Fo Guang Shan North Carolina Hosts English Mindfulness Retreat, Cultivating Awareness in Everyday Life
- FGS NC
- Jan 7
- 3 min read
[Reported by Yu Chuan, North Carolina, USA] On December 20, 2025, Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple, North Carolina, hosted an English-language One-day Retreat, welcoming 17 local participants. The thoughtfully designed program offered a meaningful blend of meditation practices and Buddhist learning, including sitting meditation, transcribing the Heart Sutra in English, Buddhist teachings, tea meditation, and group discussion. Participants also recited the English version of “A Prayer for World Peace” by Venerable Master Hsing Yun, the Founding Master of Fo Guang Shan, creating a calm and reflective space for learning and inner cultivation.
In her opening remarks, Venerable Miao Jou, superintendent of Fo Guang Shan Buddhist North Carolina, encouraged participants to bring mindfulness into everyday life by gently observing their thoughts and emotions as they arise. She shared that when facing both pleasant and challenging situations, learning not to cling to what we like or reject what we dislike allows the mind to remain open, balanced, and at ease.
During the Buddhist studies session, Venerable Zhi San introduced key ideas from The Buddhist Perspective on Life and Destiny, an English booklet by Venerable Master Hsing Yun, the Founding Master of Fo Guang Shan. She explained Buddhism’s empowering view of destiny—that life is not fixed or predetermined, but can be shaped through present effort, wholesome actions, and wisdom. By making good use of current conditions, each person can actively cultivate goodness and become the master of their own life.
The retreat emphasized practical application. In sitting meditation, participants learned how to gently align the body, regulate the breath, and calm the mind. Through transcribing the English Heart Sutra, they settled their attention while engaging more deeply with the meaning of the text. During tea meditation, Venerable Zhi San guided participants to slow down and focus on each step of preparing and drinking tea, carefully observing subtle sensations through sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. This mindful engagement helped participants experience how awareness naturally arises through everyday activities.
For many attendees, walking meditation was a new and memorable experience. Participant Gregory Cahill shared that although he had practiced meditation for more than two years, this was his first time experiencing walking meditation, which he found especially beneficial. He also appreciated the opportunity during tea meditation to hear others’ reflections, noting that this sense of sharing brought a warm and fulfilling conclusion to the day.
Seventeen-year-old Mira Chi attended the retreat with her grandfather. She shared that even during extended periods of sitting, she gradually learned to stay aware and present, maintaining mindfulness even when her thoughts felt scattered or distracted.
Longtime participant Mariela Ortiz reflected on her journey with meditation at Fo Guang Shan North Carolina over the past decade. From feeling uncertain at the beginning, she has grown comfortable and grounded in the practice. She shared that cultivation at the temple extends beyond seated meditation to include walking meditation, mindful eating, and tea meditation. Everything is done with awareness—being present with what one is doing and how one is doing it—which naturally deepens self-understanding and supports a healthier way of responding to life’s experiences. She warmly recommended the one-day retreat to both beginners and experienced practitioners as a nourishing pause for body and mind.
The retreat concluded with all participants respectfully reciting the English version of “A Prayer for World Peace” by Venerable Master Hsing Yun, the Founding Master of Fo Guang Shan, dedicating the merits of the practice and offering wishes for peace, well-being, and freedom from suffering for all beings.
