January 22, 2025 marks the third anniversary of Thay’s (Teacher Thich Nhat Hanh) transition. The Asia Institute of Applied Buddhism / Plum Village Hong Kong and Plum Village Mindfulness Canters around the world held the commemorative event on January 19, 2025.
More than hundred of friends visited Lotus Pond Temple on Sunday morning, including experienced practitioners and friends who visited Plum Village Hong Kong for the first time. The activity started with the walking meditation. Sister Dong Hai, who led the meditation, said that everyone could walk with Thay. The walking team flows harmoniously like a river.
Afterwards, everyone watched the documentary “Gone with the Wind” about Thay and Plum Village, France, which was produced by a Hong Kong local media. It allowed everyone to visit Plum Village in France by watching the documentary, and have a deeper understanding of Thay and Plum Village’s practice.
A simple but grand Memorial Ceremony was held in the Buddha Hall. Thay’s altar and photo were placed under the Buddha statue. With the guidance of Brothers and Sisters, we chanted the sutras in English and Vietnamese. We also expressed our respects to Buddha and Thay by practicing Touching the Earth.
The last session of the day was Bi-In. Friends shared their encounters with Thay and Plum Village which had transformed their lives. One mother shared that Thay & international sangha visited Hong Kong in 2013, Thay shared that a sangha can be established with more than three people. She was deeply inspired and established a monastic community of four at home. She, her husband, and her children all became members of the monastic community.
Many young people shared their experiences of loneliness, how they were fortunate to meet friends on the path of mindfulness in Plum Village Hong Kong, which opened their hearts. They aspire to become the continuation of Thay and help more people practice mindfulness in their lives and transform the suffer