Day of Mindfulness

A Day of Mindfulness at Deer Park Monastery in Escondido, California, is an invitation to spend a Sunday morning and early afternoon practicing alongside the monastic community. It suits anyone drawn to mindfulness practice in the Plum Village tradition, whether you are new to meditation or already part of a sangha.

Deer Park holds these days on Sundays through the season, and this one falls in December. The monastery is open to visitors during Days of Mindfulness and retreats, which makes these days a simple way to experience life at a Buddhist practice center in Southern California without committing to a longer stay.

What to Expect

The day runs from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. It is a day of shared practice with the monastic community, offered in the spirit of slowing down and being present together. The organizers describe it simply as a day of practice, and that is the heart of it: a few unhurried hours set aside from the week's momentum, in a place devoted to this work.

Deer Park's Days of Mindfulness are one of the regular ways the monastery receives guests. Throughout the year it also hosts retreats, ceremonies, a music festival and longer residential periods, but the weekly day is the most accessible entry point for a first visit.

The Setting

Deer Park Monastery is in Escondido, in San Diego County, California. It is a monastic community that welcomes visitors on practice days and during retreats. The monastery relies on donations as its main source of support, and offerings from guests help keep its doors open to visitors throughout the year.

Planning a visit is worth a little care. The monastery keeps guidance for visitors on days like this one, and it is a good idea to read it before you travel so that you arrive knowing how the day is arranged.

Before You Go

No prior experience is mentioned as a requirement, and the day is offered as an open invitation to practice. Come ready to spend several hours in a contemplative setting, and allow time for the drive to Escondido so that you can arrive before the 9:00 am start.

If you want to stay connected afterward, Deer Park monastics send out a newsletter called Coyote Tracks, which shares event announcements, writing, art, music and meditations. Whether you come once or return often, the Day of Mindfulness at Deer Park Monastery offers a quiet, grounded way to begin or deepen a mindfulness practice.