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DonateIn this warm and joyful Dharma Talk, Sister Phú Nghiêm welcomes friends, families, and new visitors to a Day of Mindfulness at Deer Park Monastery. Speaking with heartfelt gratitude, she shares from a sutra in the Dhammapada—a poetic dialogue between the Buddha and his students on the nature of “auspicious signs.”
In ancient times, auspicious signs were thought to be rare and beautiful objects: gold, silver, precious stones, peacocks, or the full moon. But the Buddha offered a different vision. The most auspicious signs, he said, are not external omens of luck—they are qualities of the heart and wholesome ways of living that bring true happiness, free us from anxiety, and help us touch peace in this very life.
Sister Phú Nghiêm reflects on several of these signs, including:
The talk is filled with personal stories, gentle humor, and practical examples—like how even saving an ant or sitting in peaceful presence with another person can be a profound act of service. Sister Phú Nghiêm also shares a touching encounter with a 16-year-old retreat participant who, for the first time in a long while, felt no anxiety while at the monastery.
Through her reflections, we are reminded that auspicious signs are not distant ideals. They are simple, tangible actions and attitudes we can nurture each day—creating spaces of peace in our homes, workplaces, and communities.
The talk concludes with a short guided sitting meditation, inviting everyone to breathe, smile, and return to the present moment, surrounded by friends on the path.
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.
