What's New:
“MINDFUL LIVING PROTECTS US AND HELPS US GO IN THE DIRECTION OF PEACE. WITH THE SUPPORT OF FRIENDS IN THE PRACTICE, PEACE HAS A CHANCE.”
Our Mission
Opening Heart Mindfulness Community (OHMC) is a 501c(3) that offers support for learning and practicing mindfulness in a non-sectarian way. Our practices are based on the tradition of the Plum Village Community, and our teachings are inspired by a variety of individuals and groups including Thich Nhat Hanh and teachers from many other Zen, vipassana, and other mindfulness based traditions.
We practice mindfulness to become calmer, more alive, more genuine, and to extend greater understanding and compassion. By practicing together we inspire each other to bring meditation and mindfulness