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Zen Buddhism
Retreat

Live as a monk. Meditate before dawn. Find stillness.

禅修课程 · 入寺体验 · 两日沉浸
¥2,000
RMB · FIXED RATE
2
DAYS · FULL IMMERSION
Buddhist monastery meditation Sichuan Zen monk meditation China
禅ZEN
Course Overview · 课程概览

Enter the Silence
of the Monastery

For two full days, you become a temporary resident of a real Sichuan Buddhist monastery. You wake before dawn, eat monastery food, chant sutras with the monks, and sit in meditation until your mind quiets.

This is not a spa retreat or a wellness workshop. This is authentic Zen practice — challenging, humbling, and profoundly transformative. You will leave different from how you arrived.

"The gateless gate opens when the mind stops seeking. In two days of silence, many visitors find what years of searching could not." — Master Huiyuan, Resident Abbot
What You Learn · 学习内容

The Four Pillars of Zen Practice

Each practice builds on the last. By the end of day two, you will have a real — if nascent — felt sense of what Zen is.

Practice 1 · 第一修

Zazen — Seated Meditation

The foundation of all Zen practice. You learn correct posture, breathing, and how to hold the mind without grasping or pushing away.

  • Correct seated posture (full lotus, half lotus, seiza)
  • Abdominal breathing and counting method
  • Working with thoughts — the art of non-attachment
  • Morning and evening sittings: 40 min each
Practice 2 · 第二修

Kinhin — Walking Meditation

Slow, intentional walking in single file with the monks. Each step is a meditation. Learn to carry stillness into motion.

  • Step-breath coordination technique
  • Silent outdoor walking in the monastery grounds
  • The practice of "ordinary mind is the Way"
  • Integrating mindfulness into daily movement
Practice 3 · 第三修

Sutra Chanting — Morning Liturgy

Join the monks at 5:30 AM for morning chanting. The vibration of ancient Sanskrit and Chinese sutras in a centuries-old hall is something that cannot be described — only experienced.

  • Heart Sutra (心经) in Chinese pronunciation
  • Call-and-response chanting with the community
  • The meaning and purpose of liturgical practice
  • Instruments: wooden fish, bell, chime
Practice 4 · 第四修

Dharma Talk & Discussion

Each evening, the abbot delivers a short dharma talk interpreted live in English. Then the floor opens for genuine questions.

  • Core concepts: emptiness, impermanence, inter-being
  • What is enlightenment — and is it even the point?
  • Buddhism vs. secular mindfulness: the difference
  • A short koan to carry home with you
Buddhist monk master Sichuan

"The river does not try to be peaceful. It simply flows. This is the teaching."

Your Guide · 引导大师

Master Huiyuan

慧远法师

Master Huiyuan has lived as a monk in the Sichuan monastic tradition for over 30 years. Ordained at age 19, he spent a decade in silent retreat in the mountains above Emei before returning to teach laypeople and international visitors.

He is known for his directness, his humor, and his refusal to make Buddhism into something exotic or mystical. "It is very simple," he says. "Sit down. Be honest. That is all."

All sessions with Master Huiyuan are conducted through our bilingual cultural interpreter, with direct interaction encouraged during Q&A periods.

30+YEARS ORDAINED
10YRS SILENT RETREAT
500+INT'L STUDENTS
Daily Schedule · 每日时间表

Two Days in the Life of a Monk

3:00 PM

Monastery Arrival

Check-in to your monastery guestroom. Simple, clean, peaceful. Leave your devices — this is intentional.

4:00 PM

Orientation with Master Huiyuan

Welcome tea ceremony. Introduction to monastery etiquette, the five precepts, and what to expect over the next two days.

TEA CEREMONY
5:30 PM

First Zazen Sitting

Your first formal sitting meditation. 30 minutes. Instruction given before and reflection after. Many people find it harder than they expected — that is normal.

