From August 9th to August 16th, following the study of classics and treatises in the Taipei course on “Bodhisattva Precepts”, international friends from five countries—the United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands, Russia, and Colombia—along with Taiwanese participants, traveled together to the Shizhi Nianfo Hui (Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta Chanting Association) in Dongshi, Taichung, for a seven-day intensive practice of the Lotus Sutra Repentance Ceremony and shamatha-vipashyana meditation as part of the Tiantai Buddhism Intensive (TBI) 2025.
Shizhi Nianfo Hui is one of the earliest established chanting associations in the Dongshi area and the oldest local chanting practice venue. Here, participants built upon the “theoretical study” from the Taipei course, further implementing it into “practical cultivation,” achieving a balanced experiential practice that emphasizes both understanding and action. The successful launch of this event was made possible through the compassionate permission of the Hall founder, Teacher Liao.
Under the guidance of Venerable Myogen, participants experienced the daily routine of communal monastic living: waking at 4:30 a.m. to the sound of the wooden board, engaging in the first meditation session and morning service from 5:00 to 7:00 a.m. After a simple breakfast at 7:00, they performed cleaning duties from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. At 9:00 a.m., the second meditation session began, followed by the practice of the first half of the Lotus Sutra Repentance Ceremony. At noon, a simple lunch was offered in the traditional style. At 2:00 p.m., the third meditation session took place, and at 3:00 p.m., the chanting and prostration of the second half of the Lotus Sutra Repentance Ceremony continued. After a light meal at 5:30 p.m., a Q&A discussion on the Dharma was held at 7:00 p.m., followed by the final meditation session and evening service from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m., after which the day’s practice concluded with the “great silence.”
Following the format of last year’s guidance by Teacher Tang Yuling on the Tiantai Small Shamatha-Vipashyana, the meditation practice integrated both shamatha and vipashyana: the first half of each session focused on “calming practice” (shamatha), concentrating on breath regulation and subduing wandering thoughts; the second half focused on “analytical practice” (vipashyana), guided by Venerable Myogen through structured and progressive contemplations. Throughout the retreat, participants were required to restrain the body and mind, refrain from unnecessary chatter, and focus fully on monastic life. Daily tasks, including all cooking and cleaning, were treated as extensions of diligent mind training.
For the repentance practice, the method previously guided by Teacher Tang Yuling was adopted. Before each session, Venerable Myogen explained the general meaning of the ritual as a preliminary guide, enabling more Dharma-aligned contemplation during the actual repentance. The evening Q&A sessions served as a concluding practice, addressing participants’ doubts while facilitating mutual sharing and growth in learning.
At the closing ceremony, Teacher Tang Yuling gave a brief explanation of the “Ten Tiantai Contemplation Methods” and listened to participants’ reflections. Johanna from the Netherlands shared that through repentance and meditation, she learned to more pragmatically face challenges arising from interpersonal interactions, replacing confusion with proactive and constructive attitudes.
July from Colombia, who was responsible for daily offerings at the Buddha altar, deeply appreciated the importance of cultivating generosity and aspired to help others as a way of fulfilling herself.
Cherrie Wei, studying in Canada, shared that gathering with participants of diverse ages, genders, and backgrounds allowed her to practice multi-perspective thinking, inspiring profound self-reflection.
Zaki, who participated in the retreat for the second consecutive year, particularly benefited from the guided “analytical practice.” He had previously believed all “imaginations” to be delusional, but this time he realized that through earnest contemplation, each session served as preparation for dealing with real-life situations.
Venerable Myogen shared: “This event has allowed everyone to gain both conceptual understanding and practical methods for cultivation. Whether it’s the ‘Bodhisattva Precepts’ or ‘contemplative meditation,’ they may seem abstract but are actually rooted in our interactions with ourselves, others, and the world. Chanting and meditation are merely mediums; practice cannot be completed in isolation—it relies on collective effort. Thanks to the support of Teacher Liao, Teacher Tang, Teacher Lin, and all volunteers and senior students, this retreat was brought to a successful completion.”
Over the seven days, participants collectively completed 6 rounds of the Lotus Sutra Repentance Ceremony, 26 shamatha-vipashyana meditation sessions, and practiced structured contemplations on topics such as the “Eight Worldly Concerns,” “Ten Treasures of Mind Training,” “Nine Causes of Death,” “Equanimity,” and “Benefits of Bodhichitta.” On the final day, led by Teacher Tang Yuling and Teacher Lin Weifang of Unlimited Lights Academy, participants offered alms to the sangha at Zhengjue Vinaya College and listened to Abbot Guoqing’s discourse on Bodhidharma’s Two Entrances and Four Practices. In the afternoon, they visited the “Love and Shared Virtue—Venerable Master Chin Kung Cultural Artifacts Exhibition” at Feng Chia University. In the evening, Teacher Tang hosted a dinner at Wanxian Lou, bringing the retreat to a perfect close.
(from ULA Facebook)
