Plum Village Practice Centers

  • About
    • About Us Overview
    • Thich Nhat Hanh
    • Meet Our Community
    • Employment Opportunities
    • News
  • Learn & Listen
    • Learn & Listen Overview
    • Media & Resources
    • Library
    • Creativity
    • Online Courses
  • Mindfulness
    • Mindfulness Overview
    • Foundations of Mindfulness
    • Mindful Living
    • Trauma-Informed Mindfulness
    • Guided Meditations
  • Community
    • Join Our Community
    • Initiatives
    • Journal
    • Start a Sangha
    • Wake Up (18-35)
    • Become a Monastic
    • Order of Interbeing (OI)
    • BIPOC Sanghas
    • LGBTQIA+ Communities
    • Lay Dharma Teachers
  • Visit
    • Visit Overview
    • Events
    • Types of Visits
    • Register for a Retreat
    • Volunteer
    • Contact Us
  • Bookshop
    • Overview
    • Shop Online
    • Donate
  • About
    • About Us Overview
    • Thich Nhat Hanh
    • Meet Our Community
    • Employment Opportunities
    • News
  • Learn & Listen
    • Learn & Listen Overview
    • Media & Resources
    • Library
    • Creativity
    • Online Courses
  • Mindfulness
    • Mindfulness Overview
    • Foundations of Mindfulness
    • Mindful Living
    • Trauma-Informed Mindfulness
    • Guided Meditations
  • Community
    • Join Our Community
    • Initiatives
    • Journal
    • Start a Sangha
    • Wake Up (18-35)
    • Become a Monastic
    • Order of Interbeing (OI)
    • BIPOC Sanghas
    • LGBTQIA+ Communities
    • Lay Dharma Teachers
  • Visit
    • Visit Overview
    • Events
    • Types of Visits
    • Register for a Retreat
    • Volunteer
    • Contact Us
  • Bookshop
    • Overview
    • Shop Online
  • Donate
About Us
Learn & Listen
Mindfulness
Community
Plan Your Visit
Online Courses
Journal
Coyote Tracks
Bookshop
INITIATIVES
Thich Nhat Hanh Museum
Thich Nhat Hanh School of Interbeing
Sister Chan Khong Film
Happy Farm
Publishing
The Hidden Mountain Record
The Mindfulness Bell
Plum Village App
Podcasts
Donate
Contact Us
Blue Cliff Monastery

3 Mindfulness Road
Pine Bush, NY 12566
United States 

Deer Park Monastery

2499 Melru Lane
Escondido, CA 92026
United States

Magnolia Grove Monastery

123 Towles Rd 
Batesville, MS 38606 
United States

Stream of Compassion Mindfulness Practice Centre

670 Concession 20 W, Tiny, ON L9M 0H6, Canada

Plum Village

437 Chemin du Pey

24240 Thénac
France

European Institute of Applied Buddhism

Schaumburgweg 3 Germany
D-51545 Waldbröl
Germany

Healing Spring Monastery

2 Rue Pascal Jardin
77510 Verdelot
France

Maison de l’Inspir

8 Rue des Fans
77510 Villeneuve-sur-Bellot
France

Thai Plum Village

Pong Ta Long
Pak Chong District
Nakhon Ratchasima 30130
Thailand

Asian Institute of Applied Buddhism

Lotus Pond Temp, Ngong Ping
Lantau Island
New Territories
Hong Kong SAR China

Stream Entering Monastery

530 Porcupine Ridge Road 
Porcupine Ridge VIC VIC 3461
Australia

Mountain Spring Monastery

2657 Bells Line of Road
Bilpin NSW 2758
Australia

Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
Who is Thich Nhat Hanh? Cohort 3
  1. Home
  2. Online Courses
  3. Who is Thich Nhat Hanh? Online Course - Cohort 3
Course

Who is Thich Nhat Hanh? Online Course - Cohort 3

Online Courses 2

Who Is Thich Nhat Hanh? is an online journey exploring the life, teachings, practice, and continuation of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh (Thay). We welcome you to join us for the third cohort, Encountering the Spring, as we approach Thay's 100th continuation year. 

