As the 90-day Rains Retreat begins we share a video that gives a taste of this period for deepening mindfulness practice.
In a tradition dating back to the time of the Buddha, all of the monks and nuns spend 90 days within the boundary of a monastery to deepen their practice. While lay guests are invited to stay for 90 days or for shorter periods, this is the time of the year when Plum Village monastics focus deeply on their study and practice.
The timing of the Rains Retreat varies from center to center, but it begins today at Plum Village Monastery, tomorrow at Deer Park Monastery, and started a few days ago at Magnolia Grove Monastery.
We live together as a spiritual family and practice in such a way so that happiness is possible every day, every hour. We dwell peacefully in the retreat, in the framework of the boundaries and 90 days.
Thich Nhat Hanh at the start of a Rains Reat in 2004
Two years ago, a brother in Upper Hamlet made this 13-minute film about life during the rains retreat:
Brother Phap Huu also discussed ‘The Spirit of the Rains Retreat’ in an episode of the podcast, The Way Out is In.
The Rains Retreat carries the spirit of being still; not running from suffering or chasing after an idea of happiness. This is an opportunity to return home to oneself, to take refuge in our spiritual family, to enrich and deepen our dharma body with our mindfulness practice, and to continue our teacher’s legacy in our sangha body.
Brother Phap Huu
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