About Deer Park Monastery

Deer Park Monastery is a community in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh & the Plum Village Practice Center. This 400-acre sanctuary rests peacefully in the chaparral mountains of southern California, surrounded and protected by oaks and the natural landscape. It was established in July 2000 by the Plum Village four-fold Sangha. Now, it is a safe and serene refuge for many practitioners to come and learn the art of mindful living and practicing with a community, or Sangha. At Deer Park, the residential monastic community and lay Sangha practice together year round under the guidance of our teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh (Thây), in the tradition of engaged Buddhism and mindfulness practice in everyday life. There are two hamlets: Solidity Hamlet (for monks and laymen) and Clarity Hamlet (for nuns and laywomen). The two hamlets come together several times a week to practice. At Deer Park, we are nourished not just by the formal sitting meditation sessions, but also by the practice of meditation in our daily activities outside the meditation hall. We are guided by the teachings of Thây on mindfulness and peace-making. We learn to live together as a community and to take refuge in the wisdom of the Sangha. Each week we receive teachings (CD, DVD or video) sent to us from Plum Village, France and/or listen to the teachings given by resident monastic Dharma teachers.