Mindfulness in Every Step - One Day Retreat at Hsi Fang Temple

By Ding Ru

On June 14, Hsi Fang Temple held an English One Day Meditation Retreat. The superintendent, Ven. Miao Zang guided ten participants through various forms of meditation, teaching them how to calmly be with their own minds. In a time where digital media is everywhere and noise surrounds us, the Venerable encouraged everyone to take this opportunity to put away their phones, disconnect from the internet, and discover the quiet and undisturbed beauty of inner peace.

The retreat was divided into four sessions, including sitting meditation, walking meditation, outdoor mindful walking, a silent mindful lunch, and concluding with volunteer service. At the beginning, the Venerable welcomed everyone and reminded them to refrain from idle talk in the meditation hall, focus inward, and cultivate mindfulness and clarity. The retreat followed the sound of the Dharma instruments for its schedule, moving along smoothly and mindfully.

Taking advantage of the pleasant weather in the morning, Ven. Miao Zang led the group on an outdoor walking meditation from the temple to Old Trolley Barn Park. Ariz, a regular attendee of the temple’s English Buddhism Class and someone who meditates regularly, joined the retreat to further his practice. He shared that sitting quietly in the park while listening to birds chirping was a joyful and peaceful experience.

During the mindful lunch, the venerable reminded participants of the Five-Meal Contemplation, eating is also a form of practice—to reflect on the effort it took to prepare the meal and to be grateful to the volunteer kitchen team. Nan expressed her appreciation for the silent atmosphere. With no one speaking or checking their phones, everyone naturally respected each other’s space and felt a deep sense of gratitude for the food and environment provided by nature.

Joe shared that every aspect of the day—from meditation and mindful breathing to stretching and posture awareness—was meaningful. He noted that our physical body is also a tool for cultivation. Through mindful walking, we can observe how our six senses interact with the world, making practice possible in everyday life.

Starla said that she had briefly encountered meditation years ago at work. However, during the pandemic, as feelings of anxiety grew, she began attending the temple’s book club and meditation sessions. She shared that the One-Day Retreat helped her grow further, and she now feels inspired to give back to the community and hopes to contribute to a better world.

At the end of the retreat, Ven. Miao Zang encouraged everyone to continue practicing the Four Foundation of Mindfulness into daily life. Through contemplation of body, we are aware of our breathing and physical presence. Thus, we will be more mindful of our body, speech and mind. Through mindful practice, not only we can be more mindful, we can remember better. With continuous practice, we can thus observe our intentions  and cultivate clarity and wisdom, allowing mindfulness to naturally integrate into everyday living and transform our inner world.