Registration is Now Open!
Yuan Tze’s Invitation to You
For each individual and for humanity as a whole, growing realization and wisdom is not only necessary but also urgent. With the strong support of the infinite love and wisdom of the universe and the work we have been doing together, the information of wisdom in the Ren Xue Qifield has been building rapidly. Learning and growing together in this potent, nourishing Qifield has the potential to initiate the greatest change we can imagine. With our hearts connected and fully committed, we can help one another grow. Together we will redefine our own lives and the world.
Yuan Tze invites you to join this journey along the broad, bright path of realization and wisdom.
Through heart-to-heart transmission, Yuan Tze will guide us through a purification process of the heart, consciousness, and Shen (True Self).
This is the first retreat of Yuan Tze’s final retreat series.
We will focus on the question: Are your ready to grow realization and wisdom?
This new series will provide an opportunity to deepen our work on developing realization and wisdom. Yuan Tze will take us through this process by using a different focus for each retreat in order to approach the work in a comprehensive way.
Why is realization and wisdom important? A Hopeful Path
Every person develops ideas about what is good for their life. Individually, we look for ways to realize the life that we wish for. Collectively, we form a human society with diverse cultures and values.
Society as we know it has been developing this way for thousands of years. Yet somehow, we find ourselves in a place that nobody is happy with. Turmoil and tragedy are everywhere. So many ruthless acts are committed and so many people are suffering! When we see the world falling apart right before our eyes, it can be very hard to feel hopeful!
Is this the collective destiny of humanity? Absolutely not.
Instead of seeing a world of doom and gloom, we can view all this as part of a learning curve. A learning curve involves trying, making mistakes, learning from mistakes, and practicing more, until eventually we get it right. What do we need to do to move forward on this learning curve? We need to recognize what has caused our predicament and correct it.
If we look deep enough, we will see that the main cause is ignorance – not knowing the true purpose of life and what a human life can potentially be. This ignorance puts life in a dark place where we just move along blindly. Where does the ignorance come from? From the unhealthy patterns of the consciousness. Ignorance is inevitable when unhealthy patterns are in control of our lives.
What is the way to correct it? Following this logic, it is necessary to change unhealthy patterns to clear ignorance. When patterns are transformed, realization and wisdom will start to show up. Indeed, it is wisdom that will clear ignorance.
What is wisdom?
Wisdom is the clear knowing derived from realization. With wisdom, we can see reality clearly, so we are not misguided or deluded. We will be able to live in a way that is beneficial for ourselves and others. The choices we make will lead to true happiness and freedom.
When we have chosen the path of realization and wisdom as a corrective measure, we have also chosen to embark on a very special journey, one that is full of challenges and trials. A lot of effort is required to change what has been there for many lifetimes. However, we don’t have many options if we want a true solution. Fortunately, all our effort will pay off.
A Broad Bright Path
This journey opens to a broad, bright path that offers infinite opportunities for redefining ourselves and making life better. It is a journey of true hope.
Many of us have chosen this path because we don’t want to allow unhealthy patterns to take control of our lives one lifetime after another. We long for true happiness and freedom. We also want to build a brighter future for humanity.
We have done a lot of work – cultivating the heart qualities and going into the “deep water zone” with the ten fundamental patterns. We have gotten to know ourselves better and our effort has yielded some positive change. However, that was just the beginning, merely a small step on the path of realization and wisdom. It is necessary to keep moving forward.
Take the next step to create real change in your life and awaken your True Self.
We will be livestreaming the event to enable online participation. Whether you attend in-person or online you will have access to the recordings from the retreat in your Learn REN XUE Portal. You will also be part of the same powerful Qifield.
Join us in-person or online for this special journey.
In-Person Retreat Details
Click on any of the links below to jump to further details about the In-Person Retreat:
Should you have any further questions, please contact us on events@renxueinternational.org
Venue
We are excited to offer this retreat from the beautiful Knox and Salmond College campuses in Dunedin, New Zealand. Located close to the city center and its conveniences, but tucked into their own private grounds and across the road from the Botanic Gardens, the venue and its setting adds something very special to the retreat experience.
All rooms are single rooms. See the photo slider for images of the venue.
Registration Fees
NZ $1,750 Standard Rate
NZ $2,000 Supporter Rate*
NZ $1,400 Financial Assistance
*Supporter Rate is for people who feel they can afford to pay a little extra. Extra income from this pool enables us to to keep the Standard Rate affordable and to offer Financial Assistance to ensure everyone can attend.
Registration fees are per person, and include:
- single room accommodation, including linen (bedding & towels), food, and shared bathrooms.
- all teachings and related teaching material from Yuan Tze and senior Ren Xue teachers, including access to the replay of the live-streamed portion of the retreat via your Learn REN XUE Portal.
