Love Letter to Deer Park
In harmony with Thay’s practice of writing love letters to share gratitude, love, and peace with those around him, we asked practitioners to write love letters to Deer Park describing what it means to them. Please enjoy what we expect to be a monthly feature. The Deer Park monastics are truly grateful for the energy and commitment of the lay sangha as well.
Deer Park Means Home.
Dear respected Thầy,
Dear respected monastics,
Thank you for this beautiful practice of writing love letters.
Family. Grace. Mindfulness. Deer Park means home.
The ongoing practice and support of the monastic community is a reminder of what it means to be embraced by the dharma. The disciplined effort, practice, mindful guidance and deep listening remind me of how transformative the practice of sangha is. So beautiful.
A continued aspiration from my recent visit is the ongoing practice of humility.
Thank you for the joy and for welcoming our family to the family retreat. Many seeds of joy, mindfulness and reverence were planted.
As we began to leave Deer Park, reality hit and have needed the following message.
“My joy is like Spring, so warm
it makes flowers bloom all over the Earth.
My pain is like a river of tears,
so vast it fills the four oceans.
Please call me by my true names,
so I can hear all my cries and my laughter at once,
so I can see that my joy and pain are one.
Please call me by my true names,
so I can wake up,
and so the door of my heart
can be left open,
the door of compassion.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
Thank you for the practice of refuge.
With deep gratitude, respect and love
Anonymous
If you would like to submit your own Love Letter to Deer Park, please follow these instructions. Thank you kindly for taking the time to share your love and appreciation with us.