Intensive 7-Day Chan Retreat Led by the Venerable Abbess Chang Wu Fashi

31/08/2024 @ 18:00 - 07/09/2024 @ 11:00 CEST

In this 7-day retreat we follow the traditional Chan monastery schedule, starting early in the morning and making the most efficient use of time in concentrated group practice. The retreat will begin on August 31 with an evening meal at 6 pm, followed by a Dharma talk by Venerable Chang Wu and will end before lunch on September 7.

The retreat is held in silence. The day begins at 5:00 am, and ends at 10:00 pm consisting of a number of 30- or 40-minutes meditation periods, including walking meditation and Yoga exercises. Dharma lectures will be given daily and participants will have the opportunity for personal interviews with the teacher. The retreat will be conducted in English. The prerequisite for acceptance to the retreat is at least 6 months of experience in Buddhist meditation practice. Meditation cushions and mats are on site. Please wear comfortable and decent clothes.

Venue: Haus Tao, CH-9427 Wolfhalden (see here) The meditation center Haus Tao is located in the most northeastern corner of the Appenzellerland, at only 500 m above sea level. 20 minutes by car or 30 minutes by train from St. Gallen, between Rorschach and St. Margrethen, near the Austrian border.


Retreat-Teacher


changwu 1Ven Chang Wu is a Buddhist monastic in the Chen/Zen tradition. In the past 15 years, she delivered regular classes in Buddhist philosophy and meditation, to a wide range of people from different background and age group. She led regular intensive meditation retreats to seasoned practitioners in Toronto and Vancouver, Canada; various meditation centres in The USA, such as DDRC and CMC in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Texas, Chicago, Pittsburgh; as well as Mexico and Taiwan.

Apart from leading meditation retreats, she was a teacher on Buddhism and meditation practice at the Sheng Yen Academy and Dharma Drum Sangha University in Taiwan. In addition, she played an active role in organising and participating in scholarly conferences and interfaith dialogue around the world. Ven. Chang Wu is currently the Abbess of Dharma Drum Vancouver Centre.

Retreat assistant is Chang She, Chan teacher, Bern. After many years of practice in Christian contemplation and Japanese Zen Chang She became a follower of Master Sheng Yen in 2004 und has since then attended many retreats guided by him and his Dharma heirs. In 2008 she was given permission to teach by Master Sheng Yen. 

Meister Sheng Yen (1930-2009) was one of the greatest contemporary Buddhist Chan Masters. He established the Dharma Drum lineage in the tradition of Chinese Humanistic Buddhism. The training of monks and nuns was one of his major concerns, as well as practicing socially engaged Buddhism and interreligious dialogue. The lineage of Master Sheng Yen unites Caodong (Jap. Soto) and Linji (Jap. Rinzai).


Haus Tao

The Meditation Centre Haus Tao is a Buddhist practice and study centre of the Sati-Zen Community, whose main interest lies in the combination of Vipassana und Zen.

The calm and the natural beauty of the house and the environment are ideal for the practice of the meditative way. Centre Haus Tao is under the  direction of Zen-Master Marcel Geisser, who bought the house in 1986. Today it belongs to the  Foundation for Mindful Living. Haus Tao has the capacity to accommodate up to 19 participants during retreats. For more information, visit www.haustao.ch.


Retreat Fee

Retreat fee: 7 Days CHF 790, Sponsor: CHF 860 including veg. meals, lodging in with one, two or three beds and Dana. Participants with limited financial resources may apply for a discount on the participation fee.

The retreat fee is to be transferred by August 20,2024 to: Verein Chan Bern. IBAN CH97 0900 0000 6059 2636 0 BIC POFICHBEXXX, PostFinance AG, Mingerstr. 20, CH 3030 Bern Bezeichnung: Chan Bern, 3000 Bern.

With the bank transfer your participation is automatically accepted (if there are still places available).


Application

The application form and the retreat fee should be sent by August 20,2024 to:
 
Or register directly here online:

The event may be subject to change. Please visit Chan Bern's website for the latest information and registration for the event.