Liberation is a Way of Living

A retreat with Thay Phap An & Plum Village monastics
at the Asian Institute of Applied Buddhism - Lotus Pond Temple,
Ngong Ping Village, Lantau Island, HK

Date and time: April 13, 2016 @ 4:00pm  - April 17, 2016 @ 2:00pm    

Online registration for the retreat is open

Feb 15, 2016

Dear friends,

You are invited to attend our annual spring retreat at AIAB – Lotus Pond Temple. We are happy to have Thay Phap An, director of European of Institute of Applied Buddhism in Germany, to lead the retreat. Thay Phap An is on a 2-week teaching trip to Hong Kong from April 10 to April 25, which includes a 5-day retreat at AIAB, a 3-day retreat at Hyatt Regency Hong Kong in Shatin, and a visiting trip to the Sixth Patriarch Temple (Nanhua Temple) in Shaoguan, Guangdong province.

Liberation is something that we discover in our daily life. It is a way of living that sets us free. By just opening the door mindfully, we can get in touch with the serenity and the solidity within us. By letting go of unwholesome conditions (i.e. the five hindrances), we can get in touch with our body, slowing down the thinking process, we can recognize the peace and happiness as they arise. We will look into the meditation process (Dhyāna in Sanskrit or Jhāna in Pali) which brings us joy, concentration, mindfulness, tranquility and equanimity. This meditation process can be integrated into our daily activities. Everything we do can be an act of liberation.

In this mindfulness retreat, 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 and the surrounding area. 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.

Retreat will be conducted in English with Chinese translation.

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 AIAB-Lotus Pond Temple. 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.

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 the monastics and some volunteers. 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: Registration is available at the Plum Village Hong Kong Online Registration Site 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: April 4, 2016. Payment is not refundable for cancellation after April 1, 2016. Cancelation is subject to a 20% cancellation fee. For enquiries, please contact us by e-mail: retreats@pvfhk.org  or by phone from 14:30 – 17:00 (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.

AIAB Retreat Registration Staff

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