Chan Meditation Center was scheduled to hold a 7-day Passing on the Lamp Chan retreat in memory of the late Venerable Master Sheng Yen from January 28 through February 3, 2019. Due to dangerously frigid temperatures, the Center was closed on January 30th but the retreat was held on all other days. Around 40 people, new and longtime practitioners, participated in this week-long retreat to revive this beginner's mind and vow we all have cultivated deep in the heart toward the great realization, to pay our deepest respect and appreciation to Shifu's teachings.

The retreat schedule included sitting meditation, audio talks by the Venerable Master, vegetarian lunch, work practice, and movement and walking meditation. Talks included topics on samadhi and wisdom, samatha and vipassana, Silent Illumination, mastery of the mind, and the four great vows. On the last day of the retreat was the Passing on the Lamp ritual. During the ritual, a video of Master Sheng Yen's talk on his personal vows was presented. Participants were encouraged to make their own personal vows and the collective vow of helping to build the new CMC this year. There was also a group sharing where people talked about how they had come to know Master Sheng Yen and the topic that they found most helpful during the retreat. Monastics presented each participant with gifts of copies of calligraphy by Master Sheng Yen of the verses on formlessness from the Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch.