A few days before the Seven Day Amitabha retreat at Than Hsiang Temple, the staff was already busy preparing for this retreat. The Multi Purpose Hall on the fifth floor was partitioned into two; one for holding the retreat and the other for serving the meals. The ‘dining hall’ was lined with long tables and chairs for meals. The sitting cushions were all lined properly in the hall for retreat. On the first floor, the kindergarten classrooms were converted into ‘bedrooms’.

Some of the participants came as early as 12noon to attend this retreat even though the counter for registration was opened only at 2pm. By then, the area outside the Hall of Great Compassion was filled with people who had patiently queued and waited for their turn to register themselves. Upon registration, each participant was given a name badge and assigned their rooms. At 3.00pm, all the 158 registered participants assembled at the Multi Purpose Hall and were briefed on how to conduct themselves during the Fo Qi.

The first session began as early as 5.30am with morning service followed by breakfast. After that, everyone cleaned the environment. Then they assembled at 8.00am to receive their eight precepts which was conducted by Venerable Zhen Ru. This was followed by the third and fourth sessions which were Amitabha Buddha Name Recitation, circumambulation, and meditation with a twenty minutes break in between.

Lunch time was at 11:30am and the verses of offering was conducted by Venerable Zhen Chan. Everyone ate so solemnly and quietly that one could hear a pin drop! After lunch, the participants were led to do a walking meditation and this certainly helped in food digestion. Then everyone broke off for an hour’s rest period.

At 1:30pm, a venerable went round beating a wooden ‘gong’ to alert everyone to assemble for the sixth session which started at 1:50pm followed by the seventh session which were Amitabha Buddha Name Recitation, circumambulation, and meditation.
After a short break, the eighth session which was the evening service was conducted by Venerable Zhen Chan.

There was another rest period before the ninth session began. Everyone was back at 7.00pm. and at 7.30pm Venerable Wei Wu gave a dharma talk; one in a series of talks that span the duration of the Fo Qi.

After that, came the ‘running’ meditation while chanting Amitabha Buddha; Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva; and Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva. And then this session ended with the transference of Merits (Parinamana), before everyone retired to bed.

That was the daily routine for the Seven Day Amitabha Recitation Retreat. On the last day, after the morning service; there was a sharing session, whereby participants shared their experiences of the Fo Qi. In the afternoon, all the participants went up to the Main Shrine Hall to say prayers for the Transference of Merits (Parinamana) to the departed.

The Seven Day Amitabha Retreat was very well planned and organized by the Sangha members of Than Hsiang Temple. The Sangha members also made sure that all the sessions were carried out smoothly; and also tirelessly led in the chanting of Amitabha Sutra and ‘Amituofo’ recitation and the participants were very well guided by them.

And not forgetting the kindness of the voluntary helpers who came as early as 4.30am to help prepare and serve the meals. They did a tremendously job too.

May all the preceptors rejoice from the merits accrued during this Seven-day Amitabha Buddha Recitation Retreat and may these merits be a good condition for their Rebirth in Amitabha Buddha’s Pure Land.

Amituofo.