Contents

Whittier Winter Retreat 1

Introduction to Hsi Lai Temple & Fo Guang Shan 1
Monastery Etiquette 2
Serious Offenses 2
General Program Etiquette 2
Dress Code 2
Dormitories 3
Classroom 3
Shrine & Meditation Hall 3
Dining Hall 3
Monastic Dining Procedure 4

Evening Chanting Service 5

Triple Invocation 5
Verse for Reciting the Stras 5
Heart of the Perfection of Wisdom Stra (Prajpramit Hdaya Stra) 6
Three Refuges 9
Dedication of Merit 10

Mealtime Chanting Service 11

Meal Offering Verse 11
Breakfast 12
Lunch 12
Verse of Mindfulness 13
The Five Mealtime Contemplations 14
Dedication of Merit 15
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Whittier Winter Retreat

This program is a cooperative effort between Whittier College and Hsi Lai Temple. It
provides Whittier College students with a first hand experience in the lifestyle and
training in a traditional Chinese Buddhist monastery. We hope to foster greater
understanding and friendship between Eastern and Western religious and
contemplative traditions.

Introduction to Hsi Lai Temple & Fo Guang Shan

Hsi Lai Temple encompasses 15 acres and a floor area of over 100,000 square feet. The
temples Ming (1268-1644 C. E.) and Ching (1644-1911 C.E.) dynasty architecture is
faithful to the traditional style of buildings, gardens and statuary of traditional
ancient Chinese monasteries. The ten-year planning and construction was completed
in 1988. Hsi Lai means coming to the West and signifies the dedication of the Fo
Guang Shan Buddhist Order to spread the teachings of the Buddha to those in the
West. The International Buddhist Progress Society, a nonprofit organization, is the
chartered name for the temple. The organizations headquarters is in Taiwan.

In 1967, Venerable Master Hsing Yun, the founder, established the Fo Guang Shan
(Buddha's Light Mountain) Buddhist Order, which is the largest monastery in Taiwan,
encompassing over 600 acres. Fo Guang Shan is a Mahayana Chinese Buddhism
monastic order. Fo Guang Shan belongs to the Lin-Chi Chan School. For the past 40+
years, the Master has been instrumental in expanding religious freedom throughout
Asia. The Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Order, through a Humanistic Buddhist orientation,
works to unite all Buddhist schools and sects; it also fosters and promotes
inter-religious dialogue among all spiritual traditions through symposia, conferences
and services. The objectives of the Order are to provide confidence, joy hope and
convenience to people. The Order has also established more than 100 temples
worldwide. More than 1,300 monks and nuns serve in the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist
Order.

Hsi Lai Temple was built to serve as a spiritual and cultural center for those interested
in learning more about Buddhism and Chinese culture. It is the intention of Venerable
Master Hsing Yun to propagate Humanistic Buddhism and to create a Pure Land here
on earth. Hsi Lai Temple is built to fulfill these goals in the United States. The temples
objectives are to foster Buddhist missionaries through education, to propagate
Buddhism through cultural activities, to benefit society through charitable programs,
and to purify peoples hearts and minds through Buddhist practices.

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Monastery Etiquette

1. Deportment and self-discipline are considered virtues. Proper and decent

behavior is expected of all students at all times.
(i) Learn to be mindful when walking, standing, sitting, and even lying down.
(ii) Learn to walk softly and quietly, without disturbing others.
(iii) Be courteous and amicable. Whenever greeting someone in the monastery,
you may join palms, smile and say Amitofo.
(iv) Students should be neat and tidy, and take care of their belongings.
(v) Conserve resources. Please save water and electricity by turning off the tap
and lights when not needed. Do not waste food.
2. Do not enter unauthorized areas such as offices and residential quarters of the
staff and monastic community.

Serious Offenses

The temple compounds and its monastic environment are sacred ground. Students
are expected to abstain from any form of romantic or sexual behavior. The following
acts shall be construed as serious offenses and are grounds for expulsion from the
program:

1. Violation of sexual abstinence.

2. Violence or vandalism.
3. Stealing.
4. Use of abusive or highly improper language.
5. Consuming alcohol, drugs, tobacco or meat.

General Program Etiquette

1. Students are expected to punctually attend in all scheduled activities.

2. Students are not allowed to leave the temple compounds without authorization. If
you need to leave the compound for some special reason, contact the staff.

Dress Code

1. All students are required to wear uniforms when attending class and services.
2. When playing sports or games, please wear modest clothing (e.g. a T-shirt and
shorts / pants). No tank tops or short skirts please.

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Dormitories

1. Students are required to stay inside their dormitory after 10:00pm. The front door
to the dormitory will be locked after this time.
2. Do not change or swap rooms.
3. Do not talk in the dormitory room during rest times. Other areas are available for
communal activities.
4. Students may go jogging or exercise only in the cul-de-sac below the dormitory
or at the basketball court behind the womens dorm. Please, keep noise levels low
for the benefit of our neighbors.
5. Do not enter the dormitory of the opposite gender.
6. Keep the dormitory clean and tidy. A cleaning schedule will be established.
7. Keep shoes outside.
8. Eating is not allowed in the dormitory rooms.

Classroom

1. Be puncutal. Take your seat at least 5 minutes before lessons start.

2. Follow the class monitors instructions on greeting and thanking the teacher at the
start and end of class.
3. Stand up quietly to avoid making disturbing noises with the chair or table.
4. Quietly push the chair in after class before leaving.
5. Keep the classroom, including refreshment area and desks, clean and tidy.

Shrine & Meditation Hall

1. Enter the shrine through the side doors, the middle is reserved for the abbot.
2. Conduct yourself mindfully and with reverence; these are sacred spaces.

Dining Hall

1. Join palms and bow to the Buddha image before quietly taking your seat.
2. Be mindful of sitting posture, do not lean on your backrest.
3. Only take as much food as you can finish. Do not waste food.
4. For buffet style meals be mindful that others behind you also wish to partake in
the full variety of food. Do not be greedy.

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Monastic Dining Procedure

Original Position

F R S F R S

D D

C C

Starting Position Refill of Rice

S D R S D

Refill of Soup Refill of Vegetables

S D

S
R
D R S R

Stacking Plate & Bowls Final Position

S+R DW

S+ R

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wn k chng x

Evening Chanting Service

sn chng

Triple Invocation

n m bn sh sh ji mu n f

Homage to Our Original Teacher kyamuni Buddha! ( Repeat three times )

ki jng j

Verse for Reciting the Stras

w shng shn shn wi mio f

The most supreme, profound and sublime Dharma,

bi qin wn ji nn zo y

Difficult to encounter in a trillion eons,

w jn jin wn d shu ch

Now, I have seen, heard and received it,

yun ji r li zhn sh y

And vow to understand the Thus Come Ones true intention.

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b r b luo m du xn jng

Heart of the Perfection of Wisdom Stra

b r b luo m du xn jng

Heart of the Perfection of Wisdom (Prajpramit Hdaya) Stra:

gun z zi p s xng shn

Avalokitevra Bodhisattva, while practicing the profound

b r b luo m du sh zho jin w yn

Prajpramit, looked down into the five aggregates

ji kng d y qi k

and saw them as all empty, thus transcending all ills and suffering.

sh l z s b y kng kng b y s

riputra! Form is not other than emptiness, emptiness is not other than form;

s j sh kng kng j sh s

form is just emptiness, emptiness is just form;

shu xing xng sh y f r sh

and so too for sensation, perception, volition and cognition.

sh l z sh zh f kng xing

riputra! All dharmas are the characteristic of emptiness,

b shng b mi b gu b jng

neither arisen nor ceased, neither tainted nor pure,

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b zng b jin sh g kng zhng

neither augmented nor diminished. Therefore, in emptiness, there is

w s w shu xing xng sh

no form, sensation, perception, volition or cognition;

w yn r b sh shn y

no eye, ear, nose, tongue, body or mind;

w s shng xing wi ch f

No form, sound, smell, taste, touchable or object of mind;

w yn ji ni zh w y sh ji

no range of the eye, up to, no range of mental cognition;

w w mng y w w mng jn ni zh

no ignorance and no extinction of ignorance, up to,

w lo s y w lo s jn

no aging and death and no extinction of aging and death;

w k j mi do w zh y w d

no dissatisfaction, origination, cessation or path; no wisdom and also no attainment.

y w su d g p t s du

From the absence of attainment, the bodhisattvas,

y b r b luo m du g

from having relied on Perfection of Wisdom (Prajpramit),

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xn w gu i w gu i g

have no mental obstructions; because they have no obstructions,

w yu kng b yun l din do mng xing ji jng ni pn

they have no fear or terror; they are far removed from inverted views and delusions,
and ultimately reach nirva.

sn sh zh f y b r b luo m du g

All the Buddhas of the past, present and future, from having relied on Perfection of
Wisdom (Prajpramit),

d nu du luo sn mio sn p t

attain unsurpassed, right and full awakening (anuttar samyak sabodhi).

g zh b r b luo m du

Therefore, know that the Perfection of Wisdom (Prajpramit)

sh d shn zhu sh d mng zhu

is the great spiritual mantra, the knowledge mantra,

sh w shng zhu sh w dng dng zhu

the unexcelled mantra, the unequalled mantra,

nng ch y qi k zhn sh b x

that is able to eliminate all suffering. It is true and not deceptive.

g shu b r b luo m du zhu j shu zhu yu

Thus the Perfection of Wisdom (Prajpramit) mantra is to be invoked thus:

ji d ji d b luo ji d b luo sng ji d p t s p h

Go! Go! Go beyond! Go completely beyond! Awakening! Hail!
(Gate! Gate! Pragate! Prasagate! Bodhi! Svh!)

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sn gu y

Three Refuges

z gu y f dang yun zhng shng

I go to the Buddha for refuge, vowing that all sentient beings,

t ji d do f w shng xn

Shall realize the great path, and aspire to the supreme state of mind.

z gu y f dang yun zhng shng

I go to the Dharma for refuge, vowing that all sentient beings,

shn r jng zng zh hu r hi

Shall deeply enter the collection of teachings, and attain wisdom like the ocean.

z gu y sng dang yun zhng shng

I go to the Sagha for refuge, vowing that all sentient beings,

tng l d zhng y qi w i

Shall lead the community, in harmony without any hindrance.

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hu xing

Dedication of Merit

c bi x sh pin f ji

May love, compassion, joy and equanimity pervade the dharma realm;

x f ji yun l rn tin

May we cherish merit and form affinities, to benefit heaven and earth;

chn jng ji hng png dng rn

May we practice Chan, Pure Land and precepts, with equality and tolerance;

cn ku gn n d yun xn

May we have a sense of shame and gratitude, and a heart of great vows.

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zhi tng chng x

Mealtime Chanting Service

gng yng zhu

Meal Offering Verse

gng yng qng jng f shn p l zh n f

We make offerings to the pure Dharma body, Vairocana Buddha,

yun mn bo shn l sh n f

To the complete and perfect enjoyment body, Rocana Buddha,

qin bi y hu shn sh ji mu n f

To the trillion manifestation bodies, kyamuni Buddha,

j l sh ji m tu f

To Amitbha Buddha of the Land of Ultimate Bliss,

dang li xi shng m l zn f

To Honored Maitreya, the future Buddha to come,

sh fng sn sh y qi zh f

To all the Buddhas of all time and space;

d zh wn sh sh l p s

To Manjur, the Bodhisattva of great wisdom,

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d hng p xin p s

To Samantabhadra, the Bodhisattva of great deeds,

d bi gun sh yn p s

To Avalokitevara, the Bodhisattva of great compassion,

d yun d zng wng p s

To Kitigarbha, the Bodhisattva of great aspiration,

zh zn p s m h s m h bn ru b luo m

To all the great Bodhisattva Mahsattvas; Mahprajpramit!

zo zhi

Breakfast

zhu yu sh l ro y xng rn

Porridge is considered conducive to ten benefits

gu bo w bin ji jng chng l

The resulting retribution is immeasurable, the ultimate, eternal happiness (nirva).

w zhi

Lunch

sn d li wi gng f j sng

Food prepared with three qualities and six flavors are offered to the Buddha and
Sagha,

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f ji yu qng p tong gng yng

All beings in the Dharma Realm make a universal offering together.

ru fn sh sh dang yun zhng shng

When we eat the meal, we vow that all beings,

chn yu wi sh f x chng mn

May feast on the bliss of dhyna, and be filled with the joy of the Dharma.

sng b

Verse of Mindfulness

(Only chanted by the rector)

f zh d z sh cn w gun

The Buddha ruled that his disciples observe the five contemplations while eating;

sn xn z hu xn sh nn xio

If the mind is scattered and one speaks without purpose,
The offerings of the faithful are difficult to digest;

d zhng wn qng shng g zhng nin

When the assembly hears the sound of the bell, they arise right mindfulness.

(All together)

m tu f

Amitbha Buddha!

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w gun

The Five Mealtime Contemplations

j gng du sho ling b li chu

1.
Consider the effort involved, weigh up its sources.

cn j d hng qun qu yng gng

2.
Reflect upon ones own virtues as worthy or not to receive the offering.

fng xn l gu tn dng wi zng

3.
Guard the mind against faults, greed, etc. in particular.

zhng sh ling yao wi lio xng k

4.
The correct action is good medicine, in order to treat physical emaciation.

wi chng do y yng shu c sh

5.
In order to accomplish the path, one should accept this food.

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hu xing

Dedication of Merit

s du nn sn mio sn p tu j zh nn d zh t

Homage to the Seven Myriads of Fully Awakened Ones! It goes thus:

n zh l zh l zhn t s p h

O! To the mover, the destroyer, Cundi! Hail!

su wi b sh zh b hu q l y

Behold, the donors will certainly receive their merit,

ru wi l g sh hu b d n l

Giving for the sake of happiness, one will be awarded with inner peace,

fn sh y q dang yun zhng shng

Now the meal has been completed, we vow that all sentient beings,

su zu ji bn j zh f f

Complete all that is to be done, becoming endowed with the Buddha Dharmas.

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Notes:

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Notes:

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Notes:

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