Fo Guang Shan North Carolina Hosts First English One-Day Retreat – Finding Peace of Mind Through the Dharma
- FGS NC
- Aug 16
- 3 min read
[Reported by Hai Kuo, North Carolina, USA]
On August 16, 2025, Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple, North Carolina held its first-ever all-English One-Day Mindfulness Retreat, offering participants an opportunity to experience the Dharma in a calm and supportive environment. The program combined sitting meditation, walking meditation, tea meditation, Chantangle drawing, and group sharing, guiding participants to “Pause, Reflect, and Start Afresh” amidst the busyness of daily life. This English retreat grew out of the temple’s regular Chinese retreat program and will now alternate monthly: English sessions on even months, Chinese sessions on odd months.
A total of 22 participants joined, most of them native English speakers ranging from young adults to seniors, with professional backgrounds spanning accounting, engineering, education, the arts, food service, and retirement. While some had prior experience in meditation or other spiritual retreats, many were engaging with Fo Guang Shan’s programs for the very first time.
The day began with a welcome from Venerable Miao Jou, the temple’s superintendent, who encouraged participants to set aside distractions, return to inner peace through practice, and observe their own minds within the supportive silence of the retreat. Venerable Miao Wei from Fo Guang Shan Chicago Buddhist Temple led the sessions on sitting and walking meditation, guiding participants to focus on their breath and footsteps, experiencing the stillness within movement and the movement within stillness.
Venerable Zhi San led the Chantangle drawing session, where participants used flowing lines to cultivate concentration and creativity while letting go of preconceived ideas. During tea meditation, she reminded everyone to engage their five senses fully in the present moment. One participant, Sam Edison, shared that at first his drawing felt “messy,” but once he learned to “let it go,” he was surprised to complete a beautiful piece, realizing that letting go of attachment opens the way to both wisdom and beauty.
In the Dharma session, Venerable Zhi San introduced the Four Noble Truths—suffering, its causes, its cessation, and the path—explaining how Buddhist teachings can be applied to daily challenges. Through relatable examples, she encouraged participants to move from awareness to shifting perspectives, cultivating wisdom for problem-solving. Participants listened attentively and enthusiastically shared their insights, noting how the Dharma offered fresh perspectives on life’s difficulties.
From tea meditation, participants discovered how the simple process of brewing and tasting tea could deepen mindfulness in everyday activities. Many asked questions about Buddhist practice and Fo Guang Shan’s teachings, eager to learn more.
Several participants remarked that the silence and the break from mobile phones gave them a rare sense of focus and stability. Some noticed subtle wandering thoughts during meditation that they had never been aware of before, while others found that the Dharma lessons revealed practical wisdom rather than abstract philosophy. One participant reflected that he often quarreled with his mother over differences of opinion, but after hearing the teaching of “beginning with changing oneself,” he resolved to initiate gentler conversations with her in hopes of improving their relationship.
