Core Principles of the Plum Village Approach

All Buddhist groups are concerned with developing calmness and insight Thich Nhat Hanh developed the following way to do this.

• Mindfulness in Daily Life: As well as meditating on the cushion you are also encouraged to treat every routine action—such as walking, eating, or washing dishes—as a mindful meditation. 

• The Five Mindfulness Trainings: Practicing a modernized, ethical lifestyle code covering reverence for life, true happiness, loving speech, and mindful consumption. Living ethically leads to a calmer life and encourages compassion for others.

• Sangha Building: Support from other practitioners is vital in developing insight and living ethically. Plum Village has clear guidelines of how we can communicate and support each other. 

• Interbeing: Recognizing that nothing exists separately; every person and thing is deeply interconnected with and dependent on the rest of the universe. A deep understanding this is an essential part of developing insight.

• Engaged Buddhism: Thich Nhat Hahn was from Vietnam and was active in supporting peace and victims of war.  Applying Buddhist principles to actively reduce suffering in society, politics, and the environment rather than monastic life is at the heart of the order.