Dear Friends,

In celebration of International Women's Day, we offer you teachings by Deer Park nuns and women practitioners, including writing by Sister D on her visit to meet Thay at the root temple in Vietnam (look out for her new book, Flowers in the Dark), Laura Hunter on service and freedom through spiritual friendship with the nuns and monks of Deer Park, and Sister Clear Dignity on the miracle of the waterfall.

Deer Park starts its Spring Season with the new moon today. Join us for a Day of Mindfulness, including a talk by Sister Bamboo (Truc Nghiem) at 10:15am, Pacific.

Have you expressed gratitude for a woman in your life yet today? You may like to stop, come back to your breathing, and recite to her the mantra: "Darling, I know you are there, and I am so happy."

With peace and love,

The Monks and Nuns of Deer Park Monastery

Meeting Thầy’s Life Force — deerparkmonastery.org

by Sister Dang Nghiem

I had the opportunity to see Thay at the root temple, Tu Hieu, in March 2019. Thay was eating breakfast when I walked in. He looked at me intently as I knelt with joined palms. “Dear Thay, I am your child and disciple,” I said. Thay smiled and nodded several times. I settled on the floor by his feet as Thay returned to his breakfast.

Flowers in the Dark — www.parallax.org

A new book by Sister Dang Nghiem

Learn the accessible and deeply compassionate practices for healing trauma, known as the Five Strengths of applied Zen Buddhism. More than a philosophy, these body-based practices are backed by modern neuroscience research, and they can be applied by anyone suffering from trauma to begin experiencing relief.

Day of Mindfulness — deerparkmonastery.org

March 14, 2021 @ 5:45 am – 11:30 am PDT

We are back with an online day of mindfulness, beginning with a guided meditation from the Ocean of Meditation Hall, followed by walking meditation as we practice together in nature, and then a dharma talk by Sư Cô Trúc Nghiêm at 10:15 am PDT (use the Zoom links to receive language translation).

Spiritual Friendship — deerparkmonastery.org

by Laura Hunter

"The greatest gift of Deer Park is that I learned a way to be in the world that allows a future to be possible, and I met others walking in that same direction."

The Brook — deerparkmonastery.org

by Sister Trang Thanh Ɖoan (Sister Clear Dignity)

One day, when I went up to the meditation hall, I heard the sound of the waterfall and some words arose in my mind. The waterfall was a miracle; it happens so rarely on this land. I felt so calm, peaceful and free, and I wanted to make a poem about it.

Practicing with Unpleasant Emotions — www.youtube.com

A short (10 min) teaching by Thich Nhat Hanh

Every time a painful feeling is born, we go home and take good care of our feelings with the practice of mindfulness. Mindfulness here is like a mother coming to hold and embrace the pain that is crying out to us. This is the practice of love: telling our painful emotions, "Darling I know you suffer. That is why I am here for you."