The Five Mindfulness Trainings
The Five Mindfulness Trainings represent the Buddhist vision for a global spirituality and ethic. They are a concrete expression of the Buddha’s teachings on the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path, the path of right understanding and true love, leading to healing, transformation, and happiness for ourselves and for the world. To practice the Five Mindfulness Trainings is to cultivate the insight of interbeing, or Right View, which can remove all discrimination, intolerance, anger, fear, and despair. If we live according to the Five Mindfulness Trainings, we are already on the path of a bodhisattva. Knowing we are on that path, we are not lost in confusion about our life in the present or in fears about the future.
The Five Mindfulness Trainings
The Five Mindfulness Trainings represent the Buddhist vision for a global spirituality and ethic. They are a concrete expression of the Buddha’s teachings on the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path, the path of right understanding and true love, leading to healing, transformation, and happiness for ourselves and for the world. To practice the Five Mindfulness Trainings is to cultivate the insight of interbeing, or Right View, which can remove all discrimination, intolerance, anger, fear, and despair. If we live according to the Five Mindfulness Trainings, we are already on the path of a bodhisattva. Knowing we are on that path, we are not lost in confusion about our life in the present or in fears about the future.
The Five Mindfulness Trainings
The Five Mindfulness Trainings represent the Buddhist vision for a global spirituality and ethic. They are a concrete expression of the Buddha’s teachings on the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path, the path of right understanding and true love, leading to healing, transformation, and happiness for ourselves and for the world. To practice the Five Mindfulness Trainings is to cultivate the insight of interbeing, or Right View, which can remove all discrimination, intolerance, anger, fear, and despair. If we live according to the Five Mindfulness Trainings, we are already on the path of a bodhisattva. Knowing we are on that path, we are not lost in confusion about our life in the present or in fears about the future.
The Five Mindfulness Trainings
The Five Mindfulness Trainings represent the Buddhist vision for a global spirituality and ethic. They are a concrete expression of the Buddha’s teachings on the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path, the path of right understanding and true love, leading to healing, transformation, and happiness for ourselves and for the world. To practice the Five Mindfulness Trainings is to cultivate the insight of interbeing, or Right View, which can remove all discrimination, intolerance, anger, fear, and despair. If we live according to the Five Mindfulness Trainings, we are already on the path of a bodhisattva. Knowing we are on that path, we are not lost in confusion about our life in the present or in fears about the future.
The Five Mindfulness Trainings
The Five Mindfulness Trainings represent the Buddhist vision for a global spirituality and ethic. They are a concrete expression of the Buddha’s teachings on the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path, the path of right understanding and true love, leading to healing, transformation, and happiness for ourselves and for the world. To practice the Five Mindfulness Trainings is to cultivate the insight of interbeing, or Right View, which can remove all discrimination, intolerance, anger, fear, and despair. If we live according to the Five Mindfulness Trainings, we are already on the path of a bodhisattva. Knowing we are on that path, we are not lost in confusion about our life in the present or in fears about the future.
The Five Mindfulness Trainings represent the Buddhist vision for a global spirituality and ethic. They are a concrete expression of the Buddha’s teachings on the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path, the path of right understanding and true love, leading to healing, transformation, and happiness for ourselves and for the world. To practice the Five Mindfulness Trainings is to cultivate the insight of interbeing, or Right View, which can remove all discrimination, intolerance, anger, fear, and despair. If we live according to the Five Mindfulness Trainings, we are already on the path of a bodhisattva. Knowing we are on that path, we are not lost in confusion about our life in the present or in fears about the future.
"The Five Mindfulness Trainings are one of the most concrete
ways to practice mindfulness. They are nonsectarian, and their
nature is universal. They are true practices of compassion and
understanding. All spiritual traditions have their equivalent to
the Five Mindfulness Trainings.
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The first training is to protect life, to decrease violence in
ones self, in the family and in society. The second training
is to practice social justice, generosity, not stealing and not
exploiting other living beings. The third is the practice of
responsible sexual behavior in order to protect individuals,
couples, families and children. The fourth is the practice of
Deep listening and Loving Speech to restore communication
and reconcile. The fifth is the practice of Mindful Consumption,
to help us not bring toxins and poisons into our body or mind.
