The organizing for Thay’s visit to Magnolia Grove Monastery in September 28, 2011-October 2, 2011 is currently taking place. Please mark your calendar for these dates if you wish to attend the retreat “Cultivating the Mind of Love” with us. For more information about the retreat, please visit www.tnhtour.org or www.magnoliagrovemonastery.org (please note our new website address).

May this letter finds you in good health, peaceful and well. The Holiday Retreat was indeed a joyful event for the monastic sangha and lay sangha. Sixty people attended the retreat. Forty out of sixty people were under 21 year-old. The presence of the young children under thirteen brought much freshness into the retreat. The teenagers were there to guide the young children in the practice, helping the young children to practice calmness and stillness. The solid practice of the adults was the bell of mindfulness for all of us. The peace, joy, smiles and laughter of the retreatants still resonate deeply in our hearts. It is our hope to continue this retreat next year during the holiday season.

Thay’s hut is progressing very well. Numbers of Brothers are helping in building Thay’s hut at least six hours a day, while numbers of the sisters are helping to make candied fruits for Vietnamese New Year, which takes place in the first week of February. The good news we would like to share with you is that four more monastic sisters have joined the Magnolia Grove Monastery. We now have 30 monastics (20 sisters, 10 brothers) in residence.

The organizing for Thay’s visit to Magnolia Grove Monastery in September 28, 2011-October 2, 2011 is currently taking place. Please mark your calendar for these dates if you wish to attend the retreat “Cultivating the Mind of Love” with us. For more information about the retreat, please visit www.tnhtour.org or www.magnoliagrovemonastery.org (please note our new website address).

From now on, Dharma talks on Sundays will be live, given by the Dharma Teachers of Magnolia Grove Monastery. Br. Phap Lac has joined the community and he is the senior monk and also Dharma Teacher. A day of mindfulness will be taking place this Sunday January 9, 2011.


Below is the schedule:


5:30am- Sitting meditation and Touching the Earth

7:00- Breakfast

9:00- Walking meditation

10:00- Live Dharma Talk

11:30- Dharma discussion

12:30pm- Formal lunch

Afternoon activity will be announced.


We look forward to seeing you. May your heart be filled with peace, joy and happiness.



The Brothers and Sisters of Magnolia Grove Monastery