Still Water Mindfulness Practice Center

Still Water Mindfulness Practice Center The Still Water Mindfulness Practice Center’s mission is to nurture all who wish to practice mindfulness.

A mindfulness practice community in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, offering online and in-person programs from our groups in Columbia, Gaithersburg, Sandy Spring, Silver Spring, Stevensville, and Takoma Park, Maryland. We are part of a world-wide network of communities inspired by the teachings and practices of Thich Nhat Hanh, a widely-known Vietnamese Buddhist monk, author, and activist. We a

re also incorporated as a religious non-profit corporation in the state of Maryland. Members of the Still Water community come together to sit quietly in meditation, to learn mindfulness practices such as sitting meditation, walking meditation, and eating meditation, and to support one other in our lives’ journeys. A typical Sangha meeting lasts one to two hours and includes sitting meditation, walking meditation, and a Dharma sharing focused on mindfulness in everyday life. The larger groups offer an orientation to mindfulness and the Still Water community once each month. Newcomers and experienced practitioners are always welcome. We regularly offer classes, workshops, days of practice, retreats, and other special events. The best way to stay informed about our activities is to subscribe to our email newsletter, which provides information about our online Thursday evening program as well as other events in our community and in the area.

"Taking Refuge in the Buddha in Myself?" is the focus of Thursday's mindfulness practice - online weeklyJoin us!Thurs. 9...
09/02/2026

"Taking Refuge in the Buddha in Myself?" is the focus of Thursday's mindfulness practice - online weekly

Join us!

Thurs. 9/3/26

>https://www.stillwatermpc.org/dharma-topics/taking-refuge-in-the-buddha-in-myself/

-Here's an excerpt from this week's message:

Why do we seek a place of refuge and where do we look for one? I have sought refuge at times when I’ve felt shaky, fearful, and anxious and am trying to escape these uncomfortable feelings. There are many things that people might take refuge in—I have tried some of them, and maybe you have, too. Not everything we take refuge in is a true refuge, though. In a talk from 2012, Dharma teacher and author Tara Brach advises us to be aware of false refuges such as busyness, ambition, grasping on to pleasant experiences, substances, approval from others, nonstop thinking, and judging. These things may for a time alleviate our shaky, anxious feelings, but they are temporary refuges that come with a cost. They are false, Tara Brach says, because they get in the way of our discovering who we are. ...

To read full message from Connie Anderson or to join us on Thurs. Aug. 3, 2026:
https://www.stillwatermpc.org/dharma-topics/taking-refuge-in-the-buddha-in-myself/

"Is a Lotus Better Than a Rubber Duck?" is the focus of Thursday's mindfulness practice - online weeklyJoin us!Thurs. 8/...
08/26/2026

"Is a Lotus Better Than a Rubber Duck?" is the focus of Thursday's mindfulness practice - online weekly

Join us!

Thurs. 8/27/26

> https://www.stillwatermpc.org/dharma-topics/is-a-lotus-better-than-a-rubber-duck/

-Here's an excerpt from this week's message:

This past year, while attending the Rains Retreat in Plum Village and then the month-long Order of Interbeing (OI) retreat, I took time to reflect on the changing circumstances of my life and how they have affected my deepest aspirations. It helped me see that service had taken on some new meanings for me. During the Rains Retreat, I was the oldest of the retreatants. My body does not let me forget that things don’t work so smoothly anymore. A deep practice for me was learning to accept the idea that my younger companions genuinely wanted to help me navigate rough patches and were offering it with much love. There is generosity in receiving. ...

