Nourishing the Seeds of Healthy Living

Dearest Deer Park Brothers, Sisters, and Lay Friends,

In September 2021, I attended a retreat in Oakland, California when Brother Earth, Brother Freedom, and Brother Gem were on their road tour of the western states and Oakland was their last stop before heading back to Deer Park. It was at the retreat that I received the five Mindfulness Trainings and my Dharma name, Gentle Lotus of the Heart. I also learned about Sanghas and joined a couple of Sanghas soon thereafter (Santa Cruz Heart Sangha and Karuna Garden Sangha).

I had attended my first Plum Village retreat earlier in 2021. It was online, yet so very impactful. I had not known Plum Village and the other monasteries existed before that retreat, even though I had been reading Thay’s books for decades! So when I learned that there was a monastery not too far from me, I began to see when I could visit.

My daughter joined me at Deer Park in January 2022 for a three-day retreat where we were nourished with wholesome seeds of healthy living while joyfully being in a safe, supportive (and fun!) community.

I have been to Deer Park twice more since then, including the Buddha the Scientist retreat. Prior to stepping onto the grounds at Deer Park for that retreat, I was feeling anxious and distracted with “daily living” - but the minute I was walking up the road to check in, I immediately felt a strong energy of calm and I felt at home. I know I can always ‘find home’ in myself at anytime, yet there is something so special about being at Deer Park. 

At that visit, one foggy morning I walked up alone to the ridge (where the Buddha statue is) and sat on a bench underneath one of the trees (I’ve attached a picture from that morning and it’s one of the screen savers on my phone!). The next day, we did a walking meditation to that same area and could hear a pack of coyotes across the valley. 

During my first visit with my daughter, she and I took an afternoon walk on the path to the stupa. As we neared it, we could see a giant hawk perched at the top. We approached with calm and ease and the hawk continued to stay on its perch as we sat on the steps of the stupa and enjoyed the view of the valley with the hawk.

I could go on and on with the many beautiful memories I have of this community you have created. I am so thankful to the Buddha, to Thay and for every single one of you. You have created a place in which we can be together in community and a place where I come to grow, learn and sometimes realign and recommit myself to the path of mindfulness, concentration, and insight. The path of my intentions. The path where I learn to how to reduce suffering and offer well being for myself and for all beings.

Thank you as words alone cannot express the deep, heartfelt gratitude I have for you. You inspire me to be a better human, to aspire to live by the five MTs, and to live a life defined by compassion, loving kindness, joy, and equanimity.

With gratitude and aloha,
Gentle Lotus of the Heart