Recently our Plum Village Practice Center had the great happiness of conducting our annual Great Ordination Ceremony. The Daffodil Great Precept Transmission Ceremony, actually a series of ceremonies lasting one week, was a beautiful and joyful practice of transmitting trainings, precepts and Dharma lamps to new Dharma teachers. It was a true “Dharma Festival” in the spirit of the Plum Village tradition of mindfulness, joyful celebration, and togetherness. Venerable monks and nuns from Vietnam and Europe, brothers and sisters from many of our practice centers, lamp recipients, and family and friends from around the world came to support and to participate in the program.

Dear friends,

We would like to inform you that the date for Winter Retreat 2009-2010, which was on November the 15th, had been move to November 22nd due to the work on the extension of the meditation hall.  We are hoping to finish the meditation hall before the 22nd so that we can have our opening ceremony on the newly extended hall.  We apologize for any inconveniency which had been caused concerning your plans of travel and registration to attend the retreat.  Our registration office will inform you of the change....

Last night the brothers and sisters from Upper and Lower Hamlets got together to celebrate halloween – so what if we were one day late! It was a lot of fun!  In the presence of Ghandi, an Egyptian mummy, a Japanese princess and other notable costumed characters, their was much laughing and being silly together to be had.   Jack-o-lanterns decorated the room, brothers and sisters took turns introducing themselves in costume, singing and dancing, (as well as trying to scare each other – only occassionally successfully!)

Ingredients:

- 250g canned white beans (drained)
- 250g canned red beans (drained)
- 250g canned lentils (drained)
- 250g canned chickpeas (drained)
- 250g gluten flour (wheat)
- 10 tbsp vegetable oil
- 3 tsp seasoning powder
- 1 whole onion (cut into quarters)
- 2 tsp five spices
- 1 jar lid (approx. the size of a burger)
- 1 piece of plastic wrap

Prepration time: 60 minutes
Makes: Approx. 18 burgers

Last Sunday, October 11th, 2009 in Paris, a number of monks and nuns from Plum Village and lay practioners from France and Germany, etc… had organized a walking meditation from the UNESCO headquarters to the Human Rights Square, Trocadero, Paris – in front of the Eiffel tower to call for help to support the monks and nuns in Bảo Lộc, Việt nam whom is facing a lot of difficulties.

The walking meditation started at 14h with the sharing of the practice of walking meditation by Sr. Giác Nghiêm (French).  There were more than 500 people whom attended the event, each of which had held a flower and had walked peacefully from UNESCO headquarters, passing by some parks and major streets in front of the Eiffel tower and ended at the Human Rights Square, Trocadero.  After that, each member had placed the flower representing each monastics whom is facing difficulties in Bảo Lộc right on the Square.  The walking meditation was ended with a session of silent sitting and evoking the name of Avalokiteshvara.