On the full moon of September 1945, Sung [the future Zen Master Thích Nhất Hạnh] received the novice ordination with the Lineage Name Trừng Quang (澄光), meaning “clear light,” and the Dharma Name Phùng Xuân (逢春), which means “encountering the spring.” He then officially belonged to the 42nd generation of the Linji Dhyana School and the 8th generation of the Liễu Quán Dharma Line. One day after the morning chanting, he looked out the door of the Buddha hall, and saw the moon glistening on the surface of the Half Moon Pond. He felt his Bodhicitta light up his heart, and he wrote in pencil on the pillar right next to him this verse in Chinese characters: “眾 生 無 邊 誓 願 渡” (“Living beings are numberless, I vow to take them all to the other shore”).

Excerpt from Chapter 2.2 of Đi Gặp Mùa Xuân: Hành Trạng Thiền Sư Thích Nhất Hạnh, Niên Trưởng, Trú Trì Tổ đình Từ Hiếu, Khai Sơn Đạo Tràng Mai Thôn Quốc Tế.)

Who Is Thich Nhat Hanh? Encountering the Spring
Cohort 3

October 11, 2026 – January 31, 2027

We welcome you to join us for the third cohort of Who Is Thich Nhat Hanh? Encountering the Spring. Whether you are returning or joining us for the first time, this course invites us to look deeply into the life and teachings of Thay. We may look again with fresh eyes, noticing what we did not see before and exploring what we can learn, carry into our own lives, and bring into our practice.

As we approach Thay’s 100th continuation year, we will also explore the people, places, teachings, and moments that shaped his life, while looking at the many ways his continuation is alive today through practice, relationships, communities, and new generations of practitioners around the world.

 

What You’ll Experience:

You will explore key moments in Thay’s life, learning how he transformed challenges into opportunities for spiritual growth.

  • Dharma Talks: Engage with weekly Dharma talks by Brother Pháp Lưu, each focusing on a pivotal period in Thay’s life and the evolution of his teachings.
     
  • Live Happiness Gatherings: Join four live zoom sessions with Brother Pháp Lưu and the full cohort community, held monthly throughout the course.
     
  • Exclusive Interviews: Listen to interviews with those who knew Thay closely, including Sister Chân Đức, Sister Định Nghiêm, Brother Pháp Dung, and peace activists who were with Thay in the 60s and 70s, offering personal insights into his teachings.
     
  • Curated Readings: Access a carefully selected reading list featuring Thay’s writings, primary sources, and scholarly articles that correspond with each week’s theme.
     
  • Dharma Sharing Circles: Participate in group discussions, guided by lay Dharma teachers and members of the Order of Interbeing, to deepen your practice within a supportive community.

Let Thay's teachings inspire your spiritual journey.

Course Activities

Each Sunday, new course materials will be released via our online platform. You will have the week to engage with the content at your own pace. Dharma sharing groups will meet over the weekend to discuss and reflect.

Weekly Reflections

Write responses to prompts based on the week’s teachings, allowing for personal reflection and integration of the material.

Dharma Sharing Groups

Join weekly group discussions to build connections and explore the teachings in a community setting.

Learning Objectives

Through biographical studies, primary source readings, interviews, and interactive Dharma sharing, you will gain a profound understanding of Thay’s teachings and how they can inspire your own spiritual practice.

  • Understand the significant events in Thich Nhat Hanh’s life and how they shaped his teachings.
     
  • Explore the emotional and spiritual practices Thay used to navigate difficulties and how you can apply these lessons to your own life.
     
  • Engage with primary sources and scholarly articles to gain a comprehensive view of Thay’s contributions to modern Buddhism.
     
  • Connect with others through Dharma Sharing Circles, fostering community and deepening your understanding.

Important Dates

  • Registration Opens: September 15, 2026
  • Course Begins: October 11, 2026
  • Final Week of Materials: January 31, 2027

To honor the rhythms of the holidays, there will be no Dharma sharing sessions on major holiday weekends.

Register to Join the Journey

Whether you are new to Thầy’s teachings or returning to deepen your understanding, this course offers a rich and supportive space to learn, reflect, and practice.

