Thich Nhat Hanh’s Plum Village monastery in southern France has lost a building to fire. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured. According to a social media message posted yesterday by Plum Village and the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation:

Last night, flames engulfed one of the oldest and most cherished buildings in Plum Village—the Purple Cloud building in Lower Hamlet. Nine sisters were sleeping upstairs. We thank the Buddhas and bodhisattvas that one sister woke up in time to alert everyone, ensuring they all escaped safely.

By 3.30 a.m., volunteer firefighters from across the region had come to our aid, joined by the police, ambulance teams, and our beloved local mayor, who stayed with us throughout the long and painful night.

Purple Cloud was not just a building — it was the hearth and home of the Lower Hamlet monastic community since Plum Village’s founding in 1982. It was the last of our “old build” residences. Thay’s [Thich Nhat Hanh’s] room was there—a sacred space where he rested after Dharma Talks, welcomed guests for tea, guided his students, listened to chanting, signed books, and relaxed in his hammock.

Helplessly, we watched as the firefighters worked tirelessly to save what they could and help the sisters rescue some of Thay’s original calligraphies and sacred memorabilia from his room, as well as many Dharma books. Everything else was lost. One sister was treated in the hospital for smoke inhalation but has thankfully recovered.

As many of you know, we had plans to build an ecological new monastic residence, just next to Purple Cloud, and hoped to transform the Purple Cloud building into a museum in honor of Thay. Following last night’s fire, we realize how much we and Thay’s students need such a sanctuary where we can come and feel close to his presence.

Your generosity can help us rebuild. Please consider offering a donation to build accommodation for monastics: the project will now include the restoration and rebuilding of Purple Cloud and Thay’s room.

To make a donation, visit this link.