In preparation for this year's German and dutch retreats at the EIAB, I had the privilege to be part of the design team. This team was designing the stage on which our beloved teacher will give dharma talks. I was very excited to work on a project together with my brothers and sisters including Brother Phap Thanh, Brother Phap Lien, Sister Thanh Hue, Sister Khai Nghiem and Sister Linh Nghiem. I am an aspiring artist and I appreciate working together with others. I call it "Sangha Art" because it is a coming together of many different ideas and the harmony that arises.

It isn't about throwing around ideas. Working together is like a delicate baby. We try our best to create an atmosphere where everyone's voice is heard and honored. Though there are differences and disagreements, we try to be skillful and respectful to each other's opinions. If we disagree with someone else, we try to be skillful enough so the other person doesn't become hurt or fearful, losing confidence to continue offering their ideas. We understand that our opinions and thoughts come from inside us.

We try our best to listen deeply to each other. Underneath our brainstorming and execution, we are always aware of the most important thing. We are not designing the stage for ourselves but for Thay and the four-fold sangha.

This helps us say what we need to say, contribute wholeheartedly and at the same time let go of any mental formation or complexes we experience. We are all aware we want to do our beautifully best.

Sister Linh Nghiem had the idea of creating Earth to represent our love and aspiration to care for the earth. I had the idea of the Earth Refreshing Bodhisattva with a drop of water on the barren, dry earth. Sister Thanh Hue had the idea to find bark and moss to cover the earth to make the Earth look fresh and alive. Brother Phap Thanh went to the store and bought rolls of rice paper and straw for the background. Brother Phap Lien chose the color for the Earth and the drop of water. We also had many hands from innumerable sources. Sisters who came to help cut the words of Thay's calligraphy; the brothers who helped drive us to the store to buy supplies. The cooks who cooked while we concentrated our energy on the project, including the farmers, the sky, the rain, sunshine and the Earth.

I'm so happy and proud of the outcome. Though it didn't come out as I had envisioned it in my head but it's clear that it isn't any one person's vision but it's a molding of everyone's vision. But whether the project turned out nice or not, what is most precious is the deepening of brotherhood and sisterhood and the deeper understanding of ourselves. (Sr. Trieu Nghiem)