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My spiritual lineage and practice history

I practice with Plum Village (Vietnamese Zen) and various Theravadin Buddhist traditions, one of which is MIDL. I also benefit greatly from the teachers of other traditions, such as His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Shunryu Suzuki-roshi, and Ajahn Brahm.

My home tradition is the Plum Village tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh (also known as “Thầy”, Vietnamese for “Teacher”, by his students). In 2014, I read my first book by Thầy and soon followed that with visits (ranging from 3 days to 3 months long) to his monastery to immerse myself in the practice. Just like how one learns basic manners of eating, working, and interacting with others in one’s home, Plum Village is my home tradition because it taught me how to conduct basic actions of my life in mindfulness 🙂

As my healing and transformation deepened with the help of Plum Village practices and teachers (and therapy, specifically Internal Family Systems!), I began to feel a need for more structure in my sitting meditation practice. In 2021, I met my first teachers in the Insight Meditation tradition. Since then, I have been discovering more teachers and practices, each resonating with the particular place I was at on the path. 

I am immensely grateful for the wonderful guides and friends I have (and have yet) encountered, be it in person, across continents on Zoom, or through books, YouTube, and podcasts. I continue to be in awe of this practice’s unfolding: the quiet, comforting peace that can be cultivated even in tumultuous times; the startling insights that, like plunges in a cool lake in summertime, pull me out of daydreams and open my eyes to the world; the humbling awareness that I am receiving a gift carefully protected and passed down by generations of practitioners. Who knows where the practice will take me next 🙂

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A disclaimer

I am not a certified meditation teacher or mental health professional. I certainly am not claiming to be enlightened 🙂 I share to connect with fellow practitioners, not to instruct. 

Which leads me to…

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Why I write about meditation practice

In the Plum Village tradition of Vietnamese Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, there is a practice called “Dharma sharing.” Fellow retreatants or members of a practice group – from newbies to Dharma teachers who have been practicing since before you and I were born – sit in a circle and take turns to talk and listen. Instead of discussing Buddhist concepts and philosophy, we share personal experiences of applying and living the teachings, or the joys and difficulties we encounter in life. 

These sharing sessions are a big part of keeping me on the Path. Each shared struggle and triumph in staying mindful amidst the wild spectrum of life experiences (moving to a new city, navigating family dynamics, starting and ending relationships, and on and on) was a ray of sunshine that nourished the seed of aspiration in my heart. I can keep going because I know there are people out there, with lives just as messy or even messier than mine, who are practicing, too. And I hope what I share on this blog can help someone keep going.

On this path to liberation that can span lifetimes, perhaps we travelers have met time and again to share meals and life stories, to help one another navigate, and to receive much-needed encouragement for the journey ahead. So, thank you for stopping a while to listen to the ponderings of this fellow traveler 🙂 Grab a cup of tea, stretch out your weary legs, and enjoy!

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May this be of benefit to all beings!