Living Dharma

Are You A Young Adult?

2009-04-29T19:26:00.000-07:00

Wake Up Young Adult Retreat May 20-24 Dear Friend, Our retreat for Young Adults is coming up. Are you a young adult (21-35 yrs) or do you know young adults that are interested in meditation? Attached you find a Retreat Poster with more information. Retreat information and Poster - on our website. A blossoming spring flower to you, Registration Team Deer Park Monastery For registration and more information about the retreat: visit our website: www.dpweb.org e-mail us:...

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Skillful Means

2009-04-12T17:54:00.001-07:00

Dear Friends A new and wonderful talk from our Sister Huong Nghiem has been posted. http://deerpark.libsyn.com/ We have also had a request from Brother Phap Hai as he prepares to do Session 2 of sitting meditation. He asks for feedback or questions that people have that we would like him to address. Please send me your thoughts, questions, or ideas. Please enjoy! Your devoted Podcast Team earthlover at sbcglobal dot net

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2009 U.S. Teaching Tour 1-760-741-CALM (or 2256)

2009-03-03T15:58:00.000-08:00

A Message from Deer Park Monastery Dear Friends, We are happy to announce Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh will be coming to the United States from August - October of this year to teach and practice with us. As you may know, Thich Nhat Hanh or Thay, meaning teacher in Vietnamese, is revered as one of the greatest peacemakers of our times and author of more than 100 books. He was nominated by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for the Nobel Peace Prize and has been a Buddhist monk, peace activist and...

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The Spring Winds of Vietnam.

2009-03-02T15:02:00.000-08:00

First impressions are not always the best. I went to Vietnam and spent part of the Spring Festival at Prajna Meditation Center on the outskirts of Bao Loc, Vietnam. You would think a third world country like Vietnam was totally backwards if you looked at it upon a glance. The streets and markets are littered with trash. I wanted to visit Prajna Meditation Center, a center that practices in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. Out of my mind, I took a motorbike from Vung Tau to Bao Loc (20...

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Be Like A Tree.

2009-02-28T02:02:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone We posted a new podcast today. Thanks so much to the podcast team!!! Also includes info about the wonderful collection of the Venerable’s talks by Karen. http://deerpark.libsyn.com/ Bowing to all of you and to this day Laura Be Like A Tree is the title of a book on the subject of the Venerable's talks. You can now search for it on Amazon. Michael

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Appropriateness?!?!

2009-02-07T18:23:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone We have posted a new podcast--Thay Phap Hai’s talk on Appropriateness. It is a very relevant and beneficial sharing. We offer our deep thanks to him for sharing it. You can get it from iTunes or here. www.dpcast.org Thanks again to our wonderful podcast sangha and welcome to our newest member, Soren, who is helping us with our intros and writing. Thank you Soren and Ryan. What a solid and rewarding group to share the dharma with. We have had many requests for another...

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Science Says: Happiness Contagious

2008-12-05T21:18:00.000-08:00

It’s official, science shows what the practice already knows!!!! Happiness is viral! Let’s spread some more! J Laura http://www.latimes.com/news/la-sci-happy5-2008dec05,0,4989729.story?track=ntothtml From the Los Angeles Times Happiness is contagious, research finds A study of the relationships of nearly 5,000 people tracked for decades in the Framingham Heart Study shows that good cheer spreads through social networks of nearby family, friends and neighbors. By Karen Kaplan December...

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Winter Retreat: Openness Podcast!

2008-11-24T03:24:00.001-08:00

Dear Friends Please find the new podcast at http://www.dpcast.org/ We hope you will enjoy this wonderful talk and will try to practice your ‘homework’ diligently! J Laura

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14 Mindfulness Trainings.

2008-11-15T05:00:00.000-08:00

We often refer to the practice and some readers may have questions come to mind like: What practice? DPCAST.ORG has just released a podcast reciting the 14 mindfulness trainings. A core concept in what we call the "practice." What do you think of it? Is there any training you are uncomfortable with? Should we discuss? Download the recitation and after listening, feel free to ask specific questions or open-ended questions. Phi and others will probably be able to answer any question. ...

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World Beat Sangha November.

2008-11-14T10:40:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends We had another wonderful sangha gathering of about 20 people last Sunday. We felt deeply the significance of the presidential election and shared joyful comments about it. We sent our best energy to the new President-elect. We shared several healing poems and Namaste lead us in a wonderful walking meditation and we did a guided meditation on gratitude. It was windy but we all kissed our mother earth and our ancestors deeply so we didn’t mind. We shared thoughts about how to...

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I found a piece of Dharma!

2008-11-14T07:34:00.000-08:00

My co-worker recently became interested in mediation. She is reading "Being Peace" by Thich Nhat Hanh. She shared with me this story in practicing mindfulness:"I was coming to a STOP sign and this person in front of me was taking forever to slow to a stop, so I rushed pass her, then I realized what I have done. I said to myself, 'No! Uh-uh. That's not how you behave.'" I thought that was an appropriate response at the time. On a different day she brought up the topic of "compassionate...

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India October 2008 - Dhamekh Stupa, Deer Park, Bodh Gaya Pictures

2008-11-10T09:11:00.000-08:00

Dhamekh Stupa, Deer Park: http://picasaweb.google.com/iamphi/DeerPark Bodh Gaya: http://picasaweb.google.com/iamphi/BodhGaya

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India October 2008 - Ganga River Pictures

2008-11-08T15:06:00.000-08:00

The Sangha was out to see the sunrise on the Ganga River on October 22nd. Some pictures here:http://picasaweb.google.com/iamphi/GangaRiver Many more pictures to come. (Bodh Gaya, Deer Park, Vulture Peak . . .)

