True Virtue
Sister Chan Duc has been a disciple of Thay since 1986. She became the first Western European woman to be ordained as a nun by Thay on November 10th 1988 in India. She received the Lamp Transmission to become a Dharma Teacher in 1990 and served as Director of Practice at Plum Village. She is the former abbess of the Green Mountain Dharma Centre in the USA. Sister Chan Duc has been on the board of directors for the Unified Buddhist Church since 1998.
She is a much-loved senior Dharma Teacher and traveled widely to lead meditation retreats, including in her ancestral land of England. She inspires many with her unique teaching style throughout the world. She was the Dean of Practice at the European Institute of Applied Buddhism in Germany and currently resides in Plum Village France.
Jump To Dharma Talks, Books, Articles
Dharma Talks
Right and Wrong: a Buddhist Perspective
This Panel Sharing was recorded on June 8, 2024 in Lower Hamlet, Plum Village France. It is the 5th talk of the series of talks given in the 2024 June Retreat held in Plum Village, France, with the theme: “”Ancient Wisdom for Modern Times: Applied Ethics.” In this talk,…
Sr Chân Đức
The 14 Verses on Meditation (part 2/2)
Recorded 29 February in Upper Hamlet, Plum Village France, during our Spring Retreat 2024.
Sr Chân Đức
The 14 Verses on Meditation (part 1/2)
Recorded 25 February in Lower Hamlet, Plum Village France during our Spring Retreat 2024.
Sr Chân Đức
Understanding Suffering, Compassion, and Interconnectedness
This Dharma Talk was recorded on the 12th of November 2023 in Upper Hamlet, Plum Village (France). It is the third talk of the Rains’ Retreat 2023 Sunday Talk series. 0:00: 🙏 Our sister discusses the power of collective energy and mindfulness in sending compassion to areas of need,…
Sr Chân Đức
Continuous Practice in our Daily Life
0:22: 🧘 The video discusses the uninterrupted practice of mindful breathing and steps, emphasizing the importance of staying present in the moment. 8:30: 🚶♂️ The video discusses the practice of walking meditation, its healing effects, and a story of rescuing refugees. 16:57: 🕊️ Our sister shares Thay’s experience of…
Sr Chân Đức
Suffering and Happiness Inter-Are
This Dharma Talk was recorded during our Summer Opening Retreat on the 27th July 2023 in Plum Village Upper Hamlet.
Sr Chân Đức
Free from Birth and Death, Live Life More Meaningfully
This Dharma Talk was recorded on the 22nd of June 2023 in the Lower Hamlet, Plum Village France. It is part of the “Love is Freedom” Earth Retreat.
Sr Chân Đức
Vesak 2023: Honoring the Buddha Within
“Let the Buddha breathe, I don’t need to breathe”. Can we take refuge in our Buddha nature when times are hard? If we can manage to find some peace within, we become a solid refuge for ourselves, our loved ones and the world. this Dharma Talk was recorded on…
Sr Chân Đức
Sacred Synergy: Science and Spirituality Are Not Two Separate Things
In this enlightening talk offered by our elder sister, we will embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery, learning the profound art of resting, healing, and meditating together. Guided by ancient wisdom and modern scientific insights, attendees will delve into the benefits of these practices, unraveling the intricate connections…
Sr Chân Đức
Simplicity, Love and Understanding
What is the spiritual meaning of Christmas in our times? In a society of consumerism where we can easily feel alienated, we are longing for an atmosphere of simplicity and love. If the most important element of Christmas is our brotherhood, sisterhood, and siblinghood, then how can we practice…
Sr Chân Đức
Peace in Your Heart
In the Sutra on the Eight Realizations of Great Beings, we read “the mind is always looking outside of itself and never feels fulfilled”. How can we overcome this constant running and come back to our true home? The obstacle to our peace of mind is our inability to…
Sr Chân Đức
Taking Care of the Mind with Right Thinking
Every moment can be a moment of applied mindfulness that helps us to understand ourselves better. In this first talk of the 2022 Rains Retreat, Sr. Chan Duc (“Sister True Virtue”) reminds us of the preciousness of having the opportunity to practice together for three months. As human beings,…
Sr Chân Đức
“Now We Have a Path”: Plum Village Dharma Seals (40 Years Retreat #1)
Do you feel you have found a path that helps you to live with freedom, and without fear? How can we learn to see such a path clearly in every moment, and develop a confidence in it that is unshakeable? In this retreat we celebrate 40 Years of Plum…
Sr Chân Đức
We Belong to the Community of Life | “Science, Spirituality, & Action” Retreat, Talk #3
How can we see that we are not separate from those around us, and all of life? How can we feel a true sense of safety and belonging? In this final Dharma talk of our 2022 Science & Action Retreat, Sr Chan Duc shares her experience, lessons from our…
Sr Chân Đức
A Foundation for Safety and Peace
In this Dharma Talk offered on Mother’s Day, Sister Chan Duc (“True Virtue”), invites us to touch our unsafe and insecure feelings, especially with all that is happening in the world today. She then shares concrete practices that can help us generate a feeling of protection. We need to…
Sr Chân Đức
We Continue Always
In this final talk of the commemorative retreat to honor 49 Days of Thay’s passing, Sister Chan Duc (Sr. Annabel) teaches the practices of recognizing and cultivating our continuation bodies, to touch the our true nature of no-birth and no-death. Find out more about Sister Chan Duc.
