The Winter Retreat aims to build a powerful, solid, harmonious, and happy sangha. The Sangha consists of all four components:

1. Male monastics
2. Female monastics
3. Male lay friends
4. Female lay friends

The art of sangha building is practiced based on the material “Joyfully Together“ with the main methods:

• Happiness meeting: A weekly meeting applying deep listening and loving speech to resolve difficulties and increase the level of happiness for the community.
• Shining light: The practitioner bows down for the Three Touchings of the Earth for the sangha to shine light on their strengths to praise and encourage, and to point out shortcomings to transform with compassion.
• Beginning anew: Being aware of mistakes and clumsiness to correct perceptions and habits, and to renew one’s mind through the Earth Touching Repentance text.

In addition, the practice of sitting and walking helps heal the wounds in body and mind. Sitting is to bring the mind back to the body, to take care of the garden of body and mind, and to be present for loved ones. Practicing walking with peaceful steps to tread on the Pure Land in the present moment through four elements:

1. Breathing with mindfulness
2. Steps with mindfulness
3. Mindfulness
4. The earth