US Tour 2023 | Sept. 06-10 : Nourishing Ourselves, Caring for Others – A Mindfulness Retreat for Healthcare Professionals, First responders, and Caregivers

Go back and take care of yourself. Your body needs you, your feelings need you, your perceptions need you. Your suffering needs you to acknowledge it. Go home and be there for all these things.

– Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh

Do you remember those wonderful moments when your loving care made a difference in someone’s life? It is great happiness to be of service to others, yet it is also too common to become exhausted, burnt out, and frustrated when we do not have the time to care for ourselves. The past few years have been particularly stressful for many people, especially for those providing medical and mental health care, first responders, and/or caregivers for individuals with special needs.  

Our wonderful healing recitations of metta – loving kindness – point out to us the importance of self-care. 

“May I be free from injury. May I live in safety.

May I be free from disturbance, fear, and anxiety…”

These verses start with “I” before moving on to other individuals, communities, and the world. Sending ourselves loving kindness and practicing self- compassion is the first step we need to take in order for our service to be nourishing and sustainable. 

In this “Nourishing Ourselves, Caring for Others” retreat, we will benefit from the collective energy of the Beloved Community as we come home to ourselves. We will have a chance to experience the art of mindful living and apply different meditation practices throughout the day, which include Dharma talks, sitting, walking meditation, eating meditation, deep relaxation, mindful movements, loving speech and deep listening, and Noble Silence. This is a time to relax deeply into our bodies and feelings in order to replenish ourselves. 

If there is sufficient interest or need, we can form affinity groups for friends with similar interests and for friends who identify as LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) 

This five-day retreat is open to all in the mental health and medical healthcare profession, first responders, caregivers, and those in training. No prior meditation experience is required. We warmly welcome the diversity of your experience to this place of refuge and healing – wherever you come from, however you look or identify yourselves.

In honoring the need to rest and be kind to ourselves, our hearts will naturally open to others. The reality of the profound connection between self-care and caring for others will be deeply felt and evident. Nourishing ourselves is indeed the first and necessary step in caring for others.

The healer, the healed and the healing process are not three separate entities, but they are in each other, and they are one.

Sister Dang Nghiem

Suggested readings:

• How to Relax, by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh
• Mindfulness as Medicine, by Sister Dang Nghiem, MD

Please consider making a donation 

In many traditions, we practice dana by making monetary offerings for the teachings and the teachers. 

For the Beloved Community tour, all US-based monastics will travel to each center to host retreats. We would like to keep the retreat costs affordable so as many friends can attend as possible. If you are able, please consider making a donation in addition to your retreat fee to help support this special US tour.

We bow in gratitude for your generosity.

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We hope to make the retreat accessible to all. Please do not hesitate to contact our office (office@magnoliagrovemonastery.org) if you need financial support to attend this retreat and/or if you have any special needs or concerns.

Register for the retreat.

This is a four-night retreat. Prices include the cost of all activities, three meals per day and lodging.

• DORM/CABIN bed in a shared room $100 per night
• TENT / RV/COMMUTER $60 per night.  (For RV camping: unfortunately we do not have any electrical or water hookups available. You’re very welcome to come with your RV, but please prepare for dry camping accordingly.)

Discounts for seniors & students 20%.

The following nearby hotels kindly offer a special rate to retreatants of the monastery:

Holiday Inn : (662) 563-1234)
Days Inn : (662) 563-4999
Quality Inn : (662) 563-6592)

Please ask for Magnolia Rate when making reservations.

We look forward to welcoming you soon!

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* Do you need a ride or can offer a ride to/from Memphis airport? Please click here to fill out the Google form. We will send you confirmation 3-5 days before the retreat starts.