ShareOn the way home, the windows are wide open and the autumn air refreshes us. Everyone in the van is silently enjoying the Dordogne landscape. I feel so happy in this moment.

We are back from the Health Retreat! (and we survived!)

One week spent in New Hamlet, with 140 retreatants and 60 monastics. The idea: eat little and healthy, exercise and practice meditation.

I had the chance to stay in a room with two of my ordination family brothers (P. Thi and P. Doan) and one very kind Laotian Theravadan brother (novice Tony). We shared some nice moments and all learnt from one another.

The day usually started with a warm-up followed by a sitting meditation. These weeks, I practice “in, out, deep, slow, calm, ease, smile, release, present, wonderful…”. Have you ever tried?

Then we exercised with either the Qi Kong Stick Exercise or the integral Tai Qi. I always went for the Stick Exercise, which gently stretches the whole body. And it did some good to my back.

The breakfast was delicious and healthy, with rice soup, plums, carrots, apples, pears, peanuts, and roasted sun flower seeds… mium.

Once feeling strong, we walked in the countryside, from 1 to 2 hours, according to each one’s capacity and motivation. I enjoyed feeling my breathing and steps, looking at the sky, the hills and the fields, picking and eating figs and plums, talking with some brothers and sisters, and mooing with the cows. When I noticed my mind was wandering around, I tried to bring it back, for nature is so wonderful, and I didn’t want to miss it.


Our family then met in New Hamlet, between the fig tree and the small lotus pond, to have lunch together. Brown rice, steam vegetables (pumpkins, carrots,…), tomatoes, cucumbers, salad, and seeds. Simple and good ! Once the silent period was over, T.P. Lieu would always find something to say to make us laugh.

I co-facilitated a dharma discussion group. Many Vietnamese sisters joined and shared their positive energy and experience. Everyone felt very grateful. Many lay friends came for the first time, but we opened our hearts to the group. We all have a tendency to be caught in ideas, opinions and emotions, but with the practice we have trained ourselves to be more present to ourselves, to life and to everyone.

In the evening we did some more Qi Kong and Tai Qi. A team of professional Tai Qi teachers came especially for this retreat, and guided everyone very well, also answering many questions about energy.

The orientations, Questions and Answers, and Dharma Talks were given by the elders: Sr Jina, T.P. Lu, T.P. Lieu, T.P. Tap, Sr Eleni and Sr Lan Nghiem. It was very rich. Please allow me to tell about T.P. Lu’s method in a few words: eat less, exercise, think positive and trust your self-healing power!

To end the days, different workshops were offered: treating incurable diseases & chronicle pains, healing & transformation, yoga, Tai Qi & energy, healing with the sounds and oriental medicine.

In this health retreat as in the previous one, I noticed my mind got sharper, and it encourages me to take more time to exercise and to eat less and more simple.

On the last day, many people took the (revised) 5 Mindfulness Trainings. As usual it was a beautiful ceremony, and a great joy for everyone……except for my knees..

I would like to end this article with a memory from the last walking meditation:
The rain stopped not so long ago. The yellow autumn leafs gently fall to the sides of the road. Breathing in, I take two steps. Breathing out, I take three. For one other step, no need to breathe. Again, again and again……………………………………………………………………………........................................................................................................... Oh!.. Between two clouds, a rainbow! The Sangha smiles.