A celebration of music, mindfulness, and community, hosted at Deer Park, this joyful gathering brings together people of all ages for a day filled with live music, walking meditation, and delicious food — all set against the serene backdrop of Hidden Mountain. Proceeds from the event support meaningful projects at Deer Park.
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Donate– Sue M, Festival Attendee & Volunteer“The bands were fun and talented; there were monastic jams, whimsical children’s songs, wholesome rap, and drumming. I danced and sang along with the crowd. But I carried away so much more than a good time, something deeper and unexpected. I carried away a hope for the future of the earth, for our children and grandchildren.”
The inaugural Rhythm of The Earth Mindful Music Festival took place on April 15, 2023 to raise funds for the new monks’ residence. The festival attracted over 700 guests and featured performances from Joe Reilly and the Community Gardeners, the Free Cloud Collective (including twins Nels Cline and Alex Cline) as well as Makeda and the World Beat Cultural Center Drum and Dance. The fundraiser was successful and contributed to the new monks’ residence building which was completed almost two years later.
You can watch the replay of the 2023 festival on YouTube here.
On May 25, 2024, Deer Park Monastery hosted its second annual Rhythm of the Earth Festival to raise funds to support the production of a film honoring Sister Chan Khong, the first fully ordained nun in the Plum Village tradition.
Over 340 people gathered for an afternoon and evening of music provided by our wonderful line-up of musicians and artists. With a similar lineup as the year prior, with a special addition of Born I as well as special songs and blessings from the Kumeyaay people.
Our hearts were full of joy as participants of all ages practiced walking meditation from venue to venue, sang along with the musicians, ate delicious banh mi sandwiches provided by the Vietnamese community and enjoyed the beautiful day.
Friends were able to join the festival online or in person here in the Hidden Mountain. You can watch the replay of the livestream of the 2024 festival here and enjoy photos from the festivals below.
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.
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.
