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A silent refuge where the soul learns to breathe again
Stepping into Plum Village feels like crossing an invisible threshold between the noise of the world and the music of silence. But it is in Lower Hamlet, hidden among woodland paths and the gentle hills of the Dordogne, that the heart truly finds its home.
Here, time slows down. Footsteps grow lighter, breathing becomes more mindful. And it is the nuns of Lower Hamlet – gentle, present, illuminated by a deep calm – who tenderly guard this sacred space.
With their quiet smiles and attentive gestures, they teach not through words but through their way of being. There is in them a tender seriousness, an unshakable dedication to the practice that never needs to be announced. They are present in every bell that rings, every bowl that is washed, every mindful walk through the woodland paths.
In the heart of Lower Hamlet stands a main oriental-style structure, intricate and rich with details, its layered roofs seeming to embrace the sky. Hanging beneath its eaves are beautiful bells – not just instruments, but spiritual companions. When they ring, there is no noise, only a gentle call to return to the present. Stop. Breathe. Simply be.
Nearby lies a beautiful pond filled with lotus flowers, its waters reflecting the clouds. Around it grow mulberry trees heavy with sweet fruit, which the children delighted in picking and tasting.
The Happy Farm is another hidden jewel – an organic, permaculture-based garden lovingly cultivated by sisters, residents, and volunteers. It provides fresh vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers for the community’s meals, and is also a space for “active meditation,” where planting, weeding, and harvesting become part of spiritual practice.
Meals are entirely vegan, prepared with love from local ingredients, and often recall the flavors and colors of Eastern cuisine: light soups, fragrant curries, steamed vegetables, spiced tofu… Each meal is an invitation to mindfulness and to honoring all living beings. Even the children’s vegan menu is delicious, colorful, and imaginative – a joy for little ones who eat with enthusiasm.
The beauty of Plum Village also lies in its community spirit: everyone contributes as they can to this beautiful machine with a spiritual engine. Work, listening, meditation, smiles, and shared moments all flow together with a rare and gentle harmony.
For us personally, after years of reflection and study, it was here that we decided to formally register as Buddhist practitioners. It was a deep, heartfelt decision, matured over time. We understood that Buddhism, in its practice, welcomes every person – regardless of religion, gender, orientation, skin color, or personal history. Few other spiritual traditions can truly claim such openness and such harmony between male and female monastics. Here, equality is not a slogan, but a lived reality.
Adjacent to the hamlet is a beautiful forest, a spectacle for the soul. Walking there in silence, you feel both held and free, as if nature itself were practicing alongside you.
I left this place with silent tears and infinite gratitude. It wasn’t sadness, but awareness of the beauty I had just lived.
And sometimes, in the busiest days, I close my eyes and still hear **the slow sound of the bell, the song of the stream, and the smile of a nun who taught me to sit…...
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