Seven-Day Amitabha Recitation Retreat
(Novitiate Programme)
17 December, 2004:-

Seven-Day Amitabha Recitation Retreat was mostly on the chanting of Amitabha Sutra for 7 days. We have 276 participants joined this progamme. The purpose of this Seven-Day Amitabha Recitation Retreat is to achieve one-mindedness all the way through the chanting.

The participants have to wake up at 5am and start morning service at 5.30am only can took their beak first. Than Hsiang's volunteers and stuffs stand-by the meal for all the participants by self-service style. We have around 100 more participants compare to last year. Because of that, we convert multi purpose hall (located on the 5th floor of Than Hsiang Temple) to be female dormitory, and kindergarten classroom (located on the 1st floor of Than Hsiang Temple) become male dormitory.

Since we have limited space, the participants have to sitting on the floor for their meal. They have to do the washing and cleaning after finish their meal.

In the middle of the activities behavior for the period of the event were chanting, praying, circumambulating and a talk on the method of chanting. For the period of the particular situation, participants are not allow to make-up and wore any beautification.

The participants have to restricted and stable their attitude. They forsake themselves for communicate with others and also out going. During these seven days, they tried their best to put all the affect on everyday duty and cultivate by insistence. They remained in control of their mind and body at all times and kept them always in a peaceful situation.

 

In the evening, the Chief Reverend presented the Buddha story for all the participants. Especially for last 2 day, Chief Reverend is explaining in detail for the intelligence of this Novitiate Programme.

Ven. Wei Wu of Than Hsiang was the Chief Reverend of this Fo Qi event. A million appreciated for a group of volunteers and a team of learned monks comprising which is Ven. Xin Shen, Ven. Ji Zheng, Ven. Hai Zhi, Ven. Xin Rui, Ven. Pu Wen, Van Da Shan, Ven. Guang Chi, Ven. Zhen Xin and Ven Zhen Yuan and Especially Ven. Fa Qing. Ven. Fa Qing came back from Thailand (IBC) to supervise and guide for this Amitabha Recitation Retreat event.