Observing the Eight Precepts & Buddhist Etiquette (Full-Day Retreat)
About this event
A Day of Simplicity, Mindfulness, and Inner Cultivation.
The Buddha’s teaching begins with something very simple: we become what we repeatedly cultivate.
When greed, anger and attachment are repeatedly entertained, they become familiar to the mind. When generosity, kindness, restraint and mindfulness are cultivated, the mind gradually moves in another direction.
This is why Buddhist practice is not merely about understanding the teachings, but about putting them into practice, again and again.
Observing the Eight Precepts is one such practice.
For one day, we willingly place certain worldly habits aside and make a deliberate commitment to live more simply. In doing so, we are not depriving ourselves. We are training ourselves not to be governed by every desire that arises.
The precepts provide the foundation. With fewer distractions and greater restraint, there is an opportunity to observe the mind more honestly: to notice what we cling to, what we resist, and how easily the mind is disturbed.
Guided by Venerable Shi Chuan Jia, this one-day retreat offers an introduction to the Eight Precepts and Buddhist etiquette through Dharma teachings, guided meditation, sutra recitation, prostrations and quiet reflection.
For those who are new to the practice, it is an opportunity to learn the precepts with proper guidance. For experienced practitioners, it is a chance to return to the fundamentals and strengthen what may have become neglected through the course of daily life.
The purpose of practice is not to create a special experience for one day. It is to cultivate the causes and conditions for a wiser way of living.
This is how the path is cultivated: not all at once, but one moment of practice at a time.
Date: 3 October 2026 (Saturday)
Time: 8am to 6pm
Venue: Hougang Ave 3
To register, learn more about the retreat, and view the full schedule of upcoming Eight Precepts retreats (3 Oct and 7 Nov), please visit our website: https://www.compassionwisdomvihara.org/dharma-and-meditation-classes/#Precepts-retreat
Whether you attend one retreat or several, each retreat offers fresh Dharma teachings and opportunities to deepen your practice. We warmly encourage you to reserve this other retreat date in your calendar:
• 7 November 2026
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About the organiser
We are a contemporary Buddhist community committed to making the Dharma accessible in English. While many Mahāyāna teachings are traditionally shared in Mandarin, our Vihāra offers a space where practitioners can explore Buddhist wisdom in a language that speaks to them. By blending traditional teachings with modern perspectives, we aim to make Buddhist practice both accessible and relevant in today’s world.
At the heart of our community is a shared dedication to learning and practising the Dharma together. We uphold core Buddhist values such as mindfulness, ethical living, and selfless service. Through study, meditation, and compassionate action, we support one another on the path of inner transformation.
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