The power of understanding

The summer retreat in Plum Village is over. All the beautiful moments shared with old and young from every country and language peaked at tender good byes. So beautiful, supportive and powerful. How I adore this monastic community and their kindness. They not only open their land to embrace hundreds and hundreds of people through regular retreats but they work sooo hard and always with exquisite grace. Witnessing this alone is a fulfilling teaching.

The summer retreat in Plum Village is the only time of the year where you can take your children. With programs for children, teens, young adults to elders, there is plenty of time to restore inner balance.
Where else can you take a family holiday and exercise deep loving self enquiry together and apart?

One of my many favourite take aways was a beautiful dharma talk on the last day with a young Sister Tue Nghiem on the power of understanding. She made the quest to understand the mind, both conscious and subconscious and the world we live in a way that left you smiling and thirsty, no matter how old you are. Her presence was a bright light. Her talk embraced ways to avoid unnecessary suffering by understanding the roots of our perceptions and build gentle reminders to be compassionate towards ourselves, our families, our histories and the world around us.

What greater and more liberating power is there in life than pursuing the power of understanding?