【Chung Tai Chan Monastery】05_Dharma Ceremonies 20240825

The 2024 Academic Summer Chan-7 Retreat at Chung Tai Chan Monastery

A Mind Without Limits

Great Buddha Monastery Holds the 2024 Weeklong Intensive Beginner’s Meditation Class in Thailand

Great Buddha Monastery, the Thailand branch of Chung Tai Chan Monastery, hosted a short-term intensive beginner's meditation retreat from August 25^th to September 1^st. The retreat embodied the essence of Mahayana Buddhism, which is dedicated to benefiting all beings, and followed the Three Links of Cultivation—scripture study, meritorious service, and meditation—established by the Founding Abbot, Grand Master Weichueh. Nearly seventy participants and volunteers from Thailand, China, Italy, Singapore, and Japan gathered to experience Dharma joy after the Chung Tai motto: “Chung Tai holds a flower, and sentient beings smile.”

On the first morning of the retreat, new participants, guided by monastics and volunteers, completed the registration process and received their Chan Buddhism Level 1 textbooks and layperson robes, preparing for their journey of self-discovery. After attending a formal opening ceremony, participants toured Great Buddha Monastery. Through finely crafted Buddha statues and cultural artifacts, they gained a profound appreciation for the vastness and depth of Buddhist culture, inspiring their resolve for diligent practice. In the afternoon, participants mindfully drank tea and enjoyed refreshments during the Zhaozhou Tea Reception. Engaging in everyday activities such as eating and drinking with mindfulness, they reflected deeply on the questions, “Who is the one drinking tea? Who is the one that can drink tea?”

The eight-day intensive retreat included daily meditation sessions and Dharma classes from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Venerable Jianyun, the abbot of Great Buddha Monastery, led the participants in adjusting their posture, breath, and mind during meditation. Through awareness and mindfulness, participants purified their minds. In each class, the abbot plainly and humorously introduced fundamental Buddhist teachings, such as the Three Jewels, Four Noble Truths, Five Precepts, Ten Good Deeds, and Ten Dharma Realms, providing a step-by-step path to understanding. Group discussions and sharing sessions further deepened the participants’ learning. At noon, everyone attended a formal meal, practicing the principle of “Wherever the body is, the mind is also present.”

In addition to meditation guidance and Dharma classes, the retreat also featured a rich array of cultural and Buddhist activities. Participants visited the Ajahn Buddhadasa Memorial Museum, attended pilates classes, and learned Thai floral art. These activities not only allowed them to experience both Thai and Chinese cultures, but also helped them apply the Chan practice of "integrating understanding and practice, and uniting action with stillness." Moreover, in the Chan hall of Great Buddha Monastery, participants chanted The Universal Gateway of Guanyin Bodhisattva, prostrating to the Three Jewels, repenting karmic offenses, and resolving to correct their future actions.

To deepen their understanding of Buddhism's historical transmission, the retreat included visits to two of Thailand’s most famous historical Buddhist sites—Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) and Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha). As they explored these sacred sites, listened attentively to guided tours, and learned about their architectural features and historical background, participants felt as if they had traveled back in time to witness ancient monks chanting and practicing. Following in the footsteps of these great practitioners, retreat participants circumambulated the Buddha statues, recited sutras, and offered flowers, planting an eternal bodhi seed in their minds. After the visit, they boarded a boat at sunset, allowing the gentle flow of the Chao Phraya River to calm their minds and to reflect on the truths they had learned, as they drift toward the ocean of nirvana.

In the past, lay practitioners temporarily residing in Bangkok were often restricted by visa limitations and unable to complete a full three-month meditation course. This short-term intensive retreat, short enough to be free from visa limitations, allowed those interested in meditation and Buddhism to successfully complete the entire beginner's meditation course. Filled with gratitude, participants shared their joy of Dharma learning during the closing tea ceremony, vowing to bring the purity and joy of the Dharma back to their families, workplaces, and friends.

At the graduation ceremony, the abbot personally presented certificates of completion, affirming the participants’ dedication and sincere resolve. In his closing Dharma talk, he encouraged them to continue practicing diligently in their daily lives, commit to long-term cultivation, study the Dharma, and realize the true benefits of Buddhism—awakening to their true nature and attaining buddhahood. More than fifty participants departed with Dharma joy and gratitude, eagerly awaiting the opening of the next intensive meditation class.

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