What is a retreat? The word "retreat" comes from the English "retreat" - a refuge, shelter, a place for solitude and self-development.
The Shaolin Retreat is a unique experience of immersing yourself in a deep state of silence for students who practice meditation and practice in the Zhong Yuan Qigong system. The Shaolin Monastery is a place of power that different from any other places. For many centuries Shaolin monastery remains a place for deep meditation practice, Chan Buddhism, martial art of Gun-Fu to many great Masters and their disciples.
Morning practices and meditations performed during the retreat are aimed at calming the mind, getting rid of annoying thoughts and maintaining consciousness in a quiet state. This allows you to begin researching your own inner world, which is deep, versatile and complex system. When immersed in the depths of your consciousness, you will find many beautiful, pleasant, and sometimes very difficult moments. If you continue to practice meditation, you will be able to experience a feeling that is beyond the bounds of ordinary happiness.
Practice of Qigong has a positive effect on human health. It allows you to find the balance of Yin-Yang, open energy channels and remove energy blocks. As a result of practice, it is possible to say goodbye to many chronic health problems, to find peace and begin to live in harmony with oneself. Retreat can remove the harmful effects of circumstances, emotions and stress in the person.
When immersed in themselves, people stop to think about worries, businesses, deeds and obligations and suddenly new and unexpected prospects of creativity open up, fresh creative ideas come up, seemingly impossible tasks are resolved, something like "enlightenment" occurs in the mind. A person feels a surge of energy, everything becomes extremely clear and understandable, tormented questions that puzzled you for a long time have been cleared and answered.
We can say, that in a few weeks you get a "system reboot" - cleaning up unnecessary information and structuring the accumulated knowledge and experience in order to use them most effectively. The retreat is recommended to practice at least twice a year.
Practice
During the retreat there two daily routines are used. The Usual and the Bi Gu Shi Qi schedule:1. The usual daily routine (the first and last days of retreat).
Morning practice at the gates of the Shaolin monastery. Preparation exercises, Shaolin massage, exercises to gather Qi and "Big tree". Each day, there will be 4 lessons devoted to the theory and practice of Zhong Yuan Qigong, which last for 2-3 hours with breaks for rest and meals. Classes are held from 9 am to 10 pm.
2. Bi Gu Shi Qi schedule routine.
During the practice of Bigu ShiQi, the participants of the retreat switch eating to fruits diet and as they practice, eventually refusal to eat is a result.
In the process of practice, the human body is transformed and begins to work on more thin energies. If correctly practiced , you activate the special abilities of the body, which make possible to receive energy for vital activity directly from the surrounding environment.
Morning practice start at the gates of the Shaolin Monastery begins at 5.30 in the morning. Perform preparation exercises, Shaolin massage, exercises for gathering Qi and "Big tree exercise ".
Every day, in the morning and in the evening, there will be two 4-hour sessions devoted to the theory and practice of Zhong Yuan Qigong. Classes allow you to go deeper into a quite state. During a mid-day break, retreat participants can visit various temples and places of power in Shaolin Monastery area. The lists of places you should visit are sent to each participant of the Shaolin retreat. You shell print it and bring it with you.
Trip to Songshan and Three Emperors mountains are planned at the beginning of the retreat. The hiking trip lasts about 6-8 hours, depending on the speed of the ascent. You need comfortable shoes, a hat from the sun, change clothes with a short sleeve shirt and a duster coat or windbreaker.
If you wish you can book an excursion to Luoyang at end of the retreat. Luoyang city is 2 hours away by bus from Shaolin. During this excursion, you visit the legendary "Long Men" grottoes and White Horse Temple, where Buddhist sutras were brought from India for the first time and were translated into Chinese. There are 2,100 grottoes, tens of thousands of statues of Buddha and more than forty Buddhist pagodas as well as a large number of stone stables.
Practice is conducted systematically and consistently. Master gives explanations and advice on how to solve possible problems and obstacles in meditation. Please listen and think about what you heard. Then you have an opportunity to experiment, trying everything upon yourself. Shaolin Retreat is a place where you can verify in real time what is good and right for you and what is not. Only after you have your own experience, you can with confidence accept or reject given ancient knowledge and practice.
If you practice other techniques of meditation, we ask you to step back from them during the retreat. It is important not to confuse different methods and approaches. Retreat is designed to teach people the practice of Zhong Yuan Qigong, if you attend a retreat for the purpose of training another meditation or practice then this is not the right place for it.
