When we think about the past, we often feel yearning or regret. Mindfulness—sometimes referred to as meditation in action—helps us live in the present moment, where trauma, loss, and illness can be transformed with kindness and love.

Guided by former physician and Buddhist nun Sister Dang Nghiem and other monks and nuns of Plum Village, we learn how to be mindful throughout the day as we walk, talk, eat, play, and work. As we become more aware of our body, feelings, thoughts, and perceptions, we are able to stay with what was, what is, and what will be, instead of fighting or fleeing.

This equanimity gives us the freedom to cultivate happiness and peace regardless of current or past circumstances. In this way, healing—the ability to be peaceful and relaxed in the face of things that typically cause us to suffer—becomes something concrete that we can proactively do in every moment.

The retreat concludes with a presentation on and transmission of the Five Mindfulness Trainings.