Nan Tien Wellness Day 2023

Get ready for the much-anticipated return of Nan Tien Wellness Day to transform your energy through music, movement and meditation. Cultivate your senses during a full day of holistic health practices to celebrate Medicine Buddha Day. Immerse yourself in sitting meditation, incense making, healing chants, tea meditation, laughter yoga, mindful stitching, mindful doodling, mindful floral arrangement and tai chi. Participate in the Medicine Buddha Dharma Service in the Mahayana tradition.

NEW WORKSHOPS: Incense Making, Chanting + Healing, Mindful Stitching, Mindful Doodling.

Make it a weekend. We have accommodation onsite at Pilgrim Lodge. Click here for details. Nan Tien Temple is 10min drive from Shellharbour Regional Airport.

THEME DRESS: Come dressed in blue or don a favourite blue accessory to add to the occasion. 

Full day of benefits of Nan Tien Wellness Day:

• Restore your inner health - calm mind, warm heart. 
• Unique blend of Buddhist meditative and creative practices.
• Clear out what no longer serves you and mark a new start.
• Join a community of like-minded people.

Flexibility and freedom are important. You know your needs. You select your mix:

• Free sessions: Tai Chi, Chanting + Healing, Medicine Buddha Day Blessing, Sitting Meditation, Tea Meditation (donations welcomed).
• Ticketed sessions: Incense Making Workshop, Laughter Yoga, Mindful Floral Arrangement, Mindful Stitching.
• Lunch: Tea House, Arts Cafe (no bookings) or in Dining Hall (booking required).

Program 

1. Sitting Meditation with Temple monastics. Free (donation welcome)

Experience the transformative power of meditation in our session led by a Buddhist monastic. Gain valuable skills to enhance concentration, emotional management, and inner tranquility. Learn the art of quieting the mind through expert guidance on posture, breath control, mudras (hand gestures), and positive thought patterns. Experience increased discipline and readiness to practice meditation independently at home. Join us for a supportive environment to share your experiences and receive answers to your questions. 

2. Tai Chi - Free (donation welcome) 

Harmonise the mind and body as Venerable leads you through a series of invigorating Tai Chi poses aimed at dispelling negative energy. Tai Chi serves as a powerful method to restore your body's natural harmony and foster a tranquil state of mind. When energy blockages are removed, you'll experience reduced stress, enhanced well-being, and emotional equilibrium.

3. NEW: Chanting + Healing  workshop - with Temple monastics. Free (donation welcome). 

Come, sit and be moved by the healing power of chanting.  Be guided in learning the different styles of chanting. A practice of discipline and wisdom. For absolute beginners and those with some experience. No singing ability required! Chanting is an act of meditation and service.

4. Laughter Yoga - with Bene from Laugh to Connect. Cost: $15. BYO yoga mat & bottle of water

Discover the instant joy from laughter yoga. The incredible healing power of laughter in our laughter yoga session led by Bene. You'll immediately feel the remarkable benefits as Bene guides you through a series of laughter exercises combined with yoga breathing techniques, gentle stretches, clapping, and chanting. This unique session takes you from the delightfully bizarre to sustained belly-laughter, radiating positive effects throughout your mind and body. Prepare to feel liberated as the hilarity and contagious giggles take over. Laughter Yoga, developed by an Indian doctor in 1995, has now spread to over 100 countries, offering people a pathway to enhanced health and happiness through laughter.

5. NEW: Incence Making Workshop. Cost: $20

Create your own incense and learn the elegant Asian art of incense making and burning. This workshop is perfect for anyone with an interest in cultural exploration, aromatherapy, or crafting. Whether you're a beginner looking to discover the art of incense making or an experienced enthusiast seeking to deepen your appreciation, this workshop has something to offer everyone. Incense burning is an ancient practice in Buddhism. Embark on a fragrant adventure like no other!

6. Medicine Buddha Day Blessing. Free (donation welcome)

Connect with the community in the Main Shrine. Experience the deep healing sound of a Medicine Buddha chanting, a practice treasured in the Mahayana Buddhist tradition. You can chant or listen to the healing sounds as a means to experience a meditative state. Continue your walk with Buddhism. The practice purifies and removes the underlying karmic causes of diseases and cultivates the causes for holistic wellbeing.  

Receive a Medicine Buddha blessing and gift from the monastics.  A wonderful experience and see the Shrine in full colour. Stay for the short 15 min talk on Medicine Buddha: Tapping into Happiness.

7. Lunch: Nourish yourself and enjoy the benefits of delicious vegetarian meals

Nan Tien Temple Dining Hall - bookings required: $20 adult; $11 children 5-12; under 4 free. No booking needed for the Tea House and Nan Tien Institute Arts Cafe. 

8. Mindful Floral Workshop - professional florist, Sue Wong. Cost: $20pp inc. flowers + notes

Join us for a step-by-step journey into the world of sustainable and seasonal arrangements, using a delightful mix of traditional flowers, vines, twigs, and eco-friendly materials. Immerse yourself in a harmonious blend of time-honored practices and contemporary design. Unlock the secrets of traditional symbolism associated with foliage and various arrangement styles, allowing you to express themes of grace, movement, heaven and earth, flexibility, and resilience in your creations. As you craft these stunning arrangements, you'll not only enhance your home but also take home a fresh, rejuvenated mindset ready to embrace the beauty of each season.

9. NEW: Mindful Stitching – with textile artist Michele Elliot. Cost: $20pp all materials supplied

Stitching by hand helps create a self-induced state of focus called mindfulness. Learn directly from professional artist, Michele Elliot to create your own piece of textile art using kanthra stitching, to create patterns and motifs such as a lotus leaf.  All materials provided.  Michele has been teaching adults from many years across community arts organisations and galleries across Australia and overseas.

10. NEW: Mindful Doodling with art therapist Venerable Youji. Free (donation welcome)

11. Tea Meditation - professional teacher Sue Wong. Fee (donation welcome)

Learn tea meditation and how each step in making, serving and drinking tea is a meditation practice to create unity and an elegant mood. Serving tea is an expression of Buddhism’s equal-minded offering and being aware of the effects on your mind and body. You can practice tea meditation during any time of the day — in the morning to start your day with presence, enjoy it in the middle of the day for increased focus and clarity, or end your day with the practice for a peaceful night’s sleep. 

Why we support the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals?

Thank you to the generous support from the Hsing Yun Education Foundation who has made this Series possible.

Nan Tien Temple and the Hsing Yun Education Foundation are commitment to serving the community and play a vital part in achieving the global goals namely in good health and well-being for all people, peace, justice and sustainable communities (Goals 3, 11,16,17) as reflective of our commitment to universal human values.