The whole world is my monastery.”
“All beings are my sangha,
a community of interbeing.
September 30 - 07:00 am - 20:00 pm

Happiness Is Overrated

Beginner’s Course in Los Angeles

By Cuong Lu

A 16-day intensive course led by Zen master Cuong Lu
September 30 - 07:00 am - 20:00 pm
Our planet of 8 billion people and countless other species is in peril. It will take the wisdom of a million wisdom-keepers for our species to survive. A No Word Zen monk can inspire each person they encounter to join together in wisdom and skillful means to stop the many crises we face today, including global climate, which we humans continue to worsen with our emissions, plastics, and so many other pollutants to the air, land, and sea.

Cuong Lu is a lineage holder in an uninterrupted line, transmitted to him by Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh. He trained as a monastic at Plum Village, and he is now training invisible monastics to bring wisdom and compassion to the world through mindfulness and activism, creating a peaceful revolution.

An invisible monastic is always practicing. Every moment is an opportunity to be deeply present and share your wisdom and compassion invisibly, without drawing attention to yourself. This is a way of cultivating peace within and well-being in society.

It’s not the robes that make the monk. It’s wisdom that makes you a peaceful person. The No Word Zen movement is a seed, which when watered, will grow a million compassionate flowers engaged to help all who are suffering.


This course will be tailored to the needs of each student.
Program Prerequisites

No meditation experience required.
Openness to all religious traditions.
Willingness to put a guidance into practice.
Having a deep confidence in your own wisdom and compassion.
Program includes

Our daily program starts from 6 a.m. and ends at 9 p.m.
Wake up time: 5:30 a.m.

• Study of Sutra’s (teachings of the Buddha)
• Study of Sastra’s (teachings of the enlightened teachers)
• Study of Vinaya (rules of monastic members in Buddhist tradition)
• Lectures given by the teacher every morning.
• Sitting mediation sessions guided by the teacher (120 minutes, in the morning and in the evening)
• Walking meditation sessions guided by the teacher.
• Meal sessions in silence guided by the teacher.
• Silence practice after dinner till breakfast next morning.
• Questions & answers sessions with the teacher.
• Group sharing sessions with other members.
Dates

From September 8 at 6 p.m. till September 23, 2023 after lunch. You can arrive during the day. The first lecture will start at 8 p.m.
Location

2, Le Mont
87190 Magnac-Laval
France - Show on map
Costs

$ 1,664 (free of VAT, in double rooms), incl. overnight stays and all accommodation costs. (2 more spots.)
€ 1,498 (free of VAT, in a tent), incl. overnight stays and all accommodation costs.

The costs mentioned above are exclusive to Donation (see explanation below).
Cancelation

• You can cancel up to 6 months before the start of the program. You then only owe € 35 administration costs.
• You owe 30% of the costs up to 3 months before the start of the program.
• You owe 50% of the costs up to 1 month before the start of the program.
• Up to 2 weeks before the start, the participation costs will be 100%.
• Even if you cancel participation during the course, you will still owe the total participation costs.
Donation

Our costs are pure for accommodation. According to Buddhist custom a donation is expected, and the offering is for the teacher. Please consider paying at the highest sliding scale rate you can afford (from 15% to 50% of the accommodation cost). Your generosity allows others to attend who might not be able to donate. This donation is to keep the Dharma alive and bring our society light.
Questions?

Please email us
Cuong Lu
Cuong Lu, Buddhist teacher, scholar, and writer, was born in Vietnam in 1968 and emigrated to the Netherlands with his family in 1980. He was ordained as the 18th monastic disciple of Thich Nhat Hanh at Plum Village in France. In 2000, he was recognized as a teacher in the Lieu Quan line of the Linji School of Zen Buddhism.

Are you interested in this retreat?

Take the unique chance to nourish your insight and compassion.
Important information