A new Buddhist initiative is taking shape on the Sunshine Coast.
Wayne Hassel, a long-time disciple of Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh, has sent out a public appeal to anyone interested in forming a sangha in the tradition of Plum Village Monastery.
Hassel, whose Buddhist name is Awakened Heart of the Source, is an experienced lay teacher of the Dharma. He has studied the Dharma for 20 years, and previously founded a sangha on the North Shore, where he gave some 100 Dharma talks.
“Moving to the Sunshine Coast six years ago was a great decision,” Hassel said. “This part of the Coast holds so many wonders of nature and so many people with spiritual aspirations. But the one thing I miss is a community that practices Buddhism in the spirit of Thây, or Thich Nhat Hanh.
Thich Nhat Hanh made his home in Plum Village, France, after being exiled from his native Vietnam in the early years of the Vietnam War.
Since then, he has held retreats in many different countries, including one in Vancouver in 2011. He is renowned for his unique ability to bring the essence of the Buddha’s teachings to modern, western audiences without becoming entangled in cultural accretions.
“The Plum Village tradition is part of Mainstream Buddhism, but it includes the best from all the other branches of the teaching,” said Hassel.
Plum-Village-Style Sanghas offer instruction on sitting and walking med itation, Dharma study with discussion, as well as reciting of Sutras (talks given by the Buddha). Also included in the weekly meetings are practices designed to strengthen personal transformation and to foster a sense of community.
Given sufficient local interest, Hassel will present a series of three public talks in the near future. Anyone interested in helping to get a local Sangha off the ground, or in participating later on, is asked to contact Hassel at 604-741-0605 or email [email protected].
