Plum Village: Zen Meditation Reviews

This incredible nurturing app offers the clear beautiful teachings of Thay & his continuation of the teachings through his monastics. But don’t let any of these words - Buddhist, Monastic, Meditation- stir any feelings of being an outsider to these practices! You don’t have to be a Buddhist nor do you need to believe anything. These practices are literally for everyone! You can stop during the day & listen to a short practice & maybe that’s it. Well, cool, that’s it. What matters? Do you feel better? Did stopping for a moment, coming home to your breath allow your mind, heart & body to rest? Maybe you just feel a little lighter! These offerings only have the intent to help elevate suffering in our lives. Even if it’s just for a moment or two. Practicing in the gaps & transitions from one thing to another can have an amazing effect! May you all give your self the greatest gift - time. Time for yourself. Time to come home to your body, your breathing… and remember we are alive! That is a source of happiness!
Sid Montz, Chan Tiep Luong

PlumVillage is something I’ve been seeking for years but never knew existed. Grounded in Plum Village tradition Buddhism, PlumVillage gives you a easy to understand and practical way to bring mindfulness practice into you daily life. The resources offered are incredible! Books worth of information, guided meditation, video teachings.... and it’s all free. The most beautiful part is there’s nothing in PlumVillage that tries to sell you “mindfulness”. It’s not a promotion trying to get you to spend money on Thich’s books, or online courses or expensive app upgrades. No, all the information is just there! I feel that PlumVillage developers and Plum Village care so deeply about sharing the dharma that they’ve made it truly accessible to everyone. PlumVillage could nourish you for a lifetime. Subsequently it’s encouraged profound spiritual growth in such a short time, and has directed me to books by Thich I never would have found otherwise!

Firstly, to everyone who contributed to PlumVillage: thank you so much for putting time and loving energy into creating such a beautiful practice-nourishing resource.
I have enjoyed using PlumVillage multiple times a day for: silent sitting meditations, shorter meditations and throughout the rest of the day, listening to any time I have a free moment to be in touch with the practice of mindfulness. I have really enjoyed the short meditations that invite us to shine light on different parts: the body, thoughts / mind. The deep relaxations which I have been doing daily are a true gift. I have used these multiple times a day to stop and relax completely and catch up on much needed rest. I have found this so helpful.
It is really wonderful to have the brothers and sisters' varied contributions to PlumVillage . It is great to have the root mindfulness practices presented with invitations to shine light on different aspects of our practice.

All of the parts of PlumVillage are so useful and nourishing. I have benefitted much already from having everything on PlumVillage available every where at any time. PlumVillage is a calming anchor offering many kind opportunities and invitations to come back home to ourselves wherever we may be or whatever we are doing.
It is as though I am carrying a precious part of Plum Village with me to remind me of and enrich my practice anytime. It has been a joy sharing PlumVillage with family and sangha.

Thây , Thich Nhat Hanh, is a teacher. PlumVillage is a way to connect with his teachings. I can say with certainty that he has been one the most powerful guiding lights in my life, my dharma. I do not identify as a Buddhist, yet his teachings are a truth that I know I can trust to nourish my inner being. Similar to other “teachers” in our history, and there are other Buddhist teachers and practitioners of other religions who I think are beautiful and essential to learn from, but in my opinion Thây is a living exemplar of the Buddha’s teachings, he is what inner peace looks like and shows people that happiness and change is attainable even when the world around us seems to be in a constant state of turmoil. He will be 94 and when he is no longer here with us in this physical reality, the people who follow in his footsteps will be the fruit of his teachings and because of this I believe Thây will always be here to help.

I have an old audio book recording of Thich Nat Hahn inviting the bells of Plum Village to sound for me, for my daily practice. I have played it over, and over and over for many years and find it my favorite meditation practice in a sea of apps and choices. I still get a profound shiver when I hear his voice say, “You are alive. To be alive is a wonder.” It is the most comforting sound in my life. PlumVillage has so many of his recorded teachings, and from those carrying the practice forward. They are beautifully produced and reveal snip-its of life at Plum Village. They help me feel connected in some small way. I love being able to set a reminder bell with my favorite resonate bell as an immediate reminder to come home to myself. Thank you for all the tools and practices you have made so readily available in this thoughtful and well designed app.

