Your solid and peaceful presence has been a real support for us during these 90 days.
Brother Phap Huu at the “Ceremony of Invitation” to close the 2022 Rains Retreat
How precious it is to dwell peacefully together for 90 days, to deepen in our understanding of the Dharma and apply it in myriad facets of life. Walking or cooking, teaching or learning, planting trees or playing soccer… we held Thay in our hearts and infused these ordinary moments with a touch of the legendary.
When we grow one year in the practice, we are younger and more fresh.
Sister Bao Nghiem at the “Ceremony of Invitation”
These rich and fruitful 90 days have nourished our aspiration to continue to build the beloved community and to bring happiness to all beings.
The following gallery is a collection of moments lived during this Rains Retreat.
Buddha’s Vitarka mudra, or blessing sign. Sharing a photo moment.Bowing to the manyfold sangha.Walking meditation around the Plum Orchard, the cradle for a new food forest.Walking meditation around the Plum Orchard, the cradle for a new food forest.Mindful MediaTibetan guest monks.Formal Lunch Procession.Formal Lunch Procession.Evoking the Bodhisattvas’ names.Evoking the Bodhisattvas’ names.End of Formal Lunch. Brother Minh Hy smiles to the sangha during a Dharma Talk. Sister Chan Khong with the younger sisters.Quan Yin (Avalokiteshvara) statue, Lower Hamlet.Walking Meditation.Monastic sharing circle.Lamp Transmission Ceremony.Lamp Transmission Ceremony.Lamp Transmission Ceremony.Lamp Transmission Ceremony.Lamp Transmission Ceremony.Five Mindfulness Trainings Recitation in Upper Hamlet.Five Mindfulness Trainings Recitation in Upper Hamlet.Chanting the Heart Sutra (The Insight That Bring Us To The Other Shore).Chanting the Heart Sutra (The Insight That Bring Us To The Other Shore).Chanting the Heart Sutra (The Insight That Bring Us To The Other Shore).Five Mindfulness Trainings Transmission Ceremony.Five Mindfulness Trainings Transmission Ceremony.Five Mindfulness Trainings Transmission Ceremony.Five Mindfulness Trainings Transmission Ceremony.Five Mindfulness Trainings Transmission Ceremony.Five Mindfulness Trainings Transmission Ceremony.Five Mindfulness Trainings Transmission Ceremony.Five Mindfulness Trainings Transmission Ceremony.Five Mindfulness Trainings Transmission Ceremony.Five Mindfulness Trainings Transmission Ceremony.Statue of Master Khuong Tang HoiThe small practicing community at Son Ha Temple, Upper Hamlet.Enjoying togetherness in Upper Hamlet.Enjoying togetherness in Upper Hamlet.Chanting in New Hamlet.Sister Chan Duc offers a Dharma Talk at New Hamlet.Walking meditation in New Hamlet.The Winter Comes to Stay.Walking meditation in New Hamlet.The Winter Comes to Stay.Last Be-In Circle in New Hamlet.Sharings from the heart.Sharings from the heart.Offering joy through music.Bodhi tree leaves.Offering joy through music.Offering Incense — Rains Retreat’s Closing Ceremony.Touching the Earth — Rains Retreat’s Closing Ceremony.Touching the Earth — Rains Retreat’s Closing Ceremony.Touching the Earth — Rains Retreat’s Closing Ceremony.Touching the Earth — Rains Retreat’s Closing Ceremony.Chanting the Heart Sutra — Rains Retreat’s Closing Ceremony.Chanting the Heart Sutra — Rains Retreat’s Closing Ceremony.Rains Retreat’s Closing Ceremony.Sr. Lang Nghiem and her menteesSr. Hoi Nghiem and her menteesVenerable nuns from IndonesiaThe “Thuya” ordination familyPortrait time.Monastic SanghaManyfold Sangha.
More than one month has passed. The manyfold community enjoys the practice with an energy of harmony, togetherness and peace. Monastics, long-term and short-term retreatants co-create a rich atmosphere filled with joy and transformation. We are aware of our good fortune for having enough conditions to practice in this way, as one body, during 90 days.