To read full message from Giovanna Zerbi or to join us on Thurs. Aug. 20, 2026:
https://www.stillwatermpc.org/dharma-topics/is-a-lotus-better-than-a-rubber-duck/

In her Dharma topic, “Reverence for Life,” Linda shares the above quote, and the following:Can we make a difference? Can...
08/26/2026

In her Dharma topic, “Reverence for Life,” Linda shares the above quote, and the following:

Can we make a difference? Can we be instruments of peace? The task feels daunting and I am often swept away by worry, but my answer is, yes! We can make a difference in the world through our peace, our presence, and our wise actions...Thầy shares a teaching about taking refuge in the island within:

"The Buddha said that every one of us has an island within, an island of peace and stability within, and we should practice so that we can profit from the existence of that island within ourselves. …

Suppose there is a storm raging—you don’t mind, because your house is solid. You close all the doors and windows, and although the wind is blowing fiercely outside, and there is rain and thunder, you still feel safe within your home. The island of self is like that. You have to practice, to learn, in order to allow that shelter, that island within yourself to appear for your use. During your daily life, learn to dwell in that safe island of mindfulness within you. Then you will be protected from provocations, you will be protected from anger, and from despair. There are many elements around you that are ready to invade you, to attack you and to deprive you of your peace and stability. So you have to organize in order to protect yourself, and to build up the practice of dwelling in that island of self is the practice recommended."

When the wind howls and the storm is frightening, I can come back to myself, to peace. And I do not have to face the challenges alone. My community, my sangha, my family are my support and my comfort. I am deeply grateful to all.

This week I found a gatha in a pile of papers in my office. I wrote it several years ago and it seems appropriate now.

Embracing “what is”
I feel my heart soften
my shoulders relax.
My fear lies down to rest.

Read the full topic by Linda Jackson on our website.

"Why Is Everyone Being So Nice?" is the focus of Thursday's mindfulness practice - online weeklyJoin us!Thurs. 8/20/26> ...
08/19/2026

"Why Is Everyone Being So Nice?" is the focus of Thursday's mindfulness practice - online weekly

Join us!

Thurs. 8/20/26

> https://www.stillwatermpc.org/dharma-topics/why-is-everyone-being-so-nice/

-Here's an excerpt from this week's message:

I’ve been noticing this funny thing lately: everyone I encounter seems so nice. This includes the cashier at the supermarket, the receptionist at my doctor’s office, even the U.S. customs official who instructed me to throw out my fruit before boarding an international flight. As I’ve found myself thinking about these pleasant interactions with strangers, part of me wonders whether I’m simply fortunate enough to keep encountering unusually kind people. But another part has begun to suspect that my experiences might have something to do with how I’m showing up, too. ...

To read full message from Rachel Phillips-Anderson or to join us on Thurs. Aug. 20, 2026:
https://www.stillwatermpc.org/dharma-topics/why-is-everyone-being-so-nice/

"Generosity: Growing Beyond Limits" is the focus of Thursday's mindfulness practice - online weeklyJoin us!Thurs. 8/13/2...
08/12/2026

"Generosity: Growing Beyond Limits" is the focus of Thursday's mindfulness practice - online weekly

Join us!

Thurs. 8/13/26

> https://www.stillwatermpc.org/dharma-topics/generosity-growing-beyond-limits/

-Here's an excerpt from this week's message:

Growing up I saw various people confuse generosity with self-sacrifice, including my mother who oscillated between giving her all and being so depleted and depressed that she was unable to give anything. There is a part of me that sees giving my all, even beyond my limit, as noble. But doing so doesn’t feel bountiful, spacious, and connected. It feels depleted, despairing, fearful, and separate. This is duty executed through self-erasure, not generosity offered from my whole self. And in the past it has been a recipe for burnout at various points for me. ...

To read full message from Lori Perine or to join us on Thurs. Aug. 13, 2026:
https://www.stillwatermpc.org/dharma-topics/generosity-growing-beyond-limits/

In the Plum Village tradition of mindfulness, Tea Ceremonies are an important practice. They are a way of being with oth...
08/12/2026

In the Plum Village tradition of mindfulness, Tea Ceremonies are an important practice. They are a way of being with others and, at the same time, living in the present moment.

