In the tradition of Zen Master and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh, the Heartland Community of Mindful Living (HCML) has gathered for evenings of mindfulness weekly since 1997. The atmosphere is warm, relaxed and open. The practices are gentle and kind. We practice sitting and walking meditation every week. We also listen to Dharma talks, recite the Mindfulness Trainings and sing mindfulness songs together. We engage in Dharma discussion, sharing our experiences with mindful living while we practice speaking mindfully and listening deeply to each other without judgment or comment. We also host days of mindfulness and weekend retreats, inviting the larger community to enjoy extended practice opportunities with us. Over time, real transformation occurs, as our lifelong struggles with sorrow, anxiety, and alienation diminish and as our friendships, gratitude, compassion and freedom blossom. This is the fruit of the practice of mindful living.
The Jewel of Sangha
“A teacher can be important, and also the teachings, but friends are the most essential element to the practice. It is difficult if not impossible to practice without the Sangha”
– Thich Nhat Hanh
A Sangha is a spiritual family. We have a common practice, instead of common blood. A Sangha is a profound resource. The group energy creates a fountain of support that keeps our practice grounded in our daily lives. It affirms and encourages real transformation without much effort.
The Miracle of Mindfulness
Mindfulness is the innate ability we all possess to be calm, to live in the present moment and to experience the wonders of life. When we engage in mindfulness practice, we become aware of the actions in our lives, which foster well-being. We are able to enhance our relationships with those we love: our families, our friends and ourselves. Mindfulness practice is a simple and effective method of transforming our anger, confusion and distress into peace, joy and understanding. Thich Nhat Hanh advocates “Engaged Buddhism” which integrates mindfulness practice into everyday life.
About Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh
"With compassion in our heart, every thought, word, and deed can bring about a miracle."-Thich Nhat Hanh
Thich Nhat Hanh, or Thây, is a poet, Zen Master and was the Chairman of the Vietnamese Buddhist peace delegation during the Vietnam War. He was nominated by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for the Nobel Peace Prize.
He has authored best-selling works such as Living Buddha, Living Christ and The Miracle of Mindfulness. Thich Nhat Hanh offers meditation retreats world-wide. He lives in Plum Village, a community in Southern France.
Meet Brother Chan Huy
Brother Chan Huy has been my mentor for several years now. I first met him at the 1999 Santa Barbara retreat with Thich Nhat Hanh. I was aspiring to the Order of Interbeing at the time, but my mentor was not able to attend the retreat. Chan Huy stepped in, giving me great care and attention. I quickly realized why he was so beloved, even by the most experienced Dharma teachers. A husband and father of two teenaged daughters, he is a master of lay mindfulness practice. Not a moment goes to waste. Everything is fuel for mindful living.
Chan Huy comes from a family with four generations of Thich Nhat Hanh’s students, from his grandmother to his two daughters. Born in Vietnam, Chan Huy was raised in France as a Vietnamese Buddhist. He now lives in Ottawa, Canada where he works as an engineer. His clear pragmatic teaching style helps us understand and deeply touch the practice of mindfulness. Chan Huy's warm and engaging manner emanates joy for the practice. His name, translated as “True Radiance,” captures his essence. Chan Huy is among the most accomplished and articulate of Thich Nhat Hanh’s Dharma teachers.
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