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

Join Brother Pháp Lữ for a full day of traditional practice, including the Eight Precepts, dharma teachings, and meditation.

Join the Melbourne River Sangha for a day of mindfulness at Từ Ân Monastery guided by Brother Pháp Lữ, a disciple of the Venerable Zen Master Thích Nhất Hạnh and senior monastic in the Plum Village tradition. This day will support participants to develop inner peace and harmony through mindfulness practices, meditation, and holistic well-being teachings. 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.

This event will be offered in Vietnamese, with English translation available. The program will be guided by Ven Thích Pháp Lữ (France) and Ven Thích Hạnh Phẩm (Từ Ân Monastery). Program coordination and translation to English by Chân Hỷ Sơn (Brother True Joyful Mountain).

When

8 am - 5.30 pm Sunday 15 March 2026

Where

Tu Viện Từ Ân

26 Jacques Rd, Narre Warren North VIC 3804

https://maps.app.goo.gl/ehBpprEmPjP2ZPzC8

Schedule

8.00 am: Gathering

8.45 am: Transmission of the Eight Precepts

9.30 am: Introduction of the program

9.40 am: Opening Words by Ven Thích Hạnh Phẩm

9.50 am: Sitting Meditation

10.15 am: Dharma Talk: Meditation, Diet, Exercise, Joy and Health

11.00: Touching the Earth Exercise/Meditation

11.45 am: Lunch Meditation with Vegetarian food

1.00 pm: Cleaning/Resting

1.30 pm: Walking Meditation

2.15 pm: Deep Relaxation Meditation

3.15 pm: Singing Meditation

3.30 pm: Dharma Q&A Session

5.00 pm: Dedication of Merits - Conclusion

Getting There

Parking is available onsite.

The nearest public transit stops are about a 2 km walk from the venue.

Accessibility

Meditation cushions and chairs will be provided. The meditation hall has an accessible entrance.

What to Bring

• Warm clothes if the weather is cool
• Sun hat and sunscreen
• Water bottle

Food & Drink

A simple, nourishing vegetarian lunch will be provided. Unfortunately, we are unable to cater for specific dietary requirements. If you have specific diet requirements, please bring your own food that meets your needs. Thank you for your understanding.

Who

Anyone is welcome to join. The event will be held in Vietnamese with some English translation available.

Cost: By Donation

This event is offered freely, but a donation is suggested to help cover the cost of our teacher’s travelling expenses. Please give the amount that speaks to your own heart when registering, using the bank details below, or by bringing cash on the day of the talk. No one is turned away for lack of funds.

Name: MELBOURNE RIVER SANGHA

BSB: 633000

Account number: 232117564

Ref: Br Phap Lu

This event is not-for-profit.

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 event, please contact us at breathe@melbourneriversangha.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, Sister Diệm Nghiêm, and Lay Brother Harry Huy Nguyen (Brother Mountain) are disciples of the late Zen Master Thích Nhất Hạnh.

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

Mindfulness & Health Public Talk

Mindfulness & Health Retreat

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.