Dear Friends,

After expressing our aspirations for the Solar New Year, we welcomed a long and deep drenching rain to the hidden valley this January. The waterfall returned to life, cascading over tall boulders to flow under the bridge of the walking meditation path; seated by the flowing creek below, we enjoyed the refreshing music of gurgling water, while birds waded and children splashed happily in puddles. Thầy’s memorial ceremony on January 10th was a solemn occasion for lay friends and monastics to celebrate together the life of our teacher one year after his passing. Tết, the Lunar New Year in the Vietnamese culture, followed joyfully in mid-January. In the weeks of preparation we participated in its many wonderful traditions, such as making earth cakes, and cleaning and decorating with spring flowers and ornamental trees.

Registration for the Wake Up Retreat, for young people aged 17-35, on April 2-8 is now open! Sign up here. Remember to save the date of April 15 so you may join us for the Rhythm of the Earth Mindful Music Festival, a fundraiser for the new monastic residence.

We wish you good health, contentment, and steadiness of mind and body. Enjoy practicing the parallel verses for this year: “Peace in every step” and “Freedom in every smile.”

The Monastics of Deer Park Monastery

Share Coyote Tracks

Tết Returns Inside Me Like That

by a Plum Tree Sister in Deer Park

Though I’ve been alive for over two decades now, Tết (Lunar New Year) is still new to me. Living full-time in the monastery and wearing the brown robe every day, I don’t have the feeling of excited expectation—like most young people in Vietnam—to receive and we … (read the full article here).

Tết Photo Gallery

Dharma Talk

Sister Uyển Nghiêm gives an overview of the beautiful traditions of Tết with a poetry interpretation.

Upcoming events

Feb 19-25: Mindful Hiking Retreat

March 26: Dana Day of Mindfulness in the Los Angeles area. More information coming soon.

April 2-8: Wake Up Retreat (ages 17-35)

April 15: Rhythm of the Earth Mindful Music Festival. This is a fundraiser event for building a new monks’ residence. More information coming soon.