As summer approaches, Venerable Chang Lin and the Pause & Breathe Team once again visit the Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden to bring you a three-day ‘Zen and Mindfulness in Life’ retreat. This year's theme is ‘Embracing Nature's Wisdom’, inviting you to temporarily escape the busyness of life and enjoy the beauty of the earth and sky, mountains and fields, forests and streams.
During these three days, you have the opportunity to deeply experience the charm of nature. Under the shelter of the forest, we will engage in activities such as sitting meditation, breathing exercises and forest therapy, opening our bodies and minds to feel the gentle breeze, listen to the songs of the birds and rediscover inner peace and harmony. This is not just an opportunity to relax; it is a profound experience of living in harmony with nature.
In our daily lives, we often find ourselves busy dealing with various challenges. Here, we encourage you to follow the rhythm of nature and let things unfold naturally. As Venerable Chang Lin often says, ‘Everything happens for the best’. Every moment is filled with meaning and every instant holds surprises. Let us temporarily set aside our work and responsibilities, take a break and mindfully experience the tranquillity and stability that nature offers.
Content:
- Experience sitting, standing, walking and eating meditation to slow down the mind and return to a state of calm.
- Enjoy Zen through photography, yoga and film.
- Wander slowly in the forest, connecting with the natural world.
- Participate in lectures and Q&A sessions with Venerable Chang Lin to share insights and resolve daily confusions.
Team of Facilitators
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Venerable Chang Lin Formerly known as Alain Yip, Changlin Fashi is a reputable professional photographer in Hong Kong who graduated from the Hong Kong Polytechnic (now Hong Kong Polytechnic University) after studying design. In 2009, he decided to give up his fame and fortune and went to Master Guo Ru’s temple in Taiwan to start his monastic life. He was ordained in 2010. With nearly 60 years of experience in photography, Venerable Chang Lin's works have been widely featured in various media and exhibitions. He has also compiled complementary publications on photography and meditation in daily life to share his photography and experience. In recent years, Changlin Fashi has led meditation retreats in a simple and easy-to-follow way. He has also initiated Pause & Breathe as a charitable institution to help others incorporate meditation into their daily lives. ‘With your mind and heart being present, we naturally feel at ease.’ |
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Pause & Breathe Team The Pause & Breathe team firmly believes that whenever we feel angry, unhappy or stressed in our daily lives, we should pause immediately and focus on feeling our breath in the present moment. By doing this, we can prevent negative emotions from spreading. Once we calm down, it will definitely help us in solving problems. Through various workshops, guided by mindfulness facilitators, we allow everyone to experience this simple method of finding peace through pausing and breathing. Certified Guide by Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Association The Forest Immersion Walk, also known as Forest Therapy or Forest Bathing, has taken place at Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden since 2018. It involves a stroll through the forests of the Farm, guiding participants into a natural playground where they can spontaneously dance with the forest. Through a series of ‘Forest Invitations’, certified forest therapy guides skilfully facilitate mini activities that encourage participants to open their senses, walk silently with fellow companions, or pause to listen to the symphony of nature. This allows individuals to immerse themselves in the tranquillity of the present moment and reconnect with Mother Earth. ‘Allow the forest to be the therapist to carry you, support you and heal you.’ Date Time Venue Language Target Audience Fee* Note Application Feedback from previous participants Enquiry |
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Related Links
- Kadoorie Earth Programme (KEP) is an initiative co-created by KFBG and its network of collaborators and volunteers. By integrating the various strands of KFBG’s nature conservation, sustainable living and holistic education programmes, it provides life-transforming learning experiences that reconnect people with themselves, each other and the rest of nature and enable them to cultivate resilience in the face of global challenges.
- Nature Art Programmes: Immerse yourself in silent contemplation of nature. Deepen your awareness of beauty and connect with nature through art. KFBG organises a variety of art workshops including Zentangle drawing, sketching and wood art, and exhibitions to guide participants, with or without artistic background, to create nature art.
- Nature Education Programmes: Become animal detectives and explore the mysteries of wild animals. Use different senses to discover the beauty of plants. Learn about the significance of forest, trees and even soils through field visits, experiments and woodwork, to reconnect with nature.
- Group Guided Tours: Led by trained environmental interpreters, the content includes experiential and hands-on activities. We encourage a passion for nature, conservation and ecology by nurturing an appreciation of the natural world.
- Corporate Programmes: Our Holistic Education Department staff can design either half-day or full-day nature education and art programmes for corporate staff or their family members based on specific needs. Leveraging the unique natural landscape and cultural ambiance of Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, our activities may include guided tours, farm-to-table experiences, nature-based workshops, talks and art activities, aiming to promote understanding and practice of sustainable living for organisations.