Washington Mindfulness Community

02/18/2026

A new podcast by one of our monastics. 🪷 Just a note to say that every Sunday even if we don't post here we are meeting online, & the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month we meet in person too. Join us for your mindfulness needs!! We all need it. 🪷

REI’s podcast, Wild Ideas Worth Living, recently interviewed Brother Phap Luu about Hiking Zen and how to practice mindfulness in nature.

Listen to the episode here: https://pod.link/1183017174/episode/ODMwMmE2M2YtMzI0OC00YWRkLTk3NjgtMWIwM2MxM2UzN2Y3

02/14/2026

Walk for Peace on the Mall

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02/11/2026

🙏❤️

02/07/2026

Breathing and smiling in peace. Last night we received many updates about the monks' plans in the DC area, and we met again to finalize our plans.

All DMV area Plum Village sanghas are still planning to meet for the Wednesday, February 11th 2:30 PM event at the Lincoln Memorial for the Peace Gathering and Concluding Ceremony.

Our plan is:
1:30 PM - meet outside Foggy Bottom-GWU metro station in the adjacent small park area. Enjoy singing and listening to the bell
1:45 PM - begin walking meditation to Lincoln Memorial / reflecting pool
2:05 PM - arrive in the vicinity of Lincoln Memorial; friends are invited to meet us here too if you would like to go directly there (exact location TBD). Continue practicing together.
2:30 PM - approximate time for monks to arrive. The event will not last longer than two hours. Everyone is welcome to stay as long as they would like.
4:00 PM - friends can depart after ceremony conclusion or remain and join the monks' meditation practice at GWU (more info below)

Safety considerations:
- Dress for the weather: expect cold temps & possibility of rain.
- Bring water and some snacks if you like.
- Hazards of ice and snow remain in much of the DC area. We will together walk slowly and mindfully to the event.

We will send out a digital map around Sunday showing our initial meeting location (Foggy Bottom metro station), our intended route to Lincoln Memorial, our subsequent meeting location (somewhere near the memorial/reflecting pool), and the locations of bathrooms, medical facilities, etc.

This link will give you information about the monks' additional planned activities while they are in DC: Washington DC & Maryland Schedule – Walk for Peace – Dhammacetiya – The Ancient Sacred Buddhist Scripture Stupas.

Please let me know if you plan to join us on Wednesday afternoon so that we know how many folks to expect. And please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions.

In gratitude,
Nigel
Plum Village Walk for Peace Welcome Committee

🙏 Join Us in Washington, D.C. and Maryland | Feb 10–12, 2026
We are deeply honored to invite everyone to join us in Washington, D.C. and Maryland as we approach the final destination of this 2,300-mile Walk for Peace. After more than 108 days and countless steps through many states, we will arrive in our nation's capital with hearts full of gratitude. We warmly welcome all who wish to be part of these final, sacred moments of our journey.

📅 Confirmed Schedule (Updated on February 8, 2026. All times listed are in EST):

* Monday, February 9 (Day 107):
Night Rest Stop: Marymount University (Private Event)

* Tuesday, February 10 (Day 108):
- 7:00 AM: Walk begins
- 9:30–10:45 AM: Public Event at Bender Arena
- Lunch stop: National United Methodist Church (Invitees only)
- 1:00–2:30 PM: Interfaith Ceremony at Washington National Cathedral
- 2:30 PM: Unity Walk on Embassy Row
- Night Stop: George Washington University (Private Event)

* Wednesday, February 11 (Day 109):
- 9:30 AM: Walk to Peace Monument / Capitol Hill begins
- Lunch stop: St. Mark’s Capitol Hill Church (Invitees only)
- 1:30 PM: Walk to Lincoln Memorial begins
- 2:30–4:00 PM: Peace Gathering and Concluding Ceremony at Lincoln Memorial
- 4:30–7:30 PM: Meditation Session with Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara at George Washington University Smith Center

* Thursday, February 12 (Day 110):
- 9:00 AM: Walk for Peace continues in Maryland (The walk starts from Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium)
- 10:00–10:45 AM: Peace Gathering at the steps of the Maryland State Capitol
- 12:30 PM: Departure for Fort Worth, TX

📌 We also cordially invite all venerable monks and nuns from all traditions to join us on this path of peace. If you are able to join, please visit our website to sign up so we may prepare for your arrival.

🎥 We will have live streams on our page for most of the events listed above so that everyone can join us in spirit from anywhere.

🗺️We will also provide daily updates on our walking route. Please check the Live Map pinned at the top of our page to track the journey in near real-time. We still post nightly updates every day for the following day on our page and our website. We encourage you to stay tuned to both platforms to ensure you have the most current information. The website link is pinned at the top of our page or in the comment section below this post.

We look forward to welcoming you with open hearts. Your presence would be a blessing and a gift to us all.

May you and all beings be well, happy and at peace. 🙏

02/04/2026

Join this for Saturday's hybrid (online and in-person) presentation of this book by our DC area dharma sister Magda: Vietnam, Where a Lotus Blooms, In the Steps of Thich Nhat Hanh, Narrated from Plum Village. You can order the book in www. manuscriptsandmandalas.com and register here for the book talk in-person or online: https://www.openingheartmindfulness.org/events/2026/2/7/book-presentation-by-dr-magda-de-la-paz-cabrero 🙏🕉️

Dear friends,

During the time we celebrate the anniversary of Thích Nhất Hạnh’s continuation, Magda will present her most recently published book, Vietnam, Where the Lotus Blooms. Written in the footsteps of Thích Nhất Hạnh and mostly narrated from Plum Village, the book is a contemplative pilgrimage through the sacred landscapes that shaped Thay’s life and teachings.

The event will be held in person and online on February 7, 2026 at 4:00 pm -5:30 pm.

Location: 3812 Northampton Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20015

Online via Zoom

You may order her book and art through her website: manuscriptsandmandalas.com.

You may also order her book directly through lulu.com, a certified B (public benefit) corporation.

Learn more and register:
openingheartmindfulness.org/events/2026/2/7/book-presentation-by-dr-magda-de-la-paz-cabrero

01/29/2026

✨ This Sunday, February 1 — Join Us for Mindfulness (In-Person or Online) ✨

This coming Sunday evening, you’re warmly invited to practice with WMC — whether you’d like to join us in person or online from home.

🧘‍♀️ We gather every Sunday online, and on the 1st & 3rd Sundays of the month we also meet in person at the same time. Come as you are — newcomers are always welcome.

🌿 In-Person Practice (6:30–8:30pm)

📍 Washington Buddhist Vihara
5017 16th St NW, Washington, DC

If you’re able to arrive 20 minutes early to help with setup, we’d be grateful. Otherwise, please arrive a few minutes before 6:30pm to get settled.

Evening format includes:
• 25-minute sitting meditation
• Walking meditation
• 25-minute sitting meditation
• Walking meditation
• Greeting & transition
• Recitation / reading
• Listening to a Dharma talk
• Dharma sharing

The formal program ends at 8:30pm, with optional social time downstairs until 9:00pm.

💻 Online Practice via Zoom (6:30–7:30pm)

Prefer to join us from home? Our online-only facilitated program begins at 6:30pm and runs about 60 minutes.

Online format includes:
• Sitting meditation
• Recitation of the Five Mindfulness Trainings
• Viewing a portion of a Dharma talk
• Dharma sharing

📖 This week’s teaching:
The Silence of Life by Thich Nhat Hanh

🔗 The Zoom link is the same each week — just log in at 6:30pm.

Whether you’re seeking stillness, connection, or simply a place to pause at the end of the week, we’d love to sit with you.

💌 Questions? Please email us.
🙏 Feel free to share this post with anyone who might benefit.

01/22/2026

This Sunday, January 25th, please join the WMC *online-only* at 6:30pm for our evening of online mindfulness practice.

After sitting meditation we’ll read Beginning Anew, watch a portion of a video dharma talk, and have an opportunity to practice dharma sharing. The entire program will run about 60 minutes total.

This week we’ll continue watching this wonderful dharma talk about responding to the suffering in and around us:

Is Plum Village “engaged” enough today? Is our daily practice of mindfulness an appropriate answer to the problems our world is facing? If we look deeply at ...

01/18/2026

January 18 at 3pm special ceremony at Plum Village to honor Thay. Join online live at their link. 🙏🪷

“My life is my teaching”
– Thich Nhat Hanh

We invite our dear sangha friends around the world to come together and practice in remembrance of our beloved teacher, Thay, on the occasion of his 4-Year Memorial Day.

You are warmly welcome to join us by online. Registration is not required.

Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh Memorial Day Ceremony
LIVE from Plum Village Monastery

1. Live Dharma Talk by Brother Phap Huu
January 18 (9:30 AM CET, 3:30 AM EST, 12:30 AM PST)
• LIVE on Plum Village YouTube
• LIVE on Zoom with French translation

2. Memorial Ceremony (Live Event)
January 18 (3:00 PM CET, 9:00 AM EST, 6:00 AM PST)
• LIVE on Plum Village YouTube
• LIVE on Zoom with French translation

Please check the link below.
plumvillage.org/online

May we come together, breathing and walking in mindfulness, to honor Thay’s life, his teachings, and his living presence that continues to guide us.

01/18/2026

This Sunday, January 18th, you’ll be able to join the WMC either in-person or online for our evening of mindfulness practice!

Our in-person program will take place at the Washington Buddhist Vihara, located at 5017 16th St NW DC. If you’re able to come 20 minutes early and help set up, please do, otherwise please arrive a few minutes before 6:30pm to get settled.

Here’s the evening’s format:
-25 min sit
-Walking meditation
-25 min sit
-Walking meditation
-Greeting and transition
-Recitation/Reading
-Listening to a Dharma talk
-Dharma sharing

Our program will officially end at 8:30pm but you’ll have the option to come downstairs for social time together until 9pm if you wish.

If you have any questions, please post here or email us.

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If you wish to join us via Zoom that evening, you can join us for mindfulness meditation and practice beginning at 6:30pm.

After sitting meditation we’ll read the Refuge Chant, watch a portion of a video dharma talk, and have an opportunity to practice dharma sharing. The entire program will run about 60 minutes total.

This week we’ll contine watching this wonderful dharma talk about responding to the suffering in and around us:

Is Plum Village “engaged” enough today? Is our daily practice of mindfulness an appropriate answer to the problems our world is facing? If we look deeply at ...

01/06/2026

A group of Buddhist monks Walk for Peace are currently walking from Texas to our home of DC. Shall we organize some way of meeting them when they arrive or get near? Is anything planned already? 🙏

Official Page of Walk for Peace, the 109-day, 2,300-mile journey by Buddhist monks — with loyal dog, Aloka — walking from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C. to raise awareness of peace, loving-kindness and mindfulness across America and the world. 🙏

01/03/2026

Happening now! Our annual DC area 5 mindfulness trainings transmission and renewal ceremony! More info at: Mindfulness Practice Center of Fairfax - in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh https://share.google/juvXy8djzqTYE3xtW 🙏🪷✨

Saturday, January 3, 2026 8:30 AM–12:00 PM EST Online and In Person Sanctuary of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax 2709 Hunter Mill Road, Oakton, VA 22124

06/05/2025

The bodhisattva Avalokita, while moving in the deep course of understanding, shows up in the most unexpected comic panels! 🤔 🙏 🪷

Freak Show of Madness