Joyfully Together Sutra Study (Anapanasati Sutra)
May 21, 2026:True Happiness; Contemplating Non-CravingThe Path of Emancipation, Parallax, 2000
Chapter 15 - Happiness Is Not and individual Matter - Pages 235 - 240
Verse 14:
Experiencing non-craving, I breathe in.
(or: I observe the disappearance of desire.)
Experiencing non-craving, I breathe out.
(or: I observe the disappearance of desire.)
Our practice sessions are open to anyone who would like to participate; there is no requirement to have attended prior sessions.
Optional Recommended Resources
Reading
Awakening of the Heart: I Observe the Disappearance of Desire
Appendix One: Discourses on the Full Awareness of Breathing (Pgs. 261-276)
Get in touch with us at: joyfulsutrastudy@gmail.com
Special Live Event from Plum Village, Sunday, May 24 (scroll down for the time and the registration)
“To know whether our action is right or wrong, good or bad, we must see whether that action leads to well-being, or whether it leads to ill-being.”
This is a difficult time for many of us.
We are grateful that, through your support, Living Gems can continue to offer a source of refuge, clarity, and wisdom for you and for many people around the world in times like these.
Across the world, lives are being upended, families are being separated and cities are under fire. There is fear, anger, grief, and for many, a quiet sense of helplessness in the face of it all.
Even from a distance, it can be hard to know how to hold what we are witnessing. How to stay human in the midst of so much suffering.
In this excerpt from a 2008 Dharma talk, Thich Nhat Hanh returns to a moment in history that continues to echo today. He speaks about August 6, 1945, the day an atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Hiroshima, killing over one hundred thousand people in a matter of minutes.
A decision made far from the ground.
A decision that was justified, at the time, as necessary.
Rather than judging from a distance, Thay looks deeply into that moment. Into the kind of thinking that allows such a decision to be made. Into the voices that persuade, the fears that drive, and the beliefs that make violence appear acceptable.
There is a clarity here that does not turn away from suffering, and does not ask us to do so either.
Watch: The Ethics of Hiroshima
“We have to look deeply to see the kind of thinking that led to the decision to drop the bomb.”
— Thich Nhat Hanh
In times like these, it can be helpful not to sit with these questions alone.
Later this month, we will gather online as a global community, to come together in the presence of these teachings, to touch what has been preserved, and to recognize that they are still here for us.
Join us live on Sunday, 24th May:
Option 1: 3pm Paris time / 8pm Hanoi time
Option 2: 7pm Paris time / 10am Los Angeles time
See these times in your timezone here.
Together with monastic teachers from the Plum Village tradition, we come together to honor and celebrate the living continuation of Thay’s teachings, and the conditions that allow them to be available to us, even now.
May you touch clarity and solidity even in these times.
With you on the path,
The Living Gems Team
“We have to envision a world where happiness is possible.”— Thich Nhat Hanh
Moving Day a Success at Moon Lake Nunnery!
Thanks for your support
Dear Friends,
The dream of a new nun’s residence at Blue Cliff Monastery is now a reality. On May 11 Sr. Lan Nghiem, Sr. Flower and all of the nuns at Blue Cliff Monastery will relocate into the beautiful new Moon Lake Nunnery, creating more space for lay friends lodging.
Thank you to everyone for your generosity! We have exceeded our fundraising goal and in addition to sending the desks, closet systems, and wet/dry vacuum, we are able to send a financial gift as well.
If you want to see the interior of the beautiful Moon Lake Nunnery, consider going to the Lunar New Year (Tet) the first weekend in February, 2027. This is the one an only time of year that lay friends can visit the living quarters of the monks and nuns.
A Time for Healing Together
For Black, Indigenous and People of Color Including Families of All Ages
Join Us for a Heartwarming Mindfulness Retreat at MorningSun Community, NH
AUGUST 5 -9 2026
The retreat will be guided by Dharma teachers Marisela Gomez, diane little eagle, and Kenyatta
We warmly invite you to a special mindfulness retreat at MorningSun Community in the serene hills of New Hampshire. Rooted in the Plum Village tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, this retreat will be a nurturing space for families and all ages of people of color to come together in mindfulness, joy, and connection.
During our time together, we will practice mindful breathing, walking, and sitting meditation, as well as deep relaxation and loving-kindness. Children, teens, and adults of BIPOC heritage will have opportunities to engage in activities, including mindful games, storytelling, and creative arts, all designed to cultivate presence and happiness.
