On October 9 we formally opened the Plum Village Monastery Rains retreat with the Face-to-Face Ceremony (Ceremony of Refuge) at Upper Hamlet with 248 practitioners (142 monastics and 106 lay friends) dwelling peacefully together for 90 days.
During this Rains retreat we have the chance to explore in depth Thay’s teachings during the 2012-13 winter retreat with the theme title “Soulmate of the Buddha”. Thay taught and shed light on many of the fundamental teachings of the Buddha on karma, retribution, samsara, conditioned genesis, the Twelve Links, the Three Doors of Liberation, Nirvana, and many other Buddhist teachings.
Thay shared that it was like he was weeding the teachings of the many wrong and unskillful interpretations and concepts that latter slowly found their way into the basic teachings that the Buddha taught. We will revisit these seminal teachings of Thay and discover whether our understanding and application of the Buddha’s teaching is correct and can help us touch the ultimate reality and true freedom.
Brother Pháp Hữu, as abbot of the Upper Hamlet, shared his aspirations for the Rains Retreat,
Dear Respected Thay and Beloved Sangha,
In this moment, I am reminded of the beauty of this tradition, the Rains retreat, which we have the honor to inherit from the Buddha’s original Sangha and our teacher, Thay.
Each year, as this time approaches, I feel a deep sense of gratitude for the opportunity it gives us to pause and practice together in a way that nourishes and strengthens our connection to the path.
This year, I am also deeply aware of the suffering around us—the suffering caused by wars, by natural disasters, by the violence and discrimination that impact so many lives. This awareness reminds me how important our practice is. Together, we have the opportunity to hold this suffering, both inside and outside of us, with compassion and understanding. It renews our commitment to deepening our ways of “being peace,” so that we can transform the seeds of violence within ourselves for the sake of our ancestors, our society, and future generations. In doing so, we contribute to a culture of peace and non-violence.
As we look back, I see how many retreats we’ve been able to offer, and how many people have come here to take refuge and practice. Now, these three months allow us to find rest and turn inward, to be fully present with our inner journey of awakening and transformation.
The Rains retreat is a time to reconnect with the simple, mindful presence that is essential to our practice. It is an opportunity to slow down, to nurture the spirit of siblinghood, and to support one another as we each walk the path of transformation. In this spirit, I remind myself to cultivate openness and the heart of a beginner, allowing ourselves to be both nourished and renewed.
At this moment, I feel a deep sense of gratitude to be a part of this river, this flowing stream of practice, care, and love. I ask for the elders and for the whole community to be my refuge during this three-month rains retreat, as we together deepen our commitment to peace.
Thank you for being here, for your presence, and for your commitment to this journey. I am grateful to share this retreat with all of you.
Moments from the “Ceremony of Refuge”
We welcome you to join us online for this 90 day journey of dharma talks exploring the ”Soulmate of the Buddha” via our You Tube Channel where you can access Dharma talks each week and cultivate mindfulness, concentration and insight.
