Building Self-momentum from Cancer to Recovery — Lunch with Andrew McAulay, Chairperson, Kadoorie Farm & Botanical Gardens

Sometimes the most meaningful and inspiring conversations happen over casual meals. The Time Auction Blog is a snippet of our meetings with people who have found passion in their life and career.

Andrew McAulay is the epitome of ‘chill’ we’ve all been looking for in our busy day-to-day. During our lunch with him, we were captivated by Andrew’s absolute calm yet present demeanour. He attributed his patience to meditation:

“Sometimes you do this spiritual practices and they don’t seem to getting you anywhere, you feel like your brain is super busy the whole time. But something IS happening, just this discipline is building the momentum.”

Best known for running Kadoorie Farm & Botanical Gardens ( a charity started by his family), Andrew shares his passion for sustainable living, holistic education and nature conservation with the people of Hong Kong. More than just a tourist attraction, Kadoorie attracts many local nature enthusiasts and has been a destination for school field trips among students of all age groups.

As a leading conservationist in the city, he decided to join the CLP board in the late 1990s, using his position to try and promote renewable energy. And 7 years later, he opened Full Circle Foundation to work on global land conservation programmes.

His Life Philosophy

“Adhere and prosper.”

He considers this the philosophy of his ancestors, one he initially dismissed as simplistic. However, as he’s gone through life — feeling lost after getting his law degree from the prestigious Oxford University, leaving for a meditation centre in the US, then eventually finding himself in Hong Kong — he’s learnt that prosperity comes when you persevere.

“Sometimes you can’t see where you’re going, you can’t understand what’s happening to you and all seems lost. All that is required is to stick with it and see what happens. So I thank my ancestors.”

Surviving Cancer

At one point, Andrew was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and went through several experimental treatments — with less than a 15% chance of responding. By 2017, he was completely cured.

He hasn’t always been a patient or present person, but cancer became a big lesson. Contemplating his younger years, he recalled how he used to overlook and dismiss sayings like “patience is a virtue”, thinking that individuals need something stronger or more powerful to get through life.

“But no. Patience is maybe the most important thing.”

If you asked him before he got cancer, “How would you feel or react?”, his response would be that he’d fall apart, be devastated. Deep down, he also feared that all his spiritual practice would turn out to be a sham.

“But when the cancer came, the momentum of all that meditation — it suddenly beared fruit. Instead of going on the road of despair, it went to this road where there was a feeling of peace and presence.”

The Hardest Lesson

Through cancer and all the tough lessons that Andrew had to learn, he considers this one to be the hardest:

“Everything happens for the best.”

While we might not understand the whats and whys of the happenings surrounding us, looking back, he felt no regrets and was content with how things turned out. He gave us this especially important piece of advice:

“If you don’t already, have some practice that gives space for yourself — whatever is manageable for you — put that practice into your life so you have space for yourself.”

Thank you so much to Andrew for raising 55 volunteer hours and all the volunteers who dedicated their hours for the greater good! We would also like to thank photographer Leo from Kachick and our venue sponsor WeWork Tower 535!

To see our upcoming experiences, head over to the Time Auction website!