This retreat is a chance to slow down, reconnect with ourselves and our loved ones, and build a supportive community. Whether you are new to mindfulness or have a long-standing practice, you are welcome here. Together, we will nourish our hearts, heal our spirits, and celebrate the beauty of being alive.
Program Cost is Offered on a Sliding Scale
SPIRITUAL REFUGE SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION
Living Gems is Now Live!
The world’s largest collection of Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings is now available, ad free and available now. A deep bow of gratitude to the many hands, hours, love, and skill that went into this project.
Living Gems
plumvillage.org
Join friends from the Winston-Salem Community of Mindful Living, Deep River Sangha and other regional sanghas for
Tuesday and Thursday Mornings, 7:00-7:40 a.m. Online Meditation:
Tuesdays: Guided meditation, reading, sharing. Thursdays: Morning Chant, silent sitting meditation, reading, sharing. All are welcome — no experience necessary. For more information, send a message through our Contact tab.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82703691204?pwd=YmNEVFNQWXNxQTlPQk44cnliRzRTZz09
Meeting ID: 82703691204
Password: 010101
We are currently reading from the book,The Sun My Heart, by Thich Nhat Hanh.
The Winston-Salem Community of Mindful Living meets weekly in person on Thursday evenings for sitting practice. Please visit https://mindfulwinston.org/ for details.
Practice Resources
Beautifulmusic video from Plum Village
to honor Thay’s Continuation Day, October 11
Dharma talks, video, songs for the practice, and chants from Thich Nhat Hanh and Plum Village community members and friends
Dharma Talks (video) by Thich Nhat Hanh
https://plumvillage.org/thich-nhat-hanh-dharma-talks/
Thich Nhat Hanh Dharma Talks (audio)
http://tnhaudio.org/
Plum Village on Vimeo
http://vimeo.com/user745118
At Deep River Sangah,we deeply value being together in person. We also recognize that many of our Sangha friends may also benefit from an online affinity group Sangha, and there are several in our Plum Village tradition:
BIPOC Sanghas,for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color
ChrysanthemumSangha, for LGBTQIA+ friends and allies
12 Step Recovery & Mindfulness
Dharma talks & video fromMagnolia Grove Monastery
Weekly Online Sangha practice sessions (6-7 pm Eastern): Please register to receive the Zoom link
Dharma talks, video, and songs from Deer Park Monastery
Deer Park Dharmacast
http://deerpark.libsyn.com/
Deer Park Recordings on SoundCloud
http://soundcloud.com/deer-park-monastery
Meet the Monastics from Deer Park Monastery As monastics, the most common question asked of us is, you guessed it, why did you become a monastic? I'm Brother Minh-An, a Buddhist monk in the Plum Village tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. And this podcast is for anyone who's ever wanted to ask that question. Each week, we'll bring you my conversations with other fully ordained monks and nuns about their journey to monastic life and what inspires them now. We hope they inspire you to live a happier, kinder, and more meaningful life. And who knows, maybe some of you will even consider monastic life yourself.
You can listen to the weekly episodes wherever you get your podcasts (simply search for Meet the Monastics) or on the Deer Park Monastery YouTube channel. Meet the Monastics: A New Podcast
Video and audio from Blue Cliff Monastery
Videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaX_vxbhs8fgmshMksFpVsUeMfUpv8FsW
Audio: https://soundcloud.com/blue-cliff-monastery
Dharma talks, video, and songs from the Wake Up Movement
Americas | Wake Up International
https://wkup.org/category/america/
Peace Sounds: Wake Up London & Friends
http://peacesounds.bandcamp.com/
Julian + Chad singing "The Island Within" and "Call Me By My True Names"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDr46vMTmdg
Julian + Chad singing "Rainbow Connection"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=851QUg75NAs
"Brother Thây: A Radio Pilgrimage with Thich Nhat Hanh," a profile and interview with Thich Nhat Hanh by Krista Tippett
The Great Bell Chant (The End of Suffering) from Rens Smittenaar
Sister Dang Nghiem (Adornment with Non-discrimination) on inviting the bell
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6aYE3irqFQ
Thich Nhat Hanh on inviting the bell
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7fzUBz_PWA
YouTube videos
Sister The Nghiem singing "Discourse on Love" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdtnOo7XZts
Sister The Nghiem singing "Watering the Seeds of Joy" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdoE2EU_UyI&feature=channel&list=UL
Discourse on True Contentment
By Sister Dang Nghiem (Sister D)
I heard these words of Thay one time when he was living in the vicinity of Escondido at the Deer Park Monastery in the Oak Grove. Late at night, a group of coyotes appeared, whose passionate howls made the whole Oak Grove tremble joyfully. After paying respects to Thay with the right front paw pointing in the direction of the moon, the elder coyote asked him a question in the form of a verse:
“People, animals, plants, and minerals are eager to know
what are the conditions which bring about true contentment.
Please, Thay, will you teach us?”
(This is Thay’s answer:)
“To live in a Sangha,
to have brothers and sisters working in harmony, to serve peoples of all nations—
this is the true contentment.
“To have a chance to practice and transform,
to see yourself becoming more accepting and more solid, to recognize that others also blossom—this is the true contentment.
“To be able to recognize and forgive,
to nurture gratitude to your blood family and spiritual family, to express love through loving speech and deep listening—this is the true contentment.
“To have time to sit peacefully for your ancestors,
to touch the Earth tenderly with each step, to eat in union with the whole cosmos—
this is the true contentment.
“To create practice centers and hold regular retreats,
to turn gymnasiums and theatres into Dharma halls, to bring the Dharma rain into ghettos and prisons—this is the true contentment.
“To witness police officers, business people, legislators,
scientists, and war veterans enjoying the Pure Land
with their mindful breaths and mindful steps—this is the true contentment.
“To provide a joyful environment for young people,
to help them reconnect with their families and society,
to show them that there is a beautiful path—this is the true contentment.
“To practice, work, study, and play together,
to realize the beauties and hardships of your brothers and sisters,
to cherish and protect them as your own marrow—this is the true contentment.
“To live a life simple and uncompetitive,
to come back to your breath as your soul food,
to rejoice in the music of the bell, wind songs, and laughter—this is the true contentment.
“To avoid speaking and reacting in anger,
not caught by your ideas and judgments,
and to be diligent in doing beginning anew—this is the true contentment.
“To savor the freedom in non-waiting,
to transform the grasping mind into that of true love,
to be a kind continuation of your spiritual ancestors—that is the true contentment.
“To see all life forms as your brothers and sisters,
to enjoy simply being together,
to actively build a beautiful past with your true presence—this is the true contentment.
“To rise in the morning with a smile,
to retire each night with peace, content to let go of all,
to know that you have loved and have been loved deeply—that is the true contentment.
“To live in the world
with your heart open to impermanence and change,
to progress stably on your true path, free of fear and worry—this is the true contentment.
“For he or she who accomplishes this,
arriving and at home wherever she goes,
always he is peaceful and happy—true contentment is in the moment one lives.”
Thay had finished the teaching. The coyotes were extremely delighted at what they had heard. At once, they stood up with posture erect and gave rise to another harmonious and joyful howl. The moon smiled contentedly from above, as she floated freely in the immense space.
Joyfully Together Sutra Study & Practice Program
The Anapanasati Sutra : The Path of Emancipation
Dwelling in the Here and Now
We hope you will join Sangha members from Deep River Sangha and from across the continent on Thursday, September 18, at 7 p.m. ET for the first in our series of 10 programs, as we gather to begin our monthly exploration of the Anapanasati Sutra on the Sixteen Exercises of Mindful Breathing, which are at the heart of the teachings offered by Thich Nhat Hanh and the Plum Village community. By studying, practicing, and observing these exercises together with the Sangha, we can discover healing, transformation and insight for ourselves, our ancestors, families, communities, and the world.
New Dharma Teachers Susan Poulos from Deep River Sangha, and Denys Candy from the River Valley Sangha in Northampton, Mass. will offer their reflections this month. Our Core Sutra Study Sangha meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month (September 2025 - June 2026). We are encouraged by Chan Huy to study and practice as a Sangha to amplify and strengthen the application and embodiment of these teachings for ourselves, our families, our communities, and for the world.
This year participants are invited to use The Path of Emancipation. You can purchase this new at Parallax Press, using Discount Code: sangha20. You may also be able to find it used at many fine Re-Use Book Stores
We have developed a new Website that has all the information you need as we study and practice together for the next 10 months (the third Thursday of each month through June 2026).
