In the midst of the busyness of daily life, let us also pause and return to the island within ourselves. With each mindful breath and step, we can touch peace and stability. As spring approaches, new life begins to bloom all around us—let us also take a moment to appreciate these precious wonders of life.
In this newsletter, let’s recap on recent events and share upcoming opportunities to practice as a community.
Event Recap
1. Van Hanh Temple (Ten Thousand Actions Temple) Open Day
It was almost five years since the time that Plum Village Hong Kong received the donation of the Amitabha Temple – now renamed Ten Thousand Actions Temple (萬行寺) in Luk Wu Village. The major renovation of the template is now completed. We held an open-house event for the new temple on Feb 16th.
Click here to read more about the origin of Van Hanh Temple, or download the booklet: Van Hanh Temple – Ten Thousand Actions Temple.
2. Lunar New Year
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From January 28–30, Plum Village Hong Kong joyfully celebrated the Year of the Snake with traditional festivities. Monastic brothers performed lively lion dances, and a delicious traditional food fair was prepared. Monastics also decorated their rooms in unique styles, inviting visitors to enjoy tea and peaceful conversations inside.
You can download the latest Chinese New Year couplets here!
3. The Third Anniversary of Thay Ceremony
January 22, 2025 marks the third anniversary of Thay’s (Teacher Thich Nhat Hanh) passing. To honor his legacy, Plum Village Hong Kong, along with Plum Village Mindfulness Centers worldwide, held a commemorative event on January 19, 2025. The gathering included meditation, chanting, and heartfelt sharings to reflect on Thay’s teachings of mindfulness, compassion, and peace. Participants expressed deep gratitude for his profound impact on their lives and his contributions to global mindfulness practices.
For more details about the memorial service, please read the article on our Teacher Memorial Service.
4. Wake Up Retreat 2025
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From January 8–12, 2025, the Wake Up group hosted a retreat at Lotus Pond Temple, Lantau Island, for young adults aged 18–40. Themed “Being Peace Amid Suffering,” the retreat provided participants with tools to face life’s challenges through mindfulness practices like sitting meditation, mindful walking, and Dharma sharing. Sister Nga Mi offered teachings on the Anapanasati Sutta (入出息念經) (see more on this Facebook post), guiding attendees to observe their emotions and transform suffering into peace and happiness.
Upcoming Events
1. 2025 Activity Schedule
Curious about upcoming activities at Plum Village Hong Kong? Check out our 2025 Activities Summary to explore retreats, special ceremonies, and practice sessions throughout the year. Mark your calendar and plan ahead to join us for these meaningful events!
2. Spring Retreat (Apr 17 – 21)
In this Spring, you are invited to join us for a five-day retreat: “The Path leading to Love and Understanding”. Together, we will learn ways to take care of ourselves and preserve peace, joy and well-being in our body and consciousness, and in the collective body and consciousness of our family, society and the Earth.
- Date: Apr 17 (Thu) – 21 (Mon), 2025
- Accommodation and cost: $2,500 / person
For those who are interested, please register at here.
3. Sunday Day of Mindfulness
Sunday Day of Mindfulness is led by the monastics of the Asian Institute of Applied Buddhism (AIAB) to integrate mindfulness into daily life. Every Sunday, we can enjoy the happiness of being present in the moment through a series of mindfulness activities. In addition, practicing together as a sangha is an enjoyable experience and strengthens our practice.
More details and the schedule are here. Participants are invited to register on the website.
- Schedule: every Sunday, 9:30 – 16:00
- Venue: Lotus Pond Temple, Ngong Ping, Lantau Island. (Check here for transportation options.)
4. Friday Night Practices
Friday Night Practices are “lite” mindful practices in town and online. They include singing meditation, sitting meditation, walking meditation, passage reading, and dharma sharing. Through each practice after a busy week, we hope to generate collective energy that brings healing and transformation within ourselves and the community.
Practice sessions in March and April are as follows:
- Mar 7, 19:30 – 21:15 (Zoom/online – English)
- Mar 21, 19:00 – 21:00 (Central – Chinese)
- Apr 4, 19:30 – 21:15 (Zoom/online – English)
Those who are interested, please make registration on this event page.
5. Monday Night Practices
The youthful Wake Up Group will continue to have Monday Night Practices at the Flower Market. The practices are conducted in Cantonese, and the upcoming sessions will be on:
- Mar 24, 19:00 – 21:00
- Apr 28, 19:00 – 21:00
Venue: Prince Edward, Kowloon
Registration is required, and it opens one week before each session on the Wake Up HK Facebook page.
6. Education University of HK Day of Mindfulness
A DoM program conducted by Centre for Religious and Spirituality Education, EdUHK and Plum Village Mindfulness Academy. The primary focus is on nurturing the mental well-being of education professionals and bringing a positive impact into the learning and teaching environment.
- Date: Mar 22, 10:00 – 16:30
- Venue: The Education University of Hong Kong
Please visit our website for more information and registration.