By Caleb Cushing Our Sangha has often thought about participating in a special project that would reflect our care and understanding. I'd silently wondered who would come forth first and commit. To my surprise, it was the Sangha as a whole. As we practiced together, our stability, joy, and gratitude grew, and so did our…
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The Fire’s Fortunes
By Ronna Kabatznick In October 1991, the most destructive residential fire in U.S. history ripped across the Oakland hills. Twenty-four people were killed and 2,991 dwellings burnt to the ground within 12 hours. Eight of the 24 people, including my neighbor, died on the narrow and beautiful road where I once lived. My home was…
Who Is The Boss?
Lower Hamlet, Plum Village June 1, 2017 This is the first day of our Mindful and Compassionate Leadership Retreat for Business People. We all have come here because we want to understand or learn something about how to become a mindful and compassionate leader. Maybe this can be best expressed…
Touched by Heart Nectar
Stories from a Joyful Retreat By Lorrie Harrison A friend recently sent a description of what he imagined it was like at Plum Village: “I get a flash of it being like individual bees flowing toward an attractant. The sweet words of Thay and the lovely people and surroundings pull…
What does it mean to become a Great Being?
Brother Phap Hai, Author of The Eight Realizations of Great Beings In celebration of this release, Brother Phap Hai sat down and answered some questions about the core messages in The Eight Realizations of Great Beings, which insight gives him the most pause, and what he hopes readers come away…
Be Mindful in Daily Life
Photo by Renee Burgard Mindfulness is the energy of being aware and awake to the present moment. It is the continuous practice of touching life deeply in every moment of daily life. To be mindful is to be truly alive, present, and at one with those around you and with…
The Three Dharma Seals
By Sister Annabel Laity (Chan Duc, True Virtue) photo courtesy of monastic Sangha Sister Annabel Laity offered this Dharma talk at the 21-Day Retreat: VulturePeak Gathering on June 20, 2016, in Upper Hamlet, Plum Village. Respected Thay, dear Sangha, Tomorrow some of us will have to go home from the…
Living with the Precepts
Like a coin, the precepts have two sides, and both are essential for our practice. One side guides us toward what is beneficial and protects us. The other side is the emptiness of the precepts. To describe the first aspect, I would like to share this story: When I was…
Mindful Consumption
In this Dharma talk from 2007, Thay offers many teachings on interbeing, including seeing ourselves as a five-year-old child, meditation on a grain of corn, contemplating the actions of our right and left hands, and the Sutra of the Son’s Flesh.
Dwelling in the Ultimate in North Mississippi
By Steve Black “In the Ultimate I dwell,” Thay says. And turning to the child holding his right hand, he says, “Do you know what the Ultimate is?” Silence. The child looks at Thay. His head is level with Thay’s thigh. He says nothing. Thay gently repeats the question: “Do…






