Passing of Br. Phap De, also known as “Young Brother” and Adrian Stier

Dear Still Water Friends,

If you have been on a retreat in the U.S. with the larger Plum Village Community, you probably met Brother Phap De from Deer Park Monastery. He was almost always emanating joy, love, and wonder.

He carried many identities in his adult life: as a Catholic seminarian and priest, peace activist, husband, father, stock broker, spiritual seeker, and in 2002, at 68 years of age, monk in the Plum Village tradition.

For the past 20 years he was a good friend of mine and of the Still Water community, often responding to our weekly announcements with encouragements and insights.

In late July he had quadruple bypass heart surgery and never recovered. He passed away peacefully on August 4th, 2016, at Palomar Hospital surrounded by family and his lay and monastic friends. Sister Mai Nghiem, who was with him, wrote that before the surgery he was “in good spirits and singing “Happiness is Here and Now” to the nurses.

I am grateful to have known Brother Phap De. Please join me in sending loving energy and support to all those whose life he brightened.

More information about Brother Phap De’s life is at: http://www.tnhtour.org/2015/08/04/meet-the-monastics-brother-phap-de/.

Warm wishes,

Mitchell Ratner

 

Thanks to Heather Mann and Kenley Neufeld for the photos.

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