Dear Friends,

May you be well and happy! We are making a series of announcements about the activities held at the Plum Village Mindfulness Practice Center - Hong Kong.

August 24, 2010: Pavarana Ceremony - End of the Rain Retreat  
The Pavarana Ceremony will be held tomorrow on August 24, 2010 (Tuesday), i.e. lunar July 15, from 7:30pm to 8:30pm. This will mark the end of the rain retreat period this year after joining three months of Friday Night Practice and studying about the Engaged Buddhist Movement together. We will sit, chant and touch the earth as a Sangha to reflect on our own practice and to begin anew. All are welcome to join, especially for those who have made the commitment to participate in the evening sitting and the Friday Night Practice during the past three months.  

Beforehand, the Ceremony of  Offering to the Hungry Ghost  (a ceremony of the the Ulllumbana Festival) will take place on the same day at 4pm. Participants at the ceremony will cultivate our great compassion and share it to all beings.  

On that day, our evening walking meditation will be held as usual along our beautiful Victoria Harbour from 6pm. For those who would like to join but do not know the place of assembly, you may come to the centre at about 5:50pm and go to the TST Promenade Garden together.  

August 29, 2010: "Rose for Your Pocket" Ceremony  
After the rain retreat, the "Rose for your Pocket" Ceremony (A Plum Village Ceremony to express filial piety in the Ulllumbana Festival) will be held on this coming Sunday August 29, 2010 from 10am to 1pm. It is a wonderful occasion for us to express our deepest gratitude to our parents. All friends from both Hong Kong Sangha and the Vietnamese families are welcome. Each one of the participants will first have sitting meditation together, then wear lovely roses on our pocket and touch the earth to show our love to our parents. You may also share a short speech about your gratitude for your parents on this occasion.  

Because of limited space at our Centre, participation is on the first-come-first-served basis.  Thank you for your kind understanding.
 
Lazy Days, ie. Centre's Break time (Aug 28 - Sept 2)  
After participating in a full schedule at the Rain Retreat, lazy days, or known as personal nourishment days, are needed by both our monastic and lay Sangha members. The centre will be closed and there are no activities from August 28 (Friday) to September 2 (Thursday). Please note that there will be no Friday Walking Meditation and Friday Practice in this week but they will resume on September 3, 2010.  

Others:  
The monastic Brothers will be out of town from September to mid-October to support Thay and Plum Village delegation in the South East Asian Teaching Tour. During that time, lay sangha members will help facilitate the regular Plum Village mindfulness practice activities in Hong Kong .  
For any enquiries, please feel free to email us at pvmpc@pvfhk.org .  
Enjoy the sunshine and blue sky with peace in every step!  

Breathe and Smile,
Plum Village Mindfulness Practice Center