Accommodation
All rooms are single rooms with shared bathrooms.
There are a limited number of single rooms that are configured in partner or family layouts, with a shared space. If you indicate on the registration form your preference to be near someone else, or with a group of people, we will do our best to accommodate this.
Offsite Option
We encourage participants to stay on site in order to receive the full support of the retreat. However, an offsite option is available for anyone with a health condition that requires staying offsite. We offer a discount of NZ$200 off the above rates for anyone choosing to stay offsite.
If you need to stay offsite for this reason, please email events@renxueinternational.org to receive the discount code before registering.
Online Option
If you are unable to attend in-person or are weighing up how to attend, the full retreat will be live streamed online. Our standard sliding scale for hybrid retreats will apply: $500, $600, $700, $850, $1,000 all in NZD – pay what you can. Generous financial assistance is available for the online option in order to make the retreat accessible to anyone who wishes to participate.
Read more about the online option on our Learn REN XUE site here.
Arrival & Departure Details
November 21 – 30
Friday November 21st
1:00-5:00pm: Registration
5:30 – 6:00pm: Welcome
6:00 – 7:00pm: Dinner
7:00pm: Welcome and Group Healing with Yuan Tze
Sunday November 30th
Ends at 11:30am with optional lunch to follow.
See the Retreat Daily Schedule details below for more information.
If you plan to arrive early or stay late in Dunedin, the venue offers accommodation.
Pre-retreat, there are only a limited number of rooms available for November 18th, 19th and 20th only. The cost is NZ $115 per person per night and includes accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner. All available pre-retreat rooms have now been booked.
Post retreat accommodation is on a Bed & Breakfast basis (no lunch or dinner provided) and costs NZ $85 per person per night.
If you would like to stay extra nights before or after the retreat, please email events@renxueinternational.org to check availability and book.
Access
The retreat is being held across both the Knox and Salmond campuses, which are a 5-10 minute walk apart, with the Knox campus being up hill from Salmond. We will have a shuttle available to anyone with physical or health considerations to ensure this isn’t a barrier to participating. Knox campus, where the accommodation is, has internal stairs and no elevators/lifts. We can however put anyone with physical or health considerations on lower floors to help mitigate this.
When you complete the registration form after paying, please indicate to us any physical or health issues you have that would require support to get between the two campuses or to navigate internal stairs.
We will be in communication with you to ensure the proper supports are in place.
See the Retreat Daily Schedule below for where the different program activities will be held.
Retreat Daily Schedule
Morning
7:00-8:00 Session 1 (1:00) – Yuan Gong Practice & Instruction, Knox Campus
8:00-9:30 Break (1:30) – Breakfast, Knox Campus
9:30-12:00 Session 2 (2:30) – Yuan Tze talk, Salmond Campus
12:00-1:30pm Break (1:30) – Lunch, Knox Campus
Afternoon & Evening
1:30-3:00 Session 3 (1:30) – Yuan Gong Practice & Instruction, Salmond Campus
3:00-3:30 Break (0:30)
3:30-5:15 Session 4 (1:45) – Special Topics by Ren Xue Teachers, Salmond Campus
5:15-7:00 Break (1:45) – Dinner, Knox Campus
7:00-8:30 Session 5 (1:30) – Yuan Tze talk & Yuan Gong Practice, Group Healing on Day 1, 5 and 9, Salmond Campus
Accommodation – Knox Campus
Meals & Dietary Requirements
Three meals and afternoon tea with fruit will be provided daily. Please bring your own snacks if you need food between meals. The menu will consist of healthy food including fish or chicken, vegetarian and vegan options, and fresh fruit and vegetables.
The venue has a very experienced catering team. They cater to dietary needs including but are not limited to gluten free, dairy free, nut free, vegan, low FODMAP, and acute food intolerances, as well as religious and cultural requirements. Please let us know when you complete the register form if you have any special dietary requirements so the venue can plan accordingly.
There will be a basic selection of tea and coffee. If you prefer specific herbal teas, please bring your own tea bags.
The five activity sessions are dedicated to learning Ren Xue, group healings, learning Yuan Gong and Yuan Gong practice. Tian Yuan, Di Yuan, Ren Yuan, Tong Yuan and Ling Yuan will all be taught.
A detailed program will be supplied closer to the retreat.
Travel to Dunedin
- Air New Zealand and Jetstar (from Auckland only) have domestic flights daily to Dunedin Airport (DUD).
- Most flights from overseas enter New Zealand via Auckland, with flights from Australia, the Pacific Islands and parts of Asia coming in via Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown. Jetstar flies direct to Dunedin from Australia’s Gold Coast.
