1 May 2010 ~ Fo Guang Shan （North Island） Two-day meditation retreat

Fo Guang Shan (North Island) held a two-day meditation retreat from Friday 30 April to Sunday 2 May in which 21 BLIA members participated. After registration, Venerable Man Wang explained the rules and regulations for the retreat followed by the basic meditation techniques.
On Saturday the participants were led into the main shrine for morning chanting and after breakfast practiced motive meditation across the field of merits, followed by a sitting meditation. They were taught to listen to the instructions given by the Venerable and concentrate on their breathing to attain the true purpose of meditation.
Venerable Abbess Manshin said that a focused mind leads to a higher quality of life and encouraged everyone to concentrate on the present in order to train the mind. She hoped everyone would follow the teachings of the Dharma, life after life, to attain the ultimate Enlightenment as only a person who is freed from ignorance and attachment is able to be carefree within their body, speech and mind.