Americanizing Buddhism: Evolving A Living Buddhist Tradition in America

Brother Phap Dung will be hosting a new in-person & online course this spring:

Americanizing Buddhism
Evolving A Living Buddhist Tradition in America

An 8-Session Fundraising Course for the Thích Nhất Hạnh School of Interbeing
In-person at Deer Park Monastery & Online

NEW DATES: April 18 - June 13, 2026

This hybrid course will be taught live in person on Saturday evenings at Deer Park Monastery from 7:30-9 pm and the recordings will be available for folks joining online.

We warmly invite you to join an eight-session journey exploring how, under the guidance of Zen Master Thích Nhất Hạnh, the Plum Village tradition of Engaged Buddhism has been taking root in North America over the four decades since its founding in 1982—faithful to its deep Vietnamese roots, while also responding to the needs, conditions, sufferings, and aspirations of this particular country and our times.

Together, we will explore how Buddhism has historically adapted across cultures—and what it might mean for the Dharma to take root authentically within the social, psychological, and spiritual conditions of the United States today. We will look at the living nature of tradition: the creative tension between preservation and renewal, criteria for discerning authentic transmission, and practical ways the teachings can be embodied in ethics, institutions, education, and social engagement.

Brother Pháp Dung will share his unique experience, insights, and perspective as a Vietnamese refugee who grew up and was educated in the United States, worked and lived within American culture, and later ordained as a monk—practicing and serving for over a quarter of a century in the Plum Village tradition. From this lived experience, he will reflect on how his teacher, Thầy, dedicated his entire life to renewing the Buddhist tradition—first in the midst of the war in Vietnam, and then through forty years of teaching and community-building in the “West.”

The course is inspired by Thầy’s Three Rains Retreat teaching course (1994–1997), The Living Tradition of Buddhist Meditation, in which Thầy traced the development of Buddhist meditation from its origins in India, through China and Vietnam, and finally as it took root in France and beyond as the Plum Village tradition of Engaged Buddhism.

Buddhism arose from human suffering and human needs, and it must remain responsive as life continues to unfold in new environments and cultures. It is not an archaic museum artifact to be studied and protected; it is a living tradition, meant to be practiced in the very midst of life.

This is not an exhaustive course, but a nourishing introduction, with further development and expansion in future iterations. Brother Pháp Dung will serve as a companion on the path, offering signposts from Thầy’s teachings that can help us keep the tradition fresh, responsive, and alive—so that the Dharma continues to speak clearly and tenderly to our lives, our communities, and our time.

The funds from this course will support the unfolding of the Thích Nhất Hạnh School of Interbeing, a place dedicated to nurturing mindfulness, ethics, and a sense of belonging in the next generation. Your participation and generosity will help this vision continue—so that the Buddhist tradition remains relevant and alive in the lives of our children, our families, and our wider community.

What You’ll Experience:

Together, we will explore how the Plum Village tradition of Engaged Buddhism has taken root in North America, and what it means to carry the Dharma forward in ways that are faithful to its Vietnamese roots while also responsive to the realities of our time. We will also touch briefly on the broader history of Buddhism as a living tradition—how it has continued to evolve as it moved from India through Asia and, eventually, beyond.

Weekly Experience: For in-person attendees, each Saturday evening, Brother Pháp Dung will offer a live Dharma talk at Deer Park Monastery exploring themes of tradition, adaptation, interbeing, community building, and engaged practice in the American context. The live talks will be recorded and available via our Online Learning Platform (Circle) within four days for online attendees.  

One Live Zoom Q&A Sessions: Midway of the course, we will have a live Q&A session held over Zoom, bringing together both in-person and online participants for shared reflection and dialogue with Brother Pháp Dung. Date & time to be determined, preliminarily on Mother’s Day May 10th. 

Dharma Sharing Circles: Participants will have the opportunity to join small Dharma sharing groups, guided by lay Dharma teachers and members of the Order of Interbeing, creating space for meaningful dialogue and collective practice throughout the eight weeks.

Hybrid Format & Participation Details

The course will be organized online via Circle, where all materials, communication, and recordings will be hosted. While the structure is online, we are very happy to welcome local practitioners from Escondido and the greater San Diego, Orange County area to join us in person each Saturday evening at Deer Park Monastery for the live recording of the weekly Dharma talk.

All participants will register through the same link and contribute through the course donation tiers. Those attending in person will be asked to indicate that they plan to join live so we can keep track of attendance. The talks will be recorded during the live sessions and uploaded to Circle within a few days, during the same week of course content. Those participating online will receive the same teachings and materials as those who join in person.

We are truly happy to welcome local practitioners to practice together in person for the full eight sessions, while also supporting those joining from afar through our online platform.

Pricing Tiers

This course is offered as a fundraiser for the Thích Nhất Hạnh School of Interbeing, which will open its first cohort of students this fall. All funds raised through this course will directly support the school’s operations, resources, and the team needed to bring this vision into reality.

Suggested donation tiers:

Root Tier — $400
Branch Tier — $600
Forest Tier — $800

Discounted registration options below $400 will be available for those who are in need of financial support. We want the course to remain accessible while honoring its role as a foundational fundraiser for the school.

If you would benefit from a scholarship or reduced rate, or if you have any questions about participating in the course, please feel free to reach out to us at courses@deerparkmonastery.org. We are happy to connect and support you.