Rains Retreat Mindful Living Weeks (Lower Hamlet)

True communication begins with ourselves. When we stop, breathe, and listen within, we become more aware of what is happening in us. From this place of presence, we can begin to meet others with understanding and care.

We all experience suffering, misunderstanding, and moments when communication becomes difficult. Sometimes we speak from our hurt, withdraw when we feel misunderstood, or find it difficult to truly listen. Mindful breathing helps us pause, come back to ourselves, and reconnect with our intention: to understand, to care, and to help ourselves and others suffer less. During this week, we will practice deep listening, loving speech, and the art of beginning anew when communication becomes difficult.

We will also explore communication as a continuation of ourselves. What we think, say, and do does not end with us; it continues into the lives of others and the world around us. Together, we will practice ways of communicating that nourish understanding, joy, and peace, and discover how our presence can become a continuation of compassion in the world.

Are we in contact with our young inner child, so vulnerable, so easy to get hurt, but also with their capacity to be joyful and spontaneous?

As adults we each carry that fragile young child inside of us, and maybe our inner teenager too.

During this retreat we will gently, with kindness and compassion, start to open communication with our inner child.

Nurturing our own stability and freshness, together with the support of the Plum Village community, we will learn how to offer a caring presence to our inner child. We will practice to be able to listen to ourselves and to heal the wounds of the past in the present moment. We will learn how to nourish ourselves with their joy as we practice together as a community.

Join us together in person to spend time with teachers from the ZASP course, including Sister True Dedication and Sister Lang Nghiem. Over the course of the week, we will follow a regular Plum Village Rains Retreat schedule while also enjoying Dharma sharings, Q&A, and practices exploring further the themes of the course. It is a great chance to spend informal time with fellow ZASP alumni and to explore how we can integrate teachings and practices from the course further into our lives.

Registration & Payment

Payment Structure 

For retreats from January 3, 2026 onwards, your contribution will be split into two payments:

• Main payment to Bienvenue Aux Pruniers S.A.S. (BAP) for practical retreat aspects (food, accommodation, facilities, administration, taxes)
• Monastery contribution to Congrégation Bouddhique Zen Village des Pruniers (CBZ) to support the monastic community

Your bank statement will show two charges, and you will receive two invoices.

Note: For retreats taking place in 2025 until January 3, 2026, retreat contributions are received by Communaute Bouddhique Zen du Village des Pruniers, the religious nonprofit 1901 association operating our activities from 1988-2025.

Payment Methods

Our online booking system accepts:

• Credit card payments (worldwide)
• European direct debit (SEPA) for European bank accounts

All payments are processed via the secure Stripe payment gateway. We do not store payment details. Due to strict French regulations, we cannot accept cash, cheques, or manual bank transfers for retreat payments.

Cancellation Policy

To ensure fair access for all, we have revised our cancellation policy to encourage participants to book a retreat place only when certain they can attend.

Cancellation by Participants

If you need to cancel:

• 28+ days before arrival: Full refund minus €100 admin & cancellation fee
• 14-27 days before arrival: 50% refund after deducting the €100 non-refundable admin fee
• 13 days or less before arrival: No refunds possible

We strongly recommend obtaining travel insurance to cover retreat cancellation fees in case of unforeseen circumstances, including personal illness or family emergencies.

For those generously coming to Plum Village to help as a volunteer, the cancellation fee is €25 (to cover admin costs).

Cancellation by Plum Village

Plum Village reserves the right to cancel a retreat under any circumstances. If this occurs, you will receive a full refund of all payments made to us, including the admin fee.

Plum Village accepts no further liability beyond the retreat registration fee refund. We cannot be liable for funds spent on advance travel arrangements, such as flight tickets and visas. We strongly recommend obtaining travel insurance that covers this.