How to Have a Peaceful Holiday
In the December issue of Coyote Tracks, we are here to support you in cultivating peace and mindfulness during the holiday season.
Dear Beloved Friends,
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 grateful that the Dharma is reaching far and wide especially during turbulent times.
Here at Deer Park and within the Global Plum Village community, we continue to offer practices, Dharma content, and events designed to support your emotional and spiritual landscape, wherever you may be. May these offerings remind us of our capacity for compassion, resilience, and deep connection as we walk together on the path of mindfulness.
In this spirit, we’re pleased to share a few of our recent gatherings and upcoming opportunities, which we hope will offer insight, connection, and encouragement as you nurture peace within yourself and the world.
We look forward to celebrating the holidays with you, whether that be in person or online.
With peace and gratitude,
The Monastics of Deer Park Monastery
Annual Egg Roll Making for Thanksgiving
Every Thanksgiving, the Deer Park community shows gratitude to the fire department, police department, lay friends, and local businesses who have supported us throughout the year by preparing thousands of vegan egg rolls and delivering them to their homes or places of business. This year, our Sangha made 3,500 egg rolls!
Make Black Friday Brown Replay
On the day after Thanksgiving, we came together to support one another in resisting the temptation to acquire more things, re-establishing our sense of sovereignty and belonging, and reminding ourselves that we were enough and had more than enough conditions to be happy in that very moment.
The rush to spend money is often depicted as a sign of a healthy economy and an example of holiday spirit. However, focusing so much energy and attention on consuming and buying also waters seeds of craving, anger, and anxiety, leaving shoppers feeling empty despite having a carload of gifts to put under the tree. Watch the replay of our Make Black Friday Brown event here.
Mindful Week at Dartmouth College 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. We are excited about our lineup of speakers and registration will open soon.
Meet the Monastics: Sister Phu Nghiem
Sister Phu Nghiem reflects on her challenges and growth within the monastic community, including starting Magnolia Grove Monastery and balancing responsibilities with self-care. She emphasizes the importance of mindfulness in cultivating a rhythm of life that fosters well-being and honest relationships. As she now supports her aging mother, also a nun, she views this as a unique chapter of learning and joy, blending her spiritual and familial roles. Listen to the episode here.
Deepen Your Practice: Hugging Meditation
In his book Happiness, Thay writes about how we can use a simple, three-breath hug to cultivate closeness with our loved ones. Read his advice and try it for yourself.
Monks’ Residence is Almost Complete
We are deeply grateful for all the volunteers and everyone who contributed to this project in so many ways. This has been an incredible Sangha-building experience, fostering deep connections and shared learning. As we anticipate the need for continued support with landscaping and other ongoing tasks, we warmly invite you to apply to volunteer to support with landscaping and finishing touches.
Plan Your 2025 Trip to Deer Park
We welcome you to deepen your mindfulness practice with us here in the mountains of Escondido, CA. Save the dates for a themed retreat or check back on our website in the new year for seasonal retreats. View the 2025 Events & Retreats schedule here.
Looking Ahead:
December 22, 2024 — Day of Mindfulness
December 24, 2024 — Christmas Eve Day of Mindfulness (in-person and live-streamed on YouTube)
December 29, 2024 – January 03, 2025 — Holiday Retreat: Love in Action
January 12 – Pravāraṇā Ceremony to end the 2024 Rains Retreat
January 19 – Memorial Ceremony on the Third Year of Thầy’s Passing
January 28 – Lunar New Year’s Eve (Tết) Ceremony and Celebration
January 29 – Offering Respects to Elders, Oracle Readings
January 30 – Oracle Readings
February 9 – 22 – Deer Park India Pilgrimage (registration is closed)
March 25 – TNH Center for Mindfulness in Public Health Symposium at Harvard
April 1 – April 7 – Mindful Week at Dartmouth College with the Buddha the Scientist Symposium