Mindfulness & Health Retreat with Br Pháp Lữ (Disciple of Thích Nhất Hạnh)

Immerse yourself in an intensive retreat combining meditation, hiking in nature, and extended time under Br Pháp Lữ's guidance

Join the Melbourne River Sangha for a weekend retreat guided by Brother Pháp Lữ, a disciple of the Venerable Zen Master Thích Nhất Hạnh and senior monastic in the Plum Village tradition. This Mindfulness and Health retreat will support participants to develop inner peace and harmony while rejuvenating mind, body, and soul through a specific diet and other holistic well-being practices. Together as a flowing river, we aim to expand our awareness of the interdependence between the food we consume, our body, our mind, and the environment we live in.

When

5 pm Friday 20 - 2 pm Sunday 22 March 2026

Where

Amberley Centre (Edmund Rice Centre Amberley)

7 Amberley Way, Lower Plenty VIC 3093

https://maps.app.goo.gl/ear5Fq9XKB1SJXWE8

Activities & Practices

• Mindfulness Meditation: Dive deep into the art of mindfulness guided by Brother Pháp Lữ, who brings decades of experience in traditional Vietnamese Zen practices.
• Meditative Hiking: Connect with nature through guided hikes.
• Qi Gong: Experience the rejuvenating energy of Qi Gong exercises.
• Deep Relaxation: Unwind, recharge, and allow your body to heal itself through relaxation sessions.
• Dharma Talks: Brother Pháp Lữ will offer guidance and support along the path from his many years of experience.
• Dharma Sharing: Foster community and connection through shared experiences.
• Simple Vegetarian Diet: Nourish your body with a light, wholesome vegetarian diet.
• Private Consultation Sessions: One-on-one sessions with Brother Pháp Lữ will be available.

Before the retreat, you will receive a handbook with the full schedule and more information on these practices.

All practices are optional and by invitation. Retreatants are encouraged to participate according to their own ability and comfort.

Who

Anyone is welcome to join.

Limited Space

Space is limited, and priority registration will be given to those who can attend the full retreat. We expect this retreat to sell out, so please register as soon as possible (no later than 18 March).

If you wish to attend for part of the time, such as one night or a single day, please email us at breathe@melbourneriversanha.com.au. We will let you know if we can accommodate a partial stay.

Registration

After paying your registration fee, but before receiving your ticket, each attendee will be asked to complete a detailed questionnaire to help us ensure the safety of all participants and understand your hopes and aspirations for the retreat. Information you share will be kept strictly confidential. Please allow plenty of time to complete the questionnaire.

Cost: $290 (Full Retreat)

Single Night (if space is available): $190Single Day (if space is available): $45

This amount covers food and accommodation during the retreat. You may like to offer extra donations to contribute to our teacher’s travelling expenses. If you wish to contribute beyond the cost of the retreat, please give the amount that speaks to your own heart using the bank details below (or bring cash to the retreat).

Name: MELBOURNE RIVER SANGHA

BSB: 633000

Account number: 232117564

Ref: Br Phap Lu

This event is not-for-profit.

Food & Drink

Simple, nourishing vegetarian meals will be provided throughout the retreat, and participants will have the option to experience a dry fast as taught by Brother Pháp Lữ.

While we will make an effort to cater to specific dietary requirements, we are unable to guarantee accommodation. If you would like to attend and have specific dietary requirements, please contact us at breathe@melbourneriversanha.com.au to discuss options.

Accomodation

You may check into the venue between 3 and 5 pm on the day of the retreat.

Retreatants will share a room with at least one other person. Bedding, including linens and towels, will be provided. There are shared bathrooms with showers on-site.

What to Bring

Full details of recommended items to pack will be included in the Retreat Handbook, which you will receive before the retreat. Suggested special items include:

• a yoga mat,
• meditation cushion or stool,
• a blanket,
• warm clothes suited for an active retreat with outdoor elements,
• sunscreen,
• insect repellent,
• water bottle, etc.

Getting There

Parking is available onsite.

The nearest public transit stops are about a 3.1 km walk from the venue. We encourage participants to make their own carpool arrangements if needed.

Accessibility

This retreat includes a variety of physical practices, including hiking outdoors, performing prostrations, and qi gong. All practices are by invitation (not compulsory), and retreatants are encouraged to participate according to their own ability.

There will be about 3.5 hours of hiking spread across the retreat on an outdoor, low difficulty track.

Contact

Please reach out to the Melbourne River Sangha organising team with any questions: breathe@melbourneriversangha.com.au

Volunteering

If you would like to volunteer to support the retreat, particularly if you are able to help with food preparation, please contact us at breathe@melbourneriversanha.com.au to make arrangements.

Meet Your Teachers

Brother Pháp Lữ is a disciple of the late Venerable Zen Master Thích Nhất Hạnh and a senior monastic in the Plum Village tradition. He brings a unique combination of medical expertise and spiritual practice to his teaching, having graduated from medical school in France and worked in French hospitals before ordaining as a monk.

Brother Pháp Lữ specialises in integrating Traditional Vietnamese Medicine with Buddhist practice to support healing and wellbeing. His teachings include mindfulness meditation, walking meditation, Qi Gong, breathing exercises, prostrations, vegetarian diet guidance, and connecting with nature. He has a deep understanding of human suffering and the pathways to healing through both Eastern and Western medical wisdom.

True to his name as a "Wandering Monk," Brother Pháp Lữ teaches students across France, the USA, Canada, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia. He visits Australia regularly to lead health retreats. He is based at Plum Village, France and teaches annually at Suansompou Practice Centre in northern Thailand. Students describe his retreats as life-changing, helping them cultivate active, healthy lives filled with compassion and awareness.

Supporting teachers Sister Thuận Tiên and Sister Diệm Nghiêm are disciples of the late Zen Master Thích Nhất Hạnh.

Brother True Joyful Mountain (Chân Hỷ Sơn, Harry Huy Nguyen) is a lay dharma teacher in the Plum Village tradition, a student of Thích Nhất Hạnh, and the founder of the Melbourne River Sangha.

About Melbourne River Sangha

The Melbourne River Sangha is a hybrid mindfulness and meditation community practising the teachings of the late Vietnamese Zen Master Venerable Thích Nhất Hạnh. Our community gathers online and in person to practise cultivating mindfulness and learning to apply it in our daily lives. Everyone is welcome to join us, whether you are new to mindfulness practice or have been on this path for years. For more information and to join our community, please visit melbourneriversangha.com.au

Other Upcoming Events with Brother Pháp Lữ & Melbourne River Sangha

Vietnamese Mindfulness & Health Day

Mindfulness & Health Public Talk

Brother Pháp Lữ's teachings have been described as life-changing, offering profound insights and practices for an active, healthy life. We look forward to practising with you.