Healing Spring Monastery

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What to Bring?

Essentials

• Personal towel & toiletries
• Ear plugs and eye mask, if you are a light sleeper.
• Bedding: bed cover, pillow case, blanket case.
• Flashlight
• Alarm clock/device (or you can use your mobile to set an alarm)
• Water bottle/thermos/travel mug
• Water-proof shoes that are easy to slip on and off (for entering & leaving the communal buildings easily)
• Slippers (for using inside your accommodation)
• Umbrella or raincoat
• A copy (digital or paper) of your invoice and travel documents
• Bring enough clothes, we don’t provide a laundry service, except the long period retreat.
• Appropriate clothing that allow you to sit comfortably. We also highly encourage people to wear Tshirt with sleeve and shorts that cover knees.
• Personal medicine if you are prescribed by your health professionals.

Note : Please leave your pets at home. Although we love animals, there is no way to accommodate pets in the monastery.

Autumn & Winter

Bring anything that warms you to support your practice, such as jacket, warm bottle, etc

Summer 

• Wide brim Sun hat to protect from harmful rays as we will have activities outdoors
• High SPF sunscreen
• Insect repellent 

Campers & Caravan

• All camping gear & sleeping bag.
• We don’t recommend you to stay in caravan/car. There is no water, no proper parking space, electricity, or septic hook-ups for caravans.

Sample schedule

Here is what a typical day might look like

• 5:45am: Wake up
• 6:30am: Sitting Meditation(followed by Sutra Reading / Touching the Earth / Slow Walking Meditation)
• 7:15am: Breakfast
• 10:00am: Dharma Talk / Class / Presentation / Mindful service
• 11:30am: Walking meditation in nature
• 12:30pm: Lunch
• 1:30pm: Rest or Optional Guided Relaxation
• 3pm: Dharma sharing or mindful service
• 6pm: Light dinner
• 8pm: Personal study time/ sitting meditation or other collective practice
• 9.30pm: Noble Silence begins
• 10pm: Lights out

Contribution

Reduced Rate: €100/night per person. Dormitory for 2 people (+€20).

Details^{click the star}: €30 – Monastery maintenance (building, garden, vehicle, repairs); €25 – Meals (including for the monastic brothers); €45 – Electricity, water, gas

Sustaining Rate: €150/night per person. Dormitory for 2 people (+€30).

Details : €30 – Monastery maintenance (building, garden, vehicle, repairs); €25 – Meals (including for the monastic brothers; €45 – Electricity, water, gas; €50 – Monastery development, equipment, outreach efforts, and monastic training and education.
This rate also supports participants with financial difficulties, offering them a 25% reduction of the reduced rate.

Generous Rate: €200/night per person. Dormitory for 2 people (+40€).

Details:€30 – Monastery maintenance (building, garden, vehicle, repairs); €25 – Meals (including for the monastic brothers); €45 – Electricity, water, gaz; €50 – Monastery development, equipment, outreach efforts, and monastic training and education; €50 – Building construction/renovation, major repairs, accommodation development, and maintaining a welcoming space for all. This contribution also supports participants in financial hardship by offering greater help for retreat access and provides support for our volunteers.

Scholarship Rate: a 25% additional support from the Reduced Rate. €100 – €25 = €75/night per person

Details: We aim to ensure financial hardship does not prevent anyone from practicing. We don’t offer 100% scholarship but we may provide reductions based on individual needs. If you genuinely require assistance, Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us, but only after you have completed your reservation.

For over 40 years, the Plum Village Tradition, founded by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh and supported by monastic and lay communities, has been offering mindfulness retreats that bring transformation and hope to individuals, families, and society. These retreats have touched countless lives, helping people find peace and purpose across all areas of life.

Healing Spring Monastery continues this mission, offering retreats in English, French, and Vietnamese every weekend. Contributions from these retreats are donation to strengthen and expand our monastery and support the monastic community. Living simply, with few possessions and no personal income or bank accounts, our monastic community is devoted to a life of service. Contributions from our visitors plays a vital role in sustaining monastic life and maintaining the monastery.

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