Dear Beloved Friends of Deer Park,

Happy Lunar New Year of the Snake! How auspicious for Deer Park – a transformative year to shed the old and begin anew. May Mother Nature find a cool and healing respite from human activity in this new chapter, as we did during the Covid year. We send our peace and compassion to all the people who have experienced or are experiencing violence and war, wildfire and destruction, and numerous other catastrophes, manmade or otherwise. May the harsh change bring new awakenings and possibilities.

Aware of this reality, we mindfully share with immense gratitude the wonderful news that our monastic brothers have now moved into our new residence—just in time to welcome the 2025 Lunar New Year. After many years of waiting and with the loving support of our community, this long-cherished aspiration has finally been realized. We are deeply grateful. As we step into this new chapter, we warmly invite you to visit Deer Park Monastery, to see and touch what we have built together, and to celebrate this milestone in the spirit of mindfulness and togetherness.

This residence is more than just a building—it is a home shaped by love, care, and the hands of many. The journey began with our Hike-a-thon, where over 200 friends joined their steps with ours, raising $50,000 to bring this dream closer to reality. Along with the online auction, a Dana Day of Practice in Orange County, a first-of-its-kind Music Festival right in the heart of the monastery, the dedicated fundraising efforts of our Sisters during Sundays of Mindfulness, and the many other heartfelt acts of generosity and support from our Sangha members throughout the country, we were able to surpass our goal of $800,000 raised to support the construction.

To keep the cost down, we tried as much as possible to build on our own rather than hiring a big construction company. Throughout the project, more than 50 friends came to offer their construction skills, their time, and their loving energy—some staying for weeks, even months, to offer their service. Volunteers mixed concrete, hammered nails, lifted beams, and installed doors and windows, the roof, and insulation. Side by side, we worked under the sun, the wind, and the quiet shade of the giant Torrey pine of Solidity Hamlet. Our dear nuns, with the same spirit of service, devoted many days to helping move building materials, carefully installing hemp insulation, working on the greywater landscaping, and contributing to the harmony of this new residence.

Before moving in, we gathered as a hamlet to offer a ceremony of gratitude and purification, offering incense, prayers, flowers, and homemade bread. We circumambulated mindfully around the building and deeply felt the support of our spiritual and land ancestors and the presence of each of you who made this moment possible. Every stone, every wall, and every wooden beam carries the energy of our collective aspiration—not just to build a home, but to create a refuge of peace and brotherhood, where the monastic community can live and practice together in harmony and awareness.

Since arriving at Deer Park in 2000, we have aspired to live simply, to care for the land, and to honor the beauty of nature that supports us. This residence reflects that aspiration, being the only new construction in our hamlet since coming here. Rather than overdeveloping, we built mindfully only when it was necessary, and renovated and reused the existing 60-year-old buildings. During demolition, we cut and repurposed an existing concrete foundation into garden pathways. We also installed a greywater and rainwater collection system for sustainability and planted native vegetation to nourish the land. In every decision, we sought to align with Thay’s vision of mindful living—respecting Mother Earth, honoring simplicity, and strengthening our spiritual roots.

For years, our monastic brothers lived in separate areas, far from one another in the lay dormitories. Now, with this new residence, we can live together as one monastic community, strengthening our bonds as brothers in the practice. More than a physical space, this new home allows us to support one another more fully on our path—walking, sitting, sharing tea, seeing each other, and breathing together as one body in our daily lives.

Deer Park Monastery itself is a continuation of Thay’s vision—a place born from the suffering of war, now transformed into a sanctuary of peace, healing, and awakening—a gift to the people of this country. Your generosity, your presence and practice, and your love and care are what make this vision of our teacher possible. Through your support, you ensure that this monastery remains a refuge for all who seek peace—a place to breathe deeply, touch stillness, and rediscover the wonders of life.

We bow deeply to each of you, our dear friends of this Hidden Mountain. May the merit of your generosity bring peace to your hearts and to the world. We look forward to celebrating the Lunar New Year together, and to walking this mindful path of love and transformation with you throughout the year and beyond.

With palms joined, we offer a lotus to you wishing you good health, ease, joy, and many fruits on the path of practice.

Brother Pháp Dung
(on behalf of the Solidity Hamlet Brothers and Long-term Residents)

P.S. You may watch the full land blessing ceremony below: