5 “Retreats” in December to Wrap Up 2025!
How has 2025 been for you so far? Hectic yet fruitful? Checked off all your New Year’s Resolutions, or can’t wait for 2025 to be over?
As the year draws to a close and the pace of work (hopefully) slows, it is the perfect time for us to reflect on what 2025 has taught us, recharge and make the most of this hard-earned break.
What better way to do so than to attend retreats! As you go about planning your year-end activities, here are 5 retreats happening in Singapore/ Malaysia/ Bintan that you may wish to weave into your December plans!
To explore more, you can also visit the Handful of Leaves’ Buddhist Directory which features events, activities, communities and temples in Singapore and Southeast Asia, and subscribe to our Telegram channel to not miss your favourite Buddhist event.
(1) Joy of Missing Out Retreat: Finding Peace in a Fast Moving World with Venerable Thubten Chodron
Source: Singapore Buddhist Mission
In the age of endless scrolling, constant connectivity and the pressure to always be “doing more”, true rest can feel like a distant luxury. This full day retreat invites young adults to step out of the noise and into the timeless stillness transforming simplicity to a path of deep joy.
When? 20 Dec 2025, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Where? Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery, 88 Bright Hill Rd, Singapore 574117
Want to find out more? Check out our event listing here.
(2) 7-Day Zen Retreat at Pengerang
Source: Kwan Yin Chan Lin
Venerable Chi Boon, Abbot of Kwan Yin Chan Lin, will be guiding participants on a 7-day Zen Retreat at the Pengerang International Zen Centre. The programme includes activities such as sitting and walking meditation, chanting, kong-san practice, breathing exercise and fasting.
When? 20 Dec 2025, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Where? Lot. 109 Telok Ramunia, 81620 Pengerang, Johor, Malaysia
Want to find out more? Check out our event listing here.
(3) Awakening Presence: A Mindfulness Retreat
Source: Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery
This two-day retreat at Kong Meng San offers a gentle yet profound immersion in mindfulness (sati) and clear awareness (sampajañña). Through sitting and walking meditation, mindful eating, noble silence, and Dharma reflections, participants will cultivate present-moment awareness and compassionate observation of body, mind, and emotions — awakening wisdom, inner peace, and openhearted presence. Allow yourself the time and guidance to reconnect with your true nature and awaken a deeper sense of calm and insight.
Do note that registration is currently full but you can indicate your interest to be placed on the waiting list!
When? 15 – 16 Dec 2025, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
Where? Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery, 88 Bright Hill Rd, Singapore 574117
Want to find out more? Check out our event listing here.
(4) 2025 Year-End Sutta and Meditation Retreat
Source: Buddhist Fellowship
Buddhist Fellowship is delighted to have Ajahn Brahmali for this year-end sutta & meditation retreat. Enjoy and immerse in bliss at a 4-star hotel in Bintan.
“The Maṅgala Sutta is treasured by many Theravadins as one of the most inspiring suttas in the Pali Canon, especially for lay people. As we consider the deep meaning of this sutta, we will touch on a number of other suttas from the Pali Canon, drawing on a great diversity of Pali suttas. Many of the teachings will be easy to understand, whereas others will be intriguing and require deep reflection. See you in Bintan!” – Ajahn Brahmali
When? 19 – 25 Dec 2025
Where? Four Points by Sheraton Bintan
Want to find out more? Check out our event listing here.
(5) BONUS: WACANA 2025 Buddhist Conference
Source: WACANA 2025 Buddhist Conference
WACANA is a Malaysian Buddhist Conference where the Sangha and laity gather to discuss pertinent issues that affect the Buddhist movement. The theme for WACANA 2025 is “Awakening to Community Well-being – Contemporary Approaches”. While not a retreat in its strictest sense, this would be an opportunity to explore how Buddhist teachings can meaningfully guide community well-being and development through holistic practice in all three principles of “avoiding the unwholesome, cultivating the wholesome, and purifying the mind” taught in Dhammapada verse 183. Teo Heng Xuan, Handful of Leaves Co-Founder, will also be one of the speakers at the conference!
When? 20 Dec 2025, 9 am – 6 pm
Where? Menara KEN TTDI, Kuala Lumpur
Want to find out more? Check out our event listing here.