Retreat

•  2024-02-25 00:00 - 2024-03-10 00:00
•  India
•  US$1,900

Dear Sangha members, It is with great joy to inform you that the long-awaited Pilgrimage to India, planned to happen after the finishing of the Old Path White Clouds class (April 2019 – July 2021), is finally manifested. During that 2-years waiting period, we have continued to study in the Applied Buddhism class. More Sangha members joined the class, and thus more members can join the  Old Path White Clouds Pilgrimage. After the first year of the Buddha’s teaching life, the Sangha grew to a community of 1,000 monks. Under the suggestion of Ven. Uruvela Kassapa, the Buddha and the Sangha decided to move to Rajagaha (present day Rajgir). Forty groups of 25 monastics were formed, each group was led by a more experienced monk, to take the walk from Uruvela  to Rajagaha. Along the way, the Buddha and the Sangha did alms rounds, gave teachings, practicing and living together. It was like a mobile monastery. The walk took ten days. In this pilgrimage, we will travel with the same practice spirit. There will be about 10 groups of 20 Sangha members, plus two monastics to guide each group. We will travel as a family with each group for the entire trip. We will have daily mindfulness practices, dharma talks in big group and small groups, groups sharing, opportunities to get in touch with local life and cultures and to visit places that the Buddha and the Sangha lived. We live and practice as a Sangha like in the Buddha time. Because of the time limit and to fully experience the trip, the visiting places will be concentrated on and nearby areas of Varanasi (Deer Park, where the Buddha gave the first teaching), Bodhgaya (where the Buddha enlightened), and Rajgir (Bamboo Forest Monastery, Nalanda University, Vulture Peak). Please see tentative itinerary of the trip, cost and details of the trip in the attached documents. The logistic of organizing of this […]

•  2023-10-19 16:00 - 2023-10-23 14:00
•  Lotus Pond Temple, Ngong Ping, Lantau Island
•  HK$2,000

The retreat is full.   Theme: Transformation and Healing Target: For adult who wants to learn and practice mindfulness to calm their body and mind, to cope with challenges, and to transform and heal difficulties that they have faced in life. Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh outlined a five-step healing and transformation process, which includes recognizing, accepting, embracing, looking deeply and understanding (insight). Stopping, calming, and resting are prerequisites for healing. There are peace and happiness as well as pain and suffering in life. The energy of mindfulness can shine lights into the roots of our pain and suffering, helping to wash away the afflictions, turning them into peace and happiness. The tears I shed yesterday have become rain. 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 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 group sharing on how to live fully in the present moments, to deal with negative emotions, and to cultivate togetherness, making our presence a precious gift to us and others. Date Time Oct 19 Thr Oct 20 Fri Oct 21 Sat Oct 22 Sun Oct 23 Mon 5:15 Wake Up 6:00 Sitting & Slow Walking & Reading Discourse Outdoor walking, sitting & breakfast 7:00 10 Mindful Movements & Walking Meditation 8:00 Breakfast 9:15 Working Meditation 10:30 Dharma Talk Q&A 12:30 Lunch 14:00 Total Relaxation Closing Circle & Farewell 15:00 15:00 – 17:30 Registration & Check-in Group Sharing 16:45 Exercise Hiking Exercise / Consultation 18:00 Dinner 19:30 Dharma Talk Touching the Earth Beginning Anew Performance 21:30 Rest – Noble Silence Language: English with Cantonese translation Accommodation […]

•  2023-08-02 15:00 - 2023-08-06 14:00
•  Lotus Pond Temple, Ngong Ping, Lantau Island
•  HK$2,000

Registration linkage will be open on June 21, 2023 18:00 The theme of the retreat is Cultivating Peace and Happiness in Education. 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. Teaching is an exciting field, where transmitting and exchanging of knowledges have inspired many generations, bringing peace and happiness to teachers and students alike. Yet it is also quite exhausting, with heavy teaching loads, the responsibilities of taking care both the studying and emotional needs of students, and the pressure of achieving a highly competitive success rates for students and schools. 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 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 group sharing on how to live fully in the present moments, to deal with negative emotions, and to cultivate togetherness, making our presence a precious gift to teachers and students alike. The tentative schedule is as follows: Date/Time Wed.  02.08 Thurs.  03.08 Fri. 04.08 Sat. 05.08 Sun. 06.08 5:15   Wake Up 6:00   Sitting & Slow Walking & Reading Discourse Five Mindfulness Training Transmission Ceremony 7:00   10 Mindful Movements & Walking Meditation 8:00   Breakfast 9:15   Working Meditation 10:30 Dharma Talk Questions & Answers 12:30 Lunch LunchClosing Circle Fare well & 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 Five Mindfulness Trainings Presentation Beginning Anew Presentation Performance 21:30 Rest […]

