BEST Retreat at the Philippine FGS Guang Ming Chan Monastery

By Luis So

As part of the Fo Guang Shan "60 Years of Passing the Lamp, Honoring 100 Years of Legacy" Series of Activities in the Philippines, the new location Fo Guang Shan monastery, Philippine Fo Guang Shan Guang Ming Chan Monastery, began the year with the “New Year’s BEST Retreat for Self-Compassion” on Jan 2, 2026, in Silang, Cavite. 60 participants of different ages and backgrounds joined the activity.

Venerable Jue Wei, the Head of Program at Nan Tien Institute of Higher Education in Australia and, at the same time, the Director of the Humanistic Buddhism Centre in Applied Buddhist Studies Australia, was invited to lead a workshop on using the BEST model to nurture oneself. B stands for Breath, E for Exercise, S for Sutra/Sayings, and T for Trees. She taught meditation on the Light of the Medicine Buddha; participants then demonstrated Qigong exercises. She also shared Sutra/Sayings that offer guidance, such as the “Words of Wisdom” from Venerable Master Hsing Yun. For T, Trees, she encouraged observing, “talking to them,” and “listening” to what they whisper, which could lead to some understanding in life. Everyone wrote “Flying Wish,” prayed for it to come true, and then ignited it. Venerable Jue Wei said, “Today is a good beginning to take care of oneself by harnessing the power within us.” 

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Fo Guang Shan Philippines, Head Abbess Venerable Yung Guang said, “Venerable Jue Wei is a Humanistic Buddhism and AI specialist. We are privileged to invite her to our first meditation retreat.” Venerable Master Hsing Yun wrote 396 books in his lifetime. But in the end, there is one true line that speaks of everything, “Three Acts of Goodness.” He used these simple words to adapt to the needs of modern times, though easy to say, hard to do. Practicing Chan or meditation is not just for our own benefit. As practitioners of Humanistic Buddhism, we need to spread this to everyone.

During the lunch break, everyone went around to see the Exhibition of the life story of Venerable Master Hsing Yun and the History of Fo Guang Shan Philippines; to experience Sutra writing, read in the library, participate in the tea ceremony, and paint images of the Buddha. Venerable Jue Wei also encourages everyone to commune with nature.

Superintendent Venerable Zhi Yi, led everyone from lunch through walking meditation, watching your steps, and observing the five senses (form, feeling, thoughts, volition, and consciousness), all part of mindfulness practice. Everyone had a photo taken and wrote their vows for the new year. BLIA Cebu subchapter Elderly Advisor Erwin Go taught breath-counting meditation. Everyone experienced both the active and passive forms of meditative concentration. 

Abbess Venerable Miao Jing remarked that meditation is not merely sitting or walking; we need to stop and observe our five senses, or the Five Aggregates, to truly understand ourselves. She encouraged everyone to practice meditation and the Three Acts of Goodness together. Wishing everyone a happy new year, a new self, and a new beginning!

There were great responses from the attendees. BLIA member Steve Liang invited his 30-office staff. They were so thankful to have joined; it was exactly what they needed. The Beacon school teacher, Je Vicente, said she received the Venerable Master’s wise words, “The key to success is perseverance,” which can be applied to teaching young students, like planting seeds that take time to grow. 

The participants described the environment as peaceful, calm, and soothing. The retreat resets the heart and mind and is very meaningful. It fosters reconnection with oneself, self-awareness, compassion, clarity, inner peace, and good vegetarian food.

Another person shared the quote she received, “When you have good intentions, the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas see it.” It stayed with me as a quiet reminder that everything begins with intention, and that intention begins with how we show compassion toward ourselves.