Dear friend,
Knowing you are there, as a member of our beloved community, fills us with true happiness.
And we want to be there for you as well. We've compiled several practice resources to help ground and nurture you as our lives and communities reorganize. We hope these resources will give you a renewed sense of ease, so that in the midst of uncertainty, you will have a gentle smile on your face, and in the midst of isolation, you will remember that we inter-are.
As our world shifts, we hope you will join us in continuing to turn to our practice for refuge. When we take care of ourselves, we can earnestly say to others, “I am here for you.” Our world needs our solidity and calmness now more than ever.
For an updated list of COVID-19 practice resources, click here.
Free Online Summit: In the Footsteps of Thich Nhat Hanh
This event has now closed. You can watch recordings of the follow up Q&As here.
Thay has touched the hearts of millions with his message of peace, non-violence, and kindness. From difficult beginnings as a Vietnamese monk forced into a life of exile, he has been instrumental in making Buddhism relevant for modern times.
Hosted by the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation in partnership with Lion's Roar, you’re invited to join our community for In the Footsteps of Thich Nhat Hanh, a free 5-day online summit with nine beloved senior Dharma teachers.
Join us from March 25-29 to experience Thay’s legacy with 14 inspirational talks and 28 guided meditations, exercises, and reflections. Featuring Sister Chan Duc, Brother Phap Hai, Brother Phap Dung, Sister Dang Nghiem, Brother Phap Luu, Anh-Huong Nguyen, Shantum Seth, Larry Ward, and Peggy Rowe-Ward, this summit is a rare opportunity to connect deeply with the heart and home of our living Plum Village tradition and community.
Caring for Our Worry - A Teaching by Thich Nhat Hanh
“It is in moments like this that we stick to our mindful breathing and gently recognize our afflictions, whether anger, frustration, or fear. Suppose we are feeling worry or anxiety. We practice, ‘Breathing in, I know that anxiety is in me. Breathing out, I smile to my anxiety.’
Maybe you have a habit of worrying. Even if you know it’s neither necessary nor useful, you still worry. You’d like to ban worry and get rid of it, because you know that when you worry you can’t get in touch with the wonders of life and you can’t be happy. So you get angry at your worry; you don’t want it. But worry is a part of you, and that’s why when your worry comes up, you have to know how to handle it tenderly and peacefully.
You can do it if you have the energy of mindfulness. You cultivate the energy of mindfulness with mindful breathing and mindful walking, and with that energy, you can recognize and tenderly embrace your worry, fear, and anger. When your baby suffers and cries, you don’t want to punish him or her, because your baby is you. Your fear and anger are like your baby. Don’t imagine that you can just throw them out the window. Don’t be violent toward your anger, your fear, and your worries.”
― Thich Nhat Hanh, Fear: Essential Wisdom for Getting Through the Storm
The Four Mantras of True Presence
Right now, our loved ones and friends may need a little extra care. As we prepare to spend more time with our families and roommates, we may want to practice these mantras to help us express our love and gratitude, and to remember that we are one another’s support.
1. Darling, I am here for you.
2. I know you are there, and I am very happy.
3. Darling, I know you suffer.
4. Darling, I suffer. Please help
Plumline - Online Practice in the Plum Village Tradition
Want to maintain your practice in community online? Plumline is a network and platform of online Sanghas in the Plum Village tradition, with several Sanghas in several languages meeting every day. Click here to access their website.
Plumline is also offering a number of online education sessions and facilitator training resources for local Sanghas temporarily transitioning to online meetings.
Plum Village Songs - The Perfect Handwashing Tunes!
The Plum Village classic, “Happiness Is Here and Now,” is a perfect handwashing song! It takes about twenty seconds to sing the first stanza.
Happiness is here and now
I have dropped my worries
Nowhere to go, nothing to do
No longer in a hurry.
Happiness is here and now
I have dropped my worries
Somewhere to go, something to do
But I don’t need to hurry.
Below is a simple "Happiness Is Here and Now" guitar tutorial for you. You can also enjoy a full playlist of Plum Village songs while you wash hands, relax, cook, or at any other time.