Deer Park Dharmacast
by Deer Park Monks and Nuns
Dharma from Deer Park Monastery, a meditation practice center in the tradition of the Vietnamese Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. At Deer Park, the resident monks, nuns and lay sangha practice engaged Buddhism and mindfulness in everyday life for the nourishment and development of our spiritual and mental health. Each week, we post a selection of activities of the Deer Park Sangha so that others may share in the realization of awareness and freedom. Deer Park is located in the mountains near Escondido, California and hosts regular Days of Mindfulness open to the public on Sundays beginning at 8:30 a.m. To learn more, visit www.deerparkmonastery.org
Episodes
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466: Riding the Waves of Life: Finding a Soulmate Within
In this Dharma talk, Sister Đặng Nghiêm shares heartfelt insights on suffering, healing, and learning to be our own soulmate. Speaking at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY, on July 20, 2025, she reflects on childhood memories, the Four Noble Truths, and the art of "riding the waves of life"…
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465: Sister Chua Xua: Enjoy Your Free Life
Sister Chua Xua was a social worker and left a long-term relationship to become ordained as a nun at Bát Nhã, a Plum Village monastery that closed due to harassment from the Vietnamese government. "I also have a dream. I have a wish that I can support the young Western people to take the monastic...
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464: Brother Phap Hoi: Lucky for Me
Brother Phap Hoi is a Vietnamese refugee and the most senior Brother at Deer Park Monastery. "Because the Sangha embrace all of the people, even you are high level or low level of good background or not. You all have the chance in the Sangha if you go in the right direction of practice." 3:16...
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463: Sister Phu Nghiem: We Are a Buddhist Family
Sister Phu Nghiem is one of three nuns in her immediate blood family and is passionate about bringing mindfulness to children. "So I focus a lot more on my steps. On how I choose the food when I come to a meal. I learn to enjoy the meal and enjoy my siblings. And that has supported me a whole lot...
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462: Brother Phap Luu: American Awakening (Meet the Monastics)
Brother Phap Luu, the eldest non-Vietnamese American monk in the Plum Village tradition, graduated from Dartmouth College and started meditating after going through a depression. "What is more satisfying in life than helping people to transform their suffering? I mean, who cares about money and…
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461: Sister Le Nghiem: Put Your Heart into the Practice (Meet the Monastics)
Sister Le Nghiem came to the practice after the death of her brother, and typically does solo retreat at the monastery for a few weeks a year. "So the practice gives me the greatest happiness. And this practice gives me being with others. Being with friends on retreat. Being with my siblings....
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460: Sister Trung Chinh: The Whole Universe Embraces Us
Sister Sr. Trung Chinh left Vietnam as a refugee and has been a nun for over fifty years. "The aspiration of a monk or a nun is that we have to arrive to the most peaceful place, the happiest place in ourselves. And there's only the daily practice. The daily practice only helps us to arrive to…
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459: Brother Minh Nhan: See For Yourself
Brother Minh Nhan, one of the only monastics in the Plum Village tradition of Mexican descent, is a monk of many interests: music, mushrooms, math, and more. "To join a community that maybe looks different, maybe don't see others like myself in it, let's say. Yeah, I mean, that's one way to look…
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458: Sister Boi Nghiem: The Hard Work Has Been Done
Sister Boi Nghiem studied nursing before being ordained, and works regularly as a nun with the BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and teen communities. "I think I have a very healthy relationship with myself. Very healthy mental dialogue with myself. There were times I comforted myself. There were times I'm very...
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457: Brother Phap Dung: Now You Get to Choose
It's Meet the Monastics! Brother Phap Dung is a Vietnamese refugee who worked as an architect in Los Angeles before finding the practice, healing his relationship with his father, and changing the course of his life. "Now you get to choose, and it's deliberate. That is a monk. I choose to be in...
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456: Brother Minh Luong: Building a Practice Space Within
Brother Minh Luong was raised in Laguna Beach, California, and went to NYU, where he read a book that changed his life. "I realized recently that there really is no separation between the practice and everything we do in our daily life. Either we're creating conditions for a practice space, like…
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457: Sister Kinh Nghiem: Run Away Now
Sister Kinh Nghiem, one of the funniest and most stylish nuns in the world, was ordained when she was only 14. "Get rid of all of your ideas of what monastic practice is. You know, you come here, I mean, the practice is wonderful. And it's for you to come and see for yourself. But if you start...
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455: Introducing a New Podcast: Meet the Monastics
Weekly Episodes Starting October 15 From Deer Park Monastery, it's Meet the Monastics, a new podcast featuring interviews with fully ordained monks and nuns, hosted by Brother Minh An and produced by Kenley Neufeld. As monastics, the most common question asked of us is, you guessed it, why did…
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454: How to Stop, Rest, and Heal
A Dharma talk with Br. Man Tue from the Ocean of Peace Meditation Hall at Deer Park Monastery during our Day of Mindfulness, Sunday, July 23, 2023. Our theme is how to stop, rest, and heal.
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453: Understanding Our Impulses
Sister Áo Nghiêm offered this beautiful and personal Dharma talk for our Day of Mindfulness on Sunday, July 16, 2023.
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Moments of Suffering
From our series of questions and responses on March 26, 2023 in the Ocean of Peace Meditation, we heard this question. When moments of personal suffering take over and have a combustable quality, what advice do you have for a person experiencing this? Or someone who is helping that person? Our...
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Anxiety and Coming Back to the Present Moment
From our series of questions and responses on March 26, 2023 in the Ocean of Peace Meditation, we heard this question. Thich Nhat Hanh says that anxiety means not being able to dwell in the present moment. But there are times when it is very difficult. In this kind of situation, what other...
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How can I let go of attachment to worldly love?
From our series of questions and responses on March 26, 2023 in the Ocean of Peace Meditation, we heard this question. How can I let go of attachment to worldly love? Our response is offered by Sister Huong Nghiem.
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What are the goals of the practice?
From our series of questions and responses on March 26, 2023 in the Ocean of Peace Meditation, we heard this question. Regarding the goals of the practice. What are the goals of the practice? Do I need to change my needs in life to be happier? Then there is the other end of the spectrum. How to...
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Racial Bias and Cultural Insensitivity
On March 26, 2023 we held a session of Questions and Answers during our weekly Day of Mindfulness. Rather than release the entire session as one recording, we are offering question and response one at a time. This is the first question. How can we work with, in our practice, racial bias and...
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447: Vulner-ability with Brother Freedom
From our Day of Mindfulness on Sunday, March 12, 2023 we hear a Dharma talk by Brother Ngo Khong, also known as Brother Freedom.
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446: Dharma Talk by the Venerable
This is the English translation of the Dharma talk originally offered in Vietnamese by Thích Phước Tịnh. Translation provided by Sr. Dang Nghiem.
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445: The Eight Winds with Thầy Pháp Nhĩ
A Dharma talk offered during our Day of Mindfulness on Sunday, February 26 from the Ocean of Peace Meditation Hall. The talk was offered in Vietnamese and this is the English translation provided by Br. Earth.
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444: Dharma talk a la carte (plus a song)
The Dharma talk is in English from Sister Kinh Nghiem during our Day of Mindfulness on February 19, 2023 from the Ocean of Peace Meditation Hall.
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443: The Power of True Love (Translation)
Here we have a Dharma talk offered by Thay Pháp Xứ from the Ocean of Peace Meditation Hall at Deer Park Monastery on Sunday, February 12, 2023. The teaching is on a Day of Mindfulness with the theme The Power of True Love. Thay offers us one of his poems as the foundation for the teaching. This…
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442: Year-End (lunar) Dharma Talk
Dear friends, This is the English translation of a Dharma talk offered by Sr. Uyển Nghiêm at the close of the lunar new year. The talk occurred in the Ocean of Peace Meditation Hall with several hundred people present for the new year celebrations. During the talk, she uses poetry to explore the...
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441: Confidence in the Dharma
The Dharma talk offered here by Thay Phap Luu took place on Sunday, January 2, 2023 on the last day of our annual Holiday Retreat. The theme for our holiday retreat this year is "The Path is Our Home" and over 300 people gather here at Deer Park Monastery from December 29th to January 2nd, 2023....
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439: The Path is Our Home, a Dharma Talk with Su Co Dang Nghiem
During our 5-day Holiday Retreat with several hundred guests, the first Dharma talk of the retreat is offered by Sr. Dang Nghiem. The talk begins with an introduction to listening, followed by chanting the name of Avaloketeshvara, and then the dharma talk. We touch on neuroplasity, going home…
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438: The Mind of Distraction
For our Day of Mindfulness today (Sunday November 27, 2022) the Dharma talk is offered by Sr. Thần Nghiêm. The talk is in English. Awareness of mind. Distraction. Mindfulness. Concentration.
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437: Open the Source of Love
On our Day of Mindfulness on November 20, 2022 Sr. Tuyết Nghiêm offered a talk with the theme "Open the Source of Love". This is the English translation of the talk originally given in Vietnamese.
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Be an Observer. Not a Victim.
A Dharma talk offered in Vietnamese with English translation provided here by Sister Dang Nghiem. The talk is offered by Sister Trúc Nghiêm with the theme Be An Observer, Not a Victim.
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435: Small Things in Everyday Life
A Dharma talk offered by The Venerable Hòa Thượng Thích Phước Tịnh during our weekly Day of Mindfulness on November 6, 2022 in the Ocean of Peace Meditation Hall. The sangha is practicing in the 90-Day Rains Retreat. The translation is offered by Sister Kinh Nghiem.
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434: Formal Lunch and the Spirit of our Practice
Today is Formal Lunch day and Thay Phap Hoi spends time sharing about this practice and uses as a lens to look into the spirit of our practice. Why do we practice the way we do? What is the role of formality? Can we practice in a way that makes sense and is understandable for this day and the…
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Letters from Thay
For our Day of Mindfulness on October 9, 2022, the Dharma talk was offered by Sr. Kính Nghiêm. The talk will be offered in English.
