Why would a Zen monastery hold a music festival?

“It is part of the Plum Village tradition, to find new and creative ways to bring people to mindfulness,” says Brother Phap Luu, senior monk and Dharma teacher at Deer Park Monastery in Escondido, which is part of Plum Village tradition founded by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. He defined mindfulness as “the energy of being aware and awake to the present moment. It is the continuous practice of touching life deeply in every moment of daily life. To be mindful is to be truly alive, present, and at one with those around you and with what you are doing.” In other words, mindfulness means being fully aware of one’s surrounding, not distracted by our phones, notifications, ring tones, social or other media, or the noise and visual overload of every day life. Mindfulness means being truly in the moment.

In the high chaparral of the 400-acre sanctuary, the festival grounds offer a feast for the senses and the mind. Guests are greeted by the earthy, resinous scent of coastal sage and live oaks wafting through the peaceful monastery grounds and the sound of wind chimes in the trees. “The Music Festival brings people together in a safe, family-friendly and accessible way, without drugs or alcohol,” Brother Phap Luu explained during an interview.

This year’s eclectic lineup mirrors inclusivity, featuring everything from the rhythmic, energetic pulse of Makeda Makossa & the World Beat Drum and Dance to the ethereal, resonant chanting of the Deer Park Choir. Between sets by rapper BORN I or the Free Cloud Jazz Collective, the noise of modern life fades into the background. All the performers are mindfulness practitioners who have a long history with Deer Park and include a Tribal Land Acknowledgment and Drum Circle by local Kumeyaay Elders.

“We’re honored to welcome such a vibrant community of musicians and guests to Deer Park,” said Brother Phap Luu. “The gathering offers a chance to slow down, reconnect, and experience the healing power of music and mindfulness as a community.”

This communal harmony serves a deeper purpose. The festival is a fundraiser for the School of Interbeing, a new K-4th grade elementary school set to open in the fall of 2026.

The transition from the festival stage to the classroom is a natural one. Just as the musicians illustrate our connection through sound, the school will teach Interbeing—the realization that we are deeply connected with the world around us. Thich Nhat Hanh wrote, “Interbeing is the awareness that all people, species, and things are deeply interconnected. When we understand this, we see that our peace and happiness is inseparable from the peace and happiness of the world.” While the school will have a physical home in downtown Escondido, the students will spend two days a week right here on the expansive monastery grounds, interacting with nature to develop a deep relationship with themselves and the Earth.

This third Rhythm of the Earth Mindfulness Music Festival grew out of the yearly retreat for families and teens offered at Deer Park. The demand regularly overwhelmed the monastery’s capacity. Recognizing the need for mindfulness training and practice for young families and children, brought about the idea of the “wake-up” school, where children will be taught mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and academic learning. The vision is to educate a new generation of curious, compassionate, community builders who understand their interconnectedness and know how to cultivate peace and joy.

By attending, guests aren’t just enjoying a day of jazz, walking meditation and eating Vietnamese Vegan bánh mì sandwiches, they are helping to build a future where the next generation is grounded in emotional intelligence and compassion. As the day concludes with a silent sitting meditation, the message is clear: whether through a drum beat or a classroom lesson, peace is something we cultivate together, at a time when spaces for reflection and well-being are more needed than ever.

Saturday, May 9, 1-9:30 PM
Deer Park Monastery, Escondido
Parking and a shuttle to the festival stage is provided.

Deer Park Monastery is a mindfulness practice center and monastic community offering retreats, residential training, and weekly Days of Mindfulness open to people of all backgrounds. It was founded in 2000 by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh and presently has 28 monks and 40 nuns living as monastics on the grounds.