Dear Friends and Fellow Practitioners,
This week, we pause in mindfulness to honor the Indigenous Peoples of this land on which Deer Park Monastery now rests. Long before we arrived, the Kumeyaay and Luiseño peoples lived, loved, and practiced their ways of harmony—with one another and with the natural world.
Their presence is still alive in the stones and streams, in the whisper of the wind through the chaparral, and in the laughter of the coyotes at dawn and dusk. As we walk each day upon this sacred earth, we vow to keep their spirit of harmony alive—not only by remembering them, but by continuing their way of deep reverence for all beings: the four-legged, the winged, the rooted, the flowing, and the blowing. May our steps and actions reflect their wisdom of interbeing with the rocks and mountains, the air and waters, the Earth and the vast sky.
In the last few days, our community celebrated the birthday of our beloved teacher, Thầy, whose friendship with the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. remains a living symbol of spiritual kinship across traditions. Together, they envisioned what Dr. King called the Beloved Community—a world founded on understanding, nonviolence, and love. Here at Deer Park, we continue this shared dream of community by caring for the land, reducing our human impact, growing our food, producing our own energy, and soon nurturing our children, and cherishing our elders. In doing so, we walk the same path as the first peoples of this land, who understood that caring for the Earth is caring for ourselves. This is the path of the Beloved Community, the Village Way, the Community of Resistance, or the Community of Mindful Living.
At a time when fear, hatred, and division are spreading like wildfires across this continent, we are called to be steadfast and courageous. We do not fight hatred with hatred; we resist it by producing the energy of love, by trusting that peace and compassion will prevail. This is not a dream—it is our daily practice, our faith made visible in each mindful breath, each kind word, each gentle glance, and each act of understanding.
We invite all sanghas and practitioners, near and far, to generate loving thoughts and compassionate speech as we go about our daily work and service. Let us write a new story for our society—one not dictated by the voices of fear, but composed from the music of our collective awakening. We must show our young people that there is another way, a path of wisdom, courage, and love.
On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and in celebration of our beloved teacher Thầy’s birthday, we offer a song inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s timeless speech, “I have a dream,” and the rich spiritual tradition of the Black American Church. May this song awaken in us the strength to stand firm in the face of despair, and the faith to walk hand in hand toward the higher ground of love. We shall not lose heart, for we know that America—north, south, center, and beyond—still carries within her the capacity for compassion, justice, peace and freedom. This is the true America, the one that embraces all beings and all colors within the great circle of humanity.
Let us remind ourselves to remember this truth.
Deep gratitude and trust,
Brother Phap Dung
Thay’s Continuation Day: A Moment of Gratitude
To celebrate the continuation of our beloved teacher, we are delighted to share these heartfelt reflections of gratitude and transformation, offered by monastics, Dharma teachers, and lay friends, across our multi-fold Sangha. Read the full article here.
A Happy Harvest from the Happy Farm
We’re excited to invite you to our final Happy Farm Community Volunteer Day of the season on Saturday, October 18th. This will be our last gathering before winter, as we plant cover crops and finish up the final harvest—produce that will be shared with volunteers as a thank-you for their support. It’s been an incredible first season on the Happy Farm, with over 1,000 pounds of zucchini harvested to nourish our monastic and resident community, and more than 60 volunteers joining our first service day. Throughout the season, your hands, hearts, and presence have helped cultivate a truly thriving farm. We’re deeply grateful for the love and energy you’ve shared and look forward to planting new seeds together when the next season begins in February 2026. Learn more or sign up here: Happy Farm Community Work Day – Oct 18.
Host a Sangha Fire-Building Session
You are invited to host a local “fire-building session” over the coming year to strengthen bonds, deepen aspirations, and prepare for the 2026 OI Retreat and Council. These local gatherings—open to all committed practitioners—will include shared practices and Dharma sharing. Read the full announcement here.
Who is Thich Nhat Hanh? Course Begins
Last weekend, Brother Phap Luu opened the second cohort of the Who is Thich Nhat Hanh? course over Zoom. Although the course began on October 11, registration remains open until the end of the month. This online course offers a deep dive into the wisdom and insights of one of the most influential spiritual leaders of our time, Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh (Thay). Replays are available so you can catch up with the content at your earliest convenience.
Buddhist Community Gathering
Hosted by the Vista Buddhist Temple, join us for the 7th annual Buddhist Community Gathering on Saturday, November 15 from 1-3PM. This year’s theme is “Resistance and Regeneration Amidst the Chaos”. Click here to register for the gathering over Zoom.
Ordination Ceremony: October 19
We welcome you to join us for an Ordination Ceremony to welcome our new monastics. Register to join us at Deer Park this Sunday
Opening of the Rains Retreat: Oct 26
Featuring a Dharma Talk with Brother Phap Dung followed by a Ceremony to open the Rains Retreat, we invite you to join us for this special Day of Mindfulness practice on October 26.
New Dates Available for General Practice Retreats in Solidity & Clarity Hamlets
Looking for some peace in nature this fall? We invite you to stay with us for a General Practice Retreat. Throughout the duration of one or two weeks, you spend each day following the schedule of the resident monastics and lay community. You’ll enjoy the basic mindfulness practices such as sitting meditation, walking meditation, and mindful eating. Learn more and view available dates here.
Day of the Dead: Dia de los Muertos
You’re invited to celebrate Día de los Muertos with the Deer Park family on Sunday, November 2, 2025. This event is in-person and requires advance registration. Registration will open on Sunday, October 19 at 8am PST.
The Buddha the Scientist in Colombia
A delegation of monastics from Plum Village and Deer Park traveled to Casa Sumapaz, Arbelaéz, Colombia to practice mindfulness and host a Buddha the Scientist Symposium. “We are receiving the powerful energy of the Andes every day as we walk, sit and eat mindfully,” says Brother Phap Luu. One of the professors at the Universidad de los Andes wrote a blog post summarizing the symposium last Monday.
The First 8 Exercises of Mindful Breathing | Thich Nhat Hanh
Meet The Monastics: Sister Le Nghiem
An invitation to listen to this inspiring podcast featuring Sister Le Nghiem, sharing about difficult circumstances in her life that led her to the discovering mindfulness and Thích Nhất Hạnh’s teachings.
Looking Ahead:
October 11, 2025 - January 17, 2026 - “Who Is Thich Nhat Hanh?” Online Course
October 19, 2025 - Ordination Ceremony
October 26, 2025 – January 25, 2026 – 90-Day Rains Retreat
November 2, 2025 - Day of the Dead Celebration
November 27, 2025 - Day of Gratitude Celebration
January 18, 2026 – Memorial Ceremony on the Fourth Year of Thầy’s Passing
January 25, 2026 – Pravāraṇā Ceremony to end the 2025 Rains Retreat
February 16-19, 2026 – Lunar New Year’s Eve (Tết) Ceremonies and Celebrations