Taking Refuge: A Day of Mindfulness

The first Sunday each month is when we gather together and recite the Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings. All are welcome! Thích Phước Tịnh (the Venerable) will offer the Dharma talk in Vietnamese with live English translation.

Children’s Program: 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 child here.

This event is In-Person and requires advance registration (at the bottom of the page). If you are not able to join us, the Dharma talk will be live streamed (see Calendar of Online Events for details)

Important Information

Please register by 8 AM on the day of the event. If you need to cancel, please login again on this page and indicate you are not attending.

We ask that all guests please observe our dress code: out of respect for our monastic brothers and sisters, please wear sleeves that cover the shoulders (short sleeves are acceptable), shirts that cover the midriff, and long pants or long skirts that are loose-fitting and cover the knees at all times. Please do not wear shorts, tank tops, nor tight-fitting clothing. We kindly ask friends to dress modestly for the duration of their time with us and to share this information with anyone attending the event with you. 

There is no cost incurred for participation in the Day of Mindfulness, but a donation is greatly appreciated to keep the monastery open and able to receive guests. You will find donation boxes in the meditation and dining halls or you can donate online.

Scheduled events occur rain or shine.

Schedule

8:00 AM – 10:00 AM – Gate open to receive registered visitors

9:00 AM – Walking Meditation

10:15 AM – Pháp Thoại / Dharma Talk (translation available when needed)

11:30 AM – Ceremony to Recite the Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings

1:00 PM – Vegetarian Lunch for all

2:00 PM – Day of Mindfulness concludes

Poem

Breathing in, I go back
to the island within myself.
There are beautiful trees
within the island.
There are clear streams of water.
There are birds,
sunshine,
and fresh air.
Breathing out,
I feel safe.
I enjoy going back to my island.

Breathing in mindfully,
I meet the Buddha within myself.
Buddha is mindfulness.
His torch is always there
illuminating my path,
the path of coming,
the path of going,
the path of my mind,
the path of my life.
Breathing out mindfully,
I see my path clearly,
far or near.

Breathing in,
I find the Dharma in my breath.
The breathing protects me,
protects my body,
protects my spirit.
Breathing out,
I keep the breath alive
for my continual protection.

Breathing in,
I recognize the five skandhas
as my Sangha.
The breathing establishes harmony.
The breathing generates peace.
Breathing out,
I enjoy the Oneness
of my being.

Excerpt From
Call Me by My True Names: The Collected Poems
Thich Nhat Hanh
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