September Readings: The Path of Emancipation Pages 1 - 35: optional : 261 - 276
Please write to info@deepriversangha.org for the Zoom link.
To support our deepening of our practice this month, we are invited to incorporate one or more of the following practices / reflections below:
Download the Mindfulness Bell from the Plum Village App onto your phone, or set a timer to go off periodically. When you hear the bell or the timer, stop and breathe in and out mindfully 3 times. Notice what you experience during this practice.
When you go to bed at night, practice breathing in and out with complete attention 5-10 times. (You may like to start with 5 breaths and work up to 10.) Notice what you experience during this practice.
Thich Nhat Hanh studies the “Discourse on the Full Awareness of Breathing” in the book.
Consider these points:
How does paying close attention to the breath impact the experience of the present moment?
What are the challenges in sustaining mindfulness of breath?
How can mindful breathing be integrated into daily activities?
Questions?
joyfulsutrastudy@gmail.com
If you need help downloading the Plum Village App to your mobile device, tablet, laptop or desktop, please see below, or write to info@deepriversangha.org.
Looking forward to taking this journey together!
Plum Village App is also on mobile, offering extras like the Bell of Mindfulness and Meditation Timer.
Our Joyful Sutra Study Mission
We are an online Sangha that meets monthly to explore the essential Buddhist teachings at the heart of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s Plum Village tradition. All are welcome for an evening of practice that includes meditation, Dharma reflections by Dharma Teachers and Order of Interbeing members, and small group sharing. We aspire to create a supportive space for deepening our understanding of these core teachings and learning ways to apply them in everyday life.
Sangha Core Sutra Study
Sangha Core Sutra Study Practice
Thu, June 20, 2024 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
The Sangha Core Sutra Study Practice is an online Sangha that started more than 15 years ago to deepen our understanding and practice of the core sutras. We meet monthly for 10 months each year to explore the essential Buddhist teachings at the heart of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s Plum Village tradition. All are welcome for an evening of practice that includes meditation, Dharma reflections by Order of Interbeing members, and small group sharing. We aspire to create a supportive space for deepening our understanding of these core teachings and learning ways to apply them in everyday life.This year we are studying the Diamond Sutra, which Thay tells us is one of the most beloved scriptures in the Zen tradition and the earliest text to explore deep ecology.
In this profound teaching the Buddha invites us to let go of four deeply held notions in order to understand our own true nature and the true nature of reality so we may transcend our ignorance and wrong views. We will also be looking at related teachings from Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet. We are inspired to be exploring these deep teachings with you this year!
Remaining date:
June 20, 2024: How to Practice the Buddha's Teachings
Zoom link for 7pm (Eastern Time):
https://zoom.us/j/780647439?pwd=bCt3N2EyOSs1NXVObVhaVXphMXl4Zz09
Meeting ID: 780 647 439 - Password: 031129
Half day of Mindfulness
We are happy to announce that registration is now open for our upcoming Half Day of Mindfulness on Saturday, 4/13, at Timberlake Earth Sanctuary from 1-4:30.
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT IS NOW FULL. WATCH FOR INFORMATION ABOUT OUR NEXT DAY OF MINDFULNESS.
Due to causes and conditions, the original full Day of Mindfulness scheduled for Sunday, 4/14 will not happen.
Here is a link to register for this beautiful opportunity to practice sitting, walking, deep relaxation, and a Dharma Discussion led by Dharma Teacher Scott Schang in community.
When: Saturday, April 13, 1-4:00 p.m. (Check in 12:45 p.m.)
Where: Timberlake Earth Sanctuary
Cost: Sliding scale of $10 - $40 based on your ability to pay. Please bring a bag lunch.
Space is limited so we will cap registration at 33. Registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Once you register, you will receive confirmation with more information.
Schedule:
1/2 Day of Mindfulness 1:00 - 4:30 (Registrants are welcome to come at 12:00 to enjoy a brown-bag lunch)
1:00 – Welcome, short orientation, introductions
1:30 – Outdoor walking meditation
2:15 – Deep relaxation (bring a yoga mat / blanket) followed by short Mindful Movements
3:00 – Break
3:10 – Dharma Discussion led by Scott Schang
4:10 – Closing
4:30 - Depart
