Reflection from Young Adults Retreat 2006

Our young adults retreat was somewhat funny: in Dharma discussion groups, sometimes we had more brothers and sisters than young adults coming for the retreat.

The retreat was beautiful; our young adults were amazing and fresh. We had an opportunity to share songs, poetry, and skits during a be-in, and we discovered many talented people. We also found new talents in our own brothers and sisters. We listened to beautiful poetry and songs. We laughed all together at a skit that was about the Dharma. We watched a wonderful dance that sr. Hoa Nghiem had choreographed. We also had beautiful Dharma Talks about what it means “to live alone,” given by Br. Phap Trach and sr. Chau Nghiem; another one was given by T. Phap Tri.

But we kept on asking each other: Where are the young adults?
So many came, from so many different age groups… but where are the young adults??
In the end, if you look deeply, we are all young adults.
A friend of mine once told me that ‘grown ups’ don’t exist.
We are all “growing ups”. We are all in that process of learning and growing.
‘Grown up’ sounds like there’s a dead line - an age when you no longer grow.

Do you really believe you could stop learning and growing?

At Deer Park, we try to learn from each other. We listen to people who come to our retreats. We share with them how we practice, but what makes us really happy is to watch people bloom, open up, and heal. We love watching them ‘grow-ing up’. It makes us happy to see them discover their human nature and learn to respect it.

There are no mistakes, only experiences. Experiences teach you in the Present Moment.
There are no bad or good experiences. They could be pleasant or unpleasant or neutral.
All help us grow.

Our Buddha mind grows as well. Through a diligent practice, we cultivate a confidence that we can make it. We learn to remember to come back to our breathing and feel at home and safe in ourselves. Yes, it takes time, but it works. Just come back to your breathing. In – out – in – out.…

So, whoever you are –young adult – old adult – teenager – it’s always about the Buddha mind anyway.
Just come back to your breathing, and let it grow!