"The Five Mindfulness Trainings are one of the most concrete
ways to practice mindfulness. They are nonsectarian, and their
nature is universal. They are true practices of compassion and
understanding. All spiritual traditions have their equivalent to
the Five Mindfulness Trainings.
​
The first training is to protect life, to decrease violence in
ones self, in the family and in society. The second training
is to practice social justice, generosity, not stealing and not
exploiting other living beings. The third is the practice of
responsible sexual behavior in order to protect individuals,
couples, families and children. The fourth is the practice of
Deep listening and Loving Speech to restore communication
and reconcile. The fifth is the practice of Mindful Consumption,
to help us not bring toxins and poisons into our body or mind.
Peace in oneself, peace in the world...
Join us on retreats that include mindful travel in a culture different from our own,
as we learn to see ourselves in the eyes of those we meet along the way.
Begins in Hanoi – Ends in Hanoi - Maximum 20 friends
Participate in community-building by engaging in humanitarian aid projects that support the health
and wellbeing of Vietnamese children and families in Quang Tri, Thien-Hue, and Quang Nam Provinces.
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Saturday, March 01 - Saturday, March 15, 2025
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Cost of Retreat: 15 days/14 nights
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Twin Share – $1,980 USD (per person)
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Single Accommodation – $2,395 USD
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INCLUDED IN LOVING WORK RETREAT FEE:
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All Accommodations
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All Meals (Plant-Based)
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All Domestic flights
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All Ground Transportation
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All Airport Transport Services
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All Entrance Fees
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All Tips (restaurants, hotels, bus drivers)
NOT INCLUDED IN LOVING WORK RETREAT FEES:
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International Travel Costs
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Cost of Travel/Medical Insurance (Required)
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Viet Nam Visa
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Additional Nights in Hotel (pre or post retreat)
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Personal Shopping; Laundry; Mini-Bar
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Tip for Retreat Coordinator
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Dana for Practice Leader
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REQUIRED MINIMUM DONATION OF USD 400, PREFERABLY TO BE RAISED FROM AMONG ONE’S FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND VARIOUS COMMUNITIES.
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This 2025 one-week retreat is open to anyone wishing to take refuge from the busi-ness of the daily life of our modern world. Supported by the collective energy of community (the Lay Sangha), we have the opportunity to
deepen our practice of Resting and Reflecting. No prior experience of Mindfulness Meditation is necessary.
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For those just arriving in Viet Nam: Retreat Begins with one night in Hanoi; Ends with one night in Hanoi.
For those ending their Loving Work Retreat: Retreat Begins with one night in Hoi An; Ends with one night in Hanoi.
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Each day at Hue Riverside-Eco Resort, Hue City, begins with early-morning Sitting Meditation, listening to the harmonious song of cicadas, followed by the sounds of birds and other beings heralding a brand-new day.
Each day includes formal practices of Plum Village - Mindful Eating; Total Relaxation; Singing; Personal Practice
Most days include Dharma Sharing; Dharma Talks; Times of Noble Silence
Just for Fun: We'll enjoy a Lazy Day and Picnic on the shore of the East Sea
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COST: Shared Accommodations - USD $795 USD --- Single Accommodations - USD $1,020
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Dates: Friday, March 14 – Friday, March 21, 2025
Included in 'No Where to Go, Nothing to Do', a Hue Riverside Retreat:
All Domestic flights
All Ground Transportation
All expenses, including delicious plant-based meals.
Cost of seven (7) Nights at Hue Riverside-Eco Resort + two (2) nights in Hanoi (or one night in Hoi An & one night in Hoi An, for those coming off of the Loving Work Retreat)
This Retreat is offered to those who join the Loving Work Retreat and/or the Homeland Retreat, AND to English-speaking friends living in Viet Nam, or traveling in SE Asia, or living in regional countries
'No Where to Go, Nothing to Do":
All Accommodations
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All Meals (Plant-Based)
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All Tips
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All Ground Transportation
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Domestic Flights
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Registration fee
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EXCLUDED IN RETREAT FEE:
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Additional Nights in Hotel (pre or post retreat)
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Cost of Viet Nam Tourist Visa ( Required)
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Cost of Travel/Medical Insurance (Required)
Go as a River, Discovering the Homeland of
Our Teacher, the Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh.
