Hsi Lai Temple Hosts Three-Day Meditation Retreat: Finding Inner Peace and Joy in Meditation

Fo Guang Shan Hsi Lai Temple
March 18, 2025

Hsi Lai Temple hosted a three-day meditation retreat from March 7 to 9, where over 40 participants took part in an immersive experience designed to deepen their meditation practice. This retreat, an advanced course building on the foundational one-day meditation retreat, offered participants an opportunity to step away from their daily routines and experience the joy and serenity of meditation.

The retreat began at 8:30 a.m. on March 7, with participants checking in and proceeding to the meditation hall for an orientation session. The program included lessons on meditation etiquette, introductory meditation guidance, meditation-in-movement experience, stretching exercises, walking meditation, and Q&A sessions on meditation techniques.

In his opening remarks, Venerable Hui Hsuan emphasized the importance of observing noble silence as a fundamental rule in the meditation hall. He advised participants to refrain from going out, receiving visitors, socializing, using phones, reading, writing, or engaging in conversation or chanting during the retreat, encouraging them to focus entirely on inner cultivation.

During the meditation posture guidance session, Venerable Hui Hsuan provided detailed demonstrations of the Lotus Sitting and Half-Lotus Sitting postures. He explained how the proper positioning of hands and feet plays a crucial role in maintaining balanced blood circulation and ensuring a stable meditation experience. He repeatedly stressed that correct posture is vital for achieving success in meditation, as it supports physical stability and mental focus.

After lunch, Venerable Hui Hsuan led the group in the walking meditation, demonstrating the proper pace and breath control to calm the mind and stabilize emotions.

He further elaborated that the core of meditation lies in meditative concentration (dhyana), which is closely linked to the wisdom of emptiness. By integrating their meditation insights into daily life, practitioners can cultivate a deeper understanding of the teaching that "the five aggregates are all empty", allowing them to remain calm and composed amid life’s ups and downs. Venerable Hui Hsuan encouraged participants to adopt a compassionate mindset when facing others' wrongdoings, avoid anger, and embrace wisdom to elevate their spiritual practice. He advised that when confronted with difficulties, one should harness wisdom to transform challenges into opportunities for growth, ensuring they maintain right mindfulness and right view on the path toward a brighter future enriched with blessings and wisdom.

During the closing discussion, participants expressed their gratitude, recognizing Hsi Lai Temple’s meditation hall as an ideal space for deepening their meditation practice. Many considered their participation a rare and auspicious opportunity.

Tu Yibo, a first-time attendee, shared his initial concerns about knee pain affecting his ability to maintain proper posture. However, under Venerable Hui Hsuan’s guidance, not only was he able to complete the session successfully, but his knee pain miraculously disappeared during meditation, leaving him deeply impressed by meditation’s profound effects.

Zheng Pengfei, who had been experiencing a difficult period in his life, reported feeling a remarkable improvement in his mental and physical well-being after just one day of practice. Inspired by the positive changes, he expressed his wish to share the wisdom of Humanistic Buddhism with others, helping more people understand the value of meditation and its power to bring inner peace and strength.