Deer Park Monastery – Frantic Shanti

Advent 2025: So What Did We Learn?

^{(Title image: Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash)}

Yesterday was officially the last Sunday of Advent 2025. Today brings me closer to the end of a difficult year. Ehhh, maybe the end of a difficult eighteen months, given that my dad passed away in July of 2024 and I’ve been dodging tough stuff since then. Change is hard and there was a lot of it.

But after all that, here we are. This reminds me of those “things will turn out okay” adages. Sure, in retrospect you can look back at the maze that you picked your way through and see the clear path. But that’s not what it looks like at the start. It’s a series of twisting turns with no guarantees that you’ll get to where you hope to be by the end, and that you won’t suffer in the process.

Ahhhh, the view from the end comes with a satisfying release of stress.
(Photo by Matt Botsford on Unsplash)

No doubt, it’s much nicer being at the end point and having the luxury of saying, “yep, I survived that.” Reminds me of my last chemo infusion or radiation treatment. The hard stuff is over and now we coast to the finish line.

With the last Sunday of Advent, I finally exhale. My thrice-hourly bells (from the Plum Village app) not only remind me to take a deep breath, they make clear that in between those breaths my breathing has been shallow. The realization that I put an imaginary checkmark beside my deep breath (like, “ok, I did my duty”) but then often return to being a spaced-out mess…hmmm, that’s quite humbling.

In the context of mindfulness, we speak of “remembering” and “being awake” to this life. I spend so much time skittering around like a caffeinated squirrel on an ice rink that it seems I need to be taken by the hand and brought back to my senses. The good news is, the present is a very calming place to be because it’s uncomplicated. You only need to deal with that singular point in time that is “right now”.

So this past Advent was a reminder to myself not to get caught up in what’s coming up, not to wallow in what I should have done differently in the past but to pay attention to where I am.

Ok, What Now?

In the interest of riding the groundswell that I’ve established, I’m going to jump on a free course from Deer Park Monastery’s website called Essential Practices of Mindful Living (https://courses.deerparkmonastery.org/c/essential-practices-of-mindful-living). After pressuring myself with time-intensive certifications over the past years, this is a pleasant change. The online course is self-paced (i.e., no rush, no stress) and teaches topics with which I’m already familiar…but I’m a believer in repetition. Practice, practice, practice

So why am I talking about it now and not on New Year’s Day, as is customary? Because I’ve learned that the best time to start strengthening a habit is now. Not at some arbitrary point in the future (like a certain holiday), but right now.

Onward!

In Memoriam: Thich Nhat Hanh, “I Have Arrived, I Am Home” [VIDEO]

Since my last post, my family and I were diagnosed with COVID. We are doing well and experiencing mild symptoms.

I’d like to devote this post to a beautiful documentary that came out on January 22, 2023, Vietnam time (January 21, 2023 in the US), a year to the day of the passing of Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh, aged 95, known as the “Father of Mindfulness”.

Entitled I Have Arrived, I Am Home (Plum Village YouTube Channel), this film covers the last few years of the life of Thich Nhat Hanh — also called Thay, or “teacher” — after he returned to the Tu Hieu Temple in Vietnam at which he was ordained a monk many decades prior.

“I Have Arrived, I Am Home” – 41:46 min

Under 3/4 of an hour long, the film beautifully illustrates how Thay, in his post-stroke years, returned to his roots in preparation for his passing (“transition”). It documents his death and funeral and the effect that his life has had on the existing monasteries of the Plum Village Tradition, which he established.

The writing of Thay greatly touched me during my cancer journey, and I Have Arrived, I Am Home is a lovely video that depicts his kindness and care for his students. This was not created to “convert” anyone but only to teach by example. I hope you take some time to view it, especially as our world continues to experience much unrest and pain.

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If you are interested in learning more about Thich Nhat Hanh’s mindful life, I encourage you to refer to this article from Lion’s Roar magazine, published on the day of his death last year.

I had the pleasure of attenting a “Day of Mindfulness” at the Deer Park Monastery (Plum Village Tradition) in Escondido, CA in Summer 2019 and described it here.

Finding Peace Among the Koi: A Visit to Deer Park Monastery

This past Sunday, July 28, the monks and nuns of Deer Park Monastery (Tu Viện Lộc Uyển) graciously opened their grounds to the public for a Day of Mindfulness. This Buddhist monastery, in Thich Nhat Hanh’s Plum Village Tradition, is nestled in the Escondido highlands, in northeast San Diego County.

My daughter and I were delighted to join in since the monastery is within a reasonable drive from our home. It was going to be a hot day, and I figured that there might not be a big turnout, even though this seemed to be the only Day of Mindfulness offered during the summer months at the monastery.

I couldn’t have been more wrong! Apparently, many were in need of a Day of Mindfulness, and 400 of us showed up.

This was our first trip to Deer Park. Following a welcome with singing, we participated in a walking meditation. My daughter and I were clearly more focused on taking mindful steps and enjoying the beauty of our surroundings instead of exactly where on the grounds we were, and as a result, had trouble locating the small meditation hall where all the first-timers go following the walk. By the time we figured out where it was, the room was already packed with people. We managed to eke out a small space at the very back for ourselves to sit and listen.

I have never sensed such peace and spaciousness in the midst of so many bodies. The monk who spoke was gentle and funny, originally from Sweden, and it was a pleasure to listen to his introduction to the practice of mindfulness.

Following this explanation was a short break, and my daughter and I headed for tea. Cups in hand, we sipped as we sat outside in the shade behind the Tea Room, feasting on the glorious sight of the hilly terrain, serenaded by birds and wind chimes, and cooled by mountain breezes. Not what you would expect on a 90+ degree day during the summer. This felt so peaceful.

Done, we waited for our turn to wash our cups. Dharma sharing was next, but we never made it back to the small meditation hall. I admit I have a weakness for koi, and the lotus pond under the trees called to us.

At the lotus pond, I lost myself and found bliss.

We sat and watched the fish. I had had a difficult week, but those worries had not followed me to the monastery. In fact, all I felt was bliss and a lightness of being. Any thought that might have agitated me sat about six feet away, teetering precipitously on a rock surrounding the pond, ready to lose its balance, plunge into the water and be gulped up by one of the majestic koi. There, I was not bothered by anything. I don’t remember the last time I enjoyed such peace. We sat in silence for an hour and a half, breathing in, breathing out and filling up our senses.

I rarely go into the Southern California sun without my umbrella, and on this Sunday it not only saved my scalp, but also a tiny life.

The only break in the calm was a disturbance at one end of the pond. A bee was furiously treading water, looking like a teeny motorboat driving in circles. I rescued it with the end of my umbrella so it wouldn’t become fish food. The koi, I presumed, were well fed, and the world needs all the honeybees it can get.

I could have kept the fish company for the rest of the day, but lunch was upon us, so we made our way down the dining area (we were finally figuring out where everything was!). Everyone stood quietly in line as the scent of curry wafted through the air.

Four hundred visitors descended (ascended?) upon the monks and nuns diligently preparing our delicious lunch. By the time we got to the food, some platters were empty, but there was still more than enough to put on our plates and enjoy a mindful meal.

I had practiced mindful eating before, but this was a novel concept for my accompanying teenager, who often ate paying more attention to her phone than to her plate. We chewed silently and slowly, savoring every bite. The tastes of the curried tofu, rice, steamed carrots and salad were vivid, the colors on our plates glowed brightly. My daughter, halfway done, leaned over and whispered to me, “This is the most delicious salad I’ve ever eaten, and I’m already full!”

Ah, if only we could enjoy such preciously appreciated meals at home! At least I had one convert now.

We waited in line to wash our dishes – the sensation of soapy water followed by a cool water rise was refreshingly pleasant on such a hot day.

Our last stop before departing the monastery grounds was a visit to the bookstore. There were more people than books, and it seemed like the two nuns handling the payment transactions were a bit overwhelmed by everyone’s enthusiasm for making purchases. We indulged in coconut ice cream and visited the donation box before heading home.

Floating Cloud Stupa – we admired it from afar and look forward to visiting it the next time we are on the grounds.

We are looking forward to our next trip to Deer Park Monastery, with a visit to the Floating Cloud Stupa, which we only saw from afar this time. When we return, we won’t get “lost” again, because no matter where we are on the grounds, that’s where we want to be.