The International Taoism Forum was held recently at the Hengshan Mountain in Hengyang City, Hunan Province, to explore the development direction of modern Taoism at home and abroad.
Chen Guochao, vice chairman of the Board of Directors of Yuen Yuen Institute in Hong Kong, believes that Taoism needs to be developed in a harmonious manner in order for it to spread around the world. Martin Palmer, Secretary General of the UK-based Alliance of Religions and Conservation （ARC）, demonstrated that Taoism has time and again emphasized on the environment and its development. Xu Kangsheng, professor from Philosophy Department in Peking University, stated that the spirit of “Returning to the Nature” should be promoted further, so as to re-build a harmonious society for sustainable development. Wang Chenfa, president of Taoist College in Indonesia, said that Taoism should focus on the common subjects for human beings to win respect from other religious and cultural groups.
Translator: Wang Xiaolu
Source: Hunan Official Web Portal