•  2023-07-19 15:00 - 2023-07-23 14:00
•  Lotus Pond Temple, Ngong Ping, Lantau Island
•  Please refer to the newsletter

  All families want to have happiness and harmony. At times difficulties and misunderstanding may happen. There are ways to resolve difficulties and clear the misunderstanding. Cultivating Happiness and Harmony in Families is an ongoing process, it applies when we are young until the time we are old. The retreat is geared toward families with children, but those without children are also welcome to join. Children’s Performance, Family Retreat 2014 In this retreat, we will have the chance to learn teachings of the Buddha on cultivating peace and harmony in families. 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. These activities helps cultivate peace and harmony infamilies. The tentative schedule is as follows: Time/Date Wed. July 19 Thur. July 20 Fri. July 21 Sat. July 22 Sun. July 23 5:15   Wake Up 6:00   Sitting & Slow Walking & Reading Discourse Ceremony To Transmit the Five Mindfulness Trainings 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 Fare well  & 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 Exercise Exercise / Consultation 18:00 Dinner 19:30 Dharma Talk The Five Mindfulness Trainings Presentation Beginning Anew Performance 21:30 Rest – Noble Silence   Accommodation and cost: Accommodation for this retreat is limited to dormitory-room. Participants will be housed in dormitories (bunk beds). Pillows, bed linens, and blankets are provided. Children aged 10 or below will stay […]

•  2023-04-06 15:00 - 2023-04-10 14:00
•  Lotus Pond Temple, Ngong Ping, Lantau
•  HKD2,000

The retreat spaces are fully occupied. You can register for the “Waiting List” by pressing “Register Here”. You are invited to attend the annual Spring retreat held at AIAB – Lotus Pond Temple. The theme of this retreat is Pure Land in the Here and Now, which helps to realize peace and happiness in the here and now, in any moment and any place that we are in. Here is Pure Land, the Pure Land is here. I smile in mindfulness And dwell in the present moment. The Buddha is seen in an autumn leaf, The Dharma in a floating cloud. The Sangha body is everywhere. My true home is right here. Breathing in, flowers are blooming, Breathing out, I am aware that Bamboo is swaying, my mind is clear And I enjoy every moment. In this retreat, we will have the chance to learn the Discourse on the Land of Great Happiness (The Pureland Sutra, Sukhavati-Vyuha Sutra,Taisho Revised Tripitaka 366*), and see how we can realize the pure land 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 tentative schedule is as follows: Date/Time Apr 06 Thur. Apr 07 Fri Apr 08 Sat. Apr 09 Sun. Apr 10 Mon. 5:15   Wake Up 6:00   Sitting & Slow Walking & Reading Discourse Outdoor walking, sitting & breakfast 7:00   10 Mindful Movements & Walking Meditation 8:00   Breakfast 9:15   Working Meditation Working Meditation 10:30 Dharma Talk Questions & Answers 12:30 Lunch Lunch 14:00 15:00 – 17:30 Registration Check-In […]

•  2023-01-26 17:00 - 2023-01-29 14:30
•  Lotus Pond Temple, Ngong Ping, Lantau Island
•  HK$1,500

The retreat is full.  Registration window is closed. You are invited to attend a retreat, celebrating the Lunar New Year/Spring Festival of the year 2023, at AIAB – LotusPond Temple. The theme of this retreat is Nourishing Our Togetherness, which helps to cultivate the peace and happiness that we can offer to ourselves and to others with our presence. This is our first retreat held at AIAB – Lotus Pond Temple since the Covid-19 pandemic, which had prevented us from holding on-site retreat since 2020. We are happy to welcome you and to be with you in this retreat for a simple reason: to be aware of our presence. Life is available and is wonderful when we are present in the here and now. In this retreat, 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 tentative schedule is as follows: Date/Time Thur. Jan. 26 Fri. Jan. 27 Sat. Jan. 28 Sun. Jan 29 5:15   Wake Up Wake Up Wake Up 6:00   Sitting & Slow Walking & Reading Discourse Outdoor walking, sitting & breakfast 7:00   10 Mindful Movements & Walking Meditation 8:00   Breakfast Breakfast 9:15   Working Meditation Working Meditation Working Meditation 10:30 Dharma Talk Dharma Talk Questions & Answers 12:30 Lunch Lunch Lunch,Closing Circle, Fare well & Happy Continuation of the practice at home 14:00 Total Relaxation 15:00 Registration Group sharing Group sharing 16:45 Exercise Exercise / Consultation 18:00 Dinner 19:30 Dharma Talk Touching the Earth Beginning Anew 21:30 Rest – Noble Silence Retreat will be conducted in English with […]