Zen Mindfulness, Zen Monkhood, and the Plum Village Retreat

People often ask me what I’d be if I wasn’t a psychiatrist.  Unabashedly, I tell them that I’d probably be a Zen monk. 

There’s something about Zen monkhood that draws me, and that “something” is this: It’s the call to live life fully and mindfully in the present moment. It's the call to surrender and lose oneself in the here and now.

 

At this point in my life, with all the worldly attachments that I still choose to cling on to, becoming a Zen monk has become mere aspiration. 

Once in a while though, opportunities come which allow me to temporarily live out that dream. One such opportunity was the 4-day Mindfulness Retreat entitled “Breathe, Smile, Now.”

This retreat was conducted by the monks and nuns of Plum Village, Hongkong. The original Plum Village is a Zen community in France, established by the peace advocate and Zen Master Thich Naht Hahn.

 

 Zen Master Thich Naht Hahn

Held in Tagaytay, this 4-day Mindfulness Retreat was a refreshing respite from the frenetic, chaotic hustle and bustle of my daily life.  

 

Head Facilitator Brother Thich Phap Kham

  
In this retreat, we did sitting meditation, walking meditation, and the mindful eating of vegetarian food.  It was through these activities that we kept our body and mind still.  

After undergoing the 4-day retreat, this is what I've experienced  Zen to be:  Zen is the silent stillness which you can come home to, and in that stillness, you can just breathe and simply be.

 
I hope Brother Thich Phap Kham didn't freak out searching for his 'non la' (Vietnamese headgear). I just had to seize the chance to feel like an authentic Zen monk- if not for a lifetime, at least for a selfie!  Next retreat? It'll be a selfie wearing his brown monastic robe!

Plum Village Philippines warmly invites you to join us for a Day of Mindfulness at the Titus Brandsma Center in Quezon City, starting February 2015.

We offer you relaxed Sundays of sitting and walking meditation, mindful picnics, chi-gong exercises, sharing with the community of mindfulness practitioners in the tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh and Plum Village in the Philippines, organized by the Boat of Compassion Sangha in partnership with the Institute of Spirituality in Asia.

DAYS OF MINDFULNESS 2015
Open Group Practice Dates:

• February 1
• March 1
• March 29
• April 26
• May 31
• June 28
• July 26
• August 30
• September 27
• October 25
• November 29

The Days of Mindfulness are Sundays, 9AM-3PM.


Venue: Titus Brandsma Center, 24 Acacia St., New Manila, Quezon City, Philippines


Contact: Chelsi Angeles at 0927-7831993 (for directions to venue, or inquiries about our events)

PLEASE BRING:

• Vegetarian food for potluck/picnic lunch: sandwiches, pies, and fruits 
• Yoga/picnic mat
• Meditation cushion
• Water bottle, and/or non-alcoholic drinks
• Towel or malong
• Loose or comfortable clothing

*Please do not bring in firearms/weapons, alcoholic drinks, and illegal substances. Smoking is not allowed during the events.

To know more about the Plum Village mindfulness practice: http://plumvillage.org/mindfulness-practice

To know more about our root teacher, Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh: http://plumvillage.org/about/thich-nhat-hanh