Memorial Practice Sessions for Our Beloved Teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh

The International Plum Village Community of Engaged Buddhism announced that our beloved teacher Thich Nhat Hanh passed away peacefully at Từ Hiếu Temple in Huế, Vietnam, at 00:00hrs on 22nd January, 2022, at the age of 95.

With the transition of our beloved teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh, we at MCPS are joining in with the global commemorative gatherings from our sangha and on Zoom. We invite you to join us as you are able. We will be adding to our resources page, with offerings that have been shared at previous memorial practices.  Our regular on-going practices are continuing online.

Friday Gatherings – Honoring Thay // Friday, February 4 – Friday, March 11, 2022 & Saturday March 12 Honoring Thay and a 49-day Ceremony 

You are invited to practice with MCPS this Friday and Saturday in honor of our beloved teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh, for our 49th Day Ceremonies.
These events will be held both in person at Dharma Gate and online. No sign-up is necessary to practice at Dharma Gate. Please dress for the weather, and, as we are navigating decreased COVID danger with responsibility, request at least vaccinations & masks to attend.

Please access these memorial practice sessions with this Zoom link:
Zoom Link (with more details and dial up number at the bottom of this page)

Friday evening practices:
Friday March 11 — 4:30pm – 6 pm PST
Indoor sitting and walking meditation
A 49th Day Ceremony on including chanting and touching the Earth

Saturday March 12 // Honoring Thay and a 49-day Ceremony 
At Memorial Garden at Dharma Gate in-person in the morning to welcome the stone for Thay: “Breathe You Are Alive”

8am arriving
8:30 am walking meditation outside
9:30 am ceremony at memorial garden for the 49th Day, and welcoming Thay’s memorial stone
10:30 am Dharma talk online with “Sister D” broadcast of talk live from Deer Park Monastery
Noon Lunch Informal (Five Contemplations and 10-minute in silence together)
(optional break)
13:00 Total Relaxation / Sangha Nap (optional break)

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Sunday, March 13// Practice as you see fit. Here are some links to encourage you. This might include being a part of the monastic-led offerings including the ceremony of spreading Thay’s Ashes at Plum Village France during this early morning and day.

Memorial Retreats for Thầy’s 49th day of passing 

  • Deer Park Monastery: We Have a Path // Information [here]
  • Blue Cliff Monastery: Thay’s Memorial Retreat // Information [here]
  • Plum Village: Coming & Going in Freedom // Information [here]

*Bring a copy of the Plum Village Chanting and Recitation book if you have one, some copies will be provided. It is not necessary to have, but optional if you would like to follow along with the ceremony.

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Friday Gatherings – Honoring Thay // We have a variety of ways to practice together on Fridays within the 49-days of practice for his continuation. This includes self-directed practice and practicing together as a sangha through zoom and in-person on a limited basis and following current community guidelines on practicing in-person.

We will be gathering on zoom (and in-person on a limited basis) from 4:30 until 6 pm PST, while the morning and mid-day practices are self-directed.

  • Morning Practice with the Great Bell, self-directed <Deer Park Youtube Channel>
  • Lunch Practice with Four Elements of Love, self-directed <Plum Village.org App>
  • Listening to a Dharma Talk as a Sangha, streamed recorded talk – 4:30p-6 pm PST (zoom)
  • Gathering for a Candlelight service as a Sangha, 7pm-8pm PST (zoom)

** Hybrid Practice Schedule on Zoom or at Dharma Gate (on a limited basis)**

(Morning and Midday practice self-directed as suggested or as you are called)

4:30pm Pacific – broadcasted talk from Thay or Plum Village Tradition Dharma teachers.

6:00pm Pacific – close. 

(Optional Practice On Your Own)

Choose one mindful activity to make a practice for the day. Something simple with minimal additional time commitment, something you may already do. Here are a few examples:

Mindful Lunch – Self-directed, no link provided, no time constraints.

The first four mouthfuls, practice Formal Meal Ceremony*

With the first mouthful I practice the love which brings joy.

With the second mouthful I practice the love which relieves pain

With the third mouthful I practice the happiness of being alive

With the fourth mouthful I practice love for all beings

*Plum Village Chanting and Recitation Book

Mindful Steps – every-time you walk to the bathroom or the kitchen, or from your car to the office, count your steps, coordinate your steps with your breathing at whatever speed you are walking or moving. 

Mindful Breaths – ten breaths in mindfulness as you start and end your day. One pause in the middle of your day to come back to your breathing. No time constraint. No right or wrong.

Mindful Rest – take it easy! practice total relaxation (See Plum Village App). take a nap. 

*See Plum Village App and plumvillage.org for practice ideas.

Please access our memorial practice sessions with this Zoom link:
Zoom Link
OR
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87846659260?pwd=Z1ZSa1h1dGJDRkhCeTVLYitkdWE2Zz09
Meeting ID: 878 4665 9260
Passcode: 090646
One tap mobile
+12532158782,,87846659260#,,,,*090646# US (Tacoma)
+16699006833,,87846659260#,,,,*090646# US (San Jose)