Taiji Tao Immersion with Sarah Tulivu
Sarah Tulivu, or Fong Yi, (ordained name), has trained in sitting meditation for the past 13 years, and Taiji & Qigong, for the past 11 years – within the tradition of Taiwanese Master, Waysun Liao.
During that time, about 6 years were passed training full-time as a monk in a Tao Temple, with about 6-7 hours of practice per day.
Before the Tao Temple, she trained intensively in the Buddhist tradition for two years in Nepal, then India and Thailand.
In 2019 she was advised by Master Waysun Liao and Master Chang to leave the Tao Temple and Monastery, and learn how to “make the world her Temple”, to carry the practice into everyday life, and asked her to share with those interested who cross her path.
The Workshop
This Taoist Taiji and Meditation retreat will take place in the midst of serene nature in the south of Styria, Austria. We will be focusing mostly on foundations, but this is not to be considered as basic. In this approach, we found that working with foundations is actually a very advanced practice. Foundations are what hold up everything, it’s where we can work with the core causes of our current condition. Bringing our system back into a more whole, balanced, harmonious condition, it’s work that we find then benefits and seeps into whatever other practice or activity one has in their daily life.
So we’ll work with aligning, opening and releasing the body, working also with the breath, cultivating the quality of one’s attention, and our ability to listen, feel, be present.
Through the practice, we will accompany ourselves into a quieter more aware space, gradually learning how to gently stay open and awake in and with what arises. To ourselves, our hearts, the other, and life around us.
We practice in the morning and in the afternoon.
Schedule
(which may be adjusted)
7:15 Wake-up bell
08:00-09:00 Sitting Meditation
09:00-10:30 Breakfast
10:30-12:30 Taiji & Qigong
12:30-13:00 Self practice
14:30-15:30 Lunch (Silence ends)
17:00-18:30 Taiji & Qigong
20:00 Dinner
As part of this summer retreat in Styria, Austria, we will all have the opportunity to experience community life in Obenaus, so part of the schedule will be dedicated to helping out in the garden, chopping wood, cutting veggies for dinner, with improvised kitchen dance parties, etc.
ARRIVAL DAY: 9th August 2024, please arrive by 16:00 CEST
DEPARTURE DAY: 14th August 2024, after a morning practice and breakfast, you can plan to leave by 11:00 in the morning.
Some lines on Taiji and Qigong
Taiji (Taichi) 太極, (and Qigong 氣功= Qi work) are ancient moving meditation practices through which we can bring our system back into a more whole, balanced, harmonious condition.
The Taichi Tao path is a path of going back to the origin, of investigation into the Self and reconnecting to one’s deeper nature.
This approach comes from the mountain monks (Shan Ren) and is often nicknamed “Temple Style Taiji”.
Much of the Taiji sessions will be practiced using Single Form, or “Dan Tsou” style practice, which breaks down each movement of the long-form into smaller motions that we can practice repetitively in a cyclic manner.
This allows us to focus on Qi Awareness and Qi Flow, and to work on the internal dimensions of our being in an in-depth manner. And since cyclic single forms are easier to remember, it will give the practitioner a chance to bring home some forms to continue practicing.
Registration, accommodation and money
To register for this Taiji and Meditation retreat in Austria in August of 2024, please choose the contribution that feels right for you. As the practice in itself is priceless, we offer a range of contributions to fit a variety of budgets.
Obenaus offers a few guest rooms within our buildings. You can take a tent or bring your own caravan or camper van. There are many guesthouses and B&Bs in walking distance.
To take part in any stay at Obenaus, we ask you to become a member of the Community. The membership fee of 95 € includes the first two days of staying here. Please choose that ticket below if you’re not already a member of the Obenaus Community.
The contribution for your stay during the retreat includes all meals prepared by our two chefs who come especially for this summer.
Some questions for better preparation
Please fill in this form after the registration below.
If you have any questions just write to the organisers here: taijitaosessions@gmail.com
Looking forward to seeing you there!
English (UK) 
Deutsch (Österreich)