AIAB

A Mindful Dinner with Thay Phap An and Plum Village Monastics - Continuation of the support to EIAB

Dear Friends,

With the support from all of you, the Mindful Dinner with Thay Phap An and the Plum Village Monastics was successfully completed on the 20th October, 2009.

As we have wished for, it was a night for being Joyfully Together, Mindful Eating, listening to the Sharing by Thay Phap An about the newly set-up European Institute of Applied Buddhism (EIAB) in Waldbröl, Germany.

The dinner was well attended by over 120 friends. It was started by Thay Phap Kham's sharing on the set up of Plum Village Mindfulness Practice Center in Hong Kong, how the center has been supporting Mindfulness Practice to various sectors of friends in Hong Kong, especially for  young teenagers.

The Mindful Dinner was begun with three sounds of the Bell, after the introduction by Thay Phap Kham about the essence of Mindful Eating and the recitation of the 5 Contemplations.  In the following 10 minutes, the whole restaurant was in Noble Silence, with everyone enjoying the food and friends around in mindfulness.

Thay Phap An then shared a video on EIAB, showing their together practice with different religions, with young people and families in a not-so-convenient condition, but still filled with joy and ease.  Thay Phap An was further asked about how the idea of setting up EIAB started.  He shared his intimate story with Thay - our Teacher Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, the first difficulties in setting up of EIAB with no solid support, the search for the site, and his own realisation of the great vow of Thay to bring Buddhism to Life, the bring-forth of Healing and Transformation to the World.  EIAB is set up for the well-being of the World, transcending the differences of all.

In the midst of needing support to overcome the financial difficulties that the center has encountered, Thay Phap An sought help from the Sangha.  He thought if there were 6,000 people, each donating 500 Euros, that would already be enough to overcome this crisis.  If everyone helps, the task would become easy. We can all help by contributing our financial support in a combination of Donation, Loan without Interest, or Retreat Coupons to EIAB.

The response from the guests was encouraging. Not only the 3 silent auctions of Thay's originals have found their generous donors, many of our guests have returned their support forms at the dinner and even after the dinner.

To make this event possible, we have got supports from the monastic brothers in Hong Kong, the Rain of Compassion Sangha , our dharma friends donating flower sets for the event and the brooch of Lotus flower as souvenir for donors.

No words could well express our appreciation but with the Song, 'In Gratitude'.
The lyrics are like this:

In gratitude, you have watered seeds of love in me in gratitude,
In gratitude, I will water seeds of live in someone too.
And when you suffer some, just call and I will come.

The dinner was completed with guests leaving with joy, peace and happiness, and the completion began with of their safe journey home.

For friends who were not able to join the dinner, you are invited to visit our website to see the photos of the dinner.

We also attach with this letter - Donation Form to EIAB. You are invited to continue the support to EIAB, the support to the path of Love and Understanding for all.

May we wish you all well day and night.

With Gratitude,

The Plum Village Hong Kong Mindfulness Practice Center and the Rain of Compassion Sangha

For more information about the EIAB in Germany, please visit their website: http://www.eiab-maincampus.org/EIAB_Germany/Home.html

Letter from Thay Phap An, the head of EIAB is calling for international support can be accessed from the URL below:
http://www.eiab-maincampus.org/EIAB_Germany/Donate.html