ZAZEN
6:30 PM

Vegetarian Monastery Dinner

Simple, nourishing food prepared by the monastery kitchen. Eaten in silence. Every bite, a practice.

8:00 PM

Evening Dharma Talk

Master Huiyuan speaks on the nature of mind. Live English interpretation. Open Q&A follows.

DHARMA TALK
9:30 PM

Lights Out · Grand Silence

The monastery observes noble silence from 9:30 PM. No phones, no talking. Rest deeply.

5:00 AM

Pre-Dawn Wake-Up

The monastery bell rings. Rise before the sun. This is the hardest — and most rewarding — part of the experience.

5:30 AM

Morning Chanting with the Monks

Enter the main hall. Chant the Heart Sutra alongside resident monks. The sound, the incense, the dawn light — nothing else like it.

SUTRA CHANTING
7:00 AM

Monastery Breakfast & Walking Meditation

Simple congee and pickled vegetables. Then Kinhin — slow walking meditation in the monastery garden.

KINHIN
9:00 AM

Extended Zazen Session

40-minute sitting, followed by walking, followed by another 40-minute sitting. The mind begins to settle. Something shifts.

ZAZEN · ADVANCED
11:30 AM

Lunch & Free Time in Monastery

Vegetarian lunch with the community. Afternoon free time to walk the grounds, sit in the garden, or simply rest.

3:00 PM

Final Dharma Dialogue & Koan Presentation

A one-on-one dialogue with Master Huiyuan (through interpreter). He gives you a personal koan to carry. Certificate of participation presented.

CERTIFICATE
5:00 PM

Departure — Return to Chengdu

Our car meets you at the monastery gate. You leave carrying something you cannot name, but will not lose.

Preparing Yourself · 心理准备

What to Expect

🔕

Noble Silence

Large portions of the retreat are conducted in silence. No phones, no social media, minimal conversation. This is a gift, not a restriction.

🌄

Early Mornings

5:00 AM wake-up is non-negotiable. Most guests say this was the hardest part — and the most unforgettable.

🥦

Vegetarian Meals

All food is pure vegetarian monastery cuisine. Simple, nourishing, and surprisingly delicious. No alcohol.

🛏

Simple Rooms

Clean, quiet guestrooms in the monastery compound. Basic but comfortable. No TV — by design.

🧘

No Experience Needed

You do not need to have meditated before. You do not need to be Buddhist. You only need an open mind and a willingness to sit still.

📜

Certificate Issued

On completion, you receive a bilingual (English/Chinese) certificate of practice, hand-stamped by Master Huiyuan with the monastery seal.

Practical Details · 实用信息

Everything You Need to Know

  • 📍

    Location

    Traditional monastery in the hills surrounding Chengdu or near the Emei Mountain area (confirmed based on availability)

  • 💴

    Course Fee

    ¥2,000 RMB fixed rate, billed as part of your actual expenses. Included in all 7/10/15-day packages.

  • 👔

    What to Wear

    Loose, dark, modest clothing. We can provide monastery robes if you do not have suitable attire. No shorts or revealing clothing.

  • 🚌

    Transport

    Full transfer from your Chengdu hotel to the monastery and back, included in your overall trip cost.

  • 📱

    Phones & Devices

    You are asked to surrender your phone during practice hours. Your guide keeps it safely. This is not optional — it is essential.

  • ⚠️

    Physical Requirements

    Sitting cross-legged for extended periods can be physically demanding. Chairs are available for those with knee or hip issues — no one is excluded.

  • 🌐

    Language

    All sessions interpreted live into English by your dedicated bilingual cultural guide. Direct communication with the master is also encouraged.

  • 📋

    Included In

    Zen Buddhism retreat is included in all three journey packages (7, 10 & 15 days) as the core opening module.

Begin Your Journey

Ready to Sit
in Silence?

The monastery is waiting. So is a version of you that is quieter, clearer, and more alive.

Book Your Journey View Full Itinerary
道TAOISM 儒CONFUCIANISM 易I CHING