Happy Continuation
Day to Thay!
October 11, 2024
Dear Friends,
To honor Thay’s (98th!) continuation day, we would like to share with you some of Thay’s Love letters to his students written over the years.
Often he would offer these love letters before or during our June and Summer Retreats as a way to boost the community during busy and exhaustive times. The Summer Retreats are likened to a joyous dharma festival where thousands of people bring their entire families with children and teens to practice meditation and as the monastics are also hosting in our home monasteries, taking turns as chefs, as organizers, and dharma sharing facilitators… to name a few, Thay’s love letters helped us to not burn out. Thay’s love infused us and we in turn could infuse our service with love.
Originally written in Vietnamese, they have now been translated into English. These three letters featured here are actually excerpts from a new book, “In Love and Trust,” which will be published on October 15th, 2024!
We hope your seeds of love and inspiration were watered through these letters.
To honor Thay and continue Thay, you may also like to write a love letter as well! Perhaps to yourself, to your parents, spouse, children, friends, Mother Earth… etc. One of the best gifts we can offer is the gift of reconciliation and often times it can take the form of a letter. We can start with watering seeds of Happiness in ourselves and one another in our love letter.
Fresh as a flower
When Autumn came, Thay often brought chrysanthemums with his monastic students to visit local cemeteries near Plum Village.
This type of chrysanthemum featured in the above picture was used for Thay’s memorial ceremonies in Vietnam. It holds a cherished significance especially to his monastic students who had the honor of accompanying Thay and witnessing Thay’s simple pleasure of enjoying life with all its marvels.
We invite you to join us in celebrating our teacher, Thay, by generating freshness, solidity, and inner freedom with our mindful breaths and mindful steps.
Support the monastery
Donations are processed on our behalf through the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation.