Tiếng Việt
English
From July 7 to 13, 2025, 97 children aged 12 to 14 returned to Viên Không Nunnery to spend a truly meaningful summer in the Mindfulness-based Summer Retreat – Session I.
Amid the peaceful silence of the mountains and forests, with the sound of the temple bell echoing each morning and evening, the children learned to sit quietly, breathe mindfully, listen deeply, and practice mindfulness in every moment. Lessons on “Gratitude and Happiness,” “Right Speech,” “The Four Right Efforts,” and “Speaking Truthfully” were gently shared by the venerable nuns with great compassion, planting wholesome seeds in the young hearts. The hope was that when the children return to everyday life, they will shine brightly without losing their innocence, purity, and kindness. These seeds, once planted, are hoped to blossom as the children return to everyday life—guiding them to shine brightly while holding on to their innocence, purity, and kindness.
In addition to Dhamma learning, the children also joined life skills classes such as: Child abuse prevention and self-protection, Nutrition and food quality, Emotional management, and Practical snack-making workshops. Each activity was designed to help the children better understand themselves, know how to protect and care for themselves and their families, and live with awareness and wisdom.
Group activities, outdoor games, and the Candlelight Sharing Night brought the children together as one big family. There were bursts of laughter, silent tears, and heartfelt promises of a more meaningful life.
After seven days of mindfulness practice in the tranquil space of Viên Không Nunnery, the 2025 Summer Retreat – Session I came to a close. The closing day was not only a time to look back on the journey, but also a quiet moment for the young participants to touch a new sense of maturity within themselves.
Although the retreat ended, the seeds of mindfulness have been sown. It is our hope that the children will continue to nurture mindfulness and cherish all they have received at the nunnery—as a gentle light to guide them on the path of growing into kind and wholesome human beings.
A few memorable moments from the retreat:
Watch the full 7-day journey here::