The 2025 Winter Chan Retreat at Donghua Chan Monastery will officially begin on November 20, 2025 (lunar calendar: 21st day of the tenth month, Year of the Wood Snake) and conclude on December 24, 2025 (lunar calendar: 25th day of the eleventh month).
The entire retreat spans 35 days, perfectly covering five complete Chan seven-day cycles (Chan Qi).
Daily practice follows the traditional monastic schedule of “two meal times and four meditation sessions.”
Timetable:
4:30–7:00 a.m. – Morning bell and drum, chanting, and sitting meditation.
8:30–11:30 a.m. – Walking meditation, physical exercise, and Dharma talks by resident masters.
2:00–5:00 p.m. – Dynamic meditation and the “Tea & Chan in One” experiential session.
7:00–9:00 p.m. – Sutra chanting and evening mindfulness restoration.
This meticulously designed schedule ensures approximately 10 hours of solid practice per day, while taking into account the physical and mental balance of modern practitioners.
The theme for this retreat, “Illuminating the Mind, Seeing One’s True Nature,” originates from the Zen teaching “Directly point to the human mind; see one’s nature and become Buddha.”
It embodies the ultimate goal of Chan practitioners—to observe inwardly, transcend delusions, and awaken to the true self.
The theme continues Donghua Chan Monastery’s philosophy of “Living Chan,” perfectly resonating with Venerable Master Wanxing’s teaching: “Walking, standing, sitting, and lying down—every moment is Chan.”
It also reflects the Zen spirit of “No reliance on words and letters; a direct transmission beyond scriptures.”
The 2025 retreat will maintain the traditional essence of the Chan Qi while integrating valuable insights gained from recent exchanges with international meditation centers, including Hwa Gye-sa in Korea and the Rinzai Zen tradition in Japan.
Participants will experience cross-cultural practices that enrich their understanding of meditation.
In this context, “Illuminating the Mind” refers to realizing the emptiness of all afflictions through insight, while “Seeing One’s Nature” points to the direct experience of the pure, original mind.
These two stages will be cultivated through the 35 days of intensive and systematic practice.
Enquiry Hotline: +86-751-2867488