The western world has somewhat recently “discovered ” mindfulness. I have found that, as a result, there are many people (and therefore apps) that try to give it a trendy flare and westernized spin that is wholly unnecessary...and usually misses the mark.
When I first started reading the writings of Thich Nhat Hanh and the Order of Interbeing, I recognized it as a pure source of mindfulness instruction. I have been practicing mindfulness for years but never downloaded an app (for the reason stated above) until I discover this one. It does not disappoint. There is no money-making agenda, no attempt at trendiness. It is simply an extension of Thay’s outreach - an invitation to join for a meditation or teaching in an accessible and simple format with a true zen master and those who have studied under him. It is the only meditation app I use, it is the only meditation app I need.

I can’t say enough good about PlumVillage. It covers all I need to know, experience, and practice about meditation and mindfulness. I’ve been practicing basic guided meditation for five years now and I am ready to go a little deeper into learning about and practicing more mindfulness during my daily life, and more about meditation. PlumVillage is wonderful because it teaches the basics of meditation and mindfulness through to more advanced teachings. I am learning a lot about Buddhism and how incredibly peaceful life can be with these principles and practices. There are so many resources in PlumVillage yet it’s not complicated. But one doesn’t have to be Buddhist to partake in these instructions, PlumVillage is for anyone who longs for a more peaceful and enjoyable life no matter what one’s spiritual beliefs may be. I am very grateful for PlumVillage.

It started with a book that find me on a trip to NYC by Thich Nhat Hahn. Despite being a journalist I didn’t read it as fast as I usually do, I could stay days enjoying the challenge of one sentence to learn more about the art of mindfulness to connect with the mystery of love that created my life.

Living in a complex society as Colombia as a journalist bring too many question about fairness, anyway, first the book, then PlumVillage and I hope one day a personal visit. These meditations have been with me in normal and exciting moments but also now, as I am part of a generation that face a pandemic, and recovering from COVID.

I want to express my gratitude and love here. This is not a simple app it makes me feel part of something beautiful and bigger than me, belonging to a community who cares.

I began meditating several years ago, and found great relief from anxiety. Recently I decided to explore Buddhism more deeply and turned to Plum Village. Using PlumVillage I am taking a full course (40 tenants) as well as listening to dharma talks, learning Qigong, and practicing mindfulness and deep relaxation. I’m gaining a deeper understanding of it all and finding peace, joy and happiness to boot!

While other meditation apps are, to me, becoming increasingly cluttered and “loud”, this Plum Village app is simple yet full of offerings. It’s easy to navigate and calming to use.

I cannot express enough gratitude to the team who has made PlumVillage possible and continues to do so, for all of us lay practitioners learning the ropes. :-) PlumVillage and the teachings within are as refreshing as rain on a hot, dry day. Thank you!!

Fantastic app, overflowing with teachings full of wisdom as well as practical and simple instruction in how to meditate, how to recognize our feelings, how to begin to heal oneself, how to learn to treat others with true compassion.
I am an emergency physician and have been struggling with the stress of this pandemic. I have been in recovery from alcoholism for 30 years, and have developed some spiritual tools elsewhere which have enabled me to feel relatively well but still unfulfilled, discontented, and prone to resentments and frustration. Here, finally have I found found in Plum Village the teachers who are leading me to a truly meaningful spiritual life of service.
Plum Village is a truly global community, and through PlumVillage, they invite everyone and anyone to participate fully and join them, free of charge.

This isn’t as promoted as the other meditation apps. It also isn’t as “step by step” as the other apps for beginners. It may not be the most basic, user friendly, beginner meditation app BUT in my opinion it’s the best out there and you can certainly start here, and stay here if you wanted. It’s packed full of videos, blogs, and audio of meditation and mindfulness throughout. The amount of information and material is almost overwhelming, but gives you plenty to do. The meditation bells and timer options are the most realistic and usable. PlumVillage from plum village is clearly being taught by real monks and practitioners of Buddhism, so it is heavy in Buddhist material as well, which for me is even better. Overall, it’s a great app for anyone.

This is one of my most used apps and everything I want in a “mindfulness app.” It’s not gimmicky—it’s what I want in my practice to make meditation and mindful living more accessible for myself. I love PlumVillage so much and the mindfulness bell is one of my favorite features. I fall asleep to the neuroscience meditation and listen to the walking meditations frequently. I wish I could queue some meditations for walks. I also wish there was a bigger library. I would pay for premium access to a larger library—these are the quality guided meditations I always look for elsewhere. The teachings I also appreciate. I wish there were more! Even from other teachers. I also love the added rain sounds and everything else.

