MANTAK CHIA

Mantak Chia (謝明德, born April 24, 1944) is a Taoist master and teacher best known for developing and promoting the Universal Healing Tao system, which integrates Taoist internal practices with modern approaches to health, energy, and self-cultivation. Born in Bangkok, Thailand, to a Chinese family, he was raised in a Christian household—his father was a Baptist minister. From a young age, he studied diverse disciplines: at six he practiced Buddhist meditation, later adding Muay Thai boxing, T’ai Chi Ch’uan, Kung Fu, and Taoist methods of energy cultivation.

Among his many teachers, his most formative influence was Yi Eng, or White Cloud, an eremitic master of the Dragon’s Gate sect of Quanzhen Taoism. Under Yi Eng’s guidance, Chia received a comprehensive Taoist training system and was authorized to teach and heal. He later pursued studies in Western anatomy and medical science to better understand the physiological mechanisms behind the energy practices he taught.

By the mid-1970s, Chia began formalizing his teachings. In 1974 he opened his first Universal Healing Tao school in Thailand. In 1979 he established the Taoist Esoteric Yoga Center in New York City, which became a key platform for introducing Taoist practices to Western audiences. His blend of ancient Taoist methods with accessible instruction quickly drew international students, and he began publishing books, videos, and guides that spread his work worldwide.

Returning to Thailand in 1994, Chia founded the Tao Garden Health Spa and Resort in Chiang Mai, which continues to serve as the central training center for his Universal Healing Tao system. He remains active as a global teacher, offering workshops, retreats, and courses across Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

Mantak Chia emphasizes cultivating Qi—the vital life energy—as a foundation for physical vitality, emotional balance, and spiritual development. His teachings integrate practices such as Taoist meditation, Qi Gong, Inner Smile, Healing Sounds, Tao Yoga, and sexual energy cultivation. Chia views himself foremost as a teacher, dedicated to transmitting Taoist wisdom in a systematized form that allows students to apply it in daily life for healing, transformation, and spiritual growth.