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432: The Four Establishments of Mindfulness
Today is the opening of the annual Rains Retreat and our Dharma talk is offered by the Most Venerable Thích Phước Tịnh. He speaks in Vietnamese and Sr. Kinh Nghiem offers the English translation in this recording. Our theme is the Four Establishments of Mindfulness and preparing for the Rains...
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431: War and Peace
The talk is offered in English on September 11, 2022 in the Ocean of Peace Meditation Hall. Sister Dang Nghiem speaks of the Seven Factors of Awakening in the context of war and peace. You can reference the following book regarding the discourse she taught today. The Buddha's Teachings on Social...
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430: The Buddha The Scientist
Here we offer the third Dharma talk for "The Buddha, The Scientist" Retreat at Deer Park from August 31-September 4, 2022. Exploring the Intersection of Buddhism, Psychology and Neuroscience through the Embodied Practice of Mindfulness. The talk is offered in English by Br. Pháp Dung
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429: A Session of Questions and Answers
Here we offer a session of Questions and Answers during "The Buddha, The Scientist" Retreat at Deer Park from August 31-September 4, 2022. Exploring the Intersection of Buddhism, Psychology and Neuroscience through the Embodied Practice of Mindfulness. The panel includes Sr.Đẳng Nghiêm, Br. Pháp...
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428: Everywhere All At Once
Here we offer the first Dharma talk for "The Buddha, The Scientist" Retreat at Deer Park from August 31-September 4, 2022. Exploring the Intersection of Buddhism, Psychology and Neuroscience through the Embodied Practice of Mindfulness. In this talk we continue exploring Buddhist psychology and…
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427: Buddhist Psychology
Here we offer the first Dharma talk for "The Buddha, The Scientist" Retreat at Deer Park from August 31-September 4, 2022. Exploring the Intersection of Buddhism, Psychology and Neuroscience through the Embodied Practice of Mindfulness. The talk is offered in English by Sr. Hương Nghiêm
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426: The Buddha The Scientist Orientation
Here we offer the orientation for "The Buddha, The Scientist" Retreat at Deer Park from August 31-September 4, 2022. Exploring the Intersection of Buddhism, Psychology and Neuroscience through the Embodied Practice of Mindfulness. The introduction is offered in English by Br. Mãn Tuệ & Sr. Thần...
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425: Discourse on Love [TRANSLATION]
Today we offer a translated Dharma talk by Thay Phap Hoi, one of the elders in our community.
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424: Froglessness [translation]
Today we have a translated Dharma talk with Brother Phap Ao and Sister Uyen Nghiem. The theme for the talk is froglessness. How do we practice when our mind when it sometimes behaves like a frog?
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423: Hammock Meditation
In our episode today we enjoyed our talk from Thầy Phap Luu and learn the joys of a hammock meditation
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422: Family Retreat - Second Dharma Talk
This is our third day and this is the second Dharma talk. Included in this talk is a teaching on the Five Mindfulness Trainings and teaching for the children. Our teacher today is Thay Phap Dung. This is a happy moment. It's been 3-years since our last Family Retreat and we are happy for its...
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421: Family Retreat - First Dharma Talk
We welcome 160 people to our "annual" Family Retreat this year. The theme of the retreat is Harmony at Home, Peace all Around. This is our second day and the first Dharma talk. The talk is offered by Sister Thoại Nghiêm, an elder in our community.
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420: Family Retreat - Orientation
This is a happy moment. It's been 3-years since our last Family Retreat and we are happy for its return. We hope you are too! Our theme this year is Harmony at Home, Peace all Around. This is arrival day and we begin with an orientation to the practice with Sr. Ân Nghiem and Br. Pháp Áo.
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419: The Three Learnings
As part of our in-person Day of Mindfulness, we will hear a Dharma talk from Su Co Hương Nghiêm in English. The Three Learnings 1. Listen 2. Reflect 3. Practice And Dwelling Happily in the Present moment
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418: I am Enough
During our recent Teen Camp, Sr. Dang Nghiem offered a Dharma talk to the 100 teens in attendance. The theme of the retreat is Enough! Enough! You Are Enough! and she builds on this during her talk. We learn about the Power of Understanding, the Power of Love, and the Power of Freedom. The date…
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About this show
Dharma from Deer Park Monastery, a meditation practice center in the tradition of the Vietnamese Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. At Deer Park, the resident monks, nuns and lay sangha practice engaged Buddhism and mindfulness in everyday life for the nourishment and development of our spiritual and mental health. Each week, we post a selection of activities of the Deer Park Sangha so that others may share in the realization of awareness and freedom. Deer Park is located in the mountains near Escondido, California and hosts regular Days of Mindfulness open to the public on Sundays beginning at 8:30 a.m. To learn more, visit www.deerparkmonastery.org
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Deer Park Monks and Nuns
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