Register Here

Week-by-Week Journey

  • Week 1: Thay's Childhood & Adolescence (1930s)
  • Week 2: Early Life as a Novice (1940s)
  • Week 3: Young Dharma Teacher (1950s)
  • Week 4: The Geneva Accords, the Vietnamese Buddhism Journal & the Fragrant Palm Leaves Community
  • Week 5: Journey to the U.S., Princeton & Columbia Universities (early 1960s)
  • Week 6: Return to Vietnam & the School of Youth for Social Service (mid-1960s)
  • Week 7: The Order of Interbeing, Receiving the Dharma Lamp, Abbotship & Return to the U.S. (mid-1960s)
  • Week 8: Lotus in a Sea of Fire: Peace Activism with Martin Luther King Jr. & Thomas Merton (late 1960s)
  • Week 9: Sister Chan Khong’s Early Life & Practice
  • Week 10: Vietnamese Buddhist Peace Delegation, Dai Dong, Menton & The Miracle of Mindfulness
  • Week 11: Boat People & the Vietnamese Diaspora (late 1970s)
  • Week 12: The Early Years of Plum Village (1980s)
  • Week 13: The Founding of the Monastic Community (1990s)
  • Week 14: Thay’s Return to Vietnam, Prajna Monastery & Thay’s Continuation Body
  • Week 15: Course Closing & Continuing the Practice

Live Gatherings

Opening / Kickoff Call

October 11, 2026
Time to be confirmed
Thay Phap Luu

We will begin the course together with a live gathering to orient participants to the journey ahead and practice together as a community.

Additional Live Calls

We will gather as a full cohort for a monthly live Zoom check-in with Thay Phap Luu, with guest appearances from monastic friends at Deer Park throughout the course.

These gatherings will offer time to practice together, reflect on the course material, and connect as a wider Sangha. Recordings will be made available for friends who are unable to attend live.

Dharma Sharing

Participants will once again have the opportunity to join a weekly Dharma Sharing group throughout the 15 weeks of the course.

These groups will be facilitated by experienced Order of Interbeing members and offer a regular space to reflect on the weekly teachings, listen deeply, share from personal experience, and practice together in community. Details about group times and sign-up will be shared during onboarding.

Course Dates

Course: October 11, 2026–January 24, 2027
Registration opens: September 15, 2026

 

Pricing

Standard: $297

Returning Participants
If you are a returning participant, please reach out to courses@deerparkmonastery.org so we can support you in continuing your practice with this cohort.

Scholarships
Financial support is available. If cost is a barrier, please reach out to us at courses@deerparkmonastery.org and we will be happy to explore what may be possible. 

