We invite you to pause, take a deep breath, and gently receive this month’s newsletter, filled with mindfulness offerings and volunteer opportunities at Deer Park Monastery.

A delegation of Dharma Teachers are traveling around the East Coast this month to visit Dartmouth for the fourth year in a row, as well as visits to Harvard and New York City for various events, including a Peace Walk “In the Footsteps of Thay” and Hiking Zen Mindful Walk in Prospect Park.

Back at home, the nuns of Clarity Hamlet are looking forward to welcoming friends for Mother Daughter Weekend and Brother Phap Dung will joyfully begin facilitating the Americanizing Buddhism course.

We are happy to announce that a delegation of monastics will be traveling to Alaska again this year for our annual Alaska Mindfulness Retreat. We are just a few weeks out from the Rhythm of the Earth Mindful Music Festival. Lastly, we are still looking for volunteers to offer their presence during Teen Camp this summer.

As you settle in with this month’s issue of Coyote Tracks, we invite you to embrace the happiness that is available in this present moment.

With heartfelt gratitude,
Your Brothers and Sisters at Deer Park

Deer Park Happy Farm Spring Opening

A short clip capturing our joyful (and sweaty!) day opening Happy Farm on February 28th—where many hands and hearts came together to create something beautiful.

In the Footsteps of Thay: Peace Walk in New York City

Join Deer Park monastics for a mindful walking meditation, “In the Footsteps of Thay,” on April 25 (11am–1pm) in New York City. The event honors Thay’s legacy and offers participants a chance to practice walking meditation together while reflecting on a meaningful period in his life.

Hiking Zen Mindful Walk in Prospect Park

Join Monastics from Deer Park and Magnolia Grove Monasteries for a 90-minute mindful walk through Prospect Park on Sunday, April 26th from 10am to noon. This special event offers a chance to slow down, connect with the present moment, and experience the healing power of mindful walking.

May 9: Rhythm of the Earth Mindful Music Festival

We welcome you to join us for our third Annual Rhythm of the Earth Mindful Music Festival. This is an invitation to slow down, breathe deeply, and reconnect—with the rhythms of the Earth, with one another, and with the simple joy of being alive. Bring your friends, your smile, and your open heart for a day of good tunes, mindful presence, and celebration in nature—all in support of the Thich Nhat Hanh School of Interbeing. Ticket prices go up on May 8th.

Alaska Mindfulness Retreat

Join Deer Park Monastics in Alaska for a mindfulness retreat co-hosted by Floating Leaf Sangha, August 27- 30, 2026. Registration opens this Friday, April 17.

Reflections on Tết and the Beginning of the Action Wake Up House

Resident Advisor of Action Wake Up, Veronica, shares her reflections on Lunar New Year (Tết) and the joyful beginnings of the Action Wake Up House in Simplicity Hamlet. Read the full article here.

Volunteers Wanted for Teen Camp

We are looking for volunteers for Teen Camp and Family Retreat this summer. This is an opportunity to deepen your practice through joyful service, support young people and families on the path of mindfulness, and be part of a vibrant, intergenerational sangha. In this Love Letter, a friend of Deer Park describes how volunteering for a recent Teen Camp has profoundly changed her and her relationship with Deer Park. She expresses gratitude for the opportunity to work side-by-side with monastics, aspirants, and other volunteers in planting and watering seeds of joy and love.

Apply to Volunteer

Americanizing Buddhism: Evolving a Living Buddhist Tradition in America

Brother Phap Dung will be hosting a new in-person & online course this spring, Americanizing Buddhism: Evolving A Living Buddhist Tradition in America. This hybrid course will be taught live in person on Saturday evenings and the recordings will be available for folks joining online. Starting this Saturday, April 18 and continuing through June 13, 2026. Register here.

Dartmouth Retreat: Cultivating Compassion & Understanding with Mindfulness

Join us in New Hampshire for a two-day, non-residential mindfulness retreat at Dartmouth College. This will be our fourth year visiting Dartmouth, now a valued campus tradition, offering simple and profound mindfulness practices for meeting strong emotions, navigating difficulty, and remembering our shared humanity.

The Thich Nhat Hanh School of Interbeing is Hiring Teachers

The Thich Nhat Hanh School of Interbeing is searching for Founding Teachers. If you or someone you know feels called to support this vision of education grounded in wisdom and compassion, we warmly encourage you to apply or share this opportunity. View open career opportunities with the school here.

Colorado Mindfulness Retreat

The Sun My Heart Retreat • August 9–15 • Estes Park, CO

Join us for a nourishing week of mindfulness practice in the Plum Village tradition. This family-friendly retreat invites us to slow down, reconnect with nature, and cultivate healing in ourselves and our communities. Learn more & register here.

