Protecting the Physical and Mental Well-being of Volunteer Bodhisattvas

Reported by Xi Xiu in Austin

At 10:00 a.m. on April 25, Xiangyun Temple held a “Volunteer Wellness Day” to care for the physical and mental health of its volunteers and to put into practice Humanistic Buddhism in daily life. The event invited Dr. Wu Qilan, a professor at Xiangyun Academy who teaches “Life Chan in Humanistic Buddhism,” to lead the session. She guided volunteers through traditional Dao Yin exercises and acupoint therapy to promote circulation, relax muscles, and harmonize body and mind. A total of 17 participants attended.

Participants practiced Baduanjin (Eight-Section Brocade) in the outdoor meditation garden, experiencing the tranquility and ease of “meditation in motion” through breathing and rhythmic movement.

This was followed by an acupressure lecture in the meditation hall, where applying pressure to acupoints was presented as a form of inner observation practice. The session emphasized mindful self-awareness in daily life—observing one’s body and noticing physical and mental changes—in order to improve overall quality of life.

Volunteers play a long-term role in supporting the temple and are an essential force in promoting Humanistic Buddhism. Safeguarding their health helps sustain the Dharma itself. The event concluded successfully at noon, and participants expressed that they gained a great deal—not only learning practical health techniques but also deeply experiencing the joy of “the Dharma being present with the body.” They look forward to continuing to take part in similar body-mind-spirit programs in the future.

More News