Inner Transformation for Outer Change : 2024 Thailand Retreat Report
This special gathering convened 18 leaders in philanthropy and social impact and was held at the private meditation and retreat center of Synergos network members Mark Chen and Yangjin Lamu in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
This immersion provided an experience for participants to engage deeply with their body, mind and spirit, and connect and build trusting relationships with one another. Together the group strengthened their wellbeing and inner work skills as they connected with nature and practiced breathwork and meditation. The group reflected on their leadership skills and discussed what is needed to bridge across divides and work with others to address today’s global challenges.
The participants represented a variety of interests and experiences in the social-impact and philanthropy fields. Some of the areas of experience included regenerative agriculture, education, transforming philanthropy, entrepreneurship as tool for change, ecological and social transition, awareness-based personal and organization transformation, children’s rights. Mark and Yangjin, the hosts, are veteran Buddhist practitioners with over 30 years of meditation experience and learnings from various traditions.
Some of the highlights of this experience included reflective time in nature at the Ob Khan National Park; a breathwork workshop led by breathwork master, Susan Eduini, who is also a Reiki Master, Energy Healer, Breathwork practitioner and TEDx speaker. Breathwork is a simple, gentle yet powerful conscious breathing technique. It works on the principle that there is a direct connection between mental and physical wellbeing and the openness of the breathing. Relaxing and releasing the breath dissolves tension in both the body and the mind and gives an experience of freedom and mastery in life as it brings expanded awareness on all levels: physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual.
The group visited the Pun Pun Center for Self-Reliance, an organic farm and teaching center located in the North of Thailand, which was founded sixteen years ago as a way to transition to a more sustainable, self-reliant model of living and growing food. Since then, it has bred a nationwide movement towards a new, democratized financial model for Thailand’s agriculture system. Over 100,000 people comprising all positions in the food system across the country have undergone their training.
The participants also took part in a workshop examining Bridging Leadership, a method for leaders to address complex global problems, and the skills needed to work in collaboration and shift systems.
The retreat ended with participants sharing their takeaways and commitments with the group.
Breathwork poem by Marianne Williamson
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
You are a child of God and your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine as children do. We were born to manifest the glory that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it is in everyone.
And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
