Temperature in Ngong Ping is 5-7 °C different from that in the downtown, and the weather there can be unpredictable. So please check the latest weather forecast before setting off. You may bring extra clothing/rain gear to keep warm and dry during winter ; mosquito repellent and sunblock may be needed during summer.
Please dress in a respectful manner when coming to Lotus Pond Temple or Plum Village Hong Kong/AIAB, which is a monastery. Please refrain from wearing revealing clothing such as shorts, tank tops (singlets), tight yoga clothes or V-neck clothes. Loose attire covering shoulders and knees is recommended. It is comfortable for sitting meditation, and will make all participants and our monastic brothers and sisters feel at ease.
Information of the activity 1st week: 5 Mindfulness Trainings Recitation Ceremony 2nd week: separate activities for Wake Up Group (youth aged 18 to 35)) 3rd week: 14 Mindfulness Trainings Recitation Ceremony 4th week: Q&A / Children Program Registration link will be open on Monday night approximately 11:00 pm and ended on Friday evening 18:00, or the capacity are fully occupied.
Book reading in these two months: Silence: The Power of Quiet in a World Full of Noise. Friday Night Practice is a “lite” mindful practice in town. On the first and third Friday of a month, we come together to have Friday Night Practice. We have a chance to practice mindfulness together with others and generate a powerful collective energy that can bring healing and transformation in ourselves and the world with the community after a busy week. In Nov and Dec, we will be reading “Silence: The Power of Quiet in a World Full of Noise”, a book that shows us how to find and maintain our equanimity amid the barrage of noise. Teacher Thich Nhat Hanh guides us on a path to cultivate calm even in the most chaotic places. Silence is a concise, practical guide to understanding and developing our most powerful inner resource, silence, to help us find happiness, purpose, and peace. This gift of silence doesn’t require hours upon hours of silent meditation or an existing practice of any kind. Through careful breathing and mindfulness techniques he teaches us how to become truly present in the moment, to recognise the beauty surrounding us, and to find harmony. With mindfulness comes stillness and the silence we need to come back to ourselves and discover who we are and what we truly want, the keys to happiness and well-being. You are welcome to join us 🙏 Date Time (UTC +8) Location Language 2024 Nov 1st 19:30 – 21:15 Online (Zoom) English 2024 Nov 15th 19:00 – 21:00 Des Voeux Rd Central, Central Cantonese 2024 Dec 6th 19:30 – 21:15 Online (Zoom) English 2024 Dec 20th 19:30 – 21:15 Des Voeux Rd Central, Central Cantonese Joining the practice is free and require no previous experience. The exact zoom link and address of the practice center will be provided upon successful registration. Please join 5 minutes earlier to settle […]
The theme of the retreat is Coping with Loneliness. The World Health Organization defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Loneliness belongs to the social well-being aspect of health. Physical, mental and social wellbeing inter-are with each other. Illness in one aspect affect other aspects. Loneliness happens to people of all ages and social groups. It often refers to having no one to talk to, to share, to lean on in times of need. It is also a mental state, as in “feeling lonely”. Loneliness is different from being alone. One can be alone but not feeling lonely, but one living with others (like spouses, siblings, friends) can feel lonely. It seems like there is no one that understand us. Loneliness increases the chance of heart disease and mental disorders like fear, anxiety and depression. Learning how to connect with ourselves, to understand ourselves is a way of coping with loneliness. The famous friendship of Bo Ya (伯牙) and Zhong Ziqi (鍾子期) illustrated how important it is to have bosom friends who understand us (note 1) .We often looking for that bosom friend outside of ourselves, but the dearest friend, the soulmate who understands us is no other than ourselves (知音). Living in the present moment, being aware of our body, feelings, perceptions, mental formations, and consciousness is essential in the process of getting to know ourselves, as taught in the “Discourse of Knowing the Better Way to Live Alone” (note 2) . Knowing ourselves will help us to know others, to connect to others so we can have a healthy social wellbeing. The sangha practice walking meditation in Ngong Ping In this retreat, we will have the chance to learn teachings and practices of mindfulness, to cultivate peace and happiness, inspiration and insight, which already existing in us. We will practice mindfulness as a way […]
Lotus Pond Temple, Ngong Ping, Lantau Island, Lantau
Free (donations are welcome)
Information of the activity 1st week: 5 Mindfulness Trainings Recitation Ceremony 2nd week: separate activities for Wake Up Group (youth aged 18 to 35)) 3rd week: 14 Mindfulness Trainings Recitation Ceremony 4th week: Q&A / Children Program Registration link will be open on Monday night approximately 11:00 pm and ended on Friday evening 18:00, or the capacity are fully occupied.
