Eight Precepts Retreat
An Eight Precepts Retreat, inspired by Venerable Master Hsing Yun's teachings and practice, is a program for lay Buddhists to temporarily adopt a monastic-like lifestyle to cultivate mindfulness, peace, and self-cultivation. Participants follow the Eight Precepts, which include abstaining from killing, stealing, sexual activity, false speech, intoxicants, and eating after midday. The retreats offer a chance to experience traditional Buddhist etiquette and gain benefits such as a calmer mind and increased positive merit.
Purposes
To allow lay Buddhists a chance to practise traditional Buddhist etiquettes.
To allow lay Buddhists a chance to experience the monastic lifestyle.
To allow lay Buddhists a chance to purify the mind and encourage self-cultivation.
The Eight Precepts
Abstain from killing: Refraining from destroying all living creatures.
Abstain from stealing: Refraining from taking what is not given.
Abstain from sexual activity: Refraining from sexual activity.
Abstain from false speech: Refraining from lying or using hurtful words.
Abstain from intoxicants: Refraining from using intoxicating drinks and drugs.
Abstain from eating after midday: Refraining from eating after noon, with exceptions for medical reasons.
Abstain from entertainment and beautifying the body: Refraining from activities like singing, dancing, and using cosmetics.
Abstain from using luxurious furniture: Refraining from using high or luxurious beds.
Benefits and goals
Cultivate mindfulness: Participants can practice mindfulness in daily life and calm their minds.
Encourage self-cultivation: The retreat is a chance to purify the mind and improve self-control.
Experience monastic life: Lay practitioners can experience a monastic lifestyle and traditional Buddhist etiquette.
Generate positive merit: Observing the precepts, even for a short time, is believed to accumulate positive merit.
Gain spiritual benefits: Benefits include a peaceful mind, fewer distractions, and better relationships with others.
