During the summer opening 2010 in Plum Village the young adults in Upper Hamlet between 18 and 32 joined the Watering seeds of aspiration family. Some stayed for the whole 4 weeks, others joined only for 1,2 or 3 weeks. The young people together formed a nice energy, that soon felt very safe. We enjoyed deep sharings, games, total relaxation with japanese flute or harmonica, different kind of workshops, like a deep ecology workshop, Q&A with the young monastics and of course joined the sangha on the normal schedule.

This rap came from some "deep looking" from our teen group:
"OK, today we are going to save the world - yes we can! What are the problems, what are the reasons, what are the solutions?" This was followed by a brainstorming session that later transformed into a rap song performed at our be-in on the last day of the retreat... maybe you'll see a video version some day!

What's happening!
The war in Iraq, Israel and Palestine, famine, identity crisis - needing to fit in -
Depression, frustration, dissatisfaction and discrimination -
Where's the solution?
We develop communication and cultivate compassion,
But we've borrowed too much from the Earth,
We're facing global warming and resources out-running because of short term thinking and all the money making.
Now is our new beginning -
Let's learn about recycling, let's share a building, or a forest -
Remember, use less, don't waste.
Don't eat with such haste, don't ruin the taste.
Relieve your anger, join the Sangha.
There's too much deception, lying and desire for power.
We've got to STOP (bell) - so we can see ourselves...

Retraite Jeunes en Ardèche , mai 2010 : "Sur la root'sacrée"

Quelle joie d'accueillir les frères et soeurs ainsi que quarante jeunes dans ce petit hameau des Cévennes nommé La Boissière.
Quel bonheur de partager la pratique avec les amis, les voisins. Apporter l'énergie d'amour et de guérison dans cette vallée qui en a tant besoin.
Quatre jours très intenses. La pluie était souvent présente, cela n'a pas empêché les liens de se tisser. Dès le premier soir, l'ambiance est chaleureuse .Nous mangeons dans une vieille maison de pierre,assis par terre,serrés les uns contre les autres.Le feu crépite dans la cheminée.
Nous pratiquons la méditation assise le matin; les filles dans une maison du village, les garçons dans la cabane dans la forêt.
Nous marchons souvent dans les ruelles du hameau et dans les chemins de la montagne. Chaque pas apporte la paix sacrée.
Je sens mes ancêtres, les cévenols, tellement heureux. Je sens l'énergie se répandre partout, je lis la joie sur les visages des habitants, même s'ils ne participent pas aux activités.
C'est très fort de réunir ici les amis, les moines et les moniales. Union du Dharma et de la Montagne.
Brumes qui montent dans la vallée, Mystère de la Vie.

Première retraite jeunes en Cévennes et certainement pas la dernière !

During the summer opening, between 50 and 60 teen boys and girls had their own retreat with the support of monastics and lay brothers and sisters.
The boys camped in Son Ha, the girls in New Hamlet, but together they cooked, played and had lots of fun. Besides they learned some stuff about how to sit still and concentrate and live a healthier lifestyle, being together in harmony.

Week 2

Our brother Jeroen from Holland has created a video with pictures from the "One Buddha Is Not Enough" - Wake Up Retreat at the EIAB last April to share our joy and happiness with all of you. Enjoooy!

Sing along!

Wake Up, there's no need to feel down
I said, wake up, pick yourself off the ground
I said, wake up, 'cause you're in a new town
there's no need to be unhappy.

Wake up, there's a place you can go
I said wake up, when you feel down and low
You can stay there, and I'm sure you will find
Many ways to have a good time.

It's fun to stay at the EIAB
It's fun to stay at the EIAB
They have everything that you need to enjoy,
You can hang out with everyone...

It's fun to stay at the EIAB
It's fun to stay at the EIAB
You can get your mind clean
You can make your heart heal
You can just be you and be real....

Wake up, are you listening to me?
I said wake up, what do you want to be?
I said wake up, you can make real your dreams
But you've got to know this one thing!

No one does it all by himself
I said, wake up, to the Sangha itself
and just go there, to the EIAB
I'm sure they can make you happy.

It's fun to stay at the EIAB
It's fun to stay at the EIAB
They have everything that you need to enjoy,
You can hang out with everyone...

It's fun to stay at the EIAB
It's fun to stay at the EIAB
You can get your mind clean
You can make your heart heal
You can just be you and be real....

E-I-A-B
It's fun to stay at the EIAB
Wake up wake up there's no need to feel down
Wake up wake up, pick yourself off the ground
E-I-A-B-heeeee!

Here is the recording of the live webstream of the Hammersmith Apollo talk on the 11th of August. Thay spoke to a full house of 3000. The questions and answers were especially powerful and you can see the questions posted on Thay's facebook page.

You can follow all the talks from the UK retreat live at stream.pvweb.org orientation will be at 19:30 UK time on the 13th (that's 20:30 in the rest of Europe) and there will be talks at 9:30 UK time (10:30 European time) every day from the 14th to the 18th.

Enjoy!