The Art of Inner Healing

Befriending ourselves, rediscovering our inner wisdom

Join us for an inspiring three-day retreat online

Join us live from Plum Village for a powerful and transformative 3-day weekend retreat online. Allow the monastic teachers to guide you through essential practices developed by Thich Nhat Hanh to restore peace, wellbeing and healing in your body and mind.

If we want to reconcile with our family or with friends who have hurt us, we have to take care of ourselves first. If we’re not capable of listening to ourselves, how can we listen to another person? If we don’t know how to recognise our own suffering, it won’t be possible to bring peace and harmony into our relationships.

Thich Nhat Hanh

This retreat is offered and hosted by the monastic sisters of New Hamlet. The retreat will be in offered in English, Japanese and Mandarin.

A three-day journey to cultivate love and healing for ourselves

Featuring specially-curated guided meditations, inspiring exercises, and relaxations

Connect live to an international community

Generating a collective energy of mindfulness

Intimate group interactions with monastics

Join a group of 16-20 people, guided by a monastic. These “Dharma Sharing” groups are a unique Plum Village offering and a highlight of the retreat. It’s a great way to enjoy live interaction, and to hear, learn, and connect deeply with people from many different countries and backgrounds. Dharma Sharing also provides a chance to ask questions to the monastics and receive guidance or recommendations for deepening your mindfulness practice.

Exclusive talks from senior teachers trained by Thich Nhat Hanh

Broadcast live from Plum Village, France and the Root Temple, Vietnam

Sister Dinh Nghiem

Friday, 14 May: Befriending our Inner Child

Are we truly home in our own body and mind? Do we have a habit of seeking distractions in order to run away from ourselves? Learn the art of cultivating true presence, ease, and joy in our daily life by developing the energy of mindfulness, concentration, and insight. Through simple yet profound teachings and exercises, we will learn the art of stopping and come home to our body and mind so that we can take good care of ourselves, thus laying the groundwork for befriending our inner child.


Sister Lang Nghiem

Saturday, 15 May: Rediscovering our True Nature

How can we develop unconditional love for ourselves and love those around us unconditionally? What are the root causes of anxiety, loneliness, and fear that are preventing us from realizing our ideal self? By diving deep into the workings of our mind and listening tenderly to our inner voices, we come to understand the wounded inner child in ourselves and in our parents and ancestors, thus opening the path of healing and transformation.


Sister Chan Duc

Sunday, 16 May: Reconciliation and Healing

How can we stop being the victim of our own cycle of suffering and find liberation on the path of happiness? With the understanding of the interbeing nature of time and space, we can heal the past by healing the present moment. When we experience a paradigm shift at the base of our consciousness, we will be able to act out of love rather than fear, and experience deep peace, contentment, and harmony in ourselves and in our relationships with others.


Special Presentations

Sister Hoi Nghiem

Beginning Anew Practice

Restoring communication with ourselves and our loved ones

In this presentation, we will walk you through the art of mindful communication and conflict resolution that can help us clear up misunderstandings, communicate more honestly and openly with our family, friends, and colleagues, and heal relationships. When we’re upset with someone, we’re often afraid to say anything. We tell ourselves, “Oh, it’s just a small matter; it’s not important.” But the accumulation of many small issues can create an explosive situation and deep wounds, and can even cause relationships to break. When practiced regularly, beginning anew will bring deeper understanding and harmony to any relationship.


Sister Chan Khong

Total Relaxation and Touching the Earth

Reconnecting with our ancestors, descendants, and all beings beyond time and space

In a simple act of bowing down and surrendering to the earth, the practice of Touching the Earth helps us reconnect with ourselves, our blood and spiritual ancestors, and the mother earth. We will be guided through this ancient meditation practice using a form of intimate conversation. This deeply healing and transformative practice has the capacity to purify and release our past sufferings and bring back the joy of being alive. When we can transcend our limited view of our existence as a separate self, we can truly understand the meaning of Interbeing and Oneness with all beings. It is also an opportunity to heal our relationships through forgiveness and to embrace our ancestors, parents, teachers, and ourselves.

Retreat Program

Please note the schedule for the retreat in Mandarin and Japanese is different, please refer to more information in the Chinese and Japanese websites.

All times displayed in

08:15

Mindful exercise (optional)

09:00

Guided sitting meditation and sutra reading

11:15

Singing meditation

11:30

Dharma talk – Befriending our Inner Child

13:30

Outdoor walking meditation (optional)

16:00

Deep lying down meditation

17:30

Dharma Sharing in small groups

20:00

Mindful dinner (optional)

22:00

Guided sitting meditation

08:15

Mindful exercise (optional)

09:00

Guided sitting meditation and sutra reading

11:15

Singing meditation

11:30

Dharma talk – Rediscovering our True Nature

13:30

Outdoor walking meditation (optional)

16:00

Deep lying down meditation

17:30

Dharma Sharing in small groups

20:00

Mindful dinner (optional)

22:00

Beginning Anew practice

08:15

Mindful exercise (optional)

09:00

Guided sitting meditation and sutra reading

11:15

Chanting by monastics

11:30

Dharma talk – Reconciliation and Healing

13:30

Outdoor walking meditation (optional)

16:00

Touching the Earth practice

17:30

Sharing in small groups

20:00

Mindful dinner (optional)

22:00

Sitting meditation, music and closing circles

All streamed content will be uploaded after the session, and will be available to everyone who has registered for six months.