After the Mid-Autumn Festival in September, the autumn breeze has gradually begun to cool us down, bringing comfort to both body and mind. This is the perfect time to venture outdoors and explore nature through walking meditation and hiking. Additionally, as many of us are doing, it is an ideal moment to plan travels and gatherings to reconnect with family and friends over the next two months, especially with the festive season in December approaching. Furthermore, let us gently remind ourselves to carve out some time to reflect on our experiences in 2024. This is an opportunity to pause, consider our journey so far, and plan for a more mindful year in 2025. Past Event Recap Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration Reflecting the themes of harmony and unity inherent in the Mid-Autumn Festival, we gathered for a heartfelt reunion with our friends and monastics at the serene Lotus Pond Temple on the evening of September 17. Bathed in lambent moonlight, we shared a joyful moment of walking meditation with lanterns and indulged in mooncakes to celebrate the festival together. “Youthfulness and Happiness”, the Day of Mindfulness for Wake Uppers “Youthfulness and Happiness” was a mindfulness day event exclusively for the Wake Uppers—the young friends of Wake Up Hong Kong, aged 18 to 40. On the serene Saturday of September 28, participants gathered to engage in walking meditation, sitting meditation, and singing meditation, while also gaining insights from a Dharma Talk. Set in the ancient and spiritual practice venue in Luk Wu on Lantau Island, they connected with nature outdoors and convened indoors to cultivate inner peace and happiness in the hope of fostering a healthier, more compassionate society. 2024 Mind-body Wellbeing Retreat In our last retreat in 2024, we gathered for five days at the Lotus Pond Temple from October 23 to October 27 to foster deeper self-understanding and connection as a way of navigating loneliness. Together, we engaged in Dharma talks […]
This summer has been eventful. We are grateful to have retreats and ceremonies to allow us to stay mindful and gain insights on inner peace and the upcoming challenges together. When we are about to welcome September, let us pause and ponder to get ourselves prepared for another new academic year as well as the remaining months of 2024. Past Event Recap Educators Retreat 2024 With the theme “The Way Out is In”, Educators Retreat 2024 was conducted from July 31 to August 4 for participants in the field of teaching and training. The Retreat brought us together to revisit the teachings of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh and guide us to look deeply into our body, feelings, emotions and thoughts for untangling the challenges ahead. Through indoor and outdoor meditations, Dharma talks, group-sharing, exercises, and activities, the Retreat led us to regain peace and happiness within ourselves while embracing the tranquil ambience and the beautiful nature around Lotus Pond Temple. Rose Festival (Sunday Day of Mindfulness) The Rose Ceremony began in Plum Village by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. This is the tradition of wearing roses to remember the kindness and love of our parents and expressing our gratitude to them. Every year, as part of the Plum Village tradition, we celebrate the Rose Ceremony together with the Ullambana Festival, which is an occasion to commemorate Venerable Maudgalyayana for his expression of filial love – rescuing his Mother from the Hell realm, and to honor our ancestors. This year, we organized the Rose Ceremony on August 18 to reflect on and appreciate the good seeds nurtured by our parents. Families and individuals got together to practice meditation and enjoyed a picnic lunch. Please click below to enjoy videos that are parts of the singing mediation in the Ceremony. Pavarana Ceremony (Rain Retreat Closing Ceremony) To mark the conclusion of the 3-month Rain Retreat, we had Pavarana Ceremony on August […]
The hot summer in Hong Kong is showing us its full strength, with the Observatory issuing Very Hot Weather Warning in consecutive days. Meanwhile, numerous floods had occurred on the mainland, reminding us of global climate change due to human activities and prompting us to take good care of Mother Earth. While practicing mindfulness, let us also be more conscious of the effect of our activities and consumption on the environment and empathize with those who still need to work under the sun these days. Past Event Recap 2024 Summer Retreat AIAB Summer Retreat was held from July 17th to 24th. We had over sixty participants coming over to Lotus Pond Temple. We have a chance to get close to the nature while quieting down ourselves, look deeply within us, and cultivate mindfulness, stability, and insight. — Be there for each other, Listen to each other Upcoming Events Educator Retreat 2024 Educator Retreat will be held from July 31st to August 4th. The theme this time is The Way Out Is In. This retreat is open to those who are involved in teaching and training, including teachers, school counsellors, trainers and staff of formal or informal educational and trainings organizations. Theme: The Way Out is In Venue: Lotus Pond Temple, Ngong Ping Date & Time: Jul 31 (Wed) 16:00 – Aug 04 (Sun) 14:00 Details & Registration Here Sunday Day of Mindfulness Sunday Day of Mindfulness is led by AIAB monastics to integrate mindfulness into daily life. Every Sunday, through a series of mindfulness practice activities, we can enjoy the happiness of being present in the moment. In addition, practicing together as a sangha is an enjoyable experience and strengthens our practice. More details and the schedule are here. Participants please register on the website. Schedule: Every Sunday 9:30 – 16:00 (except on Aug 4th due to the retreat event) Venue: Lantau Island, Lotus Pond Temple. See here for transportation options. […]
It is summer season now in Hong Kong, with its blend of intermittent rain and frequent sunshine. While this is a good time for outdoor activity, remember to keep yourself hydrated and protected from the sun. May you and your family have a calm and joyful heart during the summer time.