I am blessed and truly grateful for PlumVillage. For the first time in my life I truly understand what mindfulness is with clarity and conviction. The Plum Village app offers short audios teaching mindfulness. It’s a blessing the developers of PlumVillage were generous enough to share their gift of knowledge instead of throwing meditation sounds into an app hoping it will bring peace to others. The Plum Village app intentionally EDUCATE you to UNDERSTAND mindfulness spiritually and how to use mindfulness in guided meditations for your WELL BEING. Not just an activity to add to your day. I am looking forward to learning more from the resources provided in PlumVillage . Annnnd it’s ALLLL FREE. However, it’s nice to send an “Appreciation Donation “. Plum Village, I declare prosperity in all that you do. I HIGHLY recommend PlumVillage.

PlumVillage has been indispensable for me as I have navigated, survived, and healed from a life-threatening illness. The practices, particularly the deep relaxation guided meditations, became my anchor when I was too sick to get out of bed and unable to sleep more more than a few minutes at a time. I have learned to listen to my body in an entirely new way, and it’s changed not only the way I live but also my ideas about what it means to be alive and embodied. I realize that all probably sounds very abstract. But I can’t say enough good things about these deceptively simple practices, which will take you ask deep into the wilderness of your own experience as you are willing to go, if you are willing to follow where they lead you.

Unlike many mindfulness apps that still use a need for achievement as the base(grow your practice by x minutes, do x minutes of meditation) PlumVillage offers so much opportunity for joy and curiosity with building mindfulness. From 1 minute talks, to lessons on freedom, to the sounds of rain at the monastery, PlumVillage provides such an experience of peace, acceptance and trust of the user to do what is best for them right now and explore for the wisdom they need right now. Mindfulness is more than meditation, it can be embodied in how we live. I just listened to the rain sounds and read an article on the art of practicing laziness. It was a sound meditation and dharma reading experience and I am grateful for it. Enjoy it!

I am so pleased with this Plum Village app. I learned about Plum Village a few years ago. I was intrigued by the idea of a mindfulness monastery. If things were different in my life, and I did not have a child, I would probably be there! I love my daughter more than anything, and could never miss out on her growing up. But after my divorce, I was feeling so hurt that if this life were only about me, I would have gone to live in a monastery. I am so pleased that PlumVillage is available! It is truly a joy to be able to share in some of the teachings. I love being able to join in the meditations, and the mindfulness bell is delightful! Thank you so much for making PlumVillage available to everyone

This is easily the best meditation and mindfulness app that I’ve ever come across. The integration of all of the teachings, guided meditations, and mindfulness tools is second to none. I keep saying to myself, “I can’t believe they are giving all this away for free.” I feel like I’m starting to get to know the brothers and sisters of Plum Village through the videos. They are all such radiant souls and I feel like they are speaking directly to me. I use the Bell of Mindfulness every day on the hour while I’m awake and it just helps to refocus my attention to the present and has helped me shepherd my thoughts. Absolutely wonderful piece of software. Thank you so so much.

PlumVillage is unlike any of the other meditation/mindfulness apps that I’ve come across. First of all it’s free and there’s not constant ads popping up. Secondly, the meditations, readings, etc are so humble yet powerful. Every time I listen to one I feel more balanced, refreshed, and humbled. The team that presents this content as well as the team that work to produce and present it all seem to come from a genuine place of love, wanting only to share with us a piece of their wisdom, grace, and serenity. I come back over and over to this as it feels like a balm to my soul in a very busy, unsettled world. I highly recommend PlumVillage if you’re looking for truth and peace!

There are a lot of great apps for mindfulness but the Plum Village one is very special because it brings one inside Plum Village and closer to the teachings of beloved Thay. I use it every day, morning and evenings. I especially like the sounds of crickets in Italy and the birds chirping on the veranda but of course I also listen to Thay’s talks and to the guided meditations by the monastics. PlumVillage has improved over the last few months wt more offerings and in different languages. One suggestion would be to make it more interactive so that practitioners could also occasionally meet or support each other in the practice. Grateful for PlumVillage!

I feel so lucky to have found PlumVillage. Nothing against the other meditation and mindfulness apps out there, but this is an exceptionally generous and beautifully organized offering of Thich Nhat Hanh’s and Plum Village’s teaching and meditations. It feels like a virtual visit to the monastery. Its design is lovely. I’ve enjoyed all the guided meditations I’ve tried so far (the “flowering lotus” series is very helpful), as well as all the archived talks and the video content. I’ve used the bell throughout the day. I’ve experienced an increase of relaxation and calm happiness this last week from being so immersed in Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings and gentle, joyful energy, thanks to PlumVillage. Thank you so much.

To all that made this possible, thank you. I was given a book (Present Moment Wonderful Moment by Thich Nhat Hahn) by a family member during a time of questioning in my life.

