The home of Plum Village in Hong Kong is the Lotus Pond Temple on spectacular Lantau Island, where over a dozen monks and nuns, all disciples of Thich Nhat Hanh, live, practice and lead retreats in the Plum Village tradition.
It is here, on this mountainous and misty island, that the Asian Institute of Applied Buddhism (AIAB) has been established and serves the Asian region.
In 2010 Thich Nhat Hanh proposed that an Applied Buddhism Institute be established in Asia, to help bring the applied and relevant aspects of Buddhism to the people of Asia, and in Spring 2011 his dream became a reality.
The AIAB promotes the teachings and the practices of Buddhism that help people to get in touch with the peace and joy within themselves, to dwell in the present moment, to heal and to transform suffering. This can be done through the practice of mindfulness – with our mindful breaths and mindful steps – as we get in touch with the miracles of life.
The AIAB is a center of Applied Buddhism Studies and Practices, with a resident monastic Sangha as the core element offering the teachings and leading the practices. The AIAB trains monastic and lay Dharma Teachers to help meet the growing demand for mindfulness practices in Hong Kong, in Asia and in other parts of the world.
The AIAB holds retreats for young people and professionals in the field of education, social work, health care, business and so on, to help them rest, to release tensions in body and mind, to deal with stress and other obstacles in life, and to reconcile difficulties in personal, family and professional relationships.
Everyone is welcome to join us for Days of Mindfulness on the island, and other events “downtown”, as well as for longer retreats held on the island or in other locations.