Deepen Your Practice: Helping Children with Anger and Other Strong Emotions

This article explains that strong emotions in children are like temporary storms that can be calmed with mindful awareness. Adults can support children by practicing deep, slow breathing together, helping them feel safe and grounded. Read article here.

Love Letter to Deer Park

Click here to read about a volunteer’s reflection on her transformative experience supporting Teen Camp at Deer Park, recalling the joy, challenges, and deep sense of community shared with teens and monastics.

Looking Ahead:

• April 18–19, 2026 - Dartmouth Retreat: Cultivating Compassion & Understanding with Mindfulness [New Hampshire]

• April 18 - June 13, 2026 - Americanizing Buddhism: Evolving A Living Buddhist Tradition in America [Online or In-person Course]

• April 23, 2026 - Online; Joyful TNH School of Interbeing Parent Gathering

• April 25, 2026 - Peace Walk “In the Footsteps of Thay” in New York City

• April 25, 2026 - New York Day of Mindfulness (Event is full)

• April 26, 2026 - Hiking Zen Mindful Walk in Prospect Park [Brooklyn, NY]

• May 9, 2026 - Rhythm of the Earth Mindful Music Festival

• May 15, 2026 - BIPOC Mindfulness Weekend (Event is full; waitlist only)

• May 28, 2026 - Online; Joyful TNH School of Interbeing Parent Gathering

• June 2026 - Happy Families Change the World Course (registration coming soon)

• June 5 - 7, 2026 - Art & Mindfulness Theme Weekend in Clarity Hamlet

• June 23 - 28, 2026 - Teen Camp and Teen Camp Volunteer applications open now

• July 12 - 18, 2026 - Family Retreat (waitlist only)

• Aug 9 - 15, 2026 - The Sun My Heart Retreat (Estes Park, Colorado)

• August 27 - 30, 2026 - Alaska Mindfulness Retreat (Registration opens Friday)

• Sept 23 - Oct 3, 2026 - The Buddha the Scientist Retreat

• October 4, 2026 - The Buddha the Scientist Symposium @ UCSD

View All Events on our Events Calendar here.

As we welcome the freshness of spring, let this season remind us to breathe deeply, embrace new beginnings, and cultivate kindness toward ourselves and others. We are currently in the middle of the Wake Up Retreat, our annual mindfulness retreat for friends ages 18-35. Over the weekend we offered a Chanting for Peace Ceremony to send our prayers to those affected by war and violence. A delegation of Dharma Teachers will be traveling to the East Coast next week to visit Dartmouth for the fourth year in a row, as well as visits to Harvard and New York City for various events, including a Thich Nhat Hanh Memorial Walk down Thich Nhat Hanh Way on April 25th.

“Breathing in, I see the flowers bloom. Breathing out, I smile to the spring.”

In this month’s issue of Coyote Tracks, you’ll find volunteer opportunities and various offerings to help you to take refuge within yourself and our sangha, finding an inner island of peace, stability, and compassion.

We are happy to announce that Rains Retreat 2026-27 applications are now open. Rhythm of the Earth Mindful Music Festival tickets are now on sale. Teen Camp registration and the Family Retreat lottery opens tomorrow as well.

Enjoy your mindful breathing as you read the March issue of Coyote Tracks.

With heartfelt gratitude,
Your Brothers and Sisters at Deer Park

Rhythm of the Earth Mindful Music Festival Tickets Now On Sale

Tickets are now on sale for our 3rd Annual Rhythm of the Earth Mindful Music Festival. This is an invitation to slow down, breathe deeply, and reconnect—with the rhythms of the Earth, with one another, and with the simple joy of being alive. Bring your friends, your smile, and your open heart for a day of good tunes, mindful presence, and celebration in nature—all in support of the Thich Nhat Hanh School of Interbeing. Reserve your tickets (or an entire dorm room) here.

Volunteers Wanted for Teen Camp

We are looking for volunteers for Teen Camp and Family Retreat this summer. This is an opportunity to deepen your practice through joyful service, support young people and families on the path of mindfulness, and be part of a vibrant, intergenerational sangha. Before, during, and after a special retreat, we need additional help, so we are inviting mindfulness practitioners who have already attended a 7-day retreat (or longer) at Deer Park to apply for the volunteer program. If you cannot volunteer this year, we invite you to spread the word to your sangha. If your heart feels called to serve, learn, and grow alongside our community this summer, we warmly welcome you to apply. Your presence makes a difference.

Apply to Volunteer

Hiking Zen Book Signing & Walking Meditation [South Park, San Diego]

Join Brother Phap Luu, co-author of Hiking Zen: Train Your Mind in Nature, for a mindful walk followed by book signing and reading at The Book Catapult in South Park on April 4th. Learn more & reserve your spot here.

Americanizing Buddhism: Evolving a Living Buddhist Tradition in America

Brother Phap Dung will be hosting a new in-person & online course this spring, Americanizing Buddhism: Evolving A Living Buddhist Tradition in America. This hybrid course will be taught live in person on Saturday evenings and the recordings will be available for folks joining online. NEW DATES: April 18 - June 13, 2026. Register here.

750+ Gathered for Walk for Peace LA

On Saturday, February 14, 2026, over 750 people gathered in the heart of downtown Los Angeles for a silent Walk for Peace hosted by Sangha House LA and Deer Park Monastery. Read the full article, watch the videos, and view photos here.

Dartmouth Retreat: Cultivating Compassion & Understanding with Mindfulness

Join us in New Hampshire for a two-day, non-residential mindfulness retreat at Dartmouth College. This will be our fourth year visiting Dartmouth, now a valued campus tradition, offering simple and profound mindfulness practices for meeting strong emotions, navigating difficulty, and remembering our shared humanity.
Learn more & register here.

The Thich Nhat Hanh School of Interbeing is Hiring Teachers

The Thich Nhat Hanh School of Interbeing is searching for Founding Teachers. If you or someone you know feels called to support this vision of education grounded in wisdom and compassion, we warmly encourage you to apply or share this opportunity. View open career opportunities with the school here.

Colorado Mindfulness Retreat

The Sun My Heart Retreat • August 9–15 • Estes Park, CO

Join us for a nourishing week of mindfulness practice in the Plum Village tradition. This family-friendly retreat invites us to slow down, reconnect with nature, and cultivate healing in ourselves and our communities. Learn more & register here.

Deepen Your Practice: Taking Refuge

Learn how to take refuge within yourself during dangerous or difficult moments, or whenever you feel overwhelmed or disconnected. This practice helps you return to your inner island of calm and stability—and concludes with a beautiful song rendition to deepen the experience. Read the full article here.

Not a Choice, a Current: A Homecoming to Deer Park

One of our newest Dharma teachers shares her journey of practice that has led to moving into a lay community and helping to found the Thích Nhất Hạnh School of Interbeing. Read the full Mindfulness Bell article here.

Introducing Living Gems

The Plum Village community is delighted to launch Living Gems. After nearly three years of careful collecting, restoring, and organizing Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings, the archive is ready to be shared with the world. Learn more here.

Love Letter to Deer Park: Watering Seeds of Mindfulness

A friend of Deer Park shares how community activities were challenging for her, but she knew she was where she needed to be. Read the love letter here.

Looking Ahead:

• March 19, 2026 - Online Joyful TNH School of Interbeing Parent Gathering

• March 27-29, 2026 - Theme Weekend in Clarity (nuns) Hamlet only: Fermentation and Meditation (Register here)

• April 4, 2026 - Happy Farm Community Work Day

• April 4, 2026 - Hiking Zen Book Signing & Walking Meditation [San Diego]

• April 18–19, 2026 - Dartmouth Retreat: Cultivating Compassion & Understanding with Mindfulness [New Hampshire]

• Apr 18 - Jun 13, 2026 - Americanizing Buddhism: Evolving A Living Buddhist Tradition in America [Online or In-person Course]

• April 25, 2026 - Peace Walk “In the Footsteps of Thay” in New York City

• April 25, 2026 - New York Day of Mindfulness (more information coming soon)

• April 26, 2026 - Hiking Zen Mindful Walk in Prospect Park [Brooklyn, NY]

• May 9, 2026 - Rhythm of the Earth Mindful Music Festival

• Happy Families Change the World Course (Dates TBD; coming later this Spring)

• June 23 - 28, 2026 - Teen Camp (registration opens on March 20; volunteer applications open now)

• July 12 - 18, 2026 - Family Retreat (lottery opens on March 20 at 9am PT)

View All Events on our Events Calendar here.

As the first hints of spring stir beneath the soil, we arrive together at a significant threshold: Tết, the Lunar New Year, and the beginning of the Year of the Fire Horse.

Tết is our tradition’s most cherished celebration. It is a time for togetherness as well as a sacred pause to bow to what has been, to tend what is here, and to…

Read more

As we step together into this new year, we pause to bow in gratitude for all that has been and to open our hearts to what is unfolding. May 2026 be a year of deepened practice, tender connection, and renewed commitment to walking the path of mindfulness — for ourselves, for one another, and for our precious Earth.

We are happy to s…

Read more

As 2025 draws to a close, we pause with joy and gratitude to reflect on our journey together. This year, our community has grown and flourished, welcoming new friends while cherishing long-standing ones. Thank you for your continued support and connection. We look forward to seeing you all in the new year, whether that be in person…

Read more

On this day before Thanksgiving, we pause to honor the land ancestors—the Luiseño people of the Kumeyaay Nation, the indigenous peoples who tended this sacred mountain with wisdom and reverence, and all the plants, animals, minerals, and elements that continue to nourish our lives.

With gratitude for their endurance and teachings, and with …

Read more

As the maple trees ripen to red and the dewy morning air turns crisp and cool, our Sangha continues to gather in gratitude, remembrance, and renewal. Earlier this month, more than two hundred friends joined us for our annual Day of the Dead celebration, honoring our ancestors and all those who have walked this path…

Read more

This week, we pause in mindfulness to honor the Indigenous Peoples of this land on which Deer Park Monastery now rests. Long before we arrived, the Kumeyaay and Luiseño peoples lived, loved, and practiced their ways of harmony—with one another and with the natural world.

Their presence is still alive in the stones …

Read more

A historic moment is approaching for our global spiritual family. Plum Village practitioners around the world are invited to host local “fire-building sessions” to shape our collective future. We invite you to read more about this important initiative in September’s issue of Coyote Tracks.

We are happy to announce a second cohort o…

Read more

The footsteps on the dirt path to the Stupa quietly remain as reminders of our friends who visited last weekend during our annual Vietnamese Retreat. This was a special time of deep practice, cultural celebration, and connection across generations.

In this month’s issue of Coyote Tracks, we are delighted to share several joyful ann…

Read more

Our annual Family Retreat concluded with many joyful footsteps and tender moments of connection. The sound of children’s laughter still echoes through the trees in the Oak Grove in Clarity Hamlet. Now, the monastery is alive with the vibrant energy of Teen Camp, as we welcome many young people who are practicing together with sinc…

Read more

Read more

We are happily celebrating the partial completion of a newly paved road here in the Hidden Mountain. Thank you to all who donated to the Road Repairs fundraiser.

If you are looking for peace and practice, we invite you to come stay with us this year for an upcoming Special Retreat, such as the Vietnamese Retreat or Rains Retreat, o…

Read more

On April 11th, New York City officially named “Thích Nhất Hạnh Way” at the intersection of Broadway and West 109th Street, honoring our teacher and globally revered Zen Master Thích Nhất Hạnh. Read about the events of the day and view photos here.

It is with great joy that we share with you the dawn of a new Deer Park online exper…

Read more

Engaged Buddhism Speaker Series:

Meeting Today’s World with the Bodhisattva’s Eyes and Hands

with Roshi Joan Halifax, PhD

Thursday, April 24, 2025

2:00pm – 3:30pm
U.S. Pacific Time

Held on Zoom

Learn More

Read more

As we welcome spring, we embrace the season of renewal, growth, and transformation. Just as nature awakens, we too have the opportunity to cultivate fresh energy in our practice and our daily lives.

In this issue, we are honored to share that Thích Nhất Hạnh will be commemorated in New York City with the co-naming of West 109th Street as Thí…

Read more

Happy Lunar New Year of the Snake! How auspicious for Deer Park - a transformative year to shed the old and begin anew.

We are excited to introduce Happy Farm, following in the footsteps of Plum Village's regenerative farming tradition. This initiative integrates mindfulness with sustainable agriculture, cultivating both food and …

Read more

As we begin this new year amidst the challenges of natural disasters and other hardships, we are reminded of the preciousness of life and the refuge we find in practicing mindfulness in community, which helps us to cultivate hope, compassion, and peace in the face of adversity.

Last weekend, we honored Thầy’s passing with deep gratit…

Read more

As 2024 comes to a close, we invite you to practice looking deeply at the year that has passed while planting seeds of compassion and mindfulness for the year ahead.

We are over halfway through the Rains Retreat as well as the “Who is Thich Nhat Hanh?” online course, attended by over five hundred friends from around the world. We are…

Read more

In these challenging times, we recognize that the landscape of our world feels especially turbulent and uncertain. Many of us are experiencing a mix of emotions: worry, sadness, frustration, anger and fatigue. With such profound global shifts and personal upheavals, it’s more important than ever to find spaces of peace, refuge, and …

Read more