Share:
Share on TwitterShare on FacebookShare on LinkedInShare via email

Facilitators & Guest Speakers

Brother Phap Luu
DHARMA TEACHERBrother Pháp LưuOrdained as a monk since December 13, 2003, Brother Chân Pháp Lưu (Brother Stream) received Transmission of the Lamp from Zen Master Thích Nhất Hạnh to teach in 2011. He helped start Wake-Up, the international movement for young people, as well as the Happy Farm, Plum Village’s organic farming community, and has been working with Wake-Up Schools since its inception in 2012 to bring mindfulness to schools. He has served as a monastic editor several of Thích Nhát Hạnh’s books including Happy Teachers Change the World, Stepping Into Freedom, Cracking the Walnut, The Admonitions and Encouraging Words of Master Guishan, and How to Focus. Brother Phap Luu leads mindful backpacking retreats in nature around Deer Park Monastery in Escondido, California and recently co-authored a book with Brother Phap Xa called Hiking Zen.Brother Stream has been working lately with scientists at Dartmouth College and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health to develop research on the effect of Plum Village mindfulness practices on children. He also serves on the Advisory Board of the Thích Nhát Hạnh Center for Mindfulness in Public Health at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.He is the 201st disciple of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh and belongs to the 43rd generation of the Lâm Tế lineage and the 9th generation of the Liễu Quán school.Read
Roshi joan
GUEST SPEAKERRoshi Joan HalifaxRoshi Joan Halifax is a renowned Zen teacher, author, anthropologist, and pioneer in the fields of contemplative care and engaged Buddhism. As the founder and abbot of Upaya Zen Center, she has devoted her life to integrating meditation practice with compassionate action in the world, particularly in the areas of end-of-life care, social engagement, and environmental stewardship.Roshi Joan shared a warm friendship and deep mutual respect with Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. Their teachings reflected a common aspiration: to cultivate mindfulness, compassion, and peace as a foundation for personal and collective transformation. Over the years, Roshi Joan has practiced with and supported the Plum Village community, and her connection with Deer Park Monastery reflects the spirit of interbeing and engaged Buddhism that both teachers embodied.Through her teaching, writing, and service, Roshi Joan continues to inspire people around the world to bring awareness, courage, and compassion into daily life, helping to nurture a more peaceful and understanding society.Read
Sr chan duc 1
DHARMA TEACHERSister Chan DucSister Chan Duc has been a disciple of Thay since 1986. She became the first Western European woman to be ordained as a nun by Thay on November 10th 1988 in India. She received the Lamp Transmission to become a Dharma Teacher in 1990 and served as Director of Practice at Plum Village. She is the former abbess of the Green Mountain Dharma Centre in the USA. Sister Chan Duc has been on the board of directors for the Unified Buddhist Church since 1998.She is a much-loved senior Dharma Teacher and traveled widely to lead meditation retreats, including in her ancestral land of England. She inspires many with her unique teaching style throughout the world. She was the Dean of Practice at the European Institute of Applied Buddhism in Germany and currently resides in Plum Village France.Read
Brother Phap Dung
DHARMA TEACHERBrother Pháp DungBrother Chân Pháp Dung (Dharma Embrace) was ordained in 1998 as a monk in Plum Village France receiving the Dharma Teacher Lamp from Thầy in 2004. He is the former abbot of Deer Park Monastery in California from 2001 to 2010. He was born in Vietnam in 1969 and escaped as a refugee with his family to the US when he was nine years old. He grew up in the Los Angeles area, studied and received a degree in Architecture from the University of Southern California, and worked as an architect/designer for four years before becoming a monk. Br. Pháp Dung helped to establish Deer Park Monastery and other US centers, creating meditation programs and retreats for children, teens, families, and young adults, as well as planning its halls and infrastructures. He has led mindfulness retreats in North and South America, China, Hong Kong, India, Bhutan, and Germany.A Dharma teacher in the Plum Village tradition, originally from Vietnam and a U.S. citizen, born in 1969. He entered monastic training in 1997 at the age of 28 and received the novice precepts on February 4, 1998, at Từ Nghiêm Temple – Plum Village, with the Dharma name Tâm Hòa Sắc and the Dharma title Chan Phap Dung. He belongs to the Cây Táo (Apple Tree) ordination family.He received full ordination on December 18, 2001, in the Đã Về Đã Tới Great Ordination CeremonyRead
Sister dang nghiem
