28/08/2026
It was quite a few years ago that Thich Nhat Hanh himself chose this bowl for me.
I had seen a video of Thich Nhat Hanh (Thay) giving a talk and felt powerfully drawn to seeing him face to face. This would have been in the early 1990s. So my then partner and I signed up for the Summer Retreat and headed off to Plum Village in the French region of Dordogne near Bordeaux.
Plum Village is situated deep in the sunflower fields and vineyards of this region. It is full of calm, peacefulness and mindfulness. Life moves to a different pattern in Plum Village that can only really be experienced by visiting.
Almost the first mindfulness practice that was passed on is that of the "Mindful Bell". This practice entails pausing whatever we are doing or about to do and take three conscious breaths, after which we continue what we were doing before the bell. It is a profound practice, one that I still use today.
Bells play a role in regulating many of the practices in Plum Village life. Whether it is the call to the first meditation session early in the morning, marking the end of "Noble Silence", or commencing mindful eating.
Determined to bring this practice home with me, I went to the very small shop in Upper Hamlet to pick a bell/gong. On entering the shop, I saw there was a large range of different bells on offer, so I started sounding each one in search of "my bell", the one that was always meant for me. Whilst I was happily ringing all the bells in the store, someone tapped me on the shoulder. I turned to face them only to find it was Thich Nhat Hanh himself - I was stunned and stood there with a huge smile on my face. Thay picked up a bell and handed it to me, saying, "This one is for you". I accepted the bell with deep gratitude and, if I remember correctly, a sigh of relief went round the shop as I had stopped my searching for the one bell for me, so bringing peace and calm back to the shop. Thay, on the other hand, simply turned round and walked away.
This bowl is a small treasure that I still use to this day. If you've been to any of my breathwork sessions, you've probably seen it.
Have you also had a special encounter with one of your favourite teachers?