Honoring the Roots, Tending the Branches: Evolving and Adapting A Living Buddhist Tradition (Plum Village) in America

Brother Phap Dung will be hosting a new in-person & online course this spring, Honoring the Roots, Tending the Branches: Evolving and Adapting A Living Buddhist Tradition (Plum Village) in America. 

This hybrid course will be taught live in person on Saturday evenings from 7-8:30 pm PST and the recordings will be available for folks joining online. 

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

More information and registration will be available on our website in mid Februrary. We thank you for your patience.

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.

Who This Course Is For

Thích Nhất Hạnh’s vision of Engaged Buddhism has touched practitioners across cultures, generations, and spiritual backgrounds. This course is for those who feel called to understand more deeply how that vision is continuing to unfold in the American context.

This course may be especially meaningful for:

• Plum Village practitioners who want to understand the historical and cultural roots of their practice more deeply.
• Members and aspirants of the Order of Interbeing seeking context for how the tradition is evolving in North America.
• Lay Dharma teachers, facilitators, and sangha leaders navigating questions of adaptation, inclusivity, and integrity.
• Young adults and next-generation practitioners curious about what it means to inherit and steward a living lineage.
• Spiritual seekers, scholars, and interfaith leaders interested in how Buddhism adapts across cultures.

Whether you are brand new to Plum Village or have practiced for decades, this course offers a grounded, accessible entry point into an important and timely conversation.

What This Course Will Cover

Over eight weeks, we will explore the living journey of the Plum Village tradition as it has taken root in North America—guided by the teachings and lifelong dedication of Thầy.

We will look at:

1. The Historical Flow of the Dharma

• How Buddhism evolved from India → China → Vietnam → France → North America
• The adaptive nature of Buddhist practice across cultures
• Insights from Thầy’s teachings on The Living Tradition of Buddhist Meditation

2. Vietnamese Roots & Engaged Buddhism

• The renewal of Buddhism during the Vietnam War
• The birth of Engaged Buddhism
• The centrality of community, ethics, and compassionate action

3. American Cultural Currents

• Individualism and the emphasis on personal development
• Secular mindfulness and its benefits and limitations
• Social justice movements and engaged practice
• The influence of capitalism and the spiritual marketplace

4. The Core Teachings that Anchor the Tradition

• Interbeing
• Sangha as refuge
• Mindfulness in daily life
• Ethical living in modern society
• Inclusivity and belonging
   

What We’ll Explore Together

Together, we will:

• Reflect on what it means to steward a living lineage.
• Examine our own assumptions about tradition, authenticity, and adaptation.
• Listen deeply to Brother Pháp Dung’s lived experience as a Vietnamese refugee, American-raised practitioner, and monastic of over 25 years.
• Dialogue across generations and geographies about the future of Engaged Buddhism.
• Consider how the unfolding of the Thích Nhất Hạnh School of Interbeing represents the next chapter of this evolution.

Above all, this is an invitation to participate consciously in the ongoing life of the Dharma in America, tending the roots while nurturing new branches for generations to come.

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.