Resource Package

Exclusive Video: How to Create a Retreat at Home

Inspiration for transforming your space and readying your heart and mind

Calligraphies

New artwork from the monastics to print and post around your home

40% off Parallax Press classics

Special offers on the recommended reading to accompany your retreat

A live follow-up session and a workbook

A special-curated workbook offered only during this retreat to accompany your journey after the retreat and an online follow-up session led by Dharma Teachers.

What is like to attend a Plum Village retreat at home?

What was particularly helpful is to bring the retreat spirit into my own home, making the integration into daily life easier.

Judith, The Netherlands

I was delighted to feel that retreat feeling in my house, sitting, listening, breathing with others. It showed me that when you get a sangha together, even online, the Plum Village peacemaking magic still happens

Joe Holtaway, United Kingdom

The energy of Plum Village infused my whole home, the loneliness of quarantine dissolved, and I finished the three days feeling nourished, refreshed and inspired.

Aoise O’Dwyer, Ireland

Experiences from previous Plum Village Online Retreats

Register

You can choose the contribution that suits your financial means, all options give the same retreat access.

The Dharma Sharing group now is closed.

The registration for the retreat in Mandarin and Japanese is seperate, please register via the Chinese and Japanese websites.

We do not want the financial aspect to keep you from participating. If you want to attend an online retreat and your budget does not allow for it at this moment, please email us at nh-office@plumvillage.org to apply for a further reduction.

Questions about the program

How much time do I need to follow this retreat?

This is a 3-day retreat, Friday morning to Sunday evening. Ideally, it is best if you can clear your days from other commitments so you can fully participate and savor the peaceful energy of the retreat, even when you are not following a scheduled session.

Each day there is a morning session from 07.00 to 11.30 (CET), which includes an optional 30-minute guided exercise session and a one-hour break for breakfast. The afternoon session is from 14.00-17.00 each day and starts with relaxation followed by “Dharma sharing” (breakout groups). The evening session is from 20.00. We recommend you always arrive a few minutes early to set up your computer connection. 

Please note that you can choose to opt-in or opt-out of the three “Dharma sharing” afternoon sessions (3.30-5pm each day). If you opt-in, we ask that you commit to join all three sessions, on time, so the group can have a strong collective experience. To avoid disturbing the group, we will not be able to admit people to the Dharma Sharing sessions once they have started.

Please also organise some time before the retreat starts, to familiarise yourself with the videos and information in the “How to Enjoy Your Online Retreat” package, and set up a peaceful corner of your home where you can have an internet connection. We hope that this immersive and interactive experience will help you strengthen your mindfulness practice and establish the spirit of Plum Village right in your home.

If I can’t join one of the sessions, can I still follow the other sessions?

We encourage you to attend as much of the retreat as possible to get the greatest benefit from the practice. Please note that if you wish to join the 3 Dharma Sharing sessions, you will need to follow the Dharma Talk in the morning in order to “unlock” the Dharma Sharing session in the afternoon. To support the collective shared experience, it is not possible to join the Dharma Sharing if you have not attended the Dharma Talk.

If I can’t join a session live, can I watch it later?

Yes, we try to livestream all sessions to our platform so you can follow both there and on Zoom. The recording of this livestream will remain available afterwards.

What is “Dharma Sharing” or “breakout groups”? 

In this retreat, the Dharma Sharing is a smaller break-out group of 20-25 participants, led by a monastic. It gives us a chance to listen deeply, to speak from the heart, and benefit from each other’s insights and experience of practicing mindfulness. We can share our experiences, our joys, our difficulties, and our questions relating to the teachings in the retreat, and the mindfulness practices we are following together.

What do I need to prepare before joining this retreat? 

Please organise your time and commitments, so you have space from the morning of Friday, May 14th, to the evening of Sunday, May 16th, to fully participate in the retreat. A few days before the retreat starts, you’ll receive a digital package with information and resources on how to prepare yourself and your environment so you can really enjoy the retreat. Please allow an hour or two before Friday morning to familiarize yourself with these materials and set up your computer correctly.

You’re invited to prepare a room or corner in your home where you can be online, undisturbed. It is important that you are not interrupted during the various sessions, so you may like to communicate with loved ones, or other people you live with, to ask for their support in this. If you are participating in the Dharma Sharing groups, it will be important for you to log-on from a private space where you can share without others hearing you.

If I have a question about the teachings given during the retreat, where / when can I ask it?

The Dharma Sharing break-out groups are the ideal time to ask questions from the heart about the teachings you have heard and practices we are following together. You can also write a question in the comments below the video of a particular talk.

Will I be able to interact with the monastics directly? Eg. Can I ask them a question and get an answer?