Sr Chân Đức
Guarding of six senses
Lyrics: Thich Nhat HanhMusic: Sr. True Virtue (Sr. Chan Duc) & RashaniSang: Sr. Chan Duc
Sr Chân Đức
Gatha for Eating meditation
Eating can be very joyful and a deep practice. It nourishes us not only physically but also mentally and spiritually. We can spend a moment to be grateful for all the conditions that support our life – our parents, Mother Earth and Father Sun, etc… By living happily and…
Sr Chân Đức
Hope In Action
“For me, hope is right now. We can realize the virtue of hope by dwelling in the present moment.” In this talk, offered on the eve of New Year’s Day 2021, Sister Chân Đức shares about the path of True Love, with the four elements of lovingkindness, compassion, joy,…
Sr Chân Đức
Taking Refuge in the Island within Ourselves
This talk was offered on 3rd December 2020. Where can we go to be truly safe in the most difficult moments? Do we know how to come back to that safe place and dwell there whenever we need? In the “Discourse on Taking Refuge in Oneself”, the Buddha encouraged…
Sr Chân Đức
Jump To Dharma Talks, Books, Articles
Books
Jump To Dharma Talks, Books, Articles
Articles
- An Interview with Sr. True Virtue
- Turning Darkness into Light on a Grand Scale – 10 years of the EIAB
- A Hut for Thay in Our Heart – Mindfulness Bell #68 Winter/Spring 2015
- Master Tang Hoi for Our Time – Mindfulness Bell #68 Winter/Spring 2015
- Twenty-Three Years as a Nun – Mindfulness Bell #57 Summer 2011
- The Collective Bodhisattva – Mindfulness Bell #51 Summer 2009
- The New Gurudharmas for Monks – Mindfulness Bell #49 Autumn 2008
- The Way to Well-Being – Mindfulness Bell #48 Summer 2008
- On the Way Home – Mindfulness Bell #42 Summer 2006
- On the Way Home (part 2) – Mindfulness Bell #43 Autumn 2006
- On the Way Home (part 3) – Mindfulness Bell#44 Winter/Spring 2007
- On the Way Home (part 4) – Mindfulness Bell #45 Summer 2007
- On the Way Home (part 5) – Mindfulness Bell #46 Autumn 2007
- Letter from the Editor – Mindfulness Bell #45 Summer 2007
- Sitting Separately – Mindfulness Bell #42 Summer 2006
- The Role of the Lay Sangha – Mindfulness Bell #41 Winter/Spring 2006
- Letter from the Editor – Mindfulness Bell #36 Summer 2004
- Making up Songs – Mindfulness Bell #34 Autumn 2003
- Dharma Talk: Knowing We Have Enough – Mindfulness Bell #33 Summer 2003
- A Guided Meditation for Listening Deeply – Mindfulness Bell #32 Winter/Spring 2002
- A Chance to Go Onwards on the Path of Practice (Visiting Vietnam) – Mindfulness Bell #32 Winter/Spring 2002
- Being the Practice – Mindfulness Bell #31 Summer 2002
- Practicing as a Dharma Teacher – Mindfulness Bell #30 Winter 2001
- Here Is the Pure Land. The Pure Land Is Here.– Mindfulness Bell #28 Winter 2000
- Breathe! – Mindfulness Bell #25 Winter 2000
- Maple Forest Blooms – Mindfulness Bell #21 Spring 1998
- Temple Anniversary – Mindfulness Bell#18 Winter 1997
- Liberation – Mindfulness Bell #19 Summer 1997
- Renewing Buddhism – Mindfulness Bell #17 Summer 1996
- Reflections on Nuns’ Conference – Mindfulness Bell #14 Autumn 1995
- Beginning Anew by Sister Annabel Laity
- Our Environment