'Simple living is skilful living. Simplicity of thought and mind.'
Elegant Simplicity, Satish Kumar
Elegant Simplicity: A three-day, two-night Residential Retreat with Satish Kumar and Friends
Join Satish Kumar and friends for a transformative residential retreat titled ‘Elegant Simplicity’. Satish has lifelong experiences as a monk, Gandhian activist, eco-philosopher, educator and spiritual teacher. To achieve a state of elegant simplicity, Satish advises us ‘to cultivate the simplicity of spirit, the simplicity of mind’. Thus, this retreat, led by Satish and in collaboration with friends, offers a unique opportunity to cultivate simplicity of material life, thought, and spirit.
During the three-day retreat, you will have the chance to consider the role of elegant simplicity in your life. It will be an opportunity to connect with beauty and simplicity through nature contemplation, ceremony and deep reflection. Satish will share daily inspiration while a team of friends and facilitators will guide you through tea and breathwork ceremonies, cooking together, harvesting from nature, learning from the cosmos, as well as nourishing the space for silence and meditation.
Tea Ceremony
This tea ceremony will introduce bowl tea and the essence of simplicity in cultivating inner harmony and awakened presence. Through this plant medicine, we are invited to dance with nature, connecting deeply with ourselves and others.
Deborah found Cha Dao, the way of Tea, which has quite naturally woven itself into her life,
and something which she particularly loves to
share in ceremony with others.
Breathwork
Breath of Bliss™ is a transformational practice that infuses you with aliveness using breath, movement and sound. Benefits include integration of blocked energy/emotions, access to the unconscious mind to shed limiting beliefs and patterns, greater feelings of compassion and connection to yourself and others, and expanded states of consciousness.
Andrew began exploring breathwork as part of a journey of healing from cancer and became a Breathwork Facilitator in 2017.
Astrology
Western astrology originated in ancient Mesopotamia in around 2000 BC. Through the ages, the planets and stars have been used as guides and signposts both for external events and for our internal experience. While some see it as natural science, others have emphasised astrology as a channel for spiritual contemplation.
De Rui’s focus as a practitioner is on personal astrology and helping people uncover the self-knowledge that leads to a greater sense of purpose in this life.
This retreat is held in an intimate and supportive environment, within the beautiful surroundings of Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden and Kadoorie Centre, where you can connect with like-minded individuals and share your own insights and experiences.
Elegant Simplicity: A three-day, two-night residential retreat with Satish Kumar and friends
1. Date
27 October 2023 (Friday) - 29 October 2023 (Sunday)
2. Time
Check-in at 09:00 on the first day, and check-out at 17:15 on the last day.
27 October 2023 (Friday): 09:00 - 21:00 (in residence)
28 October 2023 (Saturday): 09:00 - 21:00 (in residence)
29 October 2023 (Sunday): 07:30 - 17:15
Participants are expected to be in residence and participate in the whole of the programme since activities are not designed separately but to evolve from our shared experiences. Part of the residential experience is to partake in a community of learners together with nature and the shared space.
3. Venue
Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden (experiential activities) and Kadoorie Centre, Tai Po (accommodation and workshops)
4. Teacher & Facilitators:
Teacher: Satish Kumar
Friends: Deborah McAulay (tea ceremony), Andrew McAulay (breathwork ceremony) and De Rui (astrologer)
Facilitators: Juliana Schneider and KFBG team
5. Language
English
6. Target group
Aged 18 and above
7. No. of Participants
Maximum 30 participants
8. Fee
Total Residential Retreat Fee: Course Fee + Accommodation Fee
Course Fee: HK$3,850#
#including guided and facilitated sessions and activities, vegetarian meals, outing arrangement and shuttle bus service between HKU Kadoorie Centre and KFBG during the workshop.
Accommodation Fee: $500 or $580 for 2 nights
9. Application
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To apply for the retreat and stay in a shared room, please directly apply here
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Special requests to book an entire room (1-3 people per room, single & double bed, mixed gender) for yourself or to share with friends, please send an email to Jamie Ngai (Education Department) at jamie.ngai@kfbg.org with the full name list of participants.
Remarks: We shall try our best to accommodate your request, however, it will be subject to room availability at the time of booking.
Application Deadline: October 17, 2023 (Tuesday)
10. Notes
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Applicants will primarily be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. However, in the event of an overwhelming number of applications, KFBG reserves the right to review all applications and ultimately determine who will be accepted. Once your application is accepted, a confirmation letter will be sent to you by email.
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Payment is not refundable, unless the retreat is cancelled by KFBG or due to bad weather.
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Please note that no changes can be made after the application has been accepted.
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If your application is denied, full payment will be refunded.
11. Enquiry
Please send an email to Ms. Jamie Ngai (Education Department) at jamie.ngai@kfbg.org or
Ms. Natalie Ng (Education Department) at natalie.ng@kfbg.org
12. Terms & Conditions
Upon submission of your application and payment, you are deemed to have accepted all Terms and Regulations of this retreat, and the guidelines below:
Kadoorie Centre Rules and Regulations
In case of any dispute, the organiser has the right to the final decision.
Accomodation
The accommodation fee depends on the room type, please refer to the following for details:
For more information about the rooms, please visit https://www.kc.hku.hk/facilities.htm.
Photos of Kadoorie Centre Accommodation
