Thousands years ago,
The great saint Qu at the blink of the river that he gives his life:

"
Belong to nothing,
Belong to no one.
Simply, BE...
Live BEING first in whole,
Without compare and compete.
The truth is just being naturally self. "

A festival full of spirit,
5 groups into different practices but share the same passion of life....

See you soon!

Yours,
​YEJO Circle

Xinchang is famous of it's wonderful tea fields view, the most important place for produce the Da Fo Longjing Tea. 
Two days discovery into a mountain village, we get a full bag of green tea by our hands on tea picking experience. The life in the village was amazing too, there is many useful tools all made from Bamboo, it attracted everyone to explore and we discovered a small street all saling bamboo stuffs for daily use. it's a good way to respect the nature and try to use natural ​material more :)

A great experience with camping on top of the wild great wall in Beijing. The hiking is finally around 7km with many part climbing and hike up & down following the great wall mountain line, we felt the "greatness" comes from inside, the energy to respect it. What a great project that in the history! It's simple but full of power, it's nature but with amazing design.

The beginning of the spring
quietly comes into a hidden temple
​inside the countryside. 
Seeker of Truth,
Whatever is born out of time,
you need not be concerned about.
Let life take care of that. Let life take care of life.
Keep quiet and let your mind rest inside your heart.
Don't worry. Right now belongs only to now.
Just be now.
There are no demands, requirements or conditions.
You are simply here.
As you confirm this,
and pay attention to this simple fact,
the whole world becomes a harmony
right in front of you.

Steps into 2018,
amazed by the creation of the calendar and its following celebration,
the observation of the nature turns into a phenomenon of culture...
​wonderful!

So,
For all of us, seeking the truth,in each moment of 2018,
we would like to share the following,

When the ego is acknowledged as being only an existent, not a reality in the ultimate sense, then the ego's life, being in duality, will be transcended at each moment that it is being lived. Such transcendence makes ordinary everyday routine a holy and divine thing; nevertheless the routine remains quite normal, quite ordinary, undramatic, not special or apart from the spiritual life.

We shall discover the truth about what we really are in the measure that we discover the error of believing that we are the ego and nothing more. This discovery will take effect and bring us on the way towards realization and liberation only to the extent that we live it, for philosophy is not philosophy unless it is practised in life.

Yours Authentically,
YEJO Circle
www.yejocircle.com
​

There were exciting two days for families, especially kids, without doubt,
finally, they had had the chance to “set themselves free” from homework, school, and stressful routine lives.

For parents, temporarily away from the urban area,
enjoyed the slow life and participate the hiking activity with their kids to bond their relationship
and discovered the beauty of nature.

On Oct 4th, kids and their parents started their YEJO journey to a small village in Anji located in Huzhou.
After all the driving, we eventually arrived at our destination.
The guesthouse we stayed was in the quiet area, once you got off from the bus,
the fresh air and the sense of peace just came to you.
That was the unique feeling you could only experience in the countryside….

Our hiking activity officially began in the next morning around at 10, unfortunately, that wasn’t a sunny day, however, was a bit foggy and raining, that definitely increased some difficulties and challenges for some families who were carrying their only three-year-old kids. Before started hiking, our owner from guesthouse made the bamboo sticks for us to carry, very primitive but turned out to be very useful tools for hiking….
I have to say like seriously, never look down of kids, they have much more potential and energy than we expected. They were the first group who arrived on the top of the mountain and no one said tired or sought for help, but oppositely they were the ones who helped and encouraged their parents, which was really amazed me and felt proud of them! Everyone got dirty after finished hiking, but I could see the satisfaction on their faces and the sense of the fulfillment.   

The last day in Anji was pretty chill,
we walked around to explore the local village life and everyone had the opportunity to try to make tofu on the tofu workshop,
the last meal we had was the tofu we made in the morning,
hm...tasted more delicious than the normal ones we had.....

Two days activity finished too fast according to the families, and kids just got familiar with each other and made friends with each other. 
All good things must come to the end, but we believed that the short but remarkable two-day activity lifted up and inspired our lives...

Your Leaders this time: Susan & Elodie

“Calligraphy by those good in brush strength has much bone; that by those not good in brush strength has much flesh. Calligraphy that has much bone but slight flesh is called sinew-writing; that with much flesh but slight bone is called ink-pig. Calligraphy with much strength and rich in sinew is of sagelike quality; that with neither strength nor sinew is sick. Every writer proceeds in accordance with the manifestation of his digestion and respiration of energy.” (From Bizhentu, 7th century)

One day with around 10 people together, 
from getting into its culture to deep practices on the foundations.
three hours fly quickly together with the quietly flowing brushes.

The most uplifting part is a day full of serenity  joy with the fellow learners.

See you all next time,
wish you all more culture, art, poetry, nature & spirit in life!

