The Plum Blossom Society
“What is most important is to find peace and to share it with others.”
As a member of the Plum Blossom Society, our monthly giving program, you become part of the beloved community of global peacemakers established by Thich Nhat Hanh.
Plum Blossom Society members play a key role in addressing our greatest global challenges by:
Building an awakened and inclusive global community
Creating sustainable peace
Working toward social equity, understanding, and racial harmony
Nourishing and protecting our planet
Why the “Plum Blossom” Society?
In Inside the Now: Meditations on Time, Thich Nhat Hanh shares about first offering engaged Buddhist practices during the conflict in mid-century Vietnam:
It was then that some of us suddenly had the idea of building a practice center, a place of refuge to nourish and heal ourselves after periods of intense activity. It would be a chance for us to develop concrete Buddhist practices to offer to the people of our country, to heal our wounds, refresh our spirits, and give all of us the strength we needed to continue to help change the situation.
In 1957 we established Phuong Boi (the Fragrant Palm Leaves Hermitage), and gradually began to develop it into a practice community. Our Plum Village practice center in France is a new manifestation of the spirit of Phuong Boi.
The Plum Blossom Society is emblematic of continuation. It is a powerful, generous group of supporters dedicated to keeping Thay’s legacy alive by making Buddhist practices relevant, accessible, and transformative in modern times. It is a continuation rooted in compassion and service, which started in Vietnam and now continues through you.
Plums are also a poignant symbol in our community. Thay and his early followers planted plum trees throughout Plum Village Monastery. One of our elder monastic sisters tells this story:
Many of the Vietnamese children who came for the summer retreat bought plum trees to donate as a way of showing their gratitude. By 1984, we had planted 1,250 plum trees. Thay used to say that the 1,250 plum trees are like 1,250 Buddha’s disciples!
We, too, are the Buddha’s disciples. From Zen Masters Lieu Quan to Thich Nhat Hanh, we are a continuation of a long line of practitioners committed to transforming ourselves, our communities, and the world.
Your Opportunity to Make a Difference
Becoming a Plum Blossom Society member is easy. Once you sign up, you don’t have to do anything else. You can change or cancel your gift at any time.
Monthly giving is cost-effective. It reduces costs so that more of your gift goes to making a big difference.
Monthly giving is convenient. You save time when your gift is automatically deducted from your bank or credit card, and you are free from manually writing a check or going online to make a gift.
Monthly gifts matter. By making a gift every month, you multiply your impact. The impact of even a small gift, when given monthly, is greatly amplified.
For as little as $1.00 a day, you can help bring Thay’s teachings on mindfulness and compassion to others and help transform suffering in people, animals, plants, and our Earth.
Generous supporters of $50+ per month receive a subscription to the Mindfulness Bell, a quarterly magazine on the art of mindful living in the Plum Village tradition.