Lotus Buds Sangha, Sydney, Australia I n late 1986, Thay was invited by the Buddhist Peace Fellowship to lead retreats in Australia. During his visit in Sydney, the Vietnamese community had a rare opportunity to enjoy mindfulness practice with him. During that five-day retreat, many of us tasted true peace and joy for…
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A Lotus Blooms in the Catholic Church
By Mike McMahon Several years ago, following my divorce, my daughter Annie and I moved into a rundown house in one of Omaha's older neighborhoods. I was broken emotionally, financially, and spiritually—and deeply depressed. The condition of the house seemed to match my own. Even so, like a wounded animal that crawls into a cave,…
Human Relations, Human Rights
I am more than Vietnamese. I am also a citizen of the world. We must be aware of the "interbeing" of all countries' happiness. Happiness is not an individual matter. The happiness of the United States is crucial for the happiness of others in the world. The happiness of the Vietnamese people is also the…
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…
Dharma Talk: Be a Real Human Being
I love the smells here. They’re old, been around a long time. I can feel the ancient presence of the native peoples, in the rocks and in the mountains, in the trees and in the river. It makes me very happy to be here in this space. Compassion is very…
Dharma Talk: A Peaceful Heart
Just before the land offensive in the Gulf, the Soviet Union proposed a six-point peace plan to end the war. The first point was that Iraq consent to withdraw all its troops from Kuwait within twenty-one days. But President Bush said that Iraq must evacuate Kuwait in just seven days,…
Sangha Building at the California Events
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…
Transforming Fear
My Companion Along the Path By Jindra Cekan Joyful sisters during Vietnamese Retreat, Plum Village, 2019; photo courtesy of monastic Sangha I come from a charming, multilingual, and disruptively dysfunctional family. There was much to be afraid of. What would happen to my mother if she hurt herself while falling…
Dharma Talk: The Different Faces of Love
Teachings on the Dimension of Action of Avalokitesvara, the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion from the Universal Door Chapter of the Lotus Sutra When the bodhisattva named Inexhaustible Mind heard the name Avalokitesvara, he asked the Buddha, "Why did that bodhisattva get such a beautiful name?" The Buddha replied, "Because the…
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…