Announcing the Happy Farm & New Monks’ Residence Completion at Deer Park
Welcoming the Lunar New Year with a solid connection to Mother Earth
Dear beloved community,
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 presence in daily life.
We joyfully celebrate the long-awaited completion of the new monastic residence in Solidity Hamlet. Thanks to the support of our community, our monastic brothers have moved in just in time for the Lunar New Year.
Reflect on the year 2024 with the latest issue of Hidden Mountain Record. Brew some tea, settle in, and immerse yourself in the stories of transformation from our community.
On January 23, 2025, a fire destroyed the Purple Cloud building in Lower Hamlet, home to Thay’s room. Read about what happened and how you can support the rebuilding efforts.
Our gates are open on most Sundays this spring for our Day of Mindfulness events; we hope you will register and join us in the hidden mountain.
May Mother Nature find a cool and healing respite from human activity in this new chapter. We send our peace and compassion to all the people who have experienced or are experiencing violence and war, wildfire and destruction, and numerous other catastrophes, manmade or otherwise. May the harsh change bring new awakenings and possibilities.
Peace on the path,
Your Brothers and Sisters at Deer Park Monastery
A Joyful Beginning: The Happy Farm at Deer Park Monastery
We are happy to share the establishment of Happy Farm at Deer Park Monastery, a continuation of the beautiful tradition of Happy Farms in Plum Village, France. This initiative is a manifestation of our aspiration to live in harmony with Mother Earth, nourish sustainable agriculture, and cultivate mindfulness practice in our daily life around the farm. Read more about Happy Farm here.
We welcome you to join us for “Nourish the Soil: Starting the Deer Park Happy Farm” Event on Saturday, March 8. Bring a shovel and let’s dive in together!
If you are interested in living at Deer Park while laying the groundwork for Happy Farm, we welcome you to apply for our 6-month volunteer program here.
Hidden Mountain Record – Issue #2 Available
We are happy to announce that Hidden Mountain Record issue #2, which recaps the year 2024, is now available. Pour your tea, sip slowly and mindfully, and immerse yourself in the activity of reading the Hidden Mountain Record.
A Message of Gratitude to the Supporters of the New Monks Residence
We mindfully share with immense gratitude the wonderful news that our monastic brothers have now moved into our new residence—just in time for the 2025 Lunar New Year. After many years of waiting and with the loving support of our community, this long-cherished aspiration has finally been realized. Read the fully story here.
Zen and the Art of Mindful Living: Mindful Week at Dartmouth with The Buddha The Scientist Symposium
Join monastics from Deer Park Monastery and Magnolia Grove Monastery at Dartmouth College, April 1 - 7, 2025, for a week of mindfulness practice and the Buddha the Scientist Symposium.
“There were many memorable moments, but hearing the scientists share their research and how changing our diets could save the planet was very inspiring.” — The Buddha the Scientist Participant, 2023
The symposium will explore how scientific knowledge and Buddhist wisdom can be combined to create lasting solutions that impact the world. Registration is now open.
Mindfulness As A Foundation For Health: The Buddha the Scientist Symposium & Retreat in Vancouver
The Mindfulness As A Foundation For Health Retreat offers a transformative opportunity to immerse yourself in the practice of mindfulness in the serene setting of UBC in Vancouver, Canada. From May 16-20, 2025, this retreat invites participants to cultivate presence, peace, and insight through guided meditation, walking meditation, mindful eating, and periods of noble silence, all under the guidance of Zen Buddhist monastics from Plum Village and Deer Park Monasteries. Registration is now open for the retreat and symposium.
On May 20, 2025, the retreat will conclude with The Buddha the Scientist Symposium (hybrid in-person + livestream) which invites scientists from around North America to explore the intersection of Buddhism, psychology, and neuroscience through the embodied practice of mindfulness. Register to join us in person (Vancouver) here or to join virtually via livestream here.
Help Rebuild Plum Village
In the early hours of January 23, 2025, the oldest building of Lower Hamlet went up in flames. In this article, you can read more about what happened and how you can support. Join our brothers and sisters in solidarity to help rebuild The Purple Cloud building, where Thay’s room was located. Read more and donate here.
Deepen Your Practice: Waking Up
Waking up this morning, I smile.
Twenty-four brand-new hours are before me.
I vow to live fully in each moment
and to look at all beings with eyes of compassion.
Read the full practice article here.
How Do I Love Thee: a Poem for Deer Park
I love thee in the depths of gratitude that I feel every day,
Knowing you are there practicing on the Hidden Mountain —
With each other, with plants of sage and toyon, with birds and coyote, and
With the ancestors of blood, land and spirit.
Looking Ahead:
March 8 - Nourish the Soil: Starting the Deer Park Happy Farm
April 1 – 7 – Zen and the Art of Mindful Living: Mindful Week at Dartmouth
April 11 - Thích Nhất Hạnh Way Co-Naming Ceremony in New York City
April 27 – May 3 – Wake Up Retreat (registration open)
May 8 - June 1 — Viet Wake Up Tour
May 11 - Vesak
June 17 - 21 - Family Retreat
July 8 - 12 - Teen Camp