At 5.30am the staff was all up to get ready for the first session of the retreat that is the morning service, followed by breakfast at the dining hall.

Then at 8.30am we all assembled at the main shrine hall again to get ready for the second session which was the chanting of Amitabha Sutra and Amituofo Buddha Name recitation, circumambulation, and sitting meditation while reciting ‘Amitufo’. This session was led by Venerable Hui Ben and Venerable Zhi Bang.

Then Venerable Wei Wu delivered a dharma talk on ‘Pure Land’ Buddhism which was divided into three parts:-

1) Deep Faith
2) Sincere Vow
3) Wonderful Practice

Venerable Wei Wu also led in the reciting of the Verses of Parinamana.

After explaining Sincere Vow, the second part of the dharma talk, Venerable Wei Wu led in the reciting of Aspiration. This was followed by the last part that is the Wonderful Practice.

After the dharma talk, we all adjourned for lunch at 11.30am and took a rest. Some of the teachers joined the senior citizens in the karaoke session which brought them much joy.

After a good rest and freshening up, we assembled at the main shrine hall again at 2.00pm to get ready for the third session. We prostrated for twenty minutes, led by Venerable Hui Ben. Then Venerable Wei Wu gave us instructions and led us in walking meditation. Very slowly and mindfully, lift your foot, mindfully push it forward and then mindfully put it down, heel first. Then try to feel the sensation as you put your foot down. In this way, Venerable Wei Wu led all of us in walking meditation beginning from the main shrine hall, down to the gardenand then to the ‘reflexology path’ which can be painful for some of us, stepping on the small smooth rounded marbles and pebbles. Next, we made our way back to the main shrine hall and settled down to listen to the dharma talk by Venerable Wei Wu on the Ten Good Deeds.

After the dharma talk, we filled up the forms for reflections on the retreat before the evening service at 5.00pm. As soon as the evening service ended, Venerable Wei Wu arrived and shared with all of us the participants’ relfections on the retreat and dharma talks. Some of the participants were also invited to share their reflections. Then Venerable Wei Wu expressed his appreciation towards Venerable Zhen Xin, Venerable Hui Ben and all the organizers who had put in so much effort in preparing and making this retreat so exhilarating for all of us. Venerable Wei Wu also hoped that Venerable Zhen Xin, the staff and voluntary staff will continue to run Than Hsiang Jing Yuen smoothly.

After the dharma talk, all of us transferred merits before we adjourned for dinner. After another fulfilling meal, we got ready to go home. We bade goodbye to the senior citizens and everyone at the Jing Yuen.

From the sounds of laughter and chatter after the event was over, it can be concluded that everyone certainly enjoyed the outing and retreat very much. And not forgetting the four dharma talks which Venerable Wei Wu delivered with humour and in simple layman’s term whereby all of us could understand and enjoy.

May everyone of us who had joined this retreat rejoice from the merits accrued and may these merits be a good condition for their Rebirth in Amitabha Buddha’s Pure Land.

And hopefully, may we have conducive conditions to participate in this kind of joyous retreat again.

And Maha Saddhu to Venerable Wei Wu for initiating and bringing the staff to this retreat.

Amituofo.