Enjoy a day of mindfulness and peace.

We are open for in-person Days of Mindfulness with advance registration. For more information about when and how to join us, please see our events calendar.

walking

Typical In-person Day of Mindfulness Schedule

When you arrive, you may park in the main parking lot and make your way up to the Solidity Hamlet campground.

9:00 AM – Outdoor Walking Meditation

Walking meditation is a practice of walking together and being present with each step. We walk with freedom and solidity, no longer in a hurry, allowing our body and mind to be calm.

10:15 AM – Dharma talk in Ocean of Peace Meditation Hall

A dharma talk is a teaching about meditation and well-being.

11:30 AM – Dharma Sharing or Ceremony

On the first Sunday of each month, we regularly have a ceremony to recite the Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings and on the third Sunday, we usually recite the Five Mindfulness Trainings. On other Sundays, we generally break up into smaller groups for sharing.

12:30 PM – Mindful Lunch

We kindly ask you to bring your own vegetarian lunch. Eating a silent meal together can be a meditative practice. We establish ourselves in the present moment and practice eating with a sense of peace, ease, and gratitude.

1:30 PM – Bookshop Opens

The bookshop carries a variety of books by our Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh in English and Vietnamese, as well as other items that support mindfulness practice.

2:00 PM – Day of Mindfulness Concludes

Registration
Please check our calendar to confirm that the monastery will host a Day of Mindfulness on the date you wish to visit. Next, click on your preferred visitation date to register.

Donations
There is no fee for taking part in a Day of Mindfulness, but you are welcome to make a donation. Donations are our main source of support, so every offering is greatly appreciated. Your contribution helps us to keep the monastery open throughout the year. You can make your offering in the donation box in the Ocean of Peace Meditation Hall, any meditation hall, or either dining hall.

Children’s Program
The monastery will be offering a children’s program on the first and third Sundays of the month. Families can drop off their young ones between the ages 6 and 12 after walking meditation in front of the Big Meditation Hall and pick them up before lunch. Register your children here.

Individual Needs
Deer Park is deeply committed to inclusiveness. If you have a particular need for assistance, please contact us so we can offer you as much support as possible. Our meditation hall and dining halls are wheelchair accessible.

What to Wear
Please wear casual and modest clothing that is comfortable for sitting. We ask that all clothing cover the shoulders, midsection, and knees even when sitting in a meditative posture. No shorts or tank tops. Please wear or bring weather-appropriate clothing and shoes suitable for walking on nature trails so you can fully enjoy the outdoor walking meditation with the community. Also, avoid wearing perfumes or other products that may affect those who are sensitive or allergic to fragrances.