September - 2017

We deepen our practice by sharing our experiences

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This Time was Different

While sharing the many photos taken in Vietnam a friend asked why I am smiling so much in most of the photos. I did not realize that. I told her that it is my heart that was smiling. I smile and sing when I am happy, no cue needed. Very seldom do we get an opportunity to revisit a place and time that was so instrumental in who we have become. In 1971 at the age of 18, I joined the military and in 7 months was shipped to Vietnam. I remember the tradition was to countdown each

The most beautiful sound I had ever heard

I slipped from sleep into consciousness in a state of complete peace and relaxation. The warm rain drummed softly against the metal roof and the trees rustled outside the open window. Next to me, under a light cover, I was aware of my mother’s breathing, and the presence of Smiling Cloud Sangha members all around the room. Filling my awareness was the sound of an angel singing, one of the Sisters of Dieu Tram Nunnery leading a Deep Relaxation during our rest time. It was the

A French woman at home in Vietnam

I found the English flyer of the LWF last year during a retreat in Plum Village, it has been obvious I will try to join the moment I read it. I am rooted in Vietnam by my father and now by my heart family of Plum Village, so coming to practice there was for me very meaningful. The moment I met the first member of the retreat in Hanoi,I felt home, It was so wonderful to share the practice with American people in Vietnam, to experiment the feeling of being a drop in the same ri

So Many Lovely Moments

Thank you for a unique and deeply nourishing experience. From the first day, I felt a sense of ease. A warm camaraderie quickly grew among us as we enjoyed an easy, flexible flow of activities. There were so many lovely moments - coloring with children in the school yard, comparing ages with sun-baked farmers, walking meditation with our monastics, riding bikes through bright green rice fields and hearing Jeff’s war stories on Marble Mountain. Planting seeds and prepping the

Happy in the Here and Now

Traveling with new friends on the Loving Work Retreat gave me a sense of happiness and purpose that has stayed with me. The experience of working in community gardens with staff of Action for the City Hoi An and visiting schools both public and private is the essence of happiness itself. The Vietnamese are warm, kind and create an atmosphere where all things are possible. The trip to Quang Tri province is one I’ll always remember. From the Sunflower Kindergarten where student

Totally Joyful

This retreat has enriched my life in many unforgettable ways. There were 18 of us on this most amazing journey. Initially shy and withdrawn, within only a few days, we were opening up and sharing our innermost thoughts, fears, and aspirations. Our play day with the children at one of the primary schools was a totally joyful, loving experience. We had the opportunity to play games, interact, take Polaroid pictures, laugh and giggle with so many wonderful primary school childre

Tears of Happiness

I took a photo of our Mobile Mindfulness Retreat group as we approached the gates of the Dieu Tram Nunnery... At the twilight hour of 4:30 in the morning, our group of 18 was at the monastery’s gate eager to enter the world of compassion, love, humor, art, and we all hoped...of “knowing...”For each of us this day brought different experiences, probably experiences we had not expected... For me it was the singing in the meditation hall with nuns, monks, and lay people. As we a

An Experience to Treasure

In March 2017, my wife, Danna, and I joined the Loving Work Foundation Work Retreat….. an experience to treasure! True vitality and the continuation of Thay’s work in Viet Nam is clearly ongoing and visible through the love and care offered by the Loving Work Foundation. Chris Hansen, Bellingham, Washington USA

One of the Best Decisions of My Life

Today is Vesak Day, and I am filled with gratitude for the things that I have lost through my practice of mindfulness and meditation. I cannot say it is a conscious practice but focusing on my breath and the present moment has helped me to let go of fear in my thoughts, words and action and transformed my life. The "wake-up" moment came to me when reading the book "For a Future to Be Possible: Buddhist Ethics for Everyday Life" by Thich Nhat Hanh. I found immense peace in th