- When booking flights from overseas it is recommended that you make Dunedin your destination unless you are planning domestic travel to the retreat from your original entry point.
New Zealand Entry Requirements
If you will be traveling to the retreat from outside New Zealand, please ensure you are aware of New Zealand’s entry requirements, you can find Visa and NZeTA Requirements here.
Transport to Knox College
- Dunedin Airport to the venue: 31 km, 30 minute drive
- Dunedin city centre to the venue: 3.9 km, 10 minute drive
- Dunedin Airport Shuttles has advised us that all transport from the airport to Knox College receive their student rate of NZ$20 for a shared ride, if booked through their online form in advance. From their Home page, please choose Student Special and select Knox College as your arrival or departure destination.
- If you prefer an express door-to-door service, you can book this through a separate online form, and this should cost approximately NZ$95.
- Taxis can also be found outside Dunedin Airport’s arrivals gate, costing approximately NZ$120-150 to get to Knox College.
Knox College
3 Arden Street
North East Valley
Dunedin
Scholarships
Due to a very generous donation from a member of the community, we are able to offer four full scholarships to cover the retreat registration fee. Scholarships are intended to help those truly unable to attend the retreat without financial support. If you can afford to pay some, please make use of our Financial Assistance rate.
Please email Mary Jo at events@renxueinternational.org for application details before you begin the Registration Process below. Applications need to be received by 5pm July 31, 2025 NZST and will be reviewed based upon financial need. Scholarships will be awarded on August 5, 2025 NZST.
Ways To Pay
Direct Bank Transfer is our preferred option for receiving payment.
If you are paying from a New Zealand bank account, we recommend transferring your payment via online banking to avoid fees.
If you are paying from outside of New Zealand, we recommend transferring your payment using Wise.com to minimise fees. We have found their service to be efficient and their fees to be significantly lower than international bank or wire transfers.
After you place your order, we will email you our bank account details and let you know that your order has been placed on hold. Please pay the full amount due within 3 days. Your registration will remain on hold until your payment is received.
Account name: REN XUE International Charitable Trust
Email: admin@renxueinternational.org
Address: 17 Rimu Rd, Raumati Beach, 5032, NEW ZEALAND
Bank: Kiwibank
Account No: 38-9020-0409613-00
Payment Reference: The order number on your order confirmation email. This is very important. We need this reference to know the purpose of the payment and that it is from you.
We also accept the following payment methods. Processing fees will be added to your order to help cover payment gateway fees we are charged.
Credit Card: 2.9% processing fee
PayPal: 3.4% processing fee.
Registration Process
Step 1:
Pay for your registration fee on the Learn REN XUE website here. You will need to agree to our Health & Safety, Informed Consent and Cancellation Policies below. NOTE: you will be able to access the retreat learning materials and the replay of the retreat from your Learn REN XUE Portal.
If you are paying by bank transfer, we will send you an email with payment instructions and your order will be placed on hold until we receive your payment.
Step 2:
Complete the In-Person Registration Form presented to you on the screen after submitting your order. This form has important details we require from you to finalize your registration. We will also email you a link to the form.
Step 3:
Once we have received both your payment and completed registration form, your place at the retreat will be reserved.
Step 4:
Closer to the retreat, you will receive further details about the retreat program, preparation for the event and registration on arrival at the venue.
Your attendance at the retreat is unconfirmed until we have received both your payment and your completed registration form.
How to Prepare
Weather
During November in Dunedin the average minimum night-time temperature is 9°C (48.2°F). The average maximum daytime temperature is around 14°C (57.2°F). The amount of rain in November is high with an average of 119mm (4.71in). The weather can be unpredictable this time of year. If you have attended past New Zealand retreats, this is cooler and wetter than conditions in Rotorua so please come prepared to stay warm.
Linen & Bedding
Linen, bedding and towels are all provided. The venue will organize for these to be changed during our stay.
Laundry
Washing machines and dryers are available and free of charge. Washes will run on cold wash only. Powdered soap will be provided.
Internet
Free and reliable Wi-Fi is available throughout the venue.
What To Bring
- Personal toiletries
- Layers of comfortable clothing, as the weather at this time of year can be unpredictable and cold at times
- An umbrella and wet weather shoes and jacket for getting between campuses
- Blanket for keeping yourself warm during seated practice
- Cushion for floor seating or seated practice (chairs are also available)
- Mats are provided in the main hall and can be taken to the morning practice hall which is in a different location, if required. Alternatively, you can bring your own mat for the use in the practice hall
- Slippers or socks for the main practice areas
- Tablet/laptop or notebook and pens
- Water bottle or thermos/flask
- Specific snacks and tea/coffee you would like outside of the meals and tea/coffee provided
- Torch/flashlight
- Hot water bottle to stay warm
- Slip on shoes or jandals/flip flops are recommended for the shower block
Pre and Post Retreat Community Activities
Dunedin
Local Pre-retreat Programme for Wednesday 19 & Thursday 20
WEDNESDAY: 5.30pm – 8.30pm Yuan Gong Practice and dinner.
- 5.30pm Join the weekly community class for a group healing at the Quaker hall, 15 Park Street, Dunedin City (this will be free for retreat participants, please arrive 10 min before)
- 7:00pm Dinner afterwards at Buddha Stix restaurant, 678 George St., Central Dunedin
All of this is in walking distance to the Knox college
THURSDAY: 1pm-5pm Afternoon nature experience, socializing and Yuan Gong practice
- 12:00pm pick up from Knox College – drive to Waitati
- Lunch at the Woolshed on Double Hill – Dunedin teachers are inviting you to a self-made yummy vegan meal
- A choice of walking to the top of Double Hill (20 minutes) or hanging out and relaxing in the cozy woolshed
- 3.00pm Yuan Gong practice
- 5.00pm drive back to Knox College, possibly via a local beach, if time allows
For any questions or to register your interest to participate in these activities contact the local team at qigongdunedin@gmail.com
Ren Xue Farm - Golden Bay
Anyone who is keen to visit the Ren Xue farm, site for the Ren Xue Center, and the Ren Xue community is welcome add on a trip to Onekaka in Golden Bay. The locals on the ground will be available to give farm tours and centre site tours after the retreat. They are always happy to let you know about classes in Golden Bay and help out with your accommodation enquiries and transport arrangements where possible.
We recommend that visitors book travel and accommodation and don’t rely on tents because the weather is still very changeable at that time. It’s also recommended that you make bookings soon as things start to get busy in the area in November.
Read the local team’s Welcome Information here for more details and feel free to contact the Visitor Coordinator Sharon Munro who is happy to help direct you to information and services that will help your visit – sharon.munro@
Event Team
Mary Johnson
Stephanie Ross
Online Event Support
Communications Manager
REN XUE International
Contact Stephanie
Trina King
Executive Director
REN XUE International
Contact Trina
Vanessa Lukes
Jackie Blunt
Mary Bordi
Health and Safety Policy
2025 Health & Safety Policy: Dunedin, New Zealand
HEALTH
You and your health and wellbeing are important to us. To support your retreat experience, REN XUE International works to create a safe, supportive, and healthy environment for our time together. We would appreciate it if you could read the recommendations in our Guidelines for Health and Safety and work with these to help us shape a retreat environment which benefits everyone.
With regard to any illness, please let us know before you arrive at the venue about any new health conditions which could impact your own or others’ experience on retreat, or if you have become sick or tested Covid positive while traveling to the event. It would be appreciated if you could test, if unwell, before arriving at the venue. If you become unwell at any stage during the retreat, please let the Wellbeing and Guidance Team know, and they can help with any support you might need.
WELLBEING
You may notice that many of the suggestions for preparing for a Ren Xue Retreat encourage you to be in a “relaxed, calm and natural” state. Feeling this way is very helpful for you to be able to integrate new insights and grow, and also for your safety.
If your mental state is unstable or highly changeable and it is not within your ability to return to a calm state, this may not be the right time to attend a Ren Xue event. Please read our Looking After Your Mental Health information to decide whether now is the right time for you to join a retreat. There will be more opportunities to attend in the future and you will benefit even more if you attend at a time that feels right.
Cancellation and Refund Policy
2025 Retreat Refund Policy: Dunedin, New Zealand
If you need to cancel your retreat registration, please do so early. Late cancellations may make it difficult to give someone else the opportunity to attend. Once you have paid any portion of the retreat fee, administrative and possibly cancellation fees will apply, depending on the cancellation date.
If you cancel your reservation:
- before October 21, 2025 at midnight NZDT, we will refund all fees paid minus any applicable administrative charges.
- on October 22, 2025 NZDT or later, we will refund all fees paid minus $150 cancellation fee and applicable administrative charges.
Refunds will be paid within 30 days of receiving a cancellation confirmation.
PLEASE NOTE THAT:
- Anyone leaving the retreat early for any reason other than a qualified emergency (medical emergency or a death in the family) will not receive any refund.
- If you cannot attend because you test positive for Covid, a refund for the difference of the in-person and online event fee will be given, with the option to participate online and access the retreat replay.
- If someone leaves early due to a qualified emergency (medical emergency or a death in the family), we will refund the days that are not attended proportionately minus the $150 cancellation fee and the applicable administrative charges.
REN XUE International reserves the right at any time to require that a participant leave the retreat if it is determined that the participant’s behavior is either excessively disruptive or dangerous to self or others. In this case, all retreat fees are non-refundable.