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As scientists, we have to challenge ourselves. We know that we need a mind that is clear – a mind that is not overloaded with grief, worries, anxiety and despair – a mind that is free from prejudices, notions, even knowledge, so that we can make progress on the path of learning and discovery.
— Thich Nhat Hanh
A Shared Quest
At the heart of both the scientific and meditative journey lies a shared aspiration: the desire to understand and to discover. Yet, to truly encounter the truth, we must release our fixed views, prejudices, and cherished assumptions—only then can we see the world with fresh eyes.
Training The Mind
Plum Village will host a transformative retreat with the theme of science and the art of healing. For this retreat, we extend a special welcome to scientists, clinicians, therapists, social scientists, contemplatives and scholars in the humanities. We invite you to experience a deeply interwoven ecology of practices—ancient in origin yet consonant with the latest scientific insights. Together, we will strengthen our capacity to dwell in the present moment, refine our intuition, and cultivate profound openness of mind.
Living Insight
Through inspiring talks by senior monastics and distinguished guest speakers, we will integrate the wisdom of Buddhism and science to illuminate the most urgent questions of our time. Together, we will explore resilience—both personal and collective—and delve into the nature of mind and reality.
Nourishing Body & Mind
The retreat fee includes all meals, unlimited tea, and retreat activities, offering a fully immersive experience in a peaceful, contemplative environment.
A Retreat of Inquiry & Practice
This is not a silent retreat but rather a harmonious blend of learning, deep contemplation, and mindful living. Our daily schedule includes:
- Dharma Talks – Teachings from senior monastic Dharma teachers
- Guided Meditation Practices – Walking, sitting, and mindful eating
- Walking Meditation – Amidst the serene countryside of southern France
- Scientific Panels & Discussions
– Engaging presentations by distinguished guest speakers - Mindful Sharing Circles
– Small “families” meet daily to reflect and listen deeply - Time for Personal Reflection & Renewal
– Space for exercise, rest, and connection
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Register in Lower Hamlet or Upper Hamlet
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FAQ
What is the design of the retreat? How will we spend our time?
The retreat will be facilitated by the Plum Village monastics and include panel sharings by distinguished guest speakers. Together, we will dedicate our time to cultivating resilience and fostering empathetic human connections through the teachings of the Plum Village Zen tradition. This includes practices such as mindfulness, managing deep emotions, speaking without blame, listening deeply, honoring Mother Earth, and more.
Arrival and Departure
Please arrive at Plum Village on June 20th, no later than 7.30pm. On June 27th is our departure day, and you are welcome to check out from your accommodation by 9.30am, and depart the premises by 12pm. It’s important to keep the energy of the group and the flow of the retreat intact. Therefore we’re sorry, but we can’t accommodate late arrivals or early departures for the retreat. Thank you for understanding!
Where Is Plum Village Located and How to Get There?
Plum Village is located about 85 km east of Bordeaux, France. The retreat will be co-hosted in Upper Hamlet, the home of the monks, and Lower Hamlet, the home of the nuns. The address of Upper Hamlet is 437 Chemin du Pey, 24240 Thénac, France. The address of Lower Hamlet is 1336 Route de Lalande, 47120 Loubès-Bernac, France. They are within walking distance (3km) of each other. The nearest train station is Sainte Foy La Grande. The nearest airport is Bergerac or Bordeaux. You can choose to stay in either hamlet. Single men can register in Upper Hamlet only.
Accommodations
Accommodation will be a mix of single and shared rooms. The space is limited and we will accommodate on a first come first served basis. All accommodation types are comfortable but modest and simple. Do not expect any luxuries.
What type of food will be served or how are the meals?
All Plum Village meals are vegan: vegetarian with neither dairy nor eggs, and our staples are usually rice (brown and white), oats, bread, and rice noodles. Everything is prepared fresh from mostly local organic ingredients by the monastics and volunteers (expect to sample some amazing Vietnamese cuisine). We are vegan to nourish our compassion and protect our planet. Food will be served buffet-style.
Internet & Telephone
During the retreat, please also give your cell phone and Internet a retreat. Only access the Internet for urgent purposes.
Please remember to put an auto-response on your email, to make all your travel arrangements, and have a copy of your travel documents before you arrive.
We recommend asking friends & family to support your retreat by limiting phone communication (you could arrange a specific day to check messages or make a call).
Dress Code & What to pack
To respect and support our collective energy of practice, we ask everyone to wear modest, loose-fitting clothes at all times. Please wear only clothes that fully cover your shoulders, chest, back, arms (to the elbow) and legs past the knees. You may find a light shawl handy. Please do not wear shorts, hot pants, tank tops, short dresses and so on. If your clothing is too revealing, you may not be able to enter the Meditation Halls. These are sacred spaces. Bring layers and comfortable clothing for sitting.
