Retreat 2025
The retreat took place at the Torre D’Aguilha seminar on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th of May (Thursday to Sunday). May 1st is a national holiday.
Our retreat is still free and open to everyone. You can take part in just one session, a few hours or all the days of the program. However, for those who want a more immersive experience, we encourage you to stay in the space for the duration of the retreat.
Activities:
- guided meditation and detailed instructions
- recitation practice
- lectures
- prostration practice
- tea sessions with Buddhist monks
Please note that accommodation on site (hotel) is not included and has an associated cost, which is non-profit for our organization. This option is ideal for those looking to truly immerse themselves in the retreat experience.
Participants can register in 3 ways:
- 5-night registration
- Check in 1 day before (day 31)
- Checkout 1 day later (day 5)
- Full board: accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner
- 3-night registration
- Check-in at the beginning of the retreat (day 1)
- Checkout on the last day of the retreat (day 4)
- Full board: accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Free registration
- No charge
- Accommodation and meals are at the expense of the participant
Schedule
| Start | May 1 (Thursday) | May 2 (Friday) | May 3 (Saturday) | May 4 (Sunday) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5:00 | Silent Sit | Silent Sit | Silent Sit | |
| 6:00 | Bowing meditation | Bowing meditation | Bowing meditation | |
| 7:00 | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | |
| 8:00 | Instructional Talk | Instructional Talk | Instructional Talk | |
| 9:00 | Reciting Buddha’s name | Cerimony: GCR | Cerimony: Vesak | |
| 10:00 | Opening Talk | Meditation | - | - |
| 11:00 | Stretching + meditation | Meditation | Meditation | Meditation |
| 12:00 | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch |
| 13:30 | Instructional Talk | Instructional Talk | Instructional Talk | Instructional Talk |
| 14:30 | Stretching or Walking Med. | Stretching or Walking Med. | Stretching or Walking Med. | Stretching or Walking Med. |
| 15:00 | Free time / Self Practice | Free time / Self Practice | Free time / Self Practice | Free time / Self Practice |
| 16:00 | Mantra recitation | Mantra recitation | Mantra recitation | Mantra recitation |
| 17:00 | Meditation | Meditation | Meditation | Meditation |
| 18:00 | Bowing meditation | Bowing meditation | Bowing meditation | Closing + Transference |
| 19:00 | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | |
| 20:00 | Instructional Talk | Instructional Talk | Instructional Talk | |
| 21:00 | Meditation | Silent Sit | Silent Sit | |
| 22:00 | Meditation | Silent Sit | Silent Sit | |
| 23:00 | Go to Sleep | Go to Sleep | Go to Sleep |
Team
Venerable Master Xian Zhi
Master XianZhi is the abbot of Dharma Treasury Temple, a San Francisco branch of Bodhi Light International (BLI). He began practicing Chan meditation in 2013 under Master YongHua and soon after left the home life to fully commit to the Buddhist path. Deeply transformed by American Mahayana Buddhism, Master XianZhi is devoted to learning, sharing, and growing with others who wish to explore this path together.
Venerable Master XianAn
Venerable XianAn is a Korean-American Buddhist nun and a disciple of Master YongHua. Her journey in Chan meditation began in the United States, during her time as a young businesswoman. Through her practice, she discovered the profound impact of Chan meditation, not only on her career, but on all aspects of her life. In 2019, she became a Buddhist nun and returned to her native Korea. She currently teaches Chan meditation in both the United States and Korea, sharing the transformative power of this ancient practice.
Venerable Xian Shou
Venerable XianShou is a Spanish Buddhist monk, a disciple of Master YongHua since 2019, when he began practicing Chan. At that time, he was working as a university professor in Spain. He collaborated with BLI by translating into Spanish "The Chan Handbook" and "The Pure Land Handbook".After 3 years of practice, he decided to retire as a university professor to dedicate himself more intensively to spiritual cultivation. In early 2023, he spent 3 months at BLI temples in Los Angeles and San Francisco. In October of the same year, he traveled again to the US, and in November, he became a Buddhist monk under Master YongHua.
In January of 2024, he traveled to South Korea to continue his training as a monk. Currently, he is still working on several translation projects and collaborating as an assistant instructor and translator with BLI’s online Chan classes for Europe. Last year he accompanied Ven. XianAn as an assistant on her tour of Europe.
Venerable XianShou is a Spanish Buddhist monk, a disciple of Master YongHua since 2019, when he began practicing Chan. At that time, he was working as a university professor in Spain.
He collaborated with BLI by translating into Spanish “The Chan Handbook” and “The Pure Land Handbook”.
After 3 years of practice, he decided to retire as a university professor to dedicate himself more intensively to spiritual cultivation. In early 2023, he spent 3 months at BLI temples in Los Angeles and San Francisco. In October of the same year, he traveled again to the US, and in November, he became a Buddhist monk under Master YongHua.
In January of 2024, he traveled to South Korea to continue his training as a monk.
Currently, he is still working on several translation projects and collaborating as an assistant instructor and translator with BLI’s online Chan classes for Europe. Last year he accompanied Ven. XianAn as an assistant on her tour of Europe.
Mr Park, Tongwook
Park TongWook has a PhD in economics from the University of Minnesota and a degree from the Department of Economics at Seoul National University. He has worked for the past 25 years as a researcher at the Information and Communication Policy Research Institute. His spiritual journey began when he met the Wei Yang school of Buddhism and started practicing under the tutelage of Master YongHua in 2021. A devoted Buddhist disciple in Korea, Park began sharing his experience and knowledge of prostration practice in 2023 to help meditators deepen their practice.
Jun, Heeyoung
Heeyoung começou a sua jornada espiritual em 2019 no Templo da Montanha Wei sob a orientação do Mestre YongHua, inspirada pela busca da sua mãe por orientação na prática de Seon e Terra Pura. Ela também é consultora de processos de negócios em vendas e logística na Samsung Electronics.
Bruno Silveira
Bruno Silveira specializes in digital marketing and has been practicing meditation for around 20 years. Since he found Chan meditation about 10 years ago, he has practiced more regularly and dedicatedly. He organizes weekly meditation meetings, both online and in person, promoting balance, mental clarity, increased ability to focus and concentrate.
Miguel Ping
With a degree in Computer Engineering, he began practicing Chinese martial arts before learning about Chan meditation. A disciple of Master YongHua for over 10 years, he regularly travels to the United States to practice meditation during intensive retreats.