DHARMA TEACHERSister Đẳng NghiêmSister Đẳng Nghiêm, MD, (“Sister D”) immigrated to the United States at the age of seventeen with her brother. She earned a medical degree from the University of California – San Francisco. She was ordained as a nun in 2000 by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, and given the name Dang Nghiem, which means adornment with nondiscrimination. She is the author of a memoir, Healing: A Woman’s Journey from Doctor to Nun (2010), and Mindfulness as Medicine: A Story of Healing and Spirit (2015). Her newest book, Flowers in the Dark, (2021) is a deeply thoughtful guidebook to healing trauma with mindfulness practice.A Dharma teacher in the Plum Village tradition, originally from Vietnam and a U.S. citizen, born in 1968. She entered monastic training in 2000 at the age of 32 and received the novice precepts on May 18, 2000, at Từ Nghiêm Temple – Plum Village, with the Dharma name Tâm Phụng Hỷ and the Dharma title Chân Đẳng Nghiêm. She belongs to the Cây Bông Sứ (Frangipani Tree) ordination family.She received full ordination on January 9, 2003, in the Đã Về Đã Tới (I Have Arrived, I Am Home) Great Ordination Ceremony.She is the 106th disciple of Thầy in the Plum Village lineage. She belongs to the 43rd generation in the Lâm Tế (Linji) Zen tradition and the 9th generation of the Liễu Quán Dharma branch.Read
OIP kws FF86 Kw A i ECB1xpft Vw Ha LH
GUEST SPEAKERLaura HasslerLaura Hassler is the founder and director of Musicians Without Borders, an international organization that uses music to promote peace and social change. Hassler started the organization in 1999 in response to the war in Kosovo. She is a musician and peace activist who grew up during the American Civil Rights Movement. Hassler has spoken about the power of music to heal, connect, and create empathy in the face of conflict and war.Thich Nhat Hanh and Alfred Hassler (Laura's father) shared a profound partnership in the pursuit of peace and social justice, particularly during the Vietnam War. Alfred Hassler was a prominent American peace activist and a leader in the Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR), an interfaith organization dedicated to nonviolence. Their collaboration significantly advanced the global peace movement and brought attention to the suffering in Vietnam. Alfred Hassler passed away in 1991 and we had the privilege of sitting down with his daughter, Laura Hassler, who shared many stories, anecdotes and wisdom from her father’s legacy, which has influenced her own peace activism work.Read
Minh chau
Minh-Châu LêMinh-Châu Lê has been part of the beloved Plum Village community since 1996 and joined the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation Board in 2016. She has made significant contributions to Thay's biography and to this course.She is currently pursuing a PhD in history at Columbia University with a focus on twentieth century Vietnamese and US history, decolonization, and global migration. Her dissertation will be on the South Vietnamese Buddhist movement during the Vietnam War. Before starting her doctoral studies, Minh-Châu worked for four years as a digital campaigner and nonprofit strategy consultant in New York City -- collaborating with a range of organizations focused on refugee resettlement, women's rights, gun reform, creative technology, and civic participation.  Minh-Châu enjoys being near bodies of water, taking care of plants, playing guitar, reading, singing, and writing. She is inspired by people who are fiercely compassionate and grounded in love. She was ordained in the Order of Interbeing with the name Chân Biểu Thiện (True Manifestation of Goodness).A quote by Thích Nhất Hạnh that inspires her is: "Love and understanding are not only concepts and words. They must be real things, realized in oneself and society."Read
Jasdeep
CONTRIBUTORJasdeep KaurJasdeep Kaur is a longtime practitioner in the Plum Village tradition of mindfulness founded by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. Deeply engaged with the teachings and practice community, she has contributed her time and insight to the development of educational offerings that help make Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings accessible to a wider audience.Jasdeep played a significant role in the initial creation of this course, contributing to research, conducting interviews, and helping gather and shape the stories and resources that inform the course content. Her dedication to the Plum Village tradition and her thoughtful research have helped support this offering as a meaningful introduction to Thich Nhat Hanh’s life, teachings, and legacy.Read
Screenshot 2026 09 15 at 11 13 45 AM
GUEST SPEAKERNancy Forest-FlierNancy Forest-Flier is a longtime student and friend of Thich Nhat Hanh whose life has been deeply shaped by his teachings on mindfulness, compassion, and peace. She is the widow of Jim Forest, author of Eyes of Compassion: Learning from Thich Nhat Hanh, a book that offers a personal introduction to Thay’s life and teachings through stories, photographs, and correspondence. Nancy shares her memories and reflections on Thich Nhat Hanh as part of Deer Park Monastery’s Who Is Thich Nhat Hanh? course, helping bring a personal and intimate dimension to the story of Thay and the early development of his teachings.Read
DSC08029 HDR scaled