I carried the book everywhere to help guide me through times of forgetfulness. PlumVillage contains that and so much more as a handy resource and meditation companion.

I particularly like the ability to invite the bell to help center on the now when my thoughts may drift. Again, thank you.

This is such a helpful app. I love that it is so thoughtful and includes so many avenues to approach mindfulness. There are guided meditations, songs, essays on a wide variety of topics, timed bells for silent meditation. And a few times I have found myself smiling at something funny! There is a lightness to it sometimes that makes me see things in a different way. Thank you for sharing this, I am looking forward to learning a lot from it.

I have just used PlumVillage very ricently but already seeing many benefits from it. PlumVillage is a great reminder for me to slow down, to stop and breathe throughout the day, and to stay with the practice. What a good lifestyle.
I only wish that the bell feature would have volume setting independant from the volume button of the smart device so that I could hear the bell sound with the level I wanted without turning the music loud all the time.
Anyway, great app. Thanks for your compassion.

I never write reviews. But this great gesture of generosity of spirit by the beautiful brothers and sisters of Plum Village must be commended for the enormous depth and completeness of the vast undertaking to provide both authentic access to the heart of mindfulness that Tháy has taught over the years and the sudden ease of accessing that body of knowledge and spirit. Only two words truly reflect my response: thank you!
Highly recommended. Oh....And donate.

When I travel - when I can’t fall asleep - in my daily sit - if I can treat myself to an afternoon recharging guided ‘nap’ - when I feel sad or just don’t want to sing alone - my community is here with me! I feel so much nourishment and support, and it’s all made so easy and accessible. A lotus and deep bow of gratitude to the team that so lovingly created this awesome gift of an app!!

I joked to coworkers about bringing the Buddhist monastery to my home since I could not afford to go anywhere for my week vacation.
With PlumVillage, I truly joined homes. With the teachings, talks, and guided meditations, my days are full!
Thank you ever so very much!
I truly hope you know the impact your teaching and efforts to spread the teaching are making, if only to this one.

PlumVillage is a beautiful gift with many wonderful resources and practices. It’s a mini retreat wherever I am. Much gratitude to the sangha and developers for offering PlumVillage! One improvement that would be greatly appreciated is regarding the silent meditations. Incoming phone calls and notifications stop the timer, even with my ringer on silent mode, so sometimes I end up sitting for far longer than I planned because the ending bell never sounds.

I have really been learning much about myself since starting meditation and PlumVillage has been a big reason why. Unsatisfied with the person I have become at the age of 43 I am attempting to become someone better, unselfish, loving, peaceful, and satisfied with life. Thank you to all of the teachers and contributors who have made this wisdom and learning available.

This is a wonderful app and resource for mindfulness practice, and so nice to see that it is distributed freely without adds or in-app purchases like many others. So much deep wisdom is shared in the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh and this is a wonderful way to access that wisdom and nourish your mindfulness or Buddhist practice. Thank you so much for PlumVillage!

I am filled with gratitude for all that put time and effort into every aspect of PlumVillage. Every person that used their unique skills to put this into the world.

I am grateful for the technology that makes it possible and every being that helped with that.

I am grateful for my eyes for being able to read the gifts on PlumVillage. I’m grateful to have ears to hear the wonderful chants, songs and talks.

I’m grateful to my teacher Thich Nhat Hanh for teaching me how to practice “being peace”.

I thank you all. You are part of me and I am part of you. May you find peace and joy in the present moment.

A deep and generous offering. Thank you so much. (ps plz disregard my previous Comment- PlumVillage update is much better organized and easier to use! Mayyyybe subfolders for “ask thay” wold be helpful, maybe not, as it seems there are now fewer talks or maybe just more visually appealing, thanks again!)

PlumVillage is loaded with numerous meditation tools and audio recordings. It is like a whole monastery on my phone I can carry in my pocket.
It was easy to set up a deeply resonating bell sound to remind me to pause and take a breathing break at intervals throughout my day.
-Michael

Not a review but a question. Once it is set does it go 24/7? I set it yesterday and loved it but then this morning I feel like it didn’t start up again until I played with it...or did it not start up until a certain time with nothing to do with my playing with it???

Dear Plum Village Community and the Spirit of Thay, thank you so much for the update. While all parts of PlumVillage have something nourishing, my personal favorite now is silent meditation using the Rain on The Veranda collection of sounds. Offering this for free is a true gift to the world. Bruce

I’m amazed how much useful information is on PlumVillage. Everything is at your fingertips. I set the bell feature to ring every 30 min and am enjoying it very much. Thank you and well done!