JOIN US for in person sangha
MONDAY december 15, 7:00pm - 8:30pm EDT
annie will facilitate
Meditation schedule
Upcoming events
We’d love to hear from you.
Have a suggestion, question, or reflection to share with the sangha? Use the form below to let us know.
All submissions are anonymous unless you choose to include your name.
Adopt a Family during the holidays
The Opening Heart Mindfulness Community (OHMC) has once again been invited by Community Family Life Services (CFLS) to participate in their Adopt-A-Family project this holiday season. CFLS is a dedicated organization that empowers children, families, and adults to overcome poverty and homelessness. In addition, CFLS provides vital support to women re-entering society after incarceration, helping them achieve lasting stability and self-sufficiency.
Through the Adopt-A-Family Project, children and their mothers share holiday wish lists, and donors have the opportunity to purchase gifts directly from these lists or donate gift cards. This year marks OHMC’s fifth year supporting this meaningful initiative.
Love is the Strongest Force
We’re honored to share that Dharma Teacher Annie Mahon’s article, Love is the Strongest Force, has been published on the Plum Village website.
Written at the start of the current administration, the piece explores how fierce compassion—rooted in mindfulness, community, and the Four Noble Truths—can help us respond to injustice and suffering without turning away from love. Annie reflects on how practicing boundless care allows us to transform both personal and collective pain, and to build sustainable communities that truly care for all.
We are all one
We recognize the struggles of immigrants because many, though not all, of us have experienced immigration, arriving in this country ourselves or our ancestors arriving before us. We also stand in solidarity with members of the LGBTQ+ community who experience discrimination and hardship.
To offer support, we warmly invite you to review the information and links we provided.
Organizations we support
Love in Action - Supporting those harmed in the war in Ukraine
In response to the humanitarian crisis caused by the war in Ukraine, OHMC, Still Water Mindfulness Practice Center, and Washington Mindfulness Community have come together with a project that is a concrete manifestation of our engaged practice.
VOLAR’s mission is to co-create a cooperative community in East Baltimore owned by Black and Brown people … built through the reclamation of land, healing, reconnecting and building a base of community power.
Learn how VOLAR has evolved and where it is going — and how you can be a part of this incredible initiative.
LEARN MORE
Engaged Buddhism / Deep Listening to our Differences
by Annie Mahon
In this article we explore the transformative art of deep listening while door knocking in the lead up to the US election from Annie Mahon, an engaged practitioner and Dharma teacher in The Plum Village Tradition.
All are invited to join our community
Mindfulness is being here now, with kindness and open hearted curiosity.
The Opening Heart Mindfulness Community is open to everyone and meets to practice sitting and walking meditation and discuss mindfulness-related topics every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at Circle Yoga. We practice together in the tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh.
No previous mindfulness or meditation experience necessary.
No registration is required, and there is no fee to attend. Donations are joyfully accepted to support this and other similar programs Sitting meditation can be done on the floor or in a chair.
In consideration of those who have chemical sensitivities, we ask that you do not wear any fragrances (including essential oils) while attending Opening Heart meditation events.
Making-Visible
The Opening Heart Mindfulness Community created this special sangha to build awareness on the issues of social injustice facing our country and the world today.
Dear friends,
This week, we will meet Monday evening, December 15, from 7-8:30PM ET in person at our meditation space (3812 Northampton Street NW); Wednesday morning, December 17, from 7-8AM ET online; and Friday, December 19, 12-1PM ET online/in person (Hybrid).
Annie will facilitate on Monday evening. Annie shares:
Sometimes life can feel overwhelming and, for some of us, the holidays can ramp up our thinking and busyness. I would guess that we all have experienced times when we are so distracted that we forget to notice our life passing by.
Thich Nhat Hanh (Thay) used to share a story about a time he stayed in a cabin in the woods. He went out for a walk, and while he was out a windy storm came up. Unfortunately, he had left the windows of his cabin open, and when he returned, his papers were everywhere. This is sometimes how our minds can feel: as though thoughts and feelings are blowing around inside, and it doesn’t feel like we can sort it all out.