Roots Nourished, Spirits Glow

In May 2024, Plum Village hosted the “Nourishing Our Roots” retreat for young Asians in the West. In this article Lê Tiết Khánh reflects on his journey of healing and reconnecting with his Asian roots.

Grilled young bamboo shoots with chili salt

It’s been a few months since returning from the “Nourishing Our Roots” retreat for young Asians in the West, but the moments of grilling young bamboo shoots and enjoying them with chili salt alongside the nuns, monks, and fellow retreat participants on a “lazy day” still flood my mind. These memories remain deeply etched in my heart and have become an inseparable part of my journey to reconnect with my roots and nourish my soul.

You may wonder how such a simple grilled dish can hold such power. It’s not just because grilled bamboo is a specialty in many Asian countries, especially Vietnam. Nor is it just because it’s rare to find in Europe, perhaps only available in Plum Village. It’s also because of the love and care with which the brothers and sisters prepared and offered it to us. They cooked with their hearts and their smiles, sharing everything they had, which gave me a profound sense of home. I believe this is the power of love created by brothers and sisters who diligently practice mindfulness.

The power of mindfulness practices 

This retreat was truly special for me. Not only was it designed specifically for young Asians in the West, but it also offered a complete immersion into Plum Village practices. The sisters and brothers guided us through a wide array of traditional activities, including sitting meditation, walking meditation, deep relaxation, mindful eating, deep listening, heartfelt sharing, and singing meditation. The sense of community was palpable as we embraced mindful work, which turned everyday tasks into moments of meditation.

Throughout the retreat, we had ample opportunities to hear Dharma talks, which offered profound insights into how to live mindfully. At the end of the retreat, we had the chance to receive the Five Mindfulness Trainings, in order to deepen our understanding and commit to a mindful life.

The retreat fostered a nurturing environment where we could heal, grow, and reconnect with our roots.

I remember a Dharma sharing session with the “Patience” family where Sister Phùng Nghiêm asked us to share a happy moment from our childhood. I took a deep breath, delving into my memories. When I began speaking, tears unexpectedly streamed down my face. I recounted how, despite our poor living conditions, my siblings and I loved and cared deeply for each other, always sharing everything equally. Though I was recounting happy moments, I couldn’t stop crying. I believe the nurturing environment created by the sisters and brothers allowed me to look deeply into a wound I hadn’t recognized before.

The practice of deep listening without judgment created a safe space that enabled me to pour my heart out and begin healing.

The warmth and understanding in that space helped me uncover and address the pain hidden beneath those happy memories, starting a healing process I never knew I needed. Observing the participants, I realized that many seeds of mindfulness had been planted. I saw: smiles during walking meditations on the paths that Thay used to walk, tears of compassion during metta meditation as thoughts of loving-kindness and peace were sent to those in need, eyes filled with gratitude towards Mother Earth during mindful eating, laughter shared during mindful work, and gentle singing of a participant in his tent. All of these moments created a tapestry of peace and connection. To me, these images reflect the profound power of mindfulness practice that brings healing and joy into our lives.

Touching the Earth, Touching the Roots 

It’s fascinating to realize that I had been practicing Touching the Earth for many years without knowing it is one of the profound practices in Plum Village, a practice we experienced several times in this retreat. When I was a little kid, my mom assigned me a daily task. Around 6 p.m. I was to light and offer incense, and invite the sound of the bell three times. This ritual was a way to honor and communicate with our ancestors, the rising smoke carrying our prayers and wishes to the spiritual realm. Many wishes and prayers from my childhood either came true or drifted away with the smoke, never to materialize. Still, this practice was an important part of my childhood.

Life in the Western world disconnected me from this practice. But in this retreat, as I kneeled and gently touched the Earth, it felt like I was touching the roots that hadn’t been nourished for years. In that moment, I saw my father in me, who passed away when I was still a child. I saw my mother in me, who sacrificed her life for my future. I saw myself as a continuation of my ancestors, dwelling in immense gratitude, just by touching and trusting Mother Earth.

If you are searching for answers to the big questions in your life, I believe this retreat is worth a try.

I have received immense love and invaluable lessons. For many of us, it is also a place where we forged friendships with people from similar backgrounds from around the world. After the retreat, many of us continue to meet online once a month to practice together. This regular meeting is also an opportunity for us to recite the Five Mindfulness Trainings. During the last day in Plum Village, before leaving for home, I attended a Question and Answer session in Upper Hamlet. During the session, a participant asked, “Is Plum Village Heaven?” I found the question amusing. I don’t think it’s a question that can be answered definitively. However, I am sure that Plum Village is a peaceful place, and that it felt like home to me – a place to nourish my roots.

Being back home, I am happy to continue practicing and nurturing my roots, patiently waiting for them to grow and blossom. See you again in:

Resources

Join us for ”Nourishing Our Roots” in Lower Hamlet (June 2025)