Plum Village
02:58 - Posted by wicca -
Plum Village
VIETNAMESE ZEN MASTER THICH NHAT HANH'S MEDITATION COMMUNITY IN THE SOUTH OF FRANCE IS AN ABODE OF HARMONY, PEACE, AND ETHNIC DIVERSITY. AS I DRIVE PAST THE VINEYARDS, CHATEAUX, AND SUNFLOWER FIELDS OF SOUTHWESTERN FRANCE, EN ROUTE TO PLUM VILLAGE, I FIND MYSELF WONDERING WHY I'M GOING THERE FOR MY VACATION. WOULDN'T I REALLY RATHER BE EXPLORING THE NEARBY MEDIEVAL TOWN OF ST. EMILION, FAMOUS FOR ITS MACAROONS? OR SAMPLING BORDEAUX WINES? OR SLATHERING CAMEMBERT ONTO FRENCH BREAD WHILE LOUNGING ON THE BEACH? BUT AFTER FIVE MINUTES IN PLUM VILLAGE, ALL DOUBTS VANISH. THIS IS CLEARLY NOT A MONASTERY-CHILDREN RACE ABOUT LAUGHING AND CALLING TO EACH OTHER IN VIETNAMESE, FRENCH, AND ENGLISH; GRAY-HAIRED WOMEN CHATTER IN VIETNAMESE AS THEY PREPARE RICE AND VEGETABLES IN THE COMMUNAL KITCHEN; A GROUP OF TEENAGERS SIT UNDER A TREE PLAYING SITARS. BUT PERMEATING ALL OF THIS ACTIVITY IS A SENSE OF PEACE AND SIMPLICITY THAT I FIND DEEPLY REFRESHING AFTER A WEEK OF FRENZIED TOURISM.

This interweaving of practice and daily living is the essence of Plum Village, founded in the early 1980's to fulfill Nhat Hanh's decades-old dream of a community where people involved in the work of social transformation could come for rest and spiritual nourishment. Exiled from his native Vietnam because of his antiwar activities, he finally established his spiritual oasis on eighty acres of land in the wine country east of Bordeaux. In exchange for a home, Vietnamese refugees helped clean and renovate the beautiful, rustic, eighteenth-century stone farm buildings and construct additional cinder block structures. Currently, only about fifty residents stay year-round, studying Buddhism, working to help Vietnamese refugees and political prisoners, and tending the 1,250 plum trees, whose crop earns money to send medicine to Vietnam. But for one month each summer, the community is open to the public, and nearly 1,000 visitors--about half Vietnamese and half Westerners--come to practice. This month is by no means a grueling meditation retreat. In fact, Nhat Hanh likes to use the word "treat," rather than "retreat," to describe these gatherings of Buddhist practitioners. The emphasis is on learning skills for bringing mindfulness into everyday life. Family practice is central, and children are wholeheartedly encouraged to participate in all activities, including meditation, tea ceremonies, and Dharma talks. Typically, Tha^y directs the first ten minutes of every talk to the children, who then play outside for the rest of the talk.

No matter what the activity, visitors are gently reminded to perform it with joy and awareness. For me, the spirit of Plum Village is epitomized by the carved wooden sign beside the walking meditation path: "The mind can go in a thousand directions, but on this beautiful path, I walk in peace. With each step, the wind blows. With each step, a flower blooms."

-From A Joyful Path, "Plum Village Summer Opening" by Anne Cushman.

At PLUM VILLAGE Thich Nhat Hanh leads a year-round program of meditation practice for residents and for visitors who come for at least one week. The Summer Opening is from July 15 to August 15. For information write in advance to:

REGISTRARPLUM VILLAGEMEYRAC47120 LOUB`eS-BERNACFRANCE



Source: masonsofheaven.blogspot.com


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