Continuing the Space Beyond Space

2 hours ago
3 min read

Dear friends around the world,

Instead of saying, “Happy Birthday,” Thay sometimes invited us to say, “Happy Continuation Day.”

It is such a fresh and beautiful way of looking at life. For Thay, we are never only an individual who has begun at a particular moment. We are a continuation of our ancestors, our teachers, our loved ones, and all the conditions that have brought us into being. Our practice, our community, and our way of living are also streams of continuation.

The Space Beyond Space Meditation Hall is one such continuation.

Many years ago, when the monastics were staying on what we lovingly called the old land of Uncle Lue (Pù Lư), there was already a simple and beautiful thatched-roof meditation hall named Space Beyond Space. Some of us still remember sitting there together.

Sitting inside that little hall, listening to Thay’s Dharma talks, we could feel the cool morning breeze and the warm wind of midday moving through the space. And in the afternoon, the hall became a little quieter because the monastics would go outside to enjoy a joyful game of volleyball together. And when the rain came, things became even more interesting.

Even with an umbrella, the strong wind could make sure that at least half of our body would still get wet. A wonderful combination of challenge and joy!

These simple memories are precious to us. They remind us that a meditation hall is not only made of bricks, wood, steel, and concrete. It is also made of footsteps, laughter, silence, Dharma talks, rainy afternoons, friendships, and countless moments of practice together.

Today, Plum Village Thailand continues Thay’s aspiration to realise the ultimate dimension of “Space Beyond Space.”

And at the same time, we know that the ultimate dimension and the historical dimension cannot be separated. The ultimate is always expressing itself through the historical. So, while remembering with gratitude the old Space Beyond Space Meditation Hall, we are now continuing its life here, in our historical dimension, in Pak Chong.

Little by little, the new meditation hall is taking shape.

Our monastics, especially the construction team, have been offering their energy and diligence day after day. Brick by brick, steel by steel, concrete by concrete, we are building together—with careful hands and mindful hearts.

And we do not need to wait until the meditation hall is completed before we can be happy.

Every minute, every second, every moment—even every kṣaṇa—we already have more than enough conditions to smile.

The meditation hall is already here in some way, because it is already present in our aspiration, our practice, and the loving efforts of so many friends around the world.

Through the generosity and helping hands of our worldwide sangha, 55% of the total construction budget has now been offered.

We are deeply grateful.

There is still a journey ahead of us, and we are not yet halfway through the financial support that is needed to bring the whole project to completion. If you feel a resonance with this continuation, and if you would like to contribute a little to its manifestation, you are most welcome to join us.

There is no gift too small, and no form of support too simple.

Perhaps you may wish to offer a financial contribution. Perhaps you may share this project with a friend. Perhaps you may simply hold the project in your heart and dedicate a moment of your practice to its fruition.

Every offering, given freely and joyfully, becomes part of the stream.

Together, without hurry and without pressure, we can continue to walk hand in hand and allow this space to come into being in its own beautiful time.

The Fourfold Sangha of Plum Village Thailand would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has supported this continuation in any way—to those who have already contributed, to those who may contribute in the future, and to those who have helped share the aspiration with the wider sangha.

Whether your offering is large or small, visible or unseen, we cherish it deeply.

May the merit and joy of this project nourish your practice, your family, and your community.

And may the new Space Beyond Space Meditation Hall become a place where many generations of practitioners can sit together, breathe together, walk together, listen together, and touch the freedom that is already within and around us.

With love, gratitude, and trust,

The Construction Committee

Plum Village Thailand

26 August 2026