In July, BCBS hosted Cambodian Dharma Songs: A Khmer Affinity Retreat with teachers Trent Walker and Chenxing Han. For four days, Cambodian-identified participants from across North America gathered to connect with their Buddhist heritage through chant and song.
Together, they explored thoa bot or smot—the distinct Cambodian practice of reciting melodic Dharma songs—alongside chants in Khmer, Pali, and English. The retreat created a sacred space for reflection on music, culture, language, and heritage, while offering periods of meditation, lecture, and community dialogue.
The impact was profound. Participants described feeling “less alone in the world” and spoke of the retreat as a chance to rediscover ancestral traditions, pass them on to children, and take pride in Cambodian arts and music. One participant called smot an “ancient technology of healing” and another shared how the songs created a sense of “ritual time” linking them with their ancestors.
This retreat was freely offered through the generosity of the Hemera Foundation.
We invite you to watch this heartfelt video, featuring retreatants sharing their experiences of learning, healing, and reconnecting with the community.