Thay’s HutBell Tower Upper HamletBrother Pháp ỨngChanting as one bodySinging together. “I am Loved”Singing together. “I am loved”Singing together. “I am loved”Singing together. “I am Loved”Sibling Trời Niệm Khiêm joins the walking meditationWalking mindfully by the 16 Buddhas.“One Buddha is not enough”Upper Hamlet’s grandmother pear-tree.Sister Định NghiêmSinging before walking.Walking Meditation.Walking Meditation.Walking Meditation.Moments of contemplation.Walking Meditation.Walking to Lower Hamlet.Panel Sharing.Watching Thay’s clip.Brothers Pháp Linh & Pháp Hữu & sister Hiến Nghiêm.Some of the Ginkgo ordination family members.Skating in freedomWalking Meditation in Lower HamletWalking Meditation in Lower Hamlet.Grandmother Oak at Lower Hamlet.Sitting together for a Dharma TalkChantingLunch to Celebrate the life of Master Tăng Hội and our teacher: Zen Master Thích Nhất HạnhSr. Dịnh Nghiêm at the memorial lunchSr. Chân Không at the memorial lunchBe-in to Celebrate the life of Master Tăng Hội and our teacher: Zen Master Thích Nhất HạnhBe-in to Celebrate the life of Master Tăng Hội and our teacher: Zen Master Thích Nhất HạnhBe-in to Celebrate the life of Master Tăng Hội and our teacher: Zen Master Thích Nhất HạnhBe-in to Celebrate the life of Master Tăng Hội and our teacher: Zen Master Thích Nhất HạnhBe-in to Celebrate the life of Master Tăng Hội and our teacher: Zen Master Thích Nhất HạnhBe-in to Celebrate the life of Master Tăng Hội and our teacher: Zen Master Thích Nhất HạnhBr. Pháp Hữu at the be-inBe-in to Celebrate the life of Master Tăng Hội and our teacher: Zen Master Thích Nhất HạnhBe-in to Celebrate the life of Master Tăng Hội and our teacher: Zen Master Thích Nhất HạnhBe-in to Celebrate the life of Master Tăng Hội and our teacher: Zen Master Thích Nhất HạnhCan you see the Sun in the Red Oak leaves?Sr. Trai Nghiêm at the be-inCan you see the Sun in the Red Oak leaves?Legendary Path.Our Teacher’s Hammock at his Hut.
On September 15th, we formally started our 90-Days Rains’ Retreat with the “Ceremony of Requesting Refuge (Varsavasana)”. The Buddha, our Teacher (Thay) and the Manyfold Sangha of Upper Hamlet, Son Ha, Lower Hamlet and New Hamlet, joined their energies to take the deep vow of helping each other to stop, rest, heal, and reflect over the coming three months.
Rains Retreat: The 90-day Rains Retreat is an annual retreat whose origins date back to the time of the Buddha. It is a time for Buddhist monastics to deepen their studies, practice, heal, and transform. In Plum Village, we also welcome lay friends to join us and participate in the 90-days of practice alongside the monastics. This creates a joyful, community experience, and a time for collective healing and transformation.
The manyfold Sangha gathers and the Prajñā Drum is invited to announce the beginning of the ceremony.Sister Chân KhôngThe Elders offer incense.The Elders offer incense.The Elders offer incense.Chanting for incense offering.Chanting for incense offering.Chanting for incense offering.Touching of The EarthTouching of The EarthTouching of The EarthTouching of The EarthTouching of The EarthChanting the Heart Sūtra (Prajñāpāramitāhṛdaya)Chanting the Heart Sūtra (Prajñāpāramitāhṛdaya)Chanting the Heart Sūtra (Prajñāpāramitāhṛdaya)Chanting the Heart Sūtra (Prajñāpāramitāhṛdaya)Chanting the Heart Sūtra (Prajñāpāramitāhṛdaya)Touching of the Earth to our Teacher, Thích Nhất Hạnh, the founder of the Plum Village TraditionTouching of the Earth to our Teacher, Thích Nhất Hạnh, the founder of the Plum Village TraditionRepresentatives from each hamlet requesting refuge from the EldersRepresentatives from each hamlet requesting refuge from the EldersSister Chân KhôngThe Elders accept the request and give words of encouragementThe Elders accept the request and give words of encouragementThe Elders accept the request and give words of encouragementThe entire sangha respectfully requesting refuge to Thầy and the EldersThe entire sangha respectfully requesting refuge to Thầy and the EldersThe entire sangha respectfully requesting refuge to Thầy and the EldersSister Chân Không offers words of encouragementDeep Love and Gratitude to our dear elder Teacher Sister Chân Không.Deep Love and Gratitude to our dear elder Teacher Sister Chân Không.“This is a happy moment.”“This is a happy moment.”“This is a happy moment.”“This is a happy moment.”Thầy’s cushion.Thầy’s Continuation.
Join the conversation