The Dharma Sharing break-out groups offer a rare opportunity to join a circle facilitated by a monastic. If you are interested in connecting with the monastics, we strongly encourage you to make the commitment to opt-in to the three Dharma Sharing sessions. Our teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh, taught us that Dharma Sharing break-out groups are the most powerful way to learn and grow in our mindfulness practice. Please note that these sessions are not direct question-and-answer sessions, but a group where questions are addressed collectively.

I live with other people. Can I still join the retreat?

Yes, you do not need to be in a hut on a mountain to enjoy this retreat. So long as you have a quiet corner or room where you can be undisturbed, and perhaps have space to stretch and do the mindful movements, you will be able to enjoy the retreat fully. You may need headphones, and if you are joining Dharma Sharing, somewhere in the house where you can speak without being heard by others.

You can explain to those you live with your intention in joining the retreat and ask for their support. The idea is not to cut yourself off from them, but to generate a strong energy of mindfulness, peace and presence, during the sessions, that you can bring to your in-person interactions off-screen over the course of the weekend. You will be able to apply many of the teachings on deep listening, mindful eating and so on, right away!

Is this retreat appropriate for all ages? Can children or teenagers join?

This retreat is designed as an adult learning experience, but anyone is welcome to join the meditations, talks, movement and relaxations. Please note that in the Dharma Sharing breakout groups themes may spontaneously arise that are not appropriate for teenagers or children, and so it is not possible to register participants under 18 for the Dharma Sharing groups. We are currently exploring how we can offer a different, more tailored experience for children and teens online. Please check our events listing for future announcements.

I haven’t done a retreat before. Will I be able to follow this one?

This retreat is accessible to those new to the practice, and will be a refreshing and deepening experience for those who have been practicing mindfulness for some time. It is a precious chance to connect directly with our spiritual community, and to meet like-minded people.

What language will the retreat be given in?
I’m not in Europe. Can I join from a different time zone? Will I miss anything?

The retreats will be offered in English, Mandarin Chinese and Japanese. The schedule are different according to time-zones. Please refer to the respective registration pages.

Is there any translation for the live sessions?

Currently there is no translation planned for this retreat. If you are bilingual, and have experience offering simultaneous translation for the Dharma talks (teachings) and would like to offer to translate, please email the technical team, and we will see what may be possible: onlineretreats@plumvillage.org


Questions about tech issues

What do I need to join this retreat? Do I need to install anything? Do I need any special equipment?

This retreat will be delivered to you through your web browser and the Zoom app. When following the live events you can choose to join via Zoom or via the embedded video in your browser (link will be provided in advance). If you are opting-in to Dharma Sharing (the smaller breakout groups), you will need to install the Zoom software and you will need a webcam on your computer or tablet, so people can see you (just as you will see others). It is also preferable to have headphones, ideally with a microphone.

What quality will the videos be streamed in?

We try to livestream on 720p, but some of our Plum Village hamlets do not have strong enough internet so it may be limited to 480p. After the retreat we will upload all content in 1080p for your enjoyment.

I don’t have a very stable internet connection. Can I still join the retreat?

It depends how unstable. Your viewing quality is similar to watching something on youtube. So if that is a pleasant enough experience, then yes you can join this retreat. But for Dharma Sharing others might find it difficult to hear you. You can ask permission to turn off your camera, so others can hear you better.

Can I join the retreat from my phone?

Yes, when you subscribe you will receive an email with instructions and telephone numbers to join us via Zoom. You will only be able to follow the live sessions; it is not possible to join Dharma Sharing sessions from a phone.

Do I have to open my camera or can I join just audio?

Yes you can join only via audio, you do not have to start your camera, you can also choose only to watch via our platform. Only when you join the Dharma Sharing session, everybody is asked to start their camera to create a safe environment.

Will I be able to save and keep the recordings after the retreat?

All the recordings will be available afterwards on our platform, for you to access for six months. You will not be able to download them. 

If I have technical difficulties with my setup, who do I contact?

You’re invited to breathe, pray, or send an email to nh-office@plumvillage.org


Questions about registration

How are the “breakout groups” formed? Can I choose which breakout group to join? 

The groups will be assigned by the monastics, based on our experience of creating diverse yet balanced groups. It is not possible to assign you to a chosen facilitator or to be in a group with friends. 

What is my registration fee paying for?

Your contribution will go towards food, lodging, and healthcare for our community of 700 monastics in ten mindfulness practice centers worldwide. It will also enable us to invest in technical infrastructure in terms of internet, cameras, and equipment, so we can offer more teachings live online, with direct contact between monastics and practitioners. Without your support, we would be unable to sustain our community or offer the Dharma online.

Is there a refund option if I need to cancel my registration?

We can offer a full refund within 30 days of your payment. 

If I cannot afford the lowest scholarship fee, can I apply for a further reduction?

We do not want the financial aspect to keep you from participating. If you want to attend an online retreat and your budget does not allow for it at this moment, please email us at nh-office@plumvillage.org to apply for a further reduction.   

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What is Mindfulness

Thich Nhat Hanh January 15, 2020

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