2024 Spring Retreat – Full

The theme of this retreat: Teachings on the Auspicious Sign

We will check out how the Auspicious Sign helps to realize peace and happiness in daily activities that we normally do in our life. Every moment and every activity that we do can be an auspicious act, in any moment and any place that we are in.

Plum Village’s Parallel Verses for the Year of the Dragon (2024)

To be a good son or daughter, taking care of you parents, to know how to care for your family, to maintain a harmonious household, not to let your family fall into poverty or hunger – this is the most auspicious sign.

To avoid watering and to transform the seeds of greed, anger and ignorance; to always practice in order to attain right view – this is the most auspicious sign.

~~ Dhammapada: Chapter on Auspicious Signs, Sutra 211, Volume 4.

In this retreat, we will have the chance to learn the Dhammapada: Chapter on Auspicious Signs (Sutra 211, Volume 4) and the Discourse on Happiness (Mahamangala Sutta, Sutta Nipata 2.4). It is wonderful and assuring to know that our daily activities are sources of happiness and auspicious signs, in the here and now.  We will practice mindfulness as a way of life, where everything we do like breathing, walking, eating, smiling …. is an act of mindfulness. We will enjoy the beautiful sky, the trees, the walking path, the flowers around us. We will listen to dharma talks and participated in dharma sharing on how to live fully in the present moments and to cultivate togetherness, making our presence a precious gift to ourselves and others.

The revised schedule is as follows:

Date/Time	Thu 28 Mar	Fri 29 Mar	Sat 30 Mar	Sun 31 Mar	Mon 01 Apr
5:15		Wake Up
6:00		Sitting & Slow Walking & Reading Discourse			5 Mindfulness Trainings Transmission Ceremony Breakfast
7:00		10 Mindful Movements & Walking Meditation
8:00		Breakfast
9:15		Working Meditation
10:30		Dharma Talk			Questions & Answers
12:30		Lunch			Lunch Closing Circle Farewell & Happy Continuation of the practice at home
14:00	15:00 – 17:30 Registration Check-In	Total Relaxation
15:00		Group sharing
16:45		Exercise	Hiking	Exercise / Consultation
18:00	Dinner
19:30	Dharma Talk	5 Mindfulness Training Presentation	Beginning Anew	Be-In
21:30	Rest – Noble Silence

Retreat will conducted in English with Cantonese translation

Accommodation and cost: Accommodation for this retreat is limited to dormitory-room. Participants will be housed in dormitories (bunk beds).  Pillows, bedlinens, and blankets are provided.  The cost per person is listed below (in HK Dollars).

Room Type (5 days, 4 nights)	Dormitory (HKD)
Adults	2,000.00

Working Meditation: Because the retreat is held in the monastery, all the preparation and cooking will be done bythe monastics and some volunteers. During the retreat, we need help from participants in preparation works likesetting up the meditation hall and dining hall, washing up after meals… Participants will be grouped into Dharmadiscussion groups and will work together in the same groups to help with the retreat.

How to register:  Please press “Registration Linkage” button which is on a first-come-first served basis. For means of payment, details will be sent along with the confirmation email to those who completed online registration within three working days. Please make payment within five days after you received the email and attached your pay-in-slip copy by return. If payment is not received within a week, your registration will be placed on the waiting list.

Closing date for registration: March 20, 2024. Payment is not refundable for cancellation after March 13, 2024. Cancelation is subject to a 20% cancellation fee. For enquiries, please contact us by e-mail: retreats@pvfhk.org.