This talk details the spring retreat at Upper Hamlet, focusing on mindful breathing practices facilitated by bell sounds, which invite participants to return to themselves with three deep breaths. Mindful breathing brings calm, peace, and happiness, connecting with life’s wonders. Observing serene actions in others can also remind us to breathe mindfully. Mindfulness practices benefit both ourselves and the community. Embrace each moment without longing for what is absent, akin to bamboo swaying freely in the wind or a lake reflecting a bird. Thich Nhat Hanh’s story of a river teaches finding peace in the present rather than chasing fleeting desires. Mindfulness practices like breathing, listening to the bell, walking, and eating embody inner freedom and peace. Nirvana signifies reality beyond perceptions, transcending existence and non-existence. Recognizing illusions in perceptions, especially in relationships, helps release suffering and misconceptions, connecting deeply with reality. Nirvana is liberation from misconceptions and suffering.