Your leader this time Jeff

Author: YEJO Circle

For a Buddhist practitioner,
Life starts with the Morning Bell, ends with the Evening Drum is a serene, cut-off from material, sensual & emotion attachment
and a simplistic & poetic way of life.

For a normal attached social person,
(before the full awareness of its essence, and the ability to observe) temple life might be challengingly simple,
the mental chattering will become too noisy and the “ Boringness and Loneliness” makes life nervous and recklessly unsettled.
 
However,
For the hearts of practice, persistent truth seekers and walkers towards enlightenment of truth,
​temple provides the means to tame the mind; regular body connection, motion & stillness balanced life, and cultivated the serenity within.

One Day life in Buddhism Temple:
 
1, Getup with Morning Board Clapping at 04:00 to 05:00 AM according to Season
Every morning around 4 o’clock, monk on duty will clap the morning board, all monks will get up, make the bed, doing the washings, and the big Bell will start, finally the drum will start indicating the morning class will start.

2, Start Morning Class
Three times of Bells totally 108, indicating the ending of the 108 sufferings of life. After the morning drum all monks will be in the hall ready for the morning class.
 
3, Worshipping of the Buddha
With the indication of the bell, the morning class starts first with worshiping of the Buddha. It requires the totality of body-mind-spirit integration, with complete focus on each movement and worshipping mind, imagining melts into Buddhahood with the worshipping process and removing self importance and attachment on self and purified with compassion.
On the side effect, the not fast but full range movement is a good process for the body health in the morning, and give the capacity to observe the body during the exercise.
  
4, One Hour Chanting of the Sutra
Two “Wood Fish” starts the chanting of the morning, with all the important Sutra chanting it takes around 1 hour. The chanting purifies the mind at the start of the day and clarifies the mind with the pointing towards the truth.

Life exists in itself with its pure unity truth – there is no inherent meaning attached to each individualized life. However – as all human beings (and animals) wish for happiness and not to suffer – the purpose of individual life may be said to end that suffering starts with the illusion of the individuality and the seeking of meaning of the individuality itself.

5, Breakfast Around 06:30 to 07:00 O’Clock
The bamboo clapping informs the readiness of breakfast,
and all will go to the diner room, with the big wood fish claps starts the breakfast.
Before the eating, a chanting to remind the practice of awareness will start each meal.
Discipline, full awareness, unwasting, mindfulness will be practice in the meal, and the breakfast will be finished with a chanting.

6 Meditation:
Sitting meditation for the Chan Buddhism Temple, Chanting for the Pureland Jingtu Buddhism Temple, as the two major Buddhism type developed in China from Han Dynasty. Or Ceremony Services to the local community.
For the temple that serves the local community with different types of ceremony, especially during the festival periods, then these ceremonies will be a big practice for the monks.
 
Meditation is Key
A key belief in all Buddhist groups is the importance of meditation. Without calming our mind, and examining our mind’s nature and its beliefs, we can never reach enlightenment. Doing this sitting down is called meditation, and doing this while we undertake everyday activities is called mindfulness.
 
Everything is based on mind, is led by mind, is fashioned by mind. If you speak and act with a polluted mind, suffering will follow you, as the wheels of the oxcart follow the footsteps of the ox.

7, Lunch and No Eating after Lunch
Lunches are punctual around 11:00 AM with the same indications from the dining room.
The process is same as the breakfast and same as a practice and reminding of the practice along the eating process, and ends with a chanting.
 
8, Meditation as in the Morning
9, No Dinner at Evening, however, for the weak and unhealthy, a meal is provided to support their recovery.

10 Evening Class 16:00 or 19:00 PM
After or before the dinner, (as scheduled with different temple) there will be the evening class with the chanting, similar to the morning class.

11, 21:00 Stillness and Silence
Starts with the drums, then the bells, followed at the end board claps indicates the time to be in stillness and sleep.
 
Following the clapping of the boards, temple life melts into the night…

​Author: Susan
I never thought about one day I would enter into the temple and stay in there for two days, just for purely doing yoga.
Temple and yoga, this combination, sounds interesting but somehow feels they are meant to be together. As a city girl, it was not easy for me to image what kind of the life it would be in the temple, tiring, boring or…? Until I’ve discovered by myself…..
Thanks to YEJO Circle, I was “assigned “the mission to the temple yoga retreat during weekend as a leader with another group leader Zoe.

​On the night of Sept 8th, my first group leading to the temple officially started. Driving on the highway, we were getting farther and farther from the 24/7 lights-on city. Around 2 hours later, we finally reached the temple, it was 10pm already, everyone seemed quite curious about this small temple also a bit excited for tomorrow’s “brand new life”. As we were staying in the temple, we strictly followed the schedule of local monks, straightforward itinerary basically, wake up at 5am, lunch at 11am and dinner at 5:30pm. Sounds unbelievable huh, I had exactly the same feeling, but rules are rules, take it as a part of life experience and try the best to enjoy. 

