Dear World Wide Wake Up Family!

I feel very happy to know that you are there, bringing happiness and laughter to the world. With our mindfulness the world becomes more real, we are waking up and our world seems brighter.

Here at Deer Park Monastery, CA, USA,  our last Wake Up retreat was a wonderful family reunion. Many friends keep coming and many new are so easily and naturally embraced into the togetherness. We played games, hikes, painted rocks, sang, shared with each other and off course we sat, walked, ate and so on. For me a highlight of the retreat was the evening when 7 of our friends came up to share their experience in the practice as young adults and in the context of Wake Up. Two friends from Austin where the Wake Up house and Wake Up Sangha continues to develop deep roots and wide branches. Two friends that have been coming to retreats at Deer Park, Blue Cliff, NY, USA, for many years. One friend who is spearheading the early stadges of a Wake Up group in San Diego. Two friends from Wake Up LA that has been meeting every two weeks since the Wake Up retreat here last year. Listening to their sharing, touching their joy and confidence in the practice and a meaningful life, penetrated deep inside our heart. Some great questions came out and together we can continue to learn. Facebook is the space for much of the Wake Up movements activity and sharing here in the US. During this coming Teaching Tour with our teacher Thay we hope to have many of you joining us for the retreats and days of mindfulness. For me when I first had the opportunity to practice meditation, sharing and living mindfully together with peers during my travels in India in 2001 my joy and committment in the practice was fueled by super rocket fuel - great nourishment!

May we all find friends on the path, so our lives become more real and true day by day. I feel so happy to be alive!

In joy and br&sr-hood  - Brother Protection

We have some of our painted rocks posted on our website - right here!