Lyrical Meditation with music and poetry: History and Vision of Lower Hamlet
The Sisters of Lower Hamlet warmly invite you to a lyrical meditation—a gentle celebration of our togetherness and an opportunity to pause and reflect on this beloved place of pilgrimage and practice.
Joined by special guests, the Lower Hamlet Sisters will share stories, music, and prose that express their lived experiences and deep love for the Plum Village community. The Sisters will also share their vision for Lower Hamlet’s future and offer gratitude for all who are helping to build this spiritual home. Together with you, we’re building a refuge for peace and healing that will serve practitioners for generations to come.
An Overview of the Celebration
1. Island within | Acapella choir (Sr. Linh Dị, Bénédicte, Br. Nhất Ngân, Br. Nhất Nguyên, Br. Nhất Hữu, Br. Nhất Hộ, Br. Nhất Hợp, Br. Nhất Trúc… choir mic)
2. Twenty-four Brand New Hours | Sr. Linh Dị reads (English) + Br. Nhất Ngân (🎹) | Sr. Một Phương sings (Vietnamese) + Sr. Từ Hiếu (🎸)
3. I am here for you | Sr. Từ Hiếu (sings + 🎸)
4. Walking Amidst the Spring | Sr. Hội Nghiêm reads (English) + Br. Nhất Trúc (塤xun…Chinese clay vessel flute)
5. Our true heritage | Sisters’ dance
6. The New Hamlet | Sr. Hiến Nghiêm/ Sr Tam Muội reads (English) | Sr. Non Sông sings (Vietnamese)
7. Bénis sommes-nous | Francophone Sisters sing
8. Life within me | Sr. Hội Nghiêm reads (English) | Sr. Linh Dị (🎹)
9. Fundraising for Lower Hamlet: Our History and Vision
(Sr. Trăng Thường Trú)
10. Sharing | Sr. Tam Muội
11. Here and Now | Lower Hamlet sisters sing (+ brothers+Bénédicte) + Sr. Từ Hiếu (🎸) + Br. Nhất Ngân (🎹) + Br. Nhất Trúc (🎷)
A Detailed Program: Celebrating Togetherness & Building the Future
1. Island within (acapella choir)
2. Twenty-four brand new hours (sr. Linh Dị reads in English, sr. Một Phương sings in Vietnamese)
Twenty-four brand-new hours.
Waking up this morning, I see the blue sky.
I join my hands in thanks
for the many wonders of life,
for having twenty-four brand-new hours before me.
The sun is rising.
The forest becomes my awareness,
bathed in the sunshine.
I walk across a field of sunflowers.
Tens of thousands of flowers are turned toward the bright east.
My awareness is like the sun.
My hands are sowing seeds for the next harvest.
My ear is filled with the sounds of the rising tide.
In the magnificent sky, clouds are approaching
with joy from many directions.
I can see the fragrant lotus ponds of my homeland.
I can see coconut trees along the rivers.
I can see rice fields stretching, stretching,
laughing at the sun and rain.
Mother Earth gives us coriander, basil, celery, and mint.
Tomorrow, the hills and mountains of the country
will be green again.
Tomorrow, the birds of life will spring up quickly.
Folk poetry will be as sweet as the songs of children.
🌸🌸🌸
3. I am here for you (Sr. Từ Hiếu sings)
4. Walking Amid the Spring (Sr. Hội Nghiêm)
Walking amidst the Spring
Peaceful, unhurried,
My steps stretch along the small path,
In stillness, gazing at a flower, my heart suddenly misses Thầy.
He has gone, yet his spirit fully remains here
In each flower bud, in each leaf,
Upon this beloved land,
Thầy has left us so much
I carefully collect them deep within my memory
I remind my heart to stay awake,
To live steadfast in the ideals Thầy entrusted,
Do not let them fade away
the love for the elders
the love for young ones
the love for friendship,
Even the garden’s flowers are not yet in full bloom.
Even the garden’s flowers are not yet in full bloom
Springtime still brings back the spring,
in the air,
in the grass and trees,
in the scent of flowers,
in the warmth of humanity.
