred to as the Laozi or Tao Te Ching) is the foundation text of both philosophical and religious Daoism. During these six sessions, we will read the text together, occasionally looking at different translations in order to reveal the essence of these cryptic writings and allow a deeper understanding of their key concepts. We will consider how the Daode jing understands Dao; what exactly is referred to by ‘de’; and how the seminal ideas of wuwei (non-action) and ziran (spontaneous arising), jing (stillness) and qing (clarity) relate to Daoist practices of cultivating the heart. We will look at key terms as they are understood within the classical Chinese language, allowing the pictographic characters to enlighten the mind and enhance our understanding in ways that are often difficult to transmit in translation. 

SANDRA HILL studied Fine Art at the University of the Arts Central St Martins, and completed postgraduate studies at Chelsea College of Art. She later travelled to South and East Asia to pursue her interest in both Eastern art and philosophy and lived for several years in Japan. Sandra currently teaches the Daoism module on the Temenos Academy Foundation Course in the Perennial Philosophy. She gained her PhD at the King’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts with a thesis entitled ‘Approaching the Formless’, which explored the concept of the Absolute in both Hindu and Daoist philosophy, and its depiction within sacred art traditions.

Course cost

£120 or £90 Members of the Temenos Academy/Concessions.

Those attending must be aged 18 or over.

To book email temenosacademy@myfastmail.com