La Source Guérissante (LSG) or the Healing Spring, is a Monastery and a Mindfulness Practice Center in the tradition of Plum Village founded by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. It is located in Verdelot, Seine et Marne, Ile de France. The monastery is permanently inhabited by a group of monastic brothers, who practice and serve as a community.
Short History
This convent — which was established by Augustinian sisters of Meaux, who left the place around 2000 — has been transformed into a Plum Village Monastery or, as we prefer to call it, Mindfulness Practice Center. The center has a beautiful living space, surrounded by 1.8 hectares of green hills. It has a peaceful atmosphere, conducive to cultivation of the mind in the process of Transformation and Healing. Nearby there is a Sacred Spring, which is the focus of many legends. This spring offers the name to our center — La Source Guérissante (The Healing Spring)
Activities
At Healing Spring we host mostly on Sundays (Mindfulness Day) and also organize Residential Mindfulness Retreats. We offer a refuge that is close to nature while, at the same time, being quite accessible through public transportation coming from the capital city, Paris (85 minutes from Gare de l’Est).
In a 40-minute walk, there is also a Center for the monastic sisters — La Maison de L’inspir. Sisters and brothers have separate activities and come together a few times per month, such as for our days of mindfulness and co-organizing retreats.Our beloved teacher Thich Nhat Hanh said: “everyone knows that peace must begin with oneself, but few people know how to do it.” At La Source Guérissante, we will have the opportunity to learn this, supported by the monastic community and all those around us.
Upcoming Retreat
Rain Retreat 2024 – 2025 Ceremony
Mindfulness
The Practices
Fundamental Practices
Other Practices
Engaged Ethics
5 Mindfulness Trainings
14 Mindfulness Trainings
Book
Key books from Thich Nhat Hanh
Engaged Buddhism
Retreats & Events
La Source guérissante regularly offers retreats and Day of Mindfulness throughout the year. At this moment our Day of Mindfulness is conducted in French only (without English translation). Please check the schedule in French.
The monastic brothers are happy to welcome you at our humble and simple accommodation in our monastery.
Announcement about contribution price : Healing Spring Monastery will implement a new contribution system with four pricing options starting on the retreat of December 20, 2024. This system will allow individuals with higher incomes to support the monastic community, the monastery, and friends with more modest means. We hope that, with this new system, more people—especially those facing financial difficulties—will be able to attend the retreats. Thank you very much for your understanding and support. We deeply appreciate all forms of contributions with heartfelt gratitude. 🙏
Upcoming Retreats
Calendar of Healing Spring Monastery
Healing Spring Monastery brothers would like to welcome you to practice in the weekend. A simple program may help everyone to slow down, recharge and be nourished by peace and happiness.
Planting Trees, Refreshing Our Body & Mind in the Autumn
This retreat is a heartfelt weekend dedicated to mindfulness practices, with tree planting as the day’s central activity, accompanied by sitting meditation, walking meditation, and mindful eating.
Weekend Retreat at Healing Spring – Winter
An opportunity to practice with the monastic brothers. The simple program allows you to slow down, rest, and be nourished by peace and togetherness
Weekend Retreat at Healing Spring – Winter
An opportunity to practice with the monastic brothers. The simple program allows you to slow down, rest, and be nourished by peace and togetherness
There are more activities in French here
There is some important information about the retreat :
Finding your way to La Source Guérissante
Healing Spring Monastery
2 Rue Pascal Jardin 77510 Verdelot France
La Source Guérissante (LSG) is located 80-90 km east of Paris.
Address
La Source Guérissante (LSG)
2 rue Pascal Jardin, 77510 Verdelot
By car
It takes 1h – 1h30 to come to the monastery by car from Center of Paris City, when there is no traffic jam. Calculate your itinerary
By car-sharing
Please share the seats of your vehicle if possible, thank you very much.🙏
Shuttle Service
Due to our limited capacity, the monastery doesn’t provide shuttle from/to La Ferté-sous-Jouarre
By public transport
It may take about 2 hours traveling from Paris with public transport to Verdelot.
We invite you to use ViaNavigo to make your itinerary
Train & Bus
From Paris you have several options:
- by train from Gare Paris Est to Gare de La Ferté-sous-Jouarre or
- by bus from Marne-la-Vallée-Chessy train station to La Ferté-sous-Jouarre train station.
From Ferté sous Jouarre train station you may take a bus ligne 34 and stop at “Brice/Pont”, 2-3 minutes walking to monastery.
⚠️ Attention ! The Train and Bus Schedule can be different in week day and in weekend.
Paris Gare de l’est – La Ferté sous Jouarre – La Source Guérissante
Paris Marne la vallée Chessy- La Ferté sous Jouarre – La Source Guérissante
Taxi
The taxi costs between 35 and 50 euros for one trip. Taxi Numbers based in La Ferté-sous-Jouarre
Contact
Let’s keep in touch.
Before you write your question, please read carefully the information on our website :
Retreat :
- Please note we do not offer stays outside of the dates on the website. Consult the calendar here
- Activities in French can be found here
- Women will mostly practice with the sisters in Maison de l’inspir, see their program here (The nuns only offer program in French)
- Please make a reservation of a retreat before asking reduction.
- We do not have volunteers program at the moment, but if you are interested you may leave us a message to express your generosity, we will contact you if we are in need.
Spiritual guidance
We do not have one-on-one service for spiritual advice or guidance, we suggest everyone to join our retreat in one of our center worldwide.
Please take your time to ask your question by filling up the form below:
Donate
Recognizing the importance of having a space dedicated to cultivating peace and happiness, like our Monastery and practice center, you may feel inspired to support our mission. Your contributions, whether financial or through donations of essential items, are immeasurably precious in sustaining our community. We are deeply grateful for your generosity and the impact it makes in strengthening a space of mindfulness and well-being for all.
If you are planning to offer a significant amount of financial support, or you need more information about our projects of social service, please contact us here
Donation of daily essential items
It is also possible to offer food and cleaning products to the monastery. You can purchase the items online and ship to the monastery. In order to protect environment and also the health of monastic community, we suggest you to only give:
- Organic and Vegan food in bulk in order to reduce plastic waste such as rice, lentils, kidney beans or others, oats, vegetables milk, vegetable oil, etc.
- Environment friendly cleaning products in bulk such as hand soap, laundry detergent, hand dishwashing gel and other cleaning products.
here is the example of the online shop
Delivery : La Source Guérissante (LSG) : 2 rue Pascal Jardin, 77510 Verdelot
message : Donation for Monastery