Suggestions on what to bring:
- Toiletries
- Ear plugs and eye mask for light sleepers
- Flashlight
- Alarm clock/device
- Water bottle/thermos/travel mug
- Shoes that are easy to slip on and off (for entering and leaving the communal building easily)
- Slippers (for using inside your accommodation)
- Insect repellent (mosquito, & potentially ticks, chiggers)
- Sunscreen and sun hats
- Picnic blanket if you enjoy sitting on the grass
- Journal or notebook
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Speakers
Sebern brought together neurofeedback and psychotherapy to treat adults affected by early trauma. A pioneer in this field, she has trained clinicians around the world.
Ruth is passionate about understanding the first-person experience of traumatized individuals throughout treatment and how it relates to brain functioning.
She is regarded as a leading specialist in the mind-body effects of trauma and neuroscience-based approaches to trauma treatment.
Dr. Frank Corrigan & Dr. Jessica Christie-Sands
Frank and Jessica developed “Deep Brain Reorienting”, which embodies a natural healing process consonant with the evolutionary process of the developing brain and nervous system.
Tracy is an American Neuroscientist and Chief Science Officer at BrainMind.
Over the last two decades her research has explored the neural and physiological mechanisms underlying attention and emotion regulation, and the development of novel neurophenomenological methods for studying meditation, closed-loop BCI systems, and altered states of consciousness.
Mark is a philosopher and cognitive scientist exploring the nature of human cognition. His research focuses on predictive processing—how the mind generates knowledge-driven predictions—and integrates this with 4E cognition (embodied, embedded, enacted, and extended), which highlights the role of the body and environment in shaping thought. Currently, he investigates how advances in cognitive science and neuroscience can help us understand the effects of technology on happiness and well-being. His work spans human-computer interaction, socio-technical systems, and human flourishing, offering new perspectives on the intersection of mind, technology, and well-being. He’s also the host of The Contemplative Science Podcast.
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Retreat Organizers & Speakers
“Sister Hero” became a nun in 2003 and a Dharma Teacher in 2006.
She is dedicated to studying and practicing the gems of Buddhist psychology in light of the collective consciousness of our times, and to share the living insights with beings near and far.
Originally from Vietnam, Sister Lang Nghiem and her family immigrated to America in 1979 where she completed postgraduate studies in biology. It is from Thầy that she learned to be comfortable in her own skin and to feel at home wherever she is.
Br. Phap Linh, also known as Brother Spirit, began his monastic training with Thich Nhat Hanh in 2008. Before ordaining he studied mathematics at Cambridge and worked professionally as a composer.
A co-founder of the Wake Up Movement for young people, today he is actively engaged in teaching applied mindfulness to climate activists, business leaders, artists, and scientists. Br. Phap Linh is passionate about exploring how meditators and scientists can help each other to go further on the path of understanding and discovery.
In the spring of 2026, he will publish Are You Sure? a book co-authored with Thich Nhat Hanh, exploring the intersection of Buddhist psychology and science.
Lay Organizers
Elli has a BFA fine arts, MES environment, PhD in medical science. She has worked internationally facilitating and researching mindfulness workshops and retreats within the sectors of education, healthcare and business. Currently based at the University of Toronto with a joint appointment in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Arts & Sciences, teaches in the undergraduate Buddhism, Psychology and Mental health Program, with a joint appointment to the Dalla Lana School of Public Health. Elli’s program of research draws upon the work of Thich Nhat Hanh to explore the impact of Applied Mindfulness on workplace environments, with a focus on Education and Healthcare settings. She attended her first retreat with Zen Master and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Thich Nhat Hanh at the age of eleven and has continued to train with his international Plum Village community. Elli’s novel background in both academic research and traditional mindfulness practice provides a distinct approach to her ongoing work teaching and researching in the field.
Nho Anh Tran
Nho Anh Tran spent many years living in Buddhist monasteries of the Thich Nhat Hanh Plum Village tradition all over the world. Living in an international and diverse community, she has learned the art of engaging mindfulness in issues related to family dynamics, community building, cultural influence, social justice, interreligious and inter-cultural dialogue, peace talks, and integrative corporate leadership. She has a joint degree in Cognitive Neuroscience and Religion from the University of Southern California, and an M.Div. from Harvard Divinity School. She is currently a Ph.D. Candidate at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
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Additional information
- Sample schedule
- Information about our hamlets
- Accommodation and pricing
- Cancellation policy
- Transportation, what to wear, what to bring, and meals