Blue Cliff Tour Retreat

We organize a US Tour, so that we can come together to dwell happily in the present moment as a community of practice - Sangha. The retreat will be lead and guided by monks and nuns in the tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh.

Our teacher Thich Nhat Hanh (Thay) shared these words with us when he was not able to attend the retreat "One Buddha is Not Enough" in Colorado last year:

"Dear friends, if you look deeply enough, you will see me in the Retreat, walking with you, sitting with you, breathing with you.  I feel clearly that I am in you and you are in me.  In this Retreat, you will witness the talent of the Sangha: You will see that Thay is already well continued by the Sangha, and the Presence of the Sangha carries Thay's presence."

"We have to acknowledge the fact that the Sangha has embodied the continuation of Thay in a beautiful way, and there is no reason for anyone of us to worry about the future of our practice."

We are grateful for your help in sharing the news about this Tour with friends and family. You can download or just view our lettersize Tour Poster by clicking on this poster on the left or click here! Feel free to print the poster and post in appropriate places. Thank you for your support.

A Mindfulness Retreat led by the Monks/Nuns of Blue Cliff & Deer Park Monastery

trained by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh
August 04-8th, 2010 - Blue Cliff Monastery, Pine Bush, New York

We invite you to join us for our summer retreat here at the beautiful Blue Cliff Monastery, a branch monastery of Plum Village, our main center in France. Blue Cliff is located only 90 miles northwest of New York City in the lush Walker Valley close to the Catskills. While practicing together over these five days, we shall learn how to come back to ourselves and to discover that enlightened living is possible with the practice of mindfulness in everyday life. By learning to live our lives with awareness and clarity, we shall help to bring about peace, reconciliation, healing, and happiness to ourselves, our families, society, and the world.
          The Dharma Teachers will offer us daily teachings on mindfulness as well as lead us in walking meditation, sitting meditation, total relaxation, touching the earth, and the practices of deep listening and loving speech which are the foundations of reconciliation. Our meals will be taken in silence, to allow us the space and time to contemplate the food and the presence of others around us. We will meet daily in smaller groups to share about how to integrate the teachings into our daily lives. We also have the opportunity to share mindfully and joyfully in the daily tasks of maintaining the monastery through the practice of working meditation.  Everyone will work together in small groups and designated a certain responsibility such as washing pots, gardening, cleaning the meditation hall, etc...  There will also be an opportunity to artistically express our happiness of being together by sharing poetry, songs, stories, music, plays, etc...  Additionally, there will  be periods and areas of Noble Silence to help us to reflect on what we have experienced during the day.
          The retreat is open to all, including beginners, those who have previously attended retreats, and families with children. The first part of the talks are normally dedicated to children. The nuns and monks will lead a mindfulness practice program for teens (ages 13-17). Some parents will be invited to help other monks and nuns with a similar program focused on children (6 to 12 years old). Children under 6 are welcome to join the retreat under the care of their parent.
     We welcome the participation of people from all backgrounds, regardless of ethnic origin, race, cultural background, socio-economic class, age, gender, sexual orientation, or physical ability. We are committed to fostering a practice environment where all may touch the Dharma and find healing and nourishment.

Sample Schedule:

          Our meals are dairy free vegetarian. Unfortunately, we are unable to cater to individual dietary needs. Retreatants are requested to refrain from smoking and drinking alcohol during the entire retreat and to practice the Five Mindfulness Trainings in order to support creating a safe and healthy environment. The Five Mindfulness Trainings are guidelines that support us in realizing our aspiration of living a meaningful and happy life in a spirit of non-harming. A full text of the Five Mindfulness Trainings will be sent along with the retreat confirmation package after you have registered. 

          There will be an opportunity for retreatants and others to receive the Five Mindfulness Trainings on the last day of the retreat. If you have studied and practiced the Five Mindfulness Trainings and wish to formally receive them, but can not attend the full retreat, please contact Blue Cliff Monastery.

          Check-in for the retreat starts at 12:00 pm on Wednesday, August 4^th, at Blue Cliff Monastery. Room. We will begin serving dinner at 5:30 pm. An orientation talk will be given at 7:30 pm. The retreat will end after lunch on Sunday, August 8^th. Please plan to attend the entire retreat as the greatest benefit comes from  immersing ourselves continuously in the healing energy of mindfulness. We look forward to a wonderful retreat with you in this August.

Register for this retreat