We were delighted to host Dr. Rebecca Li at our center for a 3-day retreat from March 8 to March 10.

During her opening lecture, Dr. Li challenged attendees with the question, “What is your purpose for being here?” She encouraged us to release any expectations of achieving the same inner peace found in past retreats, to let go of our attempts to escape the stress and chaos of daily life—be it from work or family—in favor of spending two nights at the retreat. She urged us to contemplate our motivations and to become acutely aware of our subtle thoughts and feelings.

Throughout the retreat, Dr. Li delved into The Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Noble Path, and The Four Great Vows, explaining their relevance to our meditation practice. She also addressed common challenges and pitfalls that practitioners encounter and offered advice on how to navigate them.

Dr. Li advised participants to allow vexations and distracting thoughts to pass, to acknowledge them but at the same time let them go. She stressed the importance of returning to our practice gently if we find ourselves distracted, without harboring frustration or regret for not practicing “correctly.” She reminded us that each moment and each session of meditation is a fresh start, highlighting that living in the present does not equate to a mind devoid of thoughts.

Comparing the practice of seated meditation and the act of counting breaths to learning to drive in an empty parking lot, Dr. Li illustrated how these exercises train our minds for the complexities of daily life, akin to driving on Highway 101. She emphasized that our practice extends beyond formal meditation to include all daily activities, such as eating and walking, viewing every action as an opportunity for mindfulness. Throughout the retreat, Dr. Li consistently encouraged us to integrate meditation into every aspect of our lives, reminding us to “remember to practice” and “always come back,” reinforcing that our journey is not about passing a test, but about training our minds to enhance clarity and awareness.

In another session, Dr. Li spoke on the importance of cultivating the Right View, which she described as embodying compassion and wisdom. This perspective helps us understand conditional co-arising and the law of cause and effect, teaching us to accept the present moment as a confluence of conditions without aversion or attachment. It serves as a reminder that every moment is a new opportunity for practice, imbuing our experience with freshness and potential for growth.

The retreat offered a rejuvenating experience for all attendees, inviting them to deepen their practice and embrace each moment with mindfulness and clarity.

Report by: KYM