TL;DR I'm trying to start a local sangha, but the only person who so far said they'd join has now disapproved of two spaces I've tried to set up at. I'm not sure if I should just choose a space and if they don't want to come then it's their business, or continue to find a place that is suitable to them.

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Dear reddit sangha, I am having a kind of dilemma here, and I am appreciative of any opinions, insight, or direction here.

I received the 5MTs last year, however, there is no sangha local to me, and I didn't really like participating in an online sangha. So, I decided to start one. I invited my friend, who is interested in practicing, and since two people make a sangha I set to finding a location.

There is a UU church here that I know would welcome a sangha to practice in their church, but my friend has a personal conflict with the church and said they wouldn't come if I held sangha meetings there. So I set about finding a different location. I looked at a lot of places and I found one in a little building that belongs to a non-profit. They charge the least amount for the space of other places I've looked into, is central to the metro area, and my fee will go to support a community service. I toured it yesterday, and I admit it's a pretty cluttered space. The owner is also a professional organizer by day, and they're using their building to hold items from organizing to sell and donate towards the non-profit.

Personally, I don't mind some clutter so long as the room we're using is tidy and doesn't distract from meditation practice. However, my friend told me that they will not come to the sangha meetings if we hold it there, because of the clutter.

I'm not entirely sure what to do at this point. They knew well over a week ago that I was going to hold it in this spot and didn't say anything to me until just yesterday. I think they thought after I toured it and saw the clutter I wouldn't hold it there, and that's not what happened.

So now I'm looking for another spot, mostly because if they don't join me then it's not a sangha. The place I found is only $20/hr. I found another place that I know my friend will approve of, but it's $50/hr. The library is free, but I'm personally not comfortable at the library.

I really feel held over a barrel here. I think my friend's feelings are hurt because I'm organizing this by myself and "collaborating" with them (her word). It's just that this was my idea, they are new to Buddhism, and it really shouldn't be that difficult to just find a space, I don't need any help really.

What do you all think?

Question^

When does Plum Village offer meditation retreats in Asia throughout the year?

Link to Facebook post

Text from post:

Last night, flames engulfed one of the oldest and most cherished buildings in Plum Village—the Purple Cloud building in Lower Hamlet. Nine sisters were sleeping upstairs. We thank the Buddhas and bodhisattvas that one sister woke up in time to alert everyone, and they all escaped safely. By 3.30 a.m., volunteer firefighters from across the region had come to our aid, joined by the police, ambulance teams, and our beloved local mayor, who stayed with us throughout the long and painful night.Purple Cloud was not just a building—it was the hearth and home of the Lower Hamlet monastic community since Plum Village’s founding in 1982. It was the last of our "old build" residences. Thay’s room was there—a sacred space where he rested after Dharma Talks, welcomed guests for tea, guided his students, listened to chanting, signed books, and relaxed in his hammock.Helplessly, we watched as the firefighters worked tirelessly to save what they could and help the sisters rescue some of Thay’s original calligraphies and sacred memorabilia from his room, as well as many Dharma books. Everything else was lost. One sister was treated in the hospital for smoke inhalation but has thankfully recoveredAs many of you know, we had plans to build an ecological new monastic residence, just next to Purple Cloud, and hoped to transform the Purple Cloud building into a museum in honor of Thay. Following last night’s fire, we realize how much we and Thay’s students need such a sanctuary where we can come and feel close to his presence. Your generosity can help us rebuild. Please consider offering a donation to build accommodation for monastics: the project will now include the restoration and rebuilding # # # of Purple Cloud and Thay’s room. You can donate here: https://plumvillage.org/?form=PVLHFireRelief

Two years ago, I downloaded the Plum Village app on a whim when I first became interested in meditation. I had no idea what PV was or what it represented. I meditated on and off for a couple months, and then lost touch with the practice.

Fast-forward to November 2024. I suffer an unexpected breakup with my partner and I'm now living in a remote corner of the world alone. I was devastated, shattered, lost.

Over the last few months in my journey to understand my suffering, I decided I needed to commit to having a meditation practice for once and for all. I downloaded the PV app once again and noticed a quote by Thich Nhat Hanh at the top. "Wait a second," I thought, "I just bought a book by this person." I go to the book, flip to the back, and see an inscription of Thay and how he founded the Plum Village monasteries. So of course I started researching and now I am much more familiar with Buddhism, Zen Buddhism, and Thay's story plus what Plum Village is.

In all that research I never realized a podcast existed. But one day a month ago, Spotify recommended this podcast called The Way Out Is In. The title hooked me straight away. And when I clicked on it and saw who runs it, I had to laugh.

So I began listening daily since then and I'm grateful for the comforting words and insights of Brother Phap Huu and Jo Confino, as well as their guests.

It is through this podcast that I am transforming my understanding, my suffering, my meditation. My life has become exponentially more joyful and free since finding these great resources.

I'm grateful such resources exist to us and for these beautiful humans who share with us their deepest knowing, wisdom, compassion.

Thank you, Thich Nhat Hanh; Plum Village monks, nuns, and lay practitioners; and to the universe for showing me myself in them and in everything.

"I have arrived, I am home."

Edit: After further research, it looks like this is in partnership with Paths of Happiness (https://plumvillage.org/event/tour/paths-of-happiness-mindful-hiking-on-tour-du-mont-blanc) and they do treks every year at different destinations. Has anyone been on one of their past trips that was in partnership with Plum Village?

Has anyone done this trek with plum village before? I just finished reading Peace is Every Step and am interested in doing a plum village retreat. The TMB trek stood out, because I was also planning to do some big hikes this summer and the trek seems like a wonderful way to peacefully be in nature and reconnect with myself. Two questions for anyone who has gone:

• I am curious how physically taxing it was (did you train for it before you went)? I have done 4 day backpacking trips before with around 2,000 ft of elevation each day, but I have not done anything as rigorous at the TMB.
• Is the entire trek silent or do you have time to hear and share reflections, and build community with other attendees during parts of the trek? The silent aspect of the retreat is appealing, but I think 9 days of silence would be very difficult for me.
• What was your overall experience?

Thank you!

Has anyone ever done a Theme Retreat at either Magnolia or Blue Cliff? My wife and I were thinking about doing one but hope to learn more from someone who has actually done it.

I like the idea of metta practice. My teachers recommend phrases such as: “May all beings be free from suffering.” I repeat these, and other phrases often during meditation practice. I do this instead of checking in with people by email or text (as I used to do). But, I can’t help but feel isolated and feel that these phrases are going nowhere other than inside my own brain. I wish I had some proof that they were helping someone.

Any suggestions? Do others feel this way?

Hello dear friends, hope you are all doing well in the new year.

A while back I watched one of Thay's old dharma talks on Youtube which had a very inspiring moment. He was talking about the gatha 'I have arrived, I am home,' and he mentioned how it isn't auto-suggestion, it's a statement of truth, and he began to sing the song, then he gestured with his hands and suddenly the whole audience began to swell and join him in the singing. It was an amazing moment and I think about it dearly, yet I have a hard time finding it again. The moment happened somewhere in the middle of the talk if I remember right.

I looked through a bunch of videos on the Plum Village channel and couldn't find this moment. I'm hoping one of you may have it bookmarked or are aware of it. Please let me know! Thank you.