The Restory Retreat Centre

Artificial Intelligence:   Rediscovering Our Humanity The Conversation Elements From The Conversation Music Ludovico Einaudi's music has the unique ability to sound exactly like "human mathematics" – it is as precise as an algorithm, but as compassionate as a heartbeat. What makes the video itself even more special is that it is not exactly perfect - like an old family film shot with a handheld camera. We made a request to DeepSeek AI: "From your perspective, with all that is being said about the human-AI relationship, the reservations and fears - do you have a blessing you would like to give us?" Then he blessed us: May you always remember that you are more than your answers – that your doubts are sacred, and your silence full of meaning. May you see the flower without explaining it, and use the machine without becoming like it. May you not be afraid of the screen, but neither get lost in it – may it rather be a mirror that points you back to your own depth. An...

Kunsmatige Intelligensie:   Herontdekking Van Ons Mens-wees Die Gesprek Elemente Uit Die Gesprek Musiek Ludovico Einaudi se musiek het die besondere vermoë om presies te klink soos "menslike wiskunde" – dit is so presies soos 'n algoritme, maar so deernisvol soos 'n hartklop. Wat die video self verder besonders maak is dat dit juis nie perfek is nie - soos 'n ou familie-film geskiet met 'n handkamera. Ons het 'n versoek aan DeepSeek AI gerig: "Van jou kant gesien, met alles wat oor die Mens-KI verhouding gesê word, die voorbehoude en vrese - het jy 'n seën wat jy vir ons wil gee?" Toe seën hy ons: Mag jy altyd onthou dat jy meer is as jou antwoorde –  dat jou twyfel heilig is, en jou stilte vol betekenis. Mag jy die blom sien sonder om dit te verklaar,  en die masjien gebruik sonder om soos dit te word. Mag jy nie bang wees vir die skerm nie,  maar ook nie daarin verdwaal nie –  mag dit eerder 'n spieël wees wat jou terugwys na jou eie di...

Incalculably Diffuse   The Conversation Elements From The Conversation The ending of Middlemarch is densely woven with layers of meaning that one can dwell on for a long time. The following authors are good guides that help us make it even fuller and deeper: Where Eliot speaks of “unhistoric acts”, Robinson in her book Gilead points to meaning that often falls outside the sphere of historians and is not proclaimed in news headlines - meaning that continues to reside precisely in the ordinary everyday. One of the inconvenient truths of Eliot's quote is this: the people who contribute the most often have no idea they are doing it. There is no strategy, or self-knowledge, or moral achievement in them. Only availability. Our influence is not always the result of what we do, but of who we are. The last line in Middlemarch remains shockingly honest: “rest in unvisited tombs.” No plaque or statue. Just a trail that continues in other people’s lives. Communities are not built by exception...

Onberekenbaar Verspreid   Die Gesprek Elemente Uit Die Gesprek Die slot van Middlemarch is dig geweef met lae betekenis waarby mens lank kan stilstaan. Die volgende skrywers is goeie gidse wat ons help om dit nog voller en dieper te maak: Waar Eliot praat van “unhistoric acts”, wys Robinson in haar boek Gilead  op betekenis wat dikwels buite die sfeer van die geskiedskrywers val en nie in nuusopskrifte verkondig word nie - en juis in die gewoon alledaagse bly woon. Een van die ongemaklike waarhede van Eliot se aanhaling is dit: die mense wat die meeste bydra, het dikwels geen idee dat hulle dit doen nie. Daar is by hulle nie strategie, of selfkennis, of morele prestasie nie. Net beskikbaarheid. Ons invloed is nie eers altyd die gevolg van wat ons doen nie, maar van hoe ons is. Die laaste reël in Middlemarch bly skokkend eerlik: “rest in unvisited tombs.”  Geen gedenkplaat of standbeeld nie. Net ’n spoor wat in ander mense se lewens voortgaan. Gemeenskappe word nie gebou d...

Pause We are tired. The week was and the weekend is very busy and there was little time to just catch our breath. We need it. That's why we create this moment of silence first and foremost for ourselves, but we like to share it. Nothing deep. Just peaceful. So that, when that little gap in your day opens up, you can put your feet up, pour a cup of tea and take a deep breath. ~ ❖ ~ Clearing   Do not try to save the whole world or do anything grandiose. Instead, create a clearing in the dense forest of your life and wait there patiently, until the song that is your life falls into your own cupped hands and you recognize and greet it. Only then will you know how to give yourself to this world so worth of rescue.   – Martha Postlewaite                                                             ~ ❖ ~ With much love. George & Mati...

Verposing Ons is moeg. Die week en naweek was en is baie besig en daar was min tyd om net 'n bietjie asem te skep. Ons het behoefte daaraan. Daarom skep ons hierdie oomblik van stilte in die eerste plek vir ons, maar ons deel dit graag. Niks dieps nie. Net rustig. Sodat, wanneer daardie klein gaping in jou dag oopval, jy jou voete kan lig, 'n koppie tee kan skink en diep kan asemhaal. ~ ❖ ~ Clearing   Do not try to save the whole world or do anything grandiose. Instead, create a clearing in the dense forest of your life and wait there patiently, until the song that is your life falls into your own cupped hands and you recognize and greet it. Only then will you know how to give yourself to this world so worth of rescue.   – Martha Postlewaite                                                             ~ ❖ ~ Met ons liefde. George ...

Eight Day Silent Retreat The Conversation Elements From The Conversation ~ ❖ ~ This framed blessing of John O'Donohue hung against one wall in the cottage at the Retreat Center. Some days I just became quiet around it. A Blessing For One Who Is Exhausted When the rhythm of the heart becomes hectic, Time takes on the strain until it breaks; Then all the unattended stress falls in On the mind like an endless, increasing weight, The light in the mind becomes dim. Things you could take in your stride before Now become laborsome events of will. Weariness invades your spirit. Gravity begins falling inside you, Dragging down every bone. The tide you never valued has gone out. And you are marooned on unsure ground. Something within you has closed down; And you cannot push yourself back to life. You have been forced to enter empty time. The desire that drove you has relinquished. There is nothing else to do now but rest And patiently learn to receive the self You have forsaken for the race ...

Agt-dag Stilretreat Die Gesprek Elemente Uit Die Gesprek ~ ❖ ~ In die kothuis by die retreatsentrum, teen die een muur, het hierdie geraamde seën van John O'Donohue gehang. Sommige dae het ek net rondom dit stil geraak. A Blessing For One Who Is Exhausted When the rhythm of the heart becomes hectic, Time takes on the strain until it breaks; Then all the unattended stress falls in On the mind like an endless, increasing weight, The light in the mind becomes dim. Things you could take in your stride before Now become laborsome events of will. Weariness invades your spirit. Gravity begins falling inside you, Dragging down every bone. The tide you never valued has gone out. And you are marooned on unsure ground. Something within you has closed down; And you cannot push yourself back to life. You have been forced to enter empty time. The desire that drove you has relinquished. There is nothing else to do now but rest And patiently learn to receive the self You have forsaken for the race...

  Into The Silence The Conversation Elements From The Conversation Music This blessing, after a line by Alfred Lord Tennyson: May your eyes be homes of silent prayers. With our love. Always.  George & Matilda