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The Living Zen Tradition of the Buddha - Practices at Plum Village - Taking Refuge in the Three Jewels
This year’s winter retreat devotes much time to exploring the meditation practices at Plum Village, grounded in the continuation of the Vietnamese Zen tradition from the Tran dynasty to the present. The focus is on the practice of taking refuge in the Three Jewels—returning to rely on the Three Precious Gems—not merely as a matter of faith, but as a journey of practice that brings peace, solidity, and freedom right in the present moment.
The practice of taking refuge in the Three Jewels consists of three interconnected aspects:
- Returning to rely on the Buddha, discovering the “good seeds” within us—mindfulness, understanding, and compassion.
- Returning to rely on the Dharma, practicing concretely through the breath, mindful steps, eating, and working—mindful manners and precepts are means to nourish mindfulness.
- Returning to rely on the Sangha, sharing the energy of peace through the presence of the community, while maintaining a humble mind so as not to be caught in gain or mistaken reverence.
Alongside exploring the origins and reasons for the birth of Plum Village Dharma doors (walking meditation, silent meals, prostrations, etc.), the retreat also applies the spirit of non-duality (flower–garbage, looking up–looking down) and the teaching of interbeing to be able to receive and to transform all suffering into the substance that nourishes the seeds of joy. The daily schedule is adjusted: waking up one hour earlier, activities close to nature, reducing the use of plastic bags, and nurturing a sense of responsibility toward the environment.
