diaCRITICS recently received word from students of Zen master Thích Nhất Hạnh about four North American mindfulness retreats by and for Vietnamese American young adults, aged 18 to 38, planned for Spring Break this year. These young monks and nuns of the Plum Village tradition asked us to share their invitation to young Vietnamese Americans and Canadians to attend retreats in Toronto, Houston, Seattle, and San Francisco. Practitioners don’t need to have any previous experience with meditation or existing identification as Buddhist. Retreats are open to all (within the age range) who identify as Vietnamese, including ethnic minorities and mixed-raced individuals. All programs will be conducted in English. Cost varies depending upon location. Intrigued? Read on!
Viet Wake Up: Renewing Our Roots
Please join us on our North America Tour, as we share our practice of mindfulness. We are a group of young monks and nuns, students of Zen Master Thích Nhất Hạnh, with years of experience as practitioners training in Plum Village Practice Center in France. Having grown up in the West, with both Vietnamese and Western cultures, we will share insights into the issues that concern a new generation of Vietnamese Americans and Canadians. The tour will take place in March 2014, during Spring break. It is for young people (age 18-38) with Vietnamese roots who were born or raised in North America.
The Wake Up movement was founded in 2008 by our Teacher, Zen Master Thích Nhất Hạnh and since then, it has been guided/propelled around the world by the young monks and nuns of Plum Village. Yet this is the first time the Wake Up tour is being organized for young Vietnamese Americans and Canadians.
The purposes for the Viet Wake Up Tour are—
To create an opportunity for the young Vietnamese Americans and Canadians to learn about mindfulness practices that can help in daily life, especially while in college, after college, and in career and relationships.
To learn the practices that can help touch happiness and well-being right in the present moment, and to heal and transform suffering and difficulties.
To provide for the young Vietnamese Americans and Canadians a new lens to rediscover and reconnect with your/their cultural and spiritual heritage.
The Viet Wake Up Tour will be held in the following cities in North America—
Toronto, Canada: March 3-9
Houston, TX: March 13-17
Seattle, WA: March 20-24
San Francisco, CA: March 28-30
There will be a retreat (Wake Up Spring camp) and a public lecture in each segment. All activities will be conducted in English.
For more information about the Viet Wake Up Tour or to register, please visit http://vietwakeup.org.
—Viet Wake Up Team ([email protected])