They are also an opportunity to nourish our hearts, both for the sheer enjoyment of it and, also, so that we are better able to face our suffering with equanimity and compassion.

image from plumvillage.org/articles/bamboo-shoots-and-tea

"The Joys of Thích Nhất Hạnh" is the focus of Thursday's mindfulness practice - online weeklyJoin us!Thurs. 8/6/26> Go t...
08/05/2026

"The Joys of Thích Nhất Hạnh" is the focus of Thursday's mindfulness practice - online weekly

Join us!

Thurs. 8/6/26

> Go to link in bio for details

Here's an excerpt from the topic:
The Joys of Thích Nhất Hạnh

The many ways Buddhist teachers use the word joy remind me that language is always evolving. As Thầy might say of words, “They have no separate self.” The meanings of words—especially words about emotions and states of mind—are affected by the collective consciousness we are part of and by our own experiences. As we learn and grow, our understanding of the world changes. Old words are put to new use. ...

To read full message from Mitchell Ratner or to join us on Thurs. Aug. 6, 2026:
go to link in bio

In an early Buddhist text called “The Discourse on Fear and Dread”, a Brahmin comments to the Buddha that if a monastic ...
08/05/2026

In an early Buddhist text called “The Discourse on Fear and Dread”, a Brahmin comments to the Buddha that if a monastic went to the forest all alone, if he were without concentration, he would go out of his mind. The Buddha agrees, and adds that if the monastic were to go out without concentration, then “unwholesome fear and dread” would arise.

The Buddha adds, however, that he has concentration, and for him the solitude of the forest brings him great solace. The discourse continues with a list of mind-states and attitudes that allow one to live in the forest without “unwholesome fear and dread,” including being purified in bodily and mental conduct, having a peaceful and loving mind, having few wishes, being energetic, and so on.

We may take from this discourse that “unwholesome fear and dread” arises not because of what is really there, but because of the inner qualities we bring (or fail to bring) to the situation.

So the gift of non-fear is not about taking unnecessary risks with real dangers. It is about reducing our tendency to create fear when there is nothing to fear. It is about developing our mindfulness, concentration, and insight so that we are better able to understand who we really are and how we fit into the universe.

We invite you to share your reflections and / or your experience with fear in your practice in the comments.

image credit: Thich Nhat Hanh’s Life in Photos, Plum Village's YouTube Channel

"Sister Chân Không and Going in the Direction of Beauty" is the focus of Thursday's mindfulness practice - online weekly...
07/29/2026

"Sister Chân Không and Going in the Direction of Beauty" is the focus of Thursday's mindfulness practice - online weekly

Join us!

Thurs. 7/30/26

> https://www.stillwatermpc.org/dharma-topics/sister-chan-khong-and-going-in-the-direction-of-beauty/

Here's an excerpt from the topic:
Sister Chân Không and Going in the Direction of Beauty

I was fortunate to spend three weeks at Plum Village in June, during the global retreat celebrating the sixtieth anniversary of the Order of Interbeing (OI). A deeply treasured moment occurred during the last week, when those of us who participated in the newly established OI Council were joined for lunch by Sister Chân Không. Sister Chân Không was among the first six members of the OI ordained by Thích Nhất Hạnh (Thầy) and the first ordained monastic in the Plum Village tradition. Working closely with our teacher Thầy for almost sixty years, she has established a legacy of wartime social activism and humanitarian projects, which has led to her being described as “one of the most committed engaged Buddhists of our time.” As a teacher, she is known for the “social work of the heart” practices that she pioneered in the Plum Village tradition, including Beginning Anew and Deep Relaxation. She is now the Elder Nun of the Plum Village tradition, lovingly cared for by the sisters at New Hamlet. Although she is no longer able to give talks or engage in questions and answers, she inspires people with her mindful presence and joyful singing. ...

To read full message from Lori Perine or to join us on Thurs. July 30, 2026:
https://www.stillwatermpc.org/dharma-topics/sister-chan-khong-and-going-in-the-direction-of-beauty/

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Takoma Park, MD
20910

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+12402859516

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