General

Plum Village joyfully offers these parallel verses to welcome Tết, the Lunar New Year of the Horse.   Every Lunar New Year’s Eve, our beloved teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh, has established a tradition of offering the sangha a simple poetic couplet in calligraphy which can inspire and nurture our mindfulness practice throughout the year. Thay’s innovation has been to offer the couplet in English, French and Vietnamese (of course including Chinese characters). The Plum Village Community is very happy to continue this beautiful tradition. In Plum Village practice canters all around the world, we print out these calligraphies (keeping the diamond form), paste them onto colourful cards, and pin them up around the dining halls, meditation halls and living quarters in preparation to celebrate the Lunar New Year. We also hang them from early-blossoming Japonica and Plum branches that we bring in to brighten our rooms, as a symbol of the coming spring. While reciting these phrases we can combine each line with our breathing. For example, we can contemplate “Solid as a mountain” as we breathe in, and contemplate “Free as a white cloud” as we breathe out. These words are not a declaration, but a living aspiration that we wish to nurture.   How to Practice with this Year’s Gathas? Solid as a Mountain Breathing in, I see myself as a mountain.Breathing out, I feel solid. This exercise helps us to stand firmly when we are upset by vehement feelings. Whenever we feel despair, anxiety, fear, or anger, we are carried right into the heart of a whirlwind. We are like a tree standing in a gale. If we look up, we shall see our branches bending as if they are about to break and be carried away by the storm. But if we look down at the trunk and the roots, we should know that the roots of the tree are held firmly in the earth, and […]

Retreats 8/1 – 11/1: Wake Up Retreat 3/4 – 7/4: Spring Retreat 15/7 – 19/7: Summer Retreat 5/8 – 9/8: Educators Retreat 21/10 – 25/10: Body Mind Wellbeing Retreat Special Sunday DoMs 24/5: The Buddha’s Birthday (Vesak) 31/5: Rain Retreat Face-to-Face (Opening) Ceremony 16/8: Rose Ceremony 23/8: Pavāranā Ceremony 19/9: Mid-Autumn Celebration Education University Hong Kong DoMs 28/2 28/3 23/5 27/6 19/9 21/11 Friday Night Practices (Online in English, Face-to-Face in Cantonese) 2/1 (online), 16/1 (HK Island) 6/2 (online), 20/2 (HK Island) 6/3 (online), 20/3 (HK Island) 3/4 (online), 17/4 (HK Island) 1/5 (online), 15/5 (HK Island) 5/6 (online), 19/6 (HK Island) 3/7 (online) 7/8 (online), 21/8 (HK Island) 4/9 (online), 18/9 (HK Island) 2/10 (online), 16/10 (HK Island) 6/11 (online), 20/11 (HK Island) 4/12 (online), 18/12 (HK Island) Monday Night Practice @ Prince Edward will be conducted in Cantonese (no translation) Feb 23, 2026 March 23, 2026 April 27, 2026 May 25, 2026 June 22, 2026

Hong Kong remains wrapped in the lingering warmth and humidity of late summer, reminding us to find ease even amidst the heat. Plum Village Hong Kong invites all to pause, breathe, and smile, keeping mindfulness at the heart of each day. Here are some event recap in the past two months and upcoming events in the coming two months.

Summer has arrived, bringing with it everything from bright, humid days to the occasional summer storm. As the weather shifts, let’s remember to stay mindful—pausing to breathe, smile, and appreciate the world around us. No matter what the forecast brings, let’s carry gratitude into each day and find small moments to give thanks.

In the midst of the fast pace of living, every once in a while, remember to pause, breathe, and smile 😀.

In the midst of the busyness of daily life, let us also pause and return to the island within ourselves. With each mindful breath and step, we can touch peace and stability. As spring approaches, new life begins to bloom all around us—let us also take a moment to appreciate these precious wonders of life. In this newsletter, let’s recap on recent events and share upcoming opportunities to practice as a community. Event Recap 1. Van Hanh Temple (Ten Thousand Actions Temple) Open Day It was almost five years since the time that Plum Village Hong Kong received the donation of the Amitabha Temple – now renamed Ten Thousand Actions Temple (萬行寺) in Luk Wu Village. The major renovation of the template is now completed. We held an open-house event for the new temple on Feb 16th. Click here to read more about the origin of Van Hanh Temple, or download the booklet: Van Hanh Temple – Ten Thousand Actions Temple. 2. Lunar New Year From January 28–30, Plum Village Hong Kong joyfully celebrated the Year of the Snake with traditional festivities. Monastic brothers performed lively lion dances, and a delicious traditional food fair was prepared. Monastics also decorated their rooms in unique styles, inviting visitors to enjoy tea and peaceful conversations inside. You can download the latest Chinese New Year couplets here! 3. The Third Anniversary of Thay Ceremony January 22, 2025 marks the third anniversary of Thay’s (Teacher Thich Nhat Hanh) passing. To honor his legacy, Plum Village Hong Kong, along with Plum Village Mindfulness Centers worldwide, held a commemorative event on January 19, 2025. The gathering included meditation, chanting, and heartfelt sharings to reflect on Thay’s teachings of mindfulness, compassion, and peace. Participants expressed deep gratitude for his profound impact on their lives and his contributions to global mindfulness practices. For more details about the memorial service, please read the article on our Teacher Memorial Service. 4. […]