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Path of Awakening Journey, India 2008

2008-10-16T12:07:00.000-07:00

I leave tomorrow and join the Plum Village Sangha on this journey. I will post update as often as possible. Map PATH OF AWAKENING JOURNEY (21 October to 29 October) Travel to Sarnath/Varanasi, Bodhgaya, Rajgir and Nalanda Friday, October 17 - 1330h: Depart Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to ICN Saturday, October 18 - 1830h: Arrive at Korea Incheon International Airport (ICN) - 1930h: Depart ICN to India - 2345h: Arrive at Delhi, India Sunday, October 19 Day: Visit Delhi Night:...

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Blog Action Day: Poverty

2008-10-15T10:46:00.000-07:00

Today is Blog Action Day 2008 and our focus this year is on poverty. It is a day when bloggers around the world can unite together to highlight an issue. I'm happy to participate and hope that it contributes to global awareness around poverty. (cross-posted on misc.joy and Ojai Post). Despite the fiscal crisis taking place in the United States, we still have one of the highest standards of living in the world. It is easy for us to grow distraught about our own personal finances, but most of us...

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Autumn Mindfulness Bell.

2008-10-14T13:01:00.000-07:00

Dear friends My article that was written about the Constant Innovation of the Dharma has been published in the Mindfulness Bell. I hope you pick up a subcription to this wonderful magazine. Here is the letter I got from Janelle, the Editor of MB. Dear contributors, Well, it took a little longer than we would have liked, but the Autumn issue of the Bell is finally on its way. Thank you for your wonderful contribution! Unfortunately we can no longer send complimentary copies to...

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Thich Nhat Hanh U.S. Tour 2009 Flyer.

2008-10-09T12:18:00.000-07:00

Download the flyer provided by Blue Cliff Monastery, maybe you know of a location for it.

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The North Star.

2008-10-01T13:41:00.001-07:00

My friends, Today is the anniversary of my 2005 induction into the Order of Interbeing. Although, this is a personal event; it can also be, a celebration of the dharma. At least, for me. In celebration of this occasion, I share with you my very personal letter to Thầy asking for his blessings. Michael Aug 1, 2005 Dear Thầy, The reason for writing this letter is to simply ask a question: May I, with your blessings, join the Order of Interbeing? A sailor takes up the sea life because...

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New Podcast posted for Youth.

2008-10-01T08:22:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends Please find a new podcast entitled Be True, Be Beautiful. An offering to our young people by Thay Phap Dung and Sister Dang Nghiem from the Be True, Be Beautiful Teen Retreat. Please share with any young people you think might be nourished by this. Also, check out the new Wake Up Movement for youth. Laura Dear Young Friends On September 19, 2008, the Wake Up movement for young Buddhists and non-Buddhists for a healthy and compassionate society was announced. Wake Up is a...

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Zen Words.

2008-09-29T13:15:00.000-07:00

Zen Words Priceless beyond measure, crack a stick, point a finger, [1] this word that word, tie them together, tell a story- repeat those words, the act of giving insight, priceless beyond measure. September 13th 2008, Louisiana Michael K Nguyen Its been a while since the last post so I stole this from my personal blog. I hope this will bring joy to others. This poem was written in response to a friend's comment about a post on this blog entitled What is Zen? Crack a stick and point a...

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Letter to KFC.

2008-09-21T18:00:00.000-07:00

The letter is retyped here for your reading pleasure. Dharma Cloud Temple Plum Village Meditation Practice Center Dordogne, France David C. Novak, CEO and President Yum! Brands, Inc. Dear Mr. Novak, I hope this letter finds you in good health. I have heard reports that KFC's suppliers cut the throats of conscious chickens, that many birds are still conscious when they are sent through scalding water, and that KFC refuses to persuade its suppliers to use methods that are more humane both...

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The Finger is not the Moon.

2008-09-13T17:45:00.000-07:00

This is the second installment of What is Zen? I am not at home due to Hurricane Ike, so, I will update this post with a higher quality image later. Please enjoy the dialogue and the low quality image. The dialogue between the nun Wu Jincang and the Sixth Patriach Huineng is as follows: Narrative: The nun Wu Jincang asked the Sixth Patriach Huineng Wu Jincang: I have studied the Mahaparinirvana sutra for many years, yet there are many areas i do not quite understand. Please enlighten...

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Letter to Thay.

2008-09-09T13:57:00.000-07:00

World Beat Sangha World Beat Center in Balboa Park 2100 Park Blvd, San Diego, California, 92101 September 8, 2008 Dear Thay: Our sangha is the World Beat Sangha in San Diego, California and we practice in the Plum Village tradition. We created the World Beat Sangha to provide a chance for all of us busy and committed people to come together in mindful awareness, to be quiet, to be calm, to stop—together in a safe place and in community with others. We are open to all peoples, of all ages,...

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What is Zen?

2008-09-07T15:29:00.000-07:00

The dialogue between a big fish and a small fish is as follows: Narrative: A small fish asked a big fish: Small fish: I often hear others talking about the sea. But what is the sea? Big fish: All around you is the sea. Small fish: Why can't I see it? Big fish: You live, move, and have your being in the sea. The sea is within as well as outside you. The sea gave you life and at death you return to the source. The sea surrounds you as your own being. Buddhist Monk's Concluding...

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Thich Nhat Hanh U.S. Tour 2009.

2008-09-04T19:59:00.000-07:00

Thanks to brother Kenley, I have in my email box the tentative schedule for Thich Nhat Hanh's U.S. Tour 2009. I gladly share with you, with love, wrapped in understanding, and tied with insight. An interactive calendar at the bottom of the blog has all the details and will be updated periodically. We have the dates for Thay's 2009 U.S. Tour. Look for a tour web site and registration information in early 2009. In the meantime, mark your calendars (I've been told these dates are...

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