Turn Your Inbox into a Dharma Door

Subscribe to our Coyote Tracks newsletter on Substack to receive event announcements, writing, art, music, and meditations from Deer Park monastics.

Support Deer Park

Donations are our main source of support, so every offering is greatly appreciated. Your contribution helps us to keep the monastery open to receive guests throughout the year.

Donate
Register Here

In celebration of Thay’s 100th continuation year, Cohort 3 will include a new collection of pre-recorded conversations with friends whose lives and practice have been touched by Thay. We will hear from Brother Phap Huu, a longtime monastic student of Thay; Roshi Joan Halifax, a Buddhist teacher and longtime friend of Thay; and lay friends reflecting on their relationship with Thay and the ways the Plum Village tradition has accompanied their lives and practice.

We will also hear from friends whose work and practice have helped make this course possible, including a practitioner in Vietnam working to create local schools and a researcher at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Throughout the course, we will feature additional voices and reflections from monastic teachers at Deer Park. We will also offer new visual guides and roadmaps to Thay’s life, new weekly summaries to support understanding and engagement with the material, and supplemental bonus resources to support your practice.

For Cohort 3, we will also offer three suggested pathways to engage with the material at different paces, depending on your time, capacity, and interest. Each week may include recommendations for a lighter pathway or a deeper dive through additional reading and supplemental material. These are suggestions only. Everyone who registers will have access to the full course and all materials, so you can move through the course in the way that best supports your life and practice. Thay Phap Luu will explain the pathways in greater depth during the opening call on October 11.

The course is 15 weeks from start to finish. Starting October 11, 2026 and concluding January 31, 2027.

The total time commitment is approximately 3-5 hours per week, with optional Dharma Sharing sessions over the weekend. 

The approx. time break-out is as follows: 

  • 1 hour Dharma Talk (Video)
  • 1 hour Interview/Q&A (Video)
  • 1 hour Suggested reading/self-study (PDFs)
  • 1 hour Optional reading/self-study (PDFs)
  • 1 hour Dharma Sharing (Optional; Zoom)

Whether you are new to Thay’s teachings or are a seasoned practitioner, this course will help you to understand the life of a real Zen Master and how to apply his Engaged Buddhist teachings into your life. All are welcome.

This course is offered entirely online, allowing you to participate from wherever you are. To help nurture a sense of spiritual community, there will be weekly Dharma sharing sessions on Zoom, as well as online gatherings with Thay Phap Luu. The course coincides with the Deer Park Rains Retreat schedule, offering lay practitioners a precious opportunity to enter a period of steady, deepening practice in a way that is spacious and harmonious with daily life.

The course is designed with spaciousness in mind, allowing you to engage with the teachings in a rhythm that suits your daily life. New materials will be released each week and you are welcome to explore the teachings and practices at your own pace, in your own time.

Dharma Sharing will be held on Saturdays or Sundays. Numerous time slots are available for the Dharma sharing groups, and you will have the opportunity to choose from several time slots that work for you, according to your schedule and time zone.

The course is offered for $297. At the same time, we wish for it to be accessible to friends everywhere. If the contribution feels out of reach for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us—we will be happy to find a way together. You can email us at courses@deerparkmonastery.org to request a reduced rate.

The contributions we receive help to support the expanded offering of the monastery, such as the creation of new online courses. At the same time, it is the spirit of generosity that truly sustains our sangha. We are deeply grateful for the many donors and volunteers whose service helps the Dharma continue to flow.

Of course! Given the breadth of content and Dharma teachings provided in this course, several friends have decided to take the course again this year to integrate and sit with the teachings in a deeper way. The weekly Dharma Sharing sessions over Zoom provide a space for discussion, integration, and connection. This allows for a deeper integration of the course content over time. 

We are also offering a discounted rate to returning participants. Please email us at courses@deerparkmonastery.org to request a discounted rate as a returning participant.  We thank you for your continued support.

You can reach out to the Deer Park Online Courses team at courses@deerparkmonastery.org for additional questions.

Do we really know who Thich Nhat Hanh is? It’s a koan, a Zen question, to ask ourselves...Everybody thinks they know: Thay is the grandfather of mindfulness, or Thay is a peace activist who spoke out about the war in Vietnam, Thay is a poet, etc. This course invites you to explore this question deeply, understanding that Thay’s life and teachings transcend any single definition.”

Brother Phap Luu

Explore Online Courses

From time to time we offer multi-week courses related to mindfulness, the teachings and life of Thich Nhat Hanh, and a variety of similar subjects. Please see our schedule of upcoming courses.

Upcoming Courses
Laptop mockup

Plum Village App

Take the Deer Park Monastery and Plum Village community with you wherever you go. The Plum Village app is designed to cultivate mindfulness, compassion, and joy through guided meditations, deep relaxations, practice poems, bells of mindfulness, and other practices — all through a mobile device.

Open Plum Village Mobile App in the App Store
Open Plum Village Mobile App in the Google Play Store