Accommodations
Meditation Retreat ZYQigong is a somewhat unusual event, although everyday meditation is quite normal. The large group of people should get along, connected with each other in a completely new way. Here we are united by the common experience of meditation with all of its sufferings and joys, discoveries and disappointments. During retreat our life is built around a common goal, rather than the self-interest of the modern world. To maintain harmony in group, we must agree to comply with certain conditions. Most important things to remember that this is a "quiet" retreat, you shell follow the schedule, do not use perfume or other smelling means, observe advice and remember about safety.Silence
During the retreat: Please show respect and understanding, awareness and wisdom to other participants , you get a lot of information, you can write down everything if you think is necessary for you on paper, but we ask you not to record the retreat on video.Schedule
As mentioned earlier, we will hold not complicated schedule. We ask you to take part in all meditations and listen to each lecture; follow the instructions of the Master. There will be enough time to wash clothes, take shower, think and analyze your experience gained in scheduled breaks.Clothing
As mentioned earlier, we will hold not complicated schedule. We ask you to take part in all meditations and listen to each lecture; follow the instructions of the Master. There will be enough time to wash clothes, take shower, think and analyze your experience gained in scheduled breaks.For comfort and convenience during meditation, please wear loose and light clothes (but not transparent). We also ask that your clothes be clean. During the retreat, there is no need to wear jewelry and other types of jewelry, be simpler and more natural.
Health
Meditation on the retreat does not require any special physical training, but psychological workout can be hampered by poor health. If you have a back, neck, knees pain, or other unpleasant sensations in your hips during meditation, please contact our doctors or massage therapists so that they can help you finding a way out of the problematic situation. If you have prescribed drugs that you need to take regularly, they must be taken with you to the retreat). It is possible that due to climate and food change, there could be worsening of your disease symptoms. In case of an emergency there are well-equipped hospitals and professional staff are always available in a nearby city. (20 min drive)Food
The usual schedule for breakfast, lunch and dinner offers mostly Chinese cuisine. You can choose the dishes you like as it is a buffet system. with fruits and vegetables, meat and fish. In small shops in the territory of the retreat you can buy drinks and snacks. The whole group eats at the same time. We are not able to accommodate special menu for individual with vegetarian or non-vegetarian menu request. Also there is no place to store or refrigerate food in case you bring food with you. In advance, I'm sorry for any inconvenience.
Smoking and alcohol
Cigarettes and alcohol well known toxic substances which intoxicate the body.Cigarettes and alcohol interfere with meditation and your natural relaxation.
It is necessary to refrain from smoking and drinking any alcohol for the duration of the retreat.
Only one Group this year
Dates: From August 8 to September 4, 2019 (for four weeks)Cost: 20,300 Yuan (can be paid in US Dollars or Euros, based on the exchange rate as of 8th August 2019. All payment is accepted in cash at the date of arrival. Additional payment for accommodation is accepted in Shaolin upon accommodation.).
We want to put your attention to the fact that the cost of the retreat does not consist of separate parts. This is the cost of participation in the retreat. Dates and accommodation in hotels, meals, travel dates and train tickets - are provided only as prescribed in the conditions. If you do not need any of these services, this does not affect the cost of participation in the retreat. Compensation and deductions are not provided. Also, if you want something above these conditions or changing the default conditions (other hotel rooms, dates of moving to/from Shaolin different from those specified in the conditions) - this is done by you at your own expense.
Detailed Program Schedule
8th August: Arrival to BeijingArrival to Beijing, registration of participants. Check-in time is noon. Retreat participants should arrange their own transport from the airport to the hotel (detailed information regarding Beijing taxi service and other useful information will be sent to your email later after registration).
Meeting at the airport will be organized only for large groups of participants arriving at about the same time. We will notify you via email about which flights the bus will be organized.
If you arrived at the hotel before 12:00 and do not want to pay extra for 1 day of stay, then be prepared to wait until noon until the rooms are vacated.
If you want to arrive in Beijing before 12:00, August 8, or leave later than 12:00, September 4, you will need to pay an extra 550 yuan per room per night. A detailed description of the options for the hotel in Beijing can be found below in the Registration of participants section 2.
Hotel in Beijing rooms available:
Attention! The prices for accommodation can slightly change!
We received information from the Hotel Kangming in Beijing that from June 2019 the hotel will stop working with foreign customers. Since the hotel is a state organization, now they will work only with government projects (conferences, congresses, etc.). In this regard, we will place participants of the retreat in another Beijing hotel. Detailed information about this will be sent later to your email.
| Double room | 2 persons | included in the retreat price |
| Single room | 1 person | additional payment 275 yuan/night |
9th August: Travel to Shaolin
The main group travels by train (comfortable high-speed train; it takes about 3 hours). To purchase train tickets for you, we will need a scan of your passport (Please download the passport scan file in the registration form. Registration link below.). Upon arrival, immediately submit the original of the passport to the organizers, at the Institute Kundawell, no later than August 8 at 16.00. Tickets are issued only at the station with a passport, so we will receive your tickets on August 8. Check out from the hotel to the station on August 9 early morning (PLEASE DO NOT BUY TICKETS TO BEIJING WITH ARRIVAL TIME AT 9 AUGUST MORNING. YOU WILL MISS THE TRAIN). Arrive at Shaolin around 5pm. Dinner in Shaolin at 18.00.
ATTENTION: If you have more than one passport, kindly request: download at registration only a scan of that passport, with which you will fly to China! This same passport in Beijing, please pass us on arrival at the Institute Kundawell to get train tickets. Be careful not to confuse passports so as not to be left without a ticket.
If you plan to fly from Beijing by plane, purchase tickets to Zheng Zhou (flight CA1325, Departure at 14.55), the transfer from Zheng Zhou to Shaolin, carried out by yourself. Departure from the hotel on August 9 will need to be until 12.00.
Accommodations in Shaolin
Hotel Dharma (old simple hotel)
Hotel Dharma has no places.
Shankyu Hotel (a new hotel, with improved conditions)
(It is also possible to stay together and singly).
10th August - 1st September: Intensive training.
Classes will start on August 10th, at 2 PM after lunch.
Retreat ends on September 1st, at 6 PM.
September 2:
Check out time from the hotel is at 6.00 a.m. We will have a bus-ride to Zhengzhou train station; the entire group travels to Beijing by train. Arrival to the hotel is planned around 2 p.m.
If you fly by plane (tickets you buy yourself, flight CA 1332) to Beijing, departure to Zheng Zhou Airport on September 1 at 5:00 am and arrival in Beijing around 11:00.
September 2: Free Day in Beijing & Banquet
In the evening at 7:30 p.m. we will have a banquet/party to honor the completion of the retreat, including dinner at Kundawell.
September 3: Free day in Beijing.
September 4: Check out from hotel by noon.
(It is also possible to stay together and singly).
| Double room | two people | surcharge 40 yuan / per day / per person |
| Double room | Single accommodation | surcharge of 150 yuan / per day |
10th August - 1st September: Intensive training.
Classes will start on August 10th, at 2 PM after lunch.
Retreat ends on September 1st, at 6 PM.
September 2:
Check out time from the hotel is at 6.00 a.m. We will have a bus-ride to Zhengzhou train station; the entire group travels to Beijing by train. Arrival to the hotel is planned around 2 p.m.
If you fly by plane (tickets you buy yourself, flight CA 1332) to Beijing, departure to Zheng Zhou Airport on September 1 at 5:00 am and arrival in Beijing around 11:00.
September 2: Free Day in Beijing & Banquet
In the evening at 7:30 p.m. we will have a banquet/party to honor the completion of the retreat, including dinner at Kundawell.
September 3: Free day in Beijing.
September 4: Check out from hotel by noon.
Registration
1) Fill out the registration form to create your personal profile - the "Register" button. If you have already registered for the retreat last year, log in to your profile using the EMAIL to which you registered (your personal data has already been entered in the old profile). If you have not saved the password, use the function "I forgot my password."2) Under the terms of the retreat, you are given the opportunity to stay in Beijing at a hotel without a surcharge for 3 days, in a double room (for single stays, the supplement per day is 275 yuan per day). If you arrive on 08/08/2019, early in the morning and do not want to wait until noon 12:00 to check into your room, you can choose the option of booking a room a day earlier: 07/08 - 08/08. At the same time, keep in mind that if it is beyond these 3 days, you will need to pay extra for it yourself (one day stay: 550 yuan).
Please, taking into account these conditions, select in your profile (in the section Accommodation) exactly, the days that we will reserve for you. Only the following dates are possible:
06.08 - 07.08
07.08 - 08.08
08.08 - 09.08
02.09 - 03.09
03.09 - 04.09
04.09 - 05.09
05.09 - 06.09
06.09 - 07.09
3) After that, notify us at EMAIL shaolin2019@kundawell.com that all documents are loaded. If you do not have a ticket yet, upload it to your profile later if available and also notify us by EMAIL. In the letter, if necessary, you can also request documents from us (invitation or/and reservation at the hotel) for a visa to China.
4) After we have your international passport and air ticket, we fully confirm your participation in the retreat and secure the chosen accommodation option for you.
For registration, you can contact us for assistance at EMAIL: shaolin2019@kundawell.com
