Open the Door to Your Heart

A mindfulness retreat with Thay Phap An and the Plum Village monastics
at the Asian Institute of Applied Buddhism,

Lotus Pond Temple, Ngong Ping Village, Lantau Island, HK

Date and time: 14/03/2018@4:00pm - 18/03/2018@2:00pm

                                              Buddha statues in the apple orchard at the European Institute of Applied Buddhism, Waldbröl, Germany

Online registration for retreat in available 

Jan. 15, 2018 

Dear friends,

You are invited to attend the annual Spring retreat at AIAB in Lotus Pond Temple. The retreat will be led by Thay Phap An, director of the European Institute of Applied Buddhism in Germany. He is on a teaching trip to Hong Kong and to Thailand from March 10 to March 26, 2018. The theme of this retreat is the teachings of the three dharma seals: impermanence, selflessness, and nirvana. 

At times, we may feel lonely and not able to open to the world around us. We are anxious about uncertainty and changes in life. Even though we live in a crowded and modern world, we are not able to connect to ourselves and to others. We have the feeling that we are a separate self, independent from others.  We are often caught in needless thoughts and negative emotions, regretting about the past and worrying about the future. There is nothing to fear about impermanence i.e changes in life. It is because of impermanence that makes life possible and makes us to precious our life much more. The teaching of selflessness helps us to realize that we inter-are with other human beings and species. Their existence makes our existence possible. The teaching on nirvana helps us not to dwell on dualistic thinkings, which makes our mind busy with judgemental and comparative thoughts. The teachings of the three dharma seals will help us to connect to ourselves, thus open a door to our heart and to others' hearts.  

In this retreat, we will cover the above teachings and practices. We will see how they are applied in everyday life, and not as theoretical concepts. They will help us cultivating peace and happiness, transforming pain and suffering and living a healthy and compassionate life. We will practice mindful breathing, mindful walking, and pleasant smiling. We will go back to the present moment, enjoying the beautiful scenery of Lotus Pond Temple. We will enjoy the presence of our friends and fellow practitioners, who also take the time off from the busy daily routines to slow down, to enjoy a walk, to just be there for the present moment, for the preciousness of life.

The tentative schedule is as follows: