r/GoldenSwastika

Unlimited Lights Academy’s (中華無盡燈文化學會) Celestial Platform's 4th retreat, open to those living abroad who want to step into a living Buddhist practice community in Taiwan. Local and international participants practice together in a bilingual Mandarin and English environment that balances study, daily discipline, and collaborative leadership.

Guided by experienced practitioner-teachers, the retreat grows through each person's participation and efforts. Not a "Buddhist experience program" to be consumed, we learn to engage day to day through self reflection and service to others. We hope each person can cultivate real life skills and wisdom that will transfer to their life afterwards.

Roots of Meditation:
4th Tiantai Buddhism Intensive
Winter 2027, Jan 3 - 25, 2027

We begin in Dongshi at Shizhi Nianfo Vihara (Great Strength Arriving, Buddha Recitation Hall). The first week introduces the foundations of East Asian Buddhist practice, including monastery etiquette, daily rhythms, cultural life, and calming and insight meditation. The second week is a silent meditation intensive focused on personal application. The final week takes place at Unlimited Lights Academy in central Taipei with text study, lectures, and small group discussion.

Cost?
All teachings are offered freely in accordance with Buddhist tradition. Lodging and cultural activities are sponsored by the vihara and academy, and every person supporting throughout is a volunteer. We do ask $250 USD as fully refundable deposit. If finances are a barrier, please contact us. We want the retreat to be accessible. Participants cover their own travel and personal expenses.

Past retreats have included monastery visits, temple tours, hiking, calligraphy, flower arranging, and everyday cultural activities that allow participants to experience Buddhist culture as lived practice.

Who joins?
The group is intentionally balanced between Taiwanese members and international participants, usually about half and half. Ages range from 18 to 80 with varied experience. Living and practicing together builds real friendships across cultures and generations. Everyone helps with daily life, cares for the space and time together, and contributes to the retreat. You do not need to be a Buddhist to join, only willing to participate sincerely. Learning happens through living together, and enables the deepening of respect for self and others, a core value of Buddhist monastic settings. It is in this closeness we can practice our personal and collective accountability.

Optional pre/post retreat support~
We provide access to materials, videos, and reading as well as an online discussion group for folks who are planning on coming. While not mandatory, you can use these resources to prepare and be familiar with the content. After the retreat, community members are available to discuss and support you if you wish. You can also continue joining our weekly online classes or asking questions as they arise. Some participants also stay before or after as volunteers, helping on the farm or at the academy and continue to explore Taiwan.

The application deadline is December 15. Participation is limited to 12 people to preserve the atmosphere of a working monastic community. We schedule a short video call with applicants and can connect you with past participants if you wish.

Apply!
Application with schedule and more details

Other Links
Unlimited Lights Academy (CH/ENG)
Celestial Platform Vihara (ENG)
2025 & 2024 Retreats

The tradition found in Khmer, Tai-Lüe, and Tai-Yuan Buddhism.

The term tung refers to a type of flag that comes in various shapes. Specifically, the Tung Lek Tung Tong is a set of small, centipede-shaped flags crafted from iron and brass or copper; in some localities, they are also found made of zinc, wood, or paper. In Lanna funeral rites, a close observation reveals Tung Lek and Tung Tong placed alongside the monk's alms bowl atop the coffin—flags that certainly possess a specific origin. This type of flag is documented in palm-leaf manuscripts in accordance with Lanna Buddhist beliefs—most notably in the scripture titled Anisong Than Tung Lek Tung Tong (The Merits of Offering Tung Lek Tung Tong). The content can be summarized as follows:

In the distant past, the Lord Buddha—the current Gautama Buddha—accumulated the perfections required for Buddhahood (Bodhisambhara) over a period spanning four asankhyeyas (incalculable aeons) and one hundred thousand maha-kalpas (great aeons). There were eleven major lifetimes leading up to the attainment of Supreme Enlightenment. In each of these eleven lives, He cultivated a specific Perfection (Pāramī) using a distinct material object as the subject of meditation (Kammaṭṭhāna), as follows: Prince Temiya: Cultivated the Perfection of Renunciation (Nekkhamma-pāramī); used earth as the meditation object. Prince Mahājanaka: Cultivated the Perfection of Energy (Viriya-pāramī); used sand as the meditation object. Prince Suvaṇṇasāma: Cultivated the Perfection of Loving-kindness (Mettā-pāramī); used wood as the meditation object. Prince Nemirāja: Cultivated the Perfection of Determination (Adhiṭṭhāna-pāramī); used lead (jūen) as the meditation object. Prince Mahosadha: Cultivated the Perfection of Wisdom (Paññā-pāramī); used tin (hīak) as the meditation object. Prince Bhūridatta: Cultivated the Perfection of Virtue (Sīla-pāramī); used iron as the meditation object. Prince Candakumāra: Cultivated the Perfection of Patience (Khanti-pāramī); used brass or copper (tōng) as the meditation object. Prince Nārada: Cultivated the Perfection of Equanimity (Upekkhā-pāramī); used unhusked rice as the meditation object. Prince Vidhūrapaṇḍita practiced the Perfection of Truthfulness (Sacca-pāramī), using husked rice as the object of meditation. Prince Vessantara practiced the Perfection of Generosity (Dāna-pāramī), using a silver sheet as the object of meditation. Prince Siddhattha practiced the Perfection of Exertion (Vīriya-pāramī), using gold as the object of meditation. For this reason, a Pali chant recounting the eleven incarnations of the Buddha—known as the "Pali Chants of the Buddha's Incarnations" (Pālī Chāt Phra Chao)—was composed.

Subsequently, a set of eleven ceremonial banners (tung) was created, each made from one of the materials that served as the meditation objects: earth, sand, wood, lead, hiak wood, iron, brass, unhusked rice, husked rice, silver, and gold. While these banners were originally crafted from the actual materials themselves, later versions were sometimes made from wooden planks or zinc sheets; however, the total number of eleven remained constant. As it was cumbersome to list the names of all the banners at once, they came to be collectively known by the shorthand name "Tung Lek Tung Tong" (Iron and Brass Banners). Regarding the "Pali Chants of the Buddha's Incarnations," it is said that anyone who regularly recites and meditates upon them will be reborn in the Tāvatiṃsa Heaven upon death. Regardless of the realm of rebirth, they will be liberated from all sins, perils, and dangers. Furthermore, those who commission and offer the Tung Lek Tung Tong banners as an act of charity will reap immense merit, such as liberation from various karmic consequences and the fulfillment of their wishes. As for the deceased—even those who have passed away under ordinary circumstances...

In cases of "unnatural" death—such as dying during childbirth, dying in one's sleep, being killed by a wild animal, being struck by lightning, falling from a tree, or perishing in accidents involving vehicles, spears, or swords—relatives often fear the deceased might not find a path to rebirth. To remedy this, they should offer Tung Lek Tung Tong (ceremonial banners made of metal and brass) along with a monk's alms bowl, placing them at the head of the corpse or atop the coffin within one to three days. Alternatively, these offerings can be made after the burial or cremation has taken place. If the deceased is believed to have incurred heavy karmic burdens, one should also offer 108 mounds each of unhusked rice and milled rice, accompanied by Chor (triangular flags), Tung, Si Sai (candle wicks) equal in length to the deceased's height, Tung Kha King (banners matching the deceased's height), popped rice, and flowers. Additionally, scriptures concerning the afterlife—such as Maha Mun Nibbana, Malai Prod Lok (The Legend of Phra Malai), Kammavaca, or texts detailing the merits of Tung Lek Tung Tong—should be offered. Performing these rituals is believed to liberate the deceased's soul from various karmic retributions.

Sanan Thammathi Office of Arts and Culture Chiang Mai University

Here is the chanting mentioned (it is untranslated and I am actively searching for the original text in order to translate it):

https://youtu.be/6WVwpAyUnDM?is=Kq\_HkF7TvBch0EkV