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

March 28 - May 16, 2026

This hybrid course will be taught live in person on Saturday evenings at Deer Park and the recordings will be available for folks joining online.

The course will begin recording on March 28 and continue for eight weeks. 

We warmly invite you to join a new eight-session journey exploring how the Plum Village Engaged Buddhist tradition has been taking root in the soil of North America—faithful to its deep Vietnamese roots, and at the same time responsive to the needs, wounds, and aspirations of our time.

Throughout Buddhist history, the Dharma has always crossed oceans and cultures, learning new languages while keeping its heart of compassion and liberation alive. In the United States, this process of “Americanizing Buddhism” has included many movements—sometimes creative, sometimes confusing—shaped by individualism, secularization, social justice, and the marketplace . Our course will look gently and honestly at these currents, asking what is gained and what must be carefully protected as the Dharma continues to evolve .

Rooted in the teachings of our teacher, Zen Master Thích Nhất Hạnh (Thầy), we will reflect on how Plum Village has walked this path with clarity and tenderness—offering mindfulness, interbeing (tương tức 相即 / pratītyasamutpāda), community life, and engaged action in ways that are accessible, inclusive, and deeply grounded. We will also learn from the living examples of Deer Park, Blue Cliff, and Magnolia Grove Monasteries, each expressing the tradition in its own American landscape.

This course will support the unfolding of the Thích Nhất Hạnh School of Interbeing, a place dedicated to nurturing mindfulness, ethics, and belonging in the next generation. Your participation and generosity help this vision continue.

What You’ll Experience:

You will explore how the Plum Village Engaged Buddhist tradition has taken root in North America, and what it means to carry the Dharma forward in ways that are both faithful to its Vietnamese roots and responsive to the realities of our time.

Weekly Dharma Talks: 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 48 hours.

Two Live Zoom Q&A Sessions: During the course, we will gather for two live Q&A sessions held over Zoom, bringing together both in-person and online participants for shared reflection and dialogue with Brother Pháp Dung.

Curated Supplemental Materials: Each week will include thoughtfully selected supplemental materials to deepen your understanding of the themes being explored and support continued reflection and study.

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 area to join us in person each Saturday evening from 7:30-9 pm PDT at Deer Park Monastery for the live recording of the weekly Dharma talk. For those participating online only, the live talks will be recorded and available via our Online Learning Platform (Circle) within 48 hours.

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 material. 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 weeks, 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.