Plum Village - Mindfulness education for the world

Plum Village is a mindfulness practice center founded by Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh, aimed at making it easier for everyone to access the most essential methods of Buddhism developed over the past 2000 years. Since attending the Plum Village retreat in 2018, it has been over 5 years till I had the opportunity to participate in another retreat at the Village, this time in Thailand.

The experiences were abundant, and I was deeply moved every time. However, I want to share my experience from an educator's perspective, having had the chance to observe and experience more thoroughly the mindfulness education methods at Plum village.

1. Mindfulness education rooted in science, separate from religion, politics, and superstition: Here, 'mindfulness practice' is understood as learning to improve oneself and gaining deeper insight to have clear perceptions of reality, thereby leading to a happier life for oneself and others. The teachers at Plum village always guide the students back to 'the island within themselves,' encouraging self-practice instead of seeking help or being afraid of the punishment from any supernatural force.
2. Mindfulness practice anytime, anywhereIn addition to traditional sitting meditation, the village emphasizes integrating mindfulness into all aspects of life through new methods such as walking meditation, singing meditation, eating meditation, tea meditation, working meditation, and mindful listening. Singing meditation is particularly loved by everyone. The village creates many short songs with positive melodies to convey mindfulness teachings in an easy-to-understand way. Initially, people felt shy and hesitant to sing aloud, but after a few days, everyone felt the joy of singing together. Since returning to Vietnam in 2021, I've been neglecting sitting meditation quite a bit, but thanks to other methods like eating meditation, walking meditation, and working meditation, I can continue to practice mindfulness every day and reap its significant benefits.

3. 'Just enough' curriculum

Over the two retreats, the curriculum at Plum Village has remained almost unchanged. It starts with instructions on how to sit correctly in meditation to avoid back pain and progresses to explaining walking meditation and singing meditation. Each day includes 1-2 shared teachings, introducing some basic concepts commonly found in Thich Nhat Hanh's books such as self-renewal method, five mindfulness training, methods of communication and connection (loving speech and deep listening).

Students are divided into smaller 'families' to work together and participate in family discussion sessions to share their experiences and ask questions to the guiding teachers to better understand the teachings. The learning format is always evolving, so there's no boredom. There are also 1-2 breaks between 'classes.' Therefore, the curriculum is suitable for both young and old, whether they are new to mindfulness or have been practicing for many years.

4. Each teacher is a shining example

People quickly notice the difference when attending the courses because every 'teacher' here is fully devoted to practicing mindfulness. The village currently has nearly 200 teachers, many of whom are young. When talking to the teachers, I gradually let go of old beliefs such as the nuns and monks chose the monastery life out of suffering or to escape from normal life. In contrast, the 'teachers' here all feel the peace and happiness of mindfulness practices and aspire to bring mindfulness to everyone. Escaping from life is almost impossible because the village frequently hosts retreats with hundreds or even thousands of participants. Experienced teachers are also often sent on 'missions' to various places.

Despite being busy, the teachers still spend a lot of time talking with students whenever they have the opportunity. This time, Sister Chan Khong, the head nun of Plum Village, attended. Despite being over 80 years old, Sister Chan Khong happily sat consulting and signing books until 8 p.m. for everyone during the 5 main days of the retreat. On the last day, I was deeply moved, almost in tears, as the teachers formed a long line to bid farewell to the students.

5. Growing local mindfulness communities of practices

Thich Nhat Hanh always emphasizes the importance of communities of practice. A short course, despite bringing significant transformations, will quickly be forgotten if not supported by a community. Currently, Plum Village communities of practices (sanghas) have been established in almost all localities, providing people with spaces for practice and sharing after leaving the village.

6. The village gate is always open

This time, nearly 400 people participated in the course, and usually, within 5 minutes of opening registration, all spots are filled. The village welcomes all students, regardless of gender, age, religion, or nationality. Some celebrities such as beauty queens, designers, choreographers, etc., also attended, but everyone was treated equally. Each year, the village organizes many retreats worldwide, increasing opportunities for people to access mindfulness.

Closing words

As an educator, I earnestly hope to bring mindfulness into the education environment in Vietnam. I hope to share and learn more from everyone. Happy teachers change the world!

For those who haven't had the chance to visit Plum Village but still want to start practicing, you can download the Plum Village app on your phone or listen to the Plum Village playlist on Spotify. Additionally, there are many resources available on the official website of Plum Village International

https://plumvillage.org/

Anyone who has further questions can also contact me directly. I am still practicing mindful listening ??