Experience sharing
Reflections on Indonesian Chan Medan's Meditation activities
Lidya I am learning the real meaning of retreat. So learning the step by step meditation really help me to "retreat" and enjoying the present moment in meditation sessions. Also, Fashi's words at the end echo in my mind, "If you know that your conversation partner isn't real, why bother?" So when my mind starts to wander, I suddenly remember to withdraw... remember that it's not real Kurniady I am learning step by step to meditate, Even though we...
My Personal Reflections on IMG 1-Day Retreat
Thank you so much Ven. Guo Qi Fashi for your guidance during the one-day Chan retreat! I am still enjoying the fruits of our collected efforts, my practice seems to have been given a new push forward and my vows have become more sincere since I left the Chan hall. Meditation can be easily mistaken to be a solo practice, and although for most of us most of the time it turns out to be just that, I really felt how just one day of sincere and shared effort made a big difference in my per...
Threads of Connection: Reflection on DDYP Summer Chan Outing
I got the chance to lead the 8-form moving meditation at the event hosted by Dharma Drum Vancouver for Young People (DDYP) at Deer Lake Park in Burnaby, BC, and I'll be honest, I was pretty nervous before the event kicked off. Surprisingly, as the day rolled on and I saw everyone gathering, those jitters turned into pure joy. It was really nice to see all these awesome people joining me on this adventure. It was like we were all in sync, connected by something bigger than ourselves. &nbs...
2023 August 12 DDM Sydney Meditation Group Practice recount
It was a really informative and enlightening meditation session in practicing meditation with other like-minded buddhist practitioners, held at the Sydney Buddhist Library on Saturday 12th August 2023. The meditation session was kindly led by the former Dharma Drum Mountain Sydney Chapter President Agnes Chow, where the practitioners were introduced to Eight-Form Moving Meditation, a series of exercises, involving neck rotation, swinging and arm movements in the process, back stretching,...
Heartfelt Blessings Accrued through Robust Recitations
Over the past weekend from the 12th to the 13th of August, 2023, I attended the Semi-Annual Dharma Service here at Dharma Drum Vancouver Centre, including a recitation of the Fundamental Vows of Bodhisattva Kṣitigarbharaja Sūtra and the Compassionate Samadhi Water Repentance Ritual. For any Buddhist, getting the opportunity to congregate with fellow practitioners and practise the Dharma is a true blessing, and this was no different, though on this occasion we had the especially goo...
The Journey of Chan Practice
Do you know that science has shown that our brain is not designed to multi-task? This so-called "multi-tasking," is asking our brain to work harder and consistently switch from one task to another, increasing the error rate for all tasks at hand. Needless to say, multi-tasking has become a norm in our society. We always try to do a good job of fitting as many tasks as possible into every single minute of our schedule. As a result, we often feel overwhelmed and exhausted at the end...
Where is your mind?
English Chan 1 on 8/12, led by Ven. Guo Chii, led more than 42 participants to experience one-day Chan through the dynamic eight forms of dynamic meditation, static meditation, massage and yoga stretching. The walking part of the afternoon is also the part that I feel deeply about participating in this activity. Under the guidance of the Fashi, the speed of public walking varies from gentle and gradual to different steps, sometimes accelerating the fast step, sometimes connecting the slow ste...
One Thing That I Like The Most on the 2023/8/12 1-Day Retreat
It's been a great experience joining the retreat last Saturday. Thank you so much for your time and guidance during that day. I've definitely gained and learned something throughout the session. Despite all the meditation and yoga stuffs that we're doing and practicing. One thing that I like the most was to be able to stay away from my phone on that day, since I've been super attached to it lately. And it's really nice to be away from it for almost 8 hours! Last but not ...
The Personal Reflections on the 2023/8/12 1-Day Retreat
It's my first meditation retreat experience was fun and insightful. I was especially trained to recognize my own thoughts and to focus on the present. Besides, I think the Venerable did a really good job on delivering the instructions clearly and precisely in English, and the combination of meditation and yoga really broke down the stereotype of "boring meditation retreats". I wish to participate in such retreats again in the future. --- By Rinwy, from Indonesia Taiwan Buddhist ...
I Treasure Very Much the One Day Retreat
I am grateful to have the blessing to join the retreat. Ven. Guo Chii, all the volunteers, and all Dharma practitioners who create this environment to support our practice. I am moved to join this retreat, it was so refreshing and energizing. The most impressive session was sitting meditation. Although a lot of thoughts came and went away, I could maintained the method which was observing the breath. Moreover, there were moments I felt really calm and easy. Every time I come back to the Cha...