Setting aside time for extended practice, with the encouragement and support of a community, is a wonderful gift that we can offer to ourselves and each other. On most months, we host a Day of Mindfulness on the third Saturday, with the option to extend the day into an overnight retreat.
Many practices during the day are familiar, such as our morning service. We also practice the Five Earth Touchings, which supports us in strengthening the wisdom and compassion we’ve received from our ancestors, while also healing the suffering we’ve inherited from them. We use a version that integrates other Plum Village practices (pdf HERE), which includes the recitation of the Five Mindfulness Trainings.
Registration is required for those who plan to stay overnight and/or eat meals at the temple during the retreat, so we can plan accordingly. Fill out our online registration form online at Zeffy, or speak in person with Giac Vien at the temple.
Example Retreat Schedule (1-Day Retreat)
Note: Several activities during the day are available online, either by Facebook Livestream (for services) or Google Meet (for Dharma class), as noted in the sample schedule.
Saturday:
Day of Mindfulness
7:15 a.m. Gates open; grounds and hall available for meditation
7:45 Great Bell chant & prostration practice (Facebook livestream)
8:15 Morning meditation (sitting and walking, or mindful movements, outside as weather allows)
8:45 Personal break
9:00 Chanting & Meditation service (Facebook livestream)
10:15 Dharma Class (Google Meet)
11:15 Personal break/prepare for lunch
11:30 Lunch with noble silence
12:30 p.m. Walking meditation (three times around the Buddha Hall)
12:45 Personal break
1:00 Dharma Sharing: Time for personal practice/reflection/journaling/meditation and then group discussion (Google Meet)
2:00 Touching the Earth; reciting the Mindfulness Trainings (Facebook livestream)
3:30 Clean up/Conclusion of Day of Mindfulness/Personal Break
Extended Practice
4:00 Afternoon meditation (30 minutes sitting, 15 walking, 30 sitting)
5:15 Personal break/prepare for dinner
6:15 Dinner
7:15 Evening chanting & meditation (Facebook livestream)
8:00 Evening tea and Dharma sharing
9:00 Temple Gates are closed for the night
Sunday:
5:00 a.m. Gates open; grounds and hall available for meditation
5:30 Morning meditation (sitting and walking, outside as weather allows)
6:00 Great Bell chant and sitting meditation (Facebook livestream)
6:45 Mindful Movements
7:30 Breakfast
8:15 Dharma sharing/Personal time
9:00 Morning chanting & meditation (Facebook livestream)
10:15 Dharma class (Google Meet)
11:30 Packing emergency meal kits for Rare Breed Youth Center
12:30 pm Lunch/social time
-adjourn-
Notes:
-We practice noble silence during the Day of Mindfulness/retreat, from 7:15 a.m. Saturday to 9 a.m. on Sunday, except during Dharma class and Dharma sharing.
-We share simple vegetarian meals for Saturday (lunch and dinner) and Sunday (breakfast and lunch). You may bring your own meals (refrigerator and microwave are available). Sunday’s lunch is a community meal.
–Sleeping arrangements will be on either a cot or mattress on the floor. You are responsible for bringing a sleeping bag, sheet, pillow, etc.
–When you register, please specify if you are staying overnight and/or what meals you will join.
–Normalizing accommodations for all is one of our values and goals. This includes food allergies/sensitivities, disability, neurotype, and other personal circumstances. However, because our group is small, we face limitations. We do our best to work together to make our retreats accessible and inclusive, and invite everyone’s mutual understanding, open communication, creativity, and collaboration as we discern the best ways to do so. Contact Giac Vien (English-speaking services email) to discuss accommodations.