Gamuret

Darin, I think many of the people (including me) who come to hear about D. Verdesi are keen to know something more tangible about his academic credentials and research. I hope that D. Verdesi's students reading from this forum will be willing to offer some answers. And guys, please - no philosophy, no religious history, no fancy talk. Just plain, old facts. G. P. S. By the way, how old is David Verdesi actually?

Hello! I've been quietly following this on and off debate around David Verdesi for quite some time. I don't want to enter into any philosophical, ideological or other discussions. I also don't intend to pass any judgement, because time will sooner or later tell or at least give an indication about the true nature of D. Verdesi's work. The thing that I do want to do is to put forward some thoughts and I'd really be interested to hear answers, containing facts. No philosophy, religious history or similar please - just plain, old facts. Apart of seeing it at the new Verdesi-website, I noticed in many places that D. Verdesi is referred to as Dr. Verdesi and introduced as being an anthropologist. From which university and when exactly did D. Verdesi get his doctorate? What was the subject and title of his thesis? What academic area inside anthropology did he do his Ph. D. in? Medical anthropology, cultural anthropology? It's also been stated that D. Verdesi is collaborating with the Chinese government as far as his forthcoming book is concerned. His masters are mentioned to be respectable members of the community holding official posts. With which branch of the Chinese government does David Verdesi co-operate? The Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Culture? State Administration for Religious Affairs? What kind of official positions do D. Verdesi's masters hold? And with which institutions? At the new Traditionaltao website it's also being said (http://www.traditionaltao.com/index.html/html/site-section/ID/1): "Over fifteen years of personal research as an anthropologist in China and Asia, including collaborative research with major universities and hospitals in China and the United States, have culminated in unprecedented access to some of the most sought after teachers and Daoist schools in China." With which major universities and hospitals in China and the US exactly did David Verdesi do his collaborative research? Where can one access the results of these researches i. e. peer-reviewed journals, etc.? I'm really interested to get feedback from folks who might know these things. Gamuret

I've moved the post to a new topic.

I just wanted to say hello to all other members! A friendly hello from Europe.