It is summer season now in Hong Kong, with its blend of intermittent rain and frequent sunshine. While this is a good time for outdoor activity, remember to keep yourself hydrated and protected from the sun. May you and your family have a calm and joyful heart during the summer time.
As time comes to early summer, we gathered together and had the Vesak Ceremony. It reminded us to nurture the Buddha inside us. Let us continue to put our mindfulness practices into our daily lives. Past Events Vesak Celebration Asian Institute of Applied Buddhism had the Vesak Ceremony at Lotus Pond Temple on May 19, 2024. There were around 200 friends joined the happy moment. Old friends, new friends, and parents with children were there. The weather, breeze with no rain, was perfect for an outdoor activity with such a large crowd. Thanks for the collective energy during the walking meditation we began our Day of Mindfulness. We then gathered in the Meditation Hall for a silent sitting. Thẩy Pháp Khâm, our senior Brother in Hong Kong, gave a short Dharma Talk on the Vesak Day. He shared the story about Vesak, on why there is a Vesak, and how to practice mindfulness. Bathing the Baby Buddha Today we bathe the Tathagata. Deep wisdom and clarity bring great happiness. May all living beings, who are overwhelmed by sufferings, see the Dharmakaya in this world. We then walked to the Bamboo Forest Monastery to bathe the baby Buddha, the Bodhicitta within us. After the bathing ceremony, Thẩy Pháp Khâm reminded us to practice with the sangha to renew our Bodhicitta. After bathing the Baby Buddha, we had picnic lunch and catches up with our friends. source: Plum Village HK Fb Upcoming Events Sunday Day of Mindfulness Sunday Day of Mindfulness is led by AIAB monastics to integrate mindfulness into daily life. Every Sunday, through a series of mindfulness practice activities, we can enjoy the happiness of being present in the moment. In addition, practicing together as a sangha is an enjoyable experience and strengthens our practice. More details and the schedule are here. Participants please register on the website. Schedule: Every Sunday at 9:30am Venue: Lantau Island, Lotus Pond Temple. See […]
As summer approaches, the weather in Hong Kong begins to shift perceptibly. The gentle breezes and stirring winds herald the onset of seasonal storms. May everyone find their own tranquility through our mindfulness practices, regardless of the tempestuous weather that lies ahead. Past Events March Retreat Lotus Pond Temple Friends receiving the Five Mindfulness Training We had our first Spring Retreat in 2024 from Mar 28 to Apr 1st. Same as our previous retreats, it was a full house. The theme of the retreat was Dhammapada: Chapter on Auspicious Signs. We were glad to have Sr. Trang Nghiem, Sr. Si Nghiem, one of the first Hong Kong Sister ordained under Plum Village tradition, and Thay Phap Kham, the Director of the Asian Institute of Applied Buddhism, explaining the Sutra and elaborating on how we can put it into daily practices. On the morning of the last day, we had the Five Mindfulness Trainings transmission ceremony. More than 20 friends received the Training and vowed to follow it as their lifestyle. If you are interested to join our future retreats, here is the upcoming retreat schedule. src: Fb post Upcoming Events Sunday Day of Mindfulness Sunday Day of Mindfulness is led by AIAB monastics to integrate mindfulness into daily life. Every Sunday, through a series of mindfulness practice activities, we can enjoy the happiness of being present in the moment. In addition, practicing together as a sangha is an enjoyable experience and strengthens our practice. More details and the schedule are here. Participants please register on the website. Schedule: Every Sunday at 9:30am Venue: Lantau Island, Lotus Pond Temple. See here for transportation options. Friday Night Practices Friday Night Practice is a “lite” mindful practice in town. We will have singing meditation, sitting meditation, walking meditation, passage reading, and dharma sharing. Through the evening practice we will generate a collective energy that bring healing and transformation in ourselves and the world […]
Dear, Last month, it was the Lunar New Year and we had a chance to gather, relax, and celebrate it together. We hope everyone have a peaceful new year and we vow to diligently put our practices into our lives. Past Events Plum Village Chinese New Year Parallels Spacious Mind – Inclusive Heart At this new year we have a chance to look at how much room there is in our heart and how much space there is in our mind. We can practice to enlarge the capacity of our heart and mind every day. We may notice that there is someone we have not yet allowed into our heart and we begin to look deeply to see how we can allow that person a place in our heart. Download and read more about the parallels. Lunar New Year Celebration (Feb 9 – 11) There was Lunar New Year celebration in Plum Village HK in the past month. We had a chance to listen to the oracles from tales of Kieu and visiting monastics’ rooms in Lunar New Year. We paid our respect to our teacher, Thầy, and had the Oracle reading. The monastic suggested “mindful solution” to friends’ enquiry according to the verse that the friend got. We also saw the Lion Dancing in Bamboo Forest Monastery, where monastic brothers are living. The naughty lion and the “Bug Head Buddha” played around. Friends used red pockets to attract the lion to come close to them. It was full of laughter. The monastic decorated their room so peaceful and elegant. We sat down, chatted, drank tea., enjoying the moment being together. Upcoming Events Spring Retreat Theme of the retreat: Teachings on the Auspicious Sign In this retreat, we will have the chance to learn the Dhammapada: Chapter on Auspicious Signs (Sutra 211, Volume 4) and the Discourse on Happiness (Mahamangala Sutta, Sutta Nipata 2.4). It is wonderful and assuring to […]
Check out Plum Village Chinese New Year Parallels
Dear, We are getting into the second month of 2024, and it is getting cold in Hong Kong. Last month we had a memorial service of Thich Nhat Hanh and we were reminded to continue Buddha and Thay’s teachings in our daily lives. Past Events Thich Nhat Hanh Memorial Service (Jan 14) Plum Village Hong Kong held the Memorial Ceremony for Thay and over 150 friends came. We started with the walking meditation, followed by the Ceremony. Thay’s photo was put in front of the Buddha statue. There were flowers, fruit, tea and Thay’s favour food put in front of the altar. The four folded sangha gathered around the altar as the ceremony started. Thanks to the Vietnamese friends, they have prepared the yummy lunch for us. We set up a table for Thay to have the lunch with us. Brother Bien Hieu, as Thay’s attendance, shared Thay’s food to us. Thay used to share the food with friends and it is a beautiful memory. In the afternoon, we watched the documentary “I have arrived. I am home” together and with the short sharing later. Friends shared their interaction with Thay and the gratitude towards Thay. Lastly, we sang “In Gratitude” in Vietnamese, English, and Mandarin to Thay. source: Rain of Compassion Sangha, Fb Post Also: My life is my teaching, honoring our ancestor Thay Upcoming Events “Peace in Oneself, Peace in the World” Public Talk “Peace in Oneself, Peace in the World” Public Talk by Venerable Dr. Thich Chan Pháp Ấn. In the midst of the rapid changes in the world, the pressure from work, responsibility from family, and uncertainty in life can all be the sources of our stress we feel day to day. We are happy to have Venerable Dr. Thich Chan Pháp Ấn who will have a short visit to Hong Kong and will give a public talk on the captioned subject. Program: Guided meditation, Dharma […]