Waking up from the dream at 5am sharp, the darkness was still surrounding the temple, when I opened the door to step out the room, the freshness and peacefulness were covering my whole body, that I never really felt before when living in the busy city.
After simple preparing, we were about to have our very first yoga session at 5:30am. Coach Swadesh suggested us to bring our mattresses outside the classroom in order to obtain more fresh air and allow our bodies close to the nature. We were meditating outdoor and feeling the breeze gently touching our faces. Listening to the teacher’s instruction, we were stretching our arms, legs, bodies, we saluted to the sun again and again….. Nonstop flow yoga was difficult for me as a beginner, to be frankly, I was exhausted and my muscles were a bit shaking due to the sourness. One hour and a half morning yoga session was a challenge for most of us, but I was glad that all of us made it eventually. No doubt, my body was tired, but somehow, I was feeling incredible fresh, it was just like a machine and when you put oil on some old parts, they started working smoothly again.

​During the spare time, we were free to take a stroll in the temple, chatting with the local elder people, reading books, even having sunbath on the bench. The life pace was extremely slow there, but the amazing thing was you didn’t feel the time passing slowly or feel bored, instead, the vibe made you feel you could finally involve yourself in doing something and focusing on it. The inside relaxing through from the body to the mind, that you could never ever obtain through weekend hanging out or drinking with friends in the big busy city.
The night chanting was one of the most fun parts through the whole yoga retreat from my perspective. Our night chanting turned out became a music sharing session. We played and sang the songs which were standing for our own countries. Through the music, we got to know each other deeply, there was one moment I even felt that we were no longer participants, leaders or coach, we were just a group of old friends and having the special retreat in the temple. I believe that was another meaning YEJO wants to deliver to everyone.

​Having the Yoga temple retreat is not just about to learn some new yoga postures or new yoga breathing way, however it is a unique opportunity to grow up together with our participants, inspiring yourself to seek for balance and harmony between the soul and the world, and expand the different possibilities of the way you choose to live. It gave me time to think and release the invisible stress from the normal life. A true relaxing journey, and new energy filled in my body. Well, I don’t want to leak more, keep some mysterious and discover by yourself. 

Dear all and families,

Weather cools down,
Saying goodbye to this summer.

Ready to embrace the autumn with open heart,
feeling the pulse of the moments of vitality to each of
our beloved,
friends that stands by, 
and each new encounters...
For all families,
all wanting to connect
and be connected, 

Welcome to the circle of YEJO for our life
full of vitality, enrichment, sincerity and authentic expressions.

Bring along families,
create quality moments together;

Together share those slices of stunning beauty of nature, 
Holding those littles hands,
exploring the countryside’s with the kids, 
taking a stroll in the bamboo forest,
and immersing ourselves into the local community.
Here,

Welcoming everyone to the family friendly day activity and weekend retreats,

​

Wild Symphomy
- Tongxiang Wild Cooking Day 

Sept 17th Per 249 RMB
http://www.yejocircle.com/tongxiang-wild-cooking-day.html





About the retreat:
Tongxiang is a small town rich in agricultural resources, peaceful rivers, which fertile the area. 
With a long history of farming life, the locals keep their special way of respect for the nature. 
Naturally, many seasonal customs are still a part of their local life.
Every year during Spring, families will be outside to have a "wild cooking", combined with a bit of farm work to arrange all the food from the fields. 
Most of them are vegetables, green beans...

This hands-on experience involves lots of joy. 
Building a stove together, look around the village to gain all the tools for setting up fire and succeed with the cooking thanks to teamwork.
It's a belief in local that "a healthy life is from the relationship, which is being built together inside a family and outside with the people from your neighborhood".




------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beloved Blessing
- Zhejiang Anji Baofu Walk ( Family Friendly )

Oct 4th-6th Per 799 RMB
http://www.yejocircle.com/anji-baofu-hike.html

About the retreat:
Anji Baofu,
a small village inside the bamboo forests, like a beloved twinkle star surrounded with the mountains. Blessed with the local tranquility, a place inspires all the lovings and the beloved all the blessings we received. 

Live in a village sits over 500m high, observing the melody of the rivers running out of the valley, and fireflies in summer nights.
​
The hiking will start from the village, all the way up to dragon king mountain, passing by numerous streams, forest path and the heart pounding view at the top with of 1000 meters.

Live in the local village for two nights, become part of them and feel the blessing of the beloved...


​
Enjoy life and live with passion! 

Yours Authentically,
YEJO Circle

Wechat Contact: quipart

Reach the real summit 5000 Meter by three days hiking into Mt. Siguniang. 
Winter is very quiet in mountain area, with amazing pure colour and great sunshine! While we are joining the gathering from the local tibetan village, we were always invited by the nice people from local to get into their house celebrate the new year together.