Enjoy an intimate & cozy experience with a maximum of 20 registered friends. Practice in active monasteries, visit historic sites important in the life of our teacher, engage with local friends, and enjoy a variety of communities and landscapes from the North to the Central, including the Central Highlands.
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Dates: Friday, March 21 – Friday, April 04
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Cost of Retreat: 15 Days / 14 Nights
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Twin Share – $2,275 USD (per person)
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Single Accommodation – $2,675 USD
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INCLUDED IN HOMELAND RETREAT FEE:
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All Accommodations
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All Meals (Plant-Based)
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All Domestic flights
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All Ground Transportation
-
All Airport Transport Services
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All Entrance Fees
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EXCLUDED IN HOMELAND RETREAT FEES:
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International Travel Costs
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Cost of Travel/Medical Insurance (Required)
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Viet Nam Visa
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Additional Nights in Hotel (pre or post retreat)
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Personal Shopping; Laundry; Mini-Bar
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Tip for Coordinator
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Dana for Practice Leader
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The USD 400 (minimum) Required Donation, to be disbursed during your retreat.
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REQUIRED MINIMUM DONATION OF USD 400, PREFERABLY TO BE RAISED FROM AMONG FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND VARIOUS COMMUNITIES.
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LOVING WORK RETREAT 2025 (Viet Nam)
Saturday, March 01, Begins in Hanoi in our retreat hotel - 11:30 AM
Saturday, March 15, Ends in Hanoi - After Breakfast
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Practice Leaders: Dharmacharya Trish Thompson, with Lynne Kaufman, Order of Interbeing;
Retreat Coordinator: Linh Khanh Phan, Order of Interbeing
Retreat Registrar: Trang Vu, Full Opening of the Heart
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Sat, Mar 01: Meet in hotel lobby @11:30 AM; Welcome Lunch & Orientation; Afternoon flight to Hue; Check-in Riverside Eco-Resort;
Sun, Mar 02: Day of Mindfulness at Dieu Tram Nunnery/Temple Tu Hieu; Lazy Evening;
Mon, Mar 03: Visit Tam Binh Center for Children with Disabilities; Drive to Dong Ha, Capitol of Quang Tri Province; Visit Mine Action Center; Check-in at Hotel;
Tues, Mar 04 – Fri, Mar 07: Loving Work under the guidance of staff from Project RENEW (Restoring the Environment & Neutralizing the Effects of the War) and Peace Trees Viet Nam; Return to Hue; Check-in Riverside Eco-Resort;
Sat, Mar 08: Lazy Day/Day of Rest at Riverside Eco-Resort, Hue;
Sun, Mar 09: Half Day of Mindfulness at Riverside Eco-Resort, Hue; Afternoon of Personal Practice at hotel;
Mon, Mar 10 - Tues, Mar 11: Loving Work in A Lu'o'i District, Thien-Hue Province, under the guidance of Hearts for Hue;
Wed, Mar 12: Early Morning Transmission of the 5 Mindfulness Trainings beside the Perfume River; Lunch at Riverside; Early afternoon Train to Da Nang/Hoi An; Beach Time; Lazy Evening;
Thur, Mar 13: Visit rural schools, Meet children & families in School children’s Aid program; Lunch at Duy Son Pagoda; Dinner in Hoi An.
Fri, Mar 14: Flight Da Nang to Hanoi, Check-in hotel; Farewell Dinner.
Sat, Mar 15: Retreat Ends after Breakfast; Transport to Noi Bai Airport,....or extra nights (not included in Fees).
HOMELAND OF OUR TEACHER RETREAT 2025 (Viet Nam)
Proposed Itinerary ( dependent on Airlines' Spring Schedules)
Friday, Mar 21, Begins in Hanoi – 5:00 PM
Friday, Apr 04, Ends in Hanoi – After Breakfast
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Practice Leaders, Dharmacharya Trish Thompson, with Lynne Kaufman, Order of Interbeing;
Retreat Coordinator: Linh Khanh Phan, Order of Interbeing
Retreat Registrar: Trang Vu, Full Opening of the Heart
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Fri, Mar 21. Meet in Hotel Lobby – 5:00 PM; Welcome Dinner & Orientation;
Sat, Mar 22: Flight to Hue City; Check -in Riverside Eco-Boutique Hotel; Visit Temple Tu Hieu;
Sun, Mar 23: Day of Mindfulness at Dieu Tram Nunnery/Temple Tu Hieu; Lazy Evening;
Mon, Mar 24:. Lazy Morning; Visit Bao Quoc Temple; Tea at Peaceful Bamboo Family;
Tue, Mar 25. Visit Royal Tombs & Imperial City;
Wed, Mar 26. Train to Danang; Check-in to Hotel; Explore Hoi An Old Town;
Thur, Mar 27: Options: Hoi An Old Town; Visit Marble Mountain; Silk Village;
Fri, Mar 28: Flight to Da Lat; Check-in Lakeside Resort; Visit Truc Lam Pagoda;
Sat, Mar 29: Bus to Bao Loc; Check-in; Lazy Afternoon;
Sun, Mar 30:Visit to Phuong Boi (Fragrant Palm Leaves); Transmission of Five Mindfulness Trainings; Visit Bat Nha & Dambr’ri Falls;
Mon. Mar 31: Flight to Hanoi; Lunch in Tay Ho; Check-in Hotel;
Tue, Apr 01: Early morning walk around Huan Kiem Lake; Lazy Morning; Lunch; Bus to Yen Tu Mountain; Check in
Wed, Apr 02: Explore the Mountain; Flower Watering
Thur, Apr 03: Explore the Mountain; Bus to Hanoi; Farewell Dinner
Fri, Apr 04: Retreat Ends after Breakfast
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We welcome everyone from any spiritual tradition, or no tradition at all.
We only ask that all who join us agree to practice in our Plum Village tradition during our retreats.
Essential Elements of a Mindfulness Retreat in the Tradition of Plum Village:
IF YOU PLAN TO JOIN US ON RETREAT, PLEASE READ CAREFULLY. . .
Asked of all Retreatants:
â—¦ Observe our practice traditions
â—¦ Raise a minimum of $400 from friends, family, & various communities, to be donated during our retreats
to our partner organizations in Viet Nam. Note: We ask this of each "retreatant', not for each retreat.
FOR COUPLES, we ask for a minimum of $400. We in no way want this requirement to prevent friends from joining us!
â—¦ Attend all practices and activities
â—¦ Respect the schedule ~ please arrive at least 5 minutes before the beginning of each activity.
All Mindfulness retreats, no matter their location, are designed to support each friend to rest and relax the mind and body, letting go of the tensions of ordinary daily life. By slowing and stopping, we have a chance to be in touch with our joy and happiness, as well as with the suffering that is also there, deep in our consciousness. Our retreats are organized in such a way that whatever is there has a chance to come up, and be recognized and acknowledged. With the support of the practice
leaders and the other friends, all of our emotions are honored.
The schedule includes opportunities for formal consultations with one of the practice leaders.
Our retreats very quickly become a family affair, and in a spiritual family, the members look out for one another. Each member
is assigned as a “Big Sister” or “Big Brother” for another member. The older sibling has the responsibility to know what is happening with the one to whom they have been assigned. For example, if Little Sister is not feeling well and misses breakfast, Big Sister knows this and communicates this to the practice leaders and retreat coordinator. This is a very useful system that ensures that everyone is remembered, and the support they need is provided.
We encourage Twin Share occupancy, though single rooms are available. The practice of being a roommate can be deep and fruitful. The simple need to remember to close the door softly requires one to be Mindful.
Mindful Eating, the first 20 minutes in silence, is a primary practice on our retreats. We enjoy a plant-based diet of the freshest veggies and fruits in the presence of our friends. Eating healthy supports both our physical and mental wellbeing, as well as our commitment to practice reverence for life.
We strive to maintain a regular schedule for sleep, meals and afternoon rest. Whatever the activity, throughout each day, in every thing we do, we practice doing it in Mindfulness, being in the present moment, aware of our breath, aware of the thoughts in the mind and feelings in the body while also aware of what is going on around us. Every moment is an opportunity to be mindful.
We begin each morning with Formal Sitting Meditation and end most days in the same way. Ample time is built into the schedule for quiet time, journaling, and solitary reflection. And, most days include ‘Dharma Sharing,’ as we practice the skill of listening deeply to one another, using the language of the heart to express whatever needs to be heard.
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