Refreshing Ourselves - Renewing Our Relationships

A family and youth mindfulness camp for parents, children, teens and individuals

When: July 18 - 21, 2013

Location: Lotus Pond Temple & Bamboo Forest Monastery

Children illustrate “Noble Silence” in the retreat.

June 16, 2013

Dear friends,

We are happy to announce that our fourth Family and Young People Mindfulness Retreat will be held from July 18 to July 21, 2013 at AIAB-Lotus Pond Temple, Ngong Ping, Lantau Island.  Families with children, young people and individuals are welcome to attend the retreat.  For the past several years, the retreat has become a space for families to have open communication and their loving care expressed. Everyone has lots of fun along the way of transformation and healing.  The parents and children enjoy just being themselves and being present for each other.  

The retreat will be in a camp setting.  Parents and children will have separate as well as joint activities. The children, teens, young people and adults will be divided into groups according to their age: Children program: 6 to 12 years old, teen program: 13 – 16 years old, young adult: 17 – 22 years old, and adults: 22 years old and up.  There are no separate programs for children under 6, and they have to be under full care of the parents.  Due to requests to increase the length of the retreat, this year the retreat is a 4-day 3-night retreat, instead of the 3-day 2-night retreat as in past retreats.

The activities held in this mindfulness retreat are similar to the ones offered in Plum Village France every summer. We will learn and practice mindful breathing, mindful walking, and pleasant smiling; the foundation of the Plum Village tradition.  We will also practice deep listening and loving speech. By embodying these basic skills, we can offer our true presence to our loved ones, our children, and our parents.  

The tentative program is as follows

Accommodation and cost: Accommodation for this retreat is limited to dormitory-room and camping. Participants will be housed in dormitories (bunk beds) and tents at Lotus Pond Temple and at a nearby temple. Pillows, bed-linens, and blankets will be provided if staying in dormitory. For camping, please bring your own bedding supplies. The cost per person is listed below (in HK Dollars), based on bed/tent space taken.

*Please write us at retreats@pvfhk.org to arrange accommodation for children under 6.
Single-person tents are provided. If camping as families/groups, please bring your own tents.

Working Meditation: Because the retreat is held in the monastery, all the preparation and cooking will be done by monastic and lay staff. During the retreat, we need help from participants in preparation works like: setting up the meditation hall and dining hall, washing up after meals… Participants will be grouped into Dharma discussion groups and will work together in the same groups to help with the retreat.

How to register: Online Registration is available here  on a first-come-first-served basis. Registrations are not final until we receive your payment.  Please make payment within one week after you register. If payment is not received within one week, your registration will be placed on a waiting list. For means of payment, details will be sent along with the confirmation email to those who completed online registration

Closing date for registration: July 10 th, 2013. Payment is not refundable for cancellations after July 3rd , 2013, minus a 20% cancellation fee.  For enquiries, please contact us by e-mail: retreats@pvfhk.org  or by phone from 15:00 – 18:00 (Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday):  2985-5033 (English), 2985-5281 (Chinese).

We are looking forward to seeing you at the retreat!

A lotus to you,
A Buddha to be.

Retreat Registration Team
Br. Phap Dung & Sr. Tu Nghiem