After the end of the German retreat, 21st of May, suddenly I noticed people speaking Dutch around me and I started seeing familiar faces. The Dutch retreat was coming up! Dwelling in the present moment of the German retreat all week, I had almost forgotten about the Dutch retreat. But all this ‘Nederlands’ around me, made me very happy!

Monday the lay organising team was working joyfully at the last preparations for the retreat. They had been busy already for months, together with the EIAB-team, organising and doing all the registrations. It is very nice to see everybody working together a sangha, with great dedication.

I also met a few people from the young Dutch Wake-up sangha. They had made a beautiful and professional Wake-Up banner. I only left the Netherlands 2 years ago in order to become a nun. In that short time a lot has changed and several Wake-Up sangha’s have been created and are blooming like tulip-flowers. It has been nourishing for me to hear the enthusiasm of the young people.

Tuesday was the arrival day of the Dutch retreat. Big touringcars came in from all parts of the Netherlands bringing the retreatants. An resident living near the EIAB of Dutch origin, remarked how beautiful it was to see the stream of peaceful, smiling people coming out of the buses.

The registration process for the hundreds of people went very smoothly with everybody finding their place to stay and put on a name badge with their name and the name of their Dharma sharing family for this week. Already the first evening we met in our families to eat dinner in silence, introduce ourselves and learn about the working meditation we would do together every day. In my group there were some new people, some people who had come to Plum Village or the EIAB one or more times before and some long-time practitioners. A good mix. And right from the first evening the atmosphere was mindful and friendly.

During this retreat I had the honour to translate Thay’s dharmatalks into Dutch. The first day it was quite a challenge to know the right words and remember all Thay had said. After that it got better and easier, as I could more and more connect with Thays energy while he gave the Dharmatalk. It helped that the people were listening with ears of loving kindness and were appreciative of the translation. Even though most of them understood English and could notice all my mistakes. It was nice that brother Phap Xa or lay Dharma teachers were sitting beside me to help me find the right word in case I did not understand or forgot something. Translating as a Sangha.

The days of the retreat past quickly with sitting meditation and exercise in the morning, a Dharmatalk, walking meditation, working and several presentations of the basic practices. Every day I could see the members of my discussion family becoming more relaxed and happy. At the same time a lot of emotions and inner difficulties manifested. It was good to be able to share them with each other In my group ‘feeling connected with oneself and others’ was a theme for several people and during the days of the retreat I could feel the connectedness growing. The last day over 10 members of the family took the 5 mindfulness trainings. A special occasion. And a good way of taking the practice that had proved to be so valuable during the retreat, home to family, friends and work. In my mind I can see them spreading out over the country taking little lights of mindfulness and practice making the world a bit more peaceful and beautiful.

This was the second Dutch retreat in Waldbrol. The EIAB is becoming the home base for Dutch retreats. Waldbrol is not so far from the Dutch border, but we Dutch people are used to having everything close by in our own little country and hesitate to go abroad. But I heard people say that they like the EIAB, the beautiful hills and forests around and the Plum Village atmosphere with the presence of over 150 monks and nuns. This year there were almost 100 more visitors than last year.

Next year the Dutch retreat will be in August, so that children and those working in schools will also be able to come. I hope this way even more people will have the opportunity to come and I am already looking forward to that retreat! (Sr. Sang Nghiem)

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written by Yigal de Doelder , August 04, 2011

Hello dear Sr. Sang Nghiem.

I'm so happy to read how you enjoyed the dutch retreat.
To me it was all new,and it was quitte exiting to be a visitor! Especially in the beginning when i didnt know anyone.

But real soon i began to feel at ease and the feeling of home came to me.
I was able to share allot,and it made me happy to see a number of wake-up youngers also joined! I made new friends.

It was special to talk with you,and others too. I remember how we laughed!
So,i made up my mind to visit Plum Village in the winter retreat,although i do not know yet when it will begin...

Thanks again,and hopefully i see you and the sangha back in PV.
A greet from the Heart,
Yigal.

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