With the Buddha’s feet,
With Thầy’s feet,
I walk amidst the Spring
Warm and passionate like a mother’s love,
Sweet and gentle as her lullaby.
You are the spring,
the warmth,
the love,
the innocence.
You are the fragrance of flowers,
of heaven,
of earth…
You are peace,
Stillness…
You are all.
You are in me, in all beings.
5. Our true heritage (Lower Hamlet Sisters’ dance)
6. The New Hamlet (Sr. Hiến Nghiêm/Sr. Tam Muội reads in English, Sr. Non Sông sings in Vietnamese)
The New Hamlet
This morning I have no matches,
And my fireplace is cold
like a damn autumn day.
My painting is half-finished.
I go to a neighbor to ask for some fire.
(Do you remember as little boys,
We used to do this?)
You ask me what I will do if our neighbor has no fire left.
I answer, “We’ll go singing together”.
I remember what Mother told me,
and we’ll ask you to come along to the new hamlet.
Please don’t forget to sing.
I am sure someone in our hamlet still has fire.
I ask all of you
to hold up your hands
and tell me the truth.
“Do you believe, as I do,
that someone in our hamlet
is keeping the fire alive?”
I know of poor households
where a fire is always kept burning,
with rice husks in the fireplace.
I remember what Mother told me. I’ll not disturbed the good hearth.
I am only gentle placing
onto the burning husks
a handful of straw
and waiting patiently until the smoke rises.
Then with a gentle breath, I revive the flame.
You, my brother, are back today from a long voyage.
Feel the warmth in your heart
while contemplating the light smoke covering our thatched house.
Please come to our hamlet.
We are waiting for you.
Our sister has been keeping the fire alive
in the ancient fireplace.
Your boat follows the stream
without hesitation
under the protecting light of the stars.
Your boat continues to come.
Even as the mist is falling,
there is no need to worry,
because you know
the love today
is enough
to provide warmth for tomorrow.
There is a good fire in my home now.
Please come for a visit.
For many thousands of years,
someone has tried to build a bridge to connect the two sides.
My painting has just been completed.
The colors are still fresh.
We want to show it to you.
The fire crackles joyfully.
We will bring in a few more candles.
7. French Song
Bénis sommes-nous
VF: Frère Bienveillance
Chords: Dm Am C G
Bénis sommes-nous
De vivre debout
Au rythme des sages
Qui font vibrer le son
D’une prière pour la Terre
Tous ceux qui naîtront
Pas à pas tendrement
A la gloire de mon chant.
Souviens-toi, pourquoi sommes-nous là ? | (x2)
Blessed we are
Adapted from a song of Peia Luzzi
Blessed we are
To dance on this ground
Wth the rhythm of the saints
To carry the sound.
In a prayer for the earth
For those yet to come
May we walk in beauty
And remember your song.
Remember why we came here, Remember this life is sacred.
(x2)
8. Life within me (sr Hội Nghiêm)
Life Within Me
I nourish myself with rivers,
With mountains,
With fields
where storks soar to the horizon;
With the vast ocean,
leaving long footprints
on empty shores;
With serene nights
brightly lit
by stars and moon.
I nourish myself
With rolling hills
With morning mist
draping the land
With the glow of the morning fire
appearing each dawn;
With fields of flowers
manifesting in their seasons
With village roads
imprinted
from my childhood.
I nourish myself with dreams
of thousands of years, now continuing onward.
The morning birds joyfully call to each other,
Spreading good news in all directions.
With poetry and melodies
With innocent smiles
With loyal hearts
With love of friends.
I nourish myself with
Boundless things
With the footsteps of Thầy
With my parents’ breaths
With the lifeblood of my ancestors…
Is there any existence that does not shape
life within me?
9. Fundraising for Lower Hamlet: Our History and Vision (sr Mới Lên project it on the screen)
10. Sharing (Sr. Tam Muội)
11. Here and Now | Song by Sr. True Vow … sang by LH sisters (+ brs) | Sr. Từ Hiếu (🎸) + Br. Nhất Ngân (🎹) + Br. Nhất Trúc (🎷)