Mindfulness Practices for Thanksgiving Week
Nourish your mind and body this week and beyond
Dear friends,
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 awareness of the deep suffering carried in this land, we renew our vow to walk gently, practice harmony, and offer our presence as a gift of healing.
As the holidays invite both gratitude and busyness, this is a precious opportunity to slow down, reconnect, and nourish ourselves from the inside out.
For those of you who are unable to join us in person, we warmly invite you to join us in collective practice: our annual Make Black Friday Brown virtual gathering, and a 7-Day Qigong Practice Routine for Well-being offered freely as a way to cultivate peace, spaciousness, and connection for ourselves and for the Earth.
May our mindful steps, breaths, and actions be an offering of love to the ancestors, the land, and to one another.
This Thanksgiving Week, let’s return to our bodies, our breath, and our true home.
In gratitude,
The Monks and Nuns of Deer Park Monastery
Make “Black Friday” Brown With Us
In response to the frenzy of over-consumption on the day after Thanksgiving, the Deer Park sangha is offering “Brown Friday,” an online mindfulness gathering and fundraiser that celebrates moderation, belonging, and mindful living instead of buying more stuff.
Friday, November 28
9:30am-11:00 a.m PST
MST: 10:30 a.m – 12:00 p.m
CST: 11:30 a.m – 1:00 p.m
EST: 12:30 p.m – 2:00 p.m
Join us on Zoom live on Friday or catch the replay on our YouTube channel.
7-Day Qigong Practice for Well-Being
Brother Insight is happy to share a special 7-day Qigong Practice Routine Series! Follow along on YouTube here — all are welcome.
Poetry as a Spiritual Practice: Honoring Dr. Larry Ward
Next Thursday, join us for an evening of poetry, spiritual practice, and remembrance. Hosted by Deer Park and The Lotus Institute, this online event is open to all and celebrates the life and poetry of Dr. Larry Ward. Learn more & register here.
An Opportunity for Right Livelihood
Start the New Year off practicing Right Livelihood. Deer Park is hiring an Assistant Registrar to support the operational needs of the monastery. This is a part-time position (20 hrs/week) based at Deer Park Monastery in Escondido, California, requiring regular in-person attendance at the monastery. Learn more and apply here.