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
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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Friday, March 08 - Saturday, March 23, 2024
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Cost of Retreat: 16 days/15 nights
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Twin Share – $1,930 USD (per person)
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Single Accommodation – $2,330 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 SANGHAS.
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A Seven Day, Seven Night ‘Optional Addition’ available only for those who attend either (or both)
the Loving Work Retreat and/or the Homeland of Our Teacher Retreat.
We fly together from Viet Nam to Bangkok where we are picked up at the airport for our three-hour drive to the monastery/practice center near Pak Chong in the Northeast of the country. We will follow the practice schedule
of the monks and nuns, including magical early morning sitting and evening sitting and chanting.
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COST: $760 USD (Dorm Accommodations Only)
FEES INCLUDE ALL RETREAT-RELATED EXPENSES
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Dates: Friday, 22 March – Friday, 29 March, 2024
Included in Together in PV Thai Retreat:
International flights (Viet Nam to Bangkok and Return)
All Ground Transportation
All expenses, including lunch (or take-away) upon arrival in BKK
Cost of seven (7) Nights in PV Thai
Donation from LWF to Plum Village
This option is available ONLY to those who register for the Loving Work Retreat and/or the Homeland Retreat.
JOYFULLY TOGETHER RETREAT IN THAI PLUM VILLAGE:
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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International Flights Hanoi to Bangkok / Bangkok to Hanoi or Hue
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Registration fee for Plum Village
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No Visa Required for Thailand
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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 (Multiple-Entry 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.
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Practice in active monasteries, visit historic sites important in the life of our teacher, engage with local friends, and enjoy visiting a variety of communities and landscapes from the North to the Central, including the Southern Coast and the Central Highlands.
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Dates: Friday, March 29 – Saturday, April 13
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Cost of Retreat: 16 Days / 15 Nights
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Twin Share – $2,225 USD (per person)
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Single Accommodation – $2,600 USD
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INCLUDED IN HOMELAND RETREAT FEE:
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All Accommodations
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All Meals (Plant-Based)
-
All Domestic flights
-
All Ground Transportation
-
All Airport Transport Services
-
All Entrance Fees
​
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; Laundvid ry; 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 ONE’S FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND SANGHAS.
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LOVING WORK RETREAT 2024 (Viet Nam)
Friday, March 08, Begins in Hanoi at Sunline Hotel, 18 Bao Khanh Str - 4:30 PM
Friday, March 23, 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 08: Meet in Sunline Hotel Lobby – 4:30 PM; Welcome Dinner;
Sat, Mar 09: Hoan Kiem Lake area; Options (Guided): Visit Temple of Literature; Visit Women’s Museum, Explore Old Quarter;
Sun, 10 Mar, mid-morning flight to Hue; Check-in at Riverside Eco-Boutique Resort: Afternoon Tea at Peaceful Bamboo Family Tea Room;
Mon, Mar 11: 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 12 – Fri, Mar 15: Loving Work under the guidance of staff from Project RENEW (Restoring the Environment & Neutralizing the Effects of the War) and Peace Trees Viet Nam;
Sat, Mar 16: Visit Vinh Moc Tunnels; Check-In at Riverside Resort, Hue;
Sun, Mar 17: Sun, Mar 10: Day of Mindfulness at Dieu Tram Nunnery/Temple Tu Hieu; Lazy Evening;
Mon, Mar 18 & Tues, Mar 19: Loving Work under the guidance of Hearts for Hue;
Wed, Mar 20: Early Morning Transmission of the 5 Mindfulness Trainings beside the Perfume River; Lunch at Riverside; Early afternoon bus to Da Nang/Hoi An; Beach Time; Lazy Evening;
Thur, Mar 21: Visit rural schools, Meet children & families in School children’s Aid program; Lunch at Duy Son Pagoda; Dinner in Hoi An.
Fri, Mar 22: Flight Da Nang to Hanoi, Check-in at Sunline Hotel; Farewell Dinner.
Sat, Mar 23: Retreat Ends after Breakfast; Transport to Noi Bai Airport (or extra nights, not included in Fee).
HOMELAND OF OUR TEACHER RETREAT 2024 (Viet Nam)
Friday, Mar 29, Begins in Hanoi at Sunline Hotel, 18 Bao Khanh Str – 4:30 PM
Saturday, Apr 13, 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 29. Meet in Lobby of Sunline Hotel – 4:30 PM; Welcome Dinner;
Sat, Mar 30. Flight to Hue City; Check -in Riverside Eco-Boutique Hotel; Visit Temple Tu Hieu;
Sun, Mar 31. Day of Mindfulness at Dieu Tram Nunnery/Temple Tu Hieu; Lazy Evening;
Mon, Apr 01. Lazy Morning; Visit Bao Quoc Temple; Tea at Peaceful Bamboo Family;
Tues, Apr 02. Visit Royal Tombs & Master Lieu Quan Burial Site;
Wed, Apr 03. Train to Danang; Check-in to Hotel; Explore Hoi An Old Town;
Thurs, Apr 04. Options: Visit Marble Mountain, followed by Body Massage at Herbal Spa;
Fri, Apr 05. Flight to Da Lat; Check-in Lakeside Resort; Visit Truc Lam Pagoda;
Sat, Apr 06. Bus to Bao Loc; Check-in; Lazy Afternoon;
Sun, Apr 07 Visit to Phuong Boi (Fragrant Palm Leaves); Visit Bat Nha & Dambr’ri Falls;
Mon. Apr 08 Flight to Hanoi; Lunch in Tay Ho; Check-in Sunline Hotel;
Tues, Apr 09 Lazy Morning; Afternoon Guided Options; Women’s Museum, Old Quarter;
Wed, Apr 10 Mindful Walk Around Hoan Kiem Lake; Bus to Yen Tu Mountain; Check-in;
Thurs, Apr 11 Explore the Mountain; Flower Watering;
Fri, Apr 12 Transmission of Five Mindfulness Trainings; Bus to Hanoi; Farewell Dinner;
Sat, Apr 13 Retreat Ends after Breakfast.
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 and family, to be donated during our retreats
to our various community partners 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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