This retreat is held every other year, alternating with the Short-Term Monastic Retreat, to confer the Five Precepts and Bodhisattva Precepts for laypeople. After the retreat, preceptors are expected to observe the precepts for the rest of their lives. The Five Precepts are also conferred in May on the afternoon of the temple’s Buddha’s birthday celebration.

This retreat is conducted in Mandarin Chinese with simultaneous English interpretation. Because this is a rare opportunity to receive the Bodhisattva Precepts without going to Asia, we highly encourage all practitioners who are earnest in formally walking the bodhisattva path to join us. 

The Five Precepts

The Five Precepts are shared throughout all schools of Buddhism and include not killing, not stealing, not engaging in sexual misconduct, not lying, and not consuming intoxicants.

The Bodhisattva Precpets

The Bodhisattva Precepts are specific to Mahāyāna Buddhism and focus on fostering an aspiration to help all beings. In our tradition, we confer the set of six major and twenty-eight minor precepts from the The Sutra on Upāsaka Precepts. The retreat guides participants in deepening their understanding of Buddhist morality and trains them in temple etiquette.