The aixin family of Than Hsiang Sunday Dharma School (SDS) organized a half-day retreat on 31-07-2011 to enrich self-cultivation among its members. Our group of 33 comprising of teachers, aixin parents and children gathered and left for Guan Yin Si located at Mount Erskine before dawn at 6.30am as we wanted to prostrate our way up to the temple. Upon reaching the foothill of the temple, we quickly assembled into two rows and chanted the cleansing verses before we embarked on our 3-steps-1-prostration journey up to the temple. We started off enthusiastically; taking 3 steps while revoking the name of Buddha Amitabha and then performing a prostration. The sight of the children and adults in slow rhythmic and synchronized steps and prostrations edging their way up to the temple was simply awesome. The journey took around 20 minutes and most of us were drenched with sweat when we reached the temple main shrine hall. After the transference of merits, the Abbot of the temple, Ven Kai Bao came out to greet us and we paid our respects to the Venerable by prostrating to him.

By then we were already starving and we eagerly partake a hearty breakfast of fried beehoon served by the temple volunteering Bodhisattvas. After filling up our stomach, we were further nourished spiritually with a Dharma Talk by Ven Kai Bao. The Venerable explained the origin and purpose of the 3-steps-1-prostration ceremony; how our mind will react and how we can cultivate patience and mindfulness along the way. He added that we had planted the wholesome seed in our spiritual path and living with mindfulness and wholesome deeds, we can see further improvement in our thinking, behavior and life.

We had a free and easy session after the talk, with no attachment or bond to any specific activities. We explored the temple premise freely, drank water directly from a well, breathed in fresh air, witnessed the breathtaking hilly scenery and enjoyed the company of squirrels, tortoises, snakes, toads, birds and various insects which we rarely see or experience in our daily urban living.

Later, we were blessed with the opportunity of participating in the grand noon offering since it was the first day of the seventh month according to the lunar calendar. The monastic members of the temple led us in chanting The 88 Buddhas in the main shrine hall and Amitabha Sutra in the Hall of Merits (功德堂). After the chanting, four representatives from our group presented some requisites to Ven Kai Bao and Ven Fa Chan before we proceeded to the dining hall for lunch. We chanted the offering gatha and were treated to a sumptuous 5-dish-1-soup lunch. The act of eating together mindfully coupled with the ambience gave us a closely knitted family feeling.

The finale of the retreat was the chanting of “The Universal Door Chapter” (普门品) which was a gratifying experience for most members of the aixin family. At 2.00pm, we bade farewell to the venerables before we descended the hill to return to Than Hsiang Temple. It has been a great fortune to be able to participate in the half-day retreat and we would like to express our heart-felt gratitude to Ven Kai Bao, Ven Fa Chan and the supporting Bodhisattvas of Guan Yin Si, Mount Erskine for their time, effort, venue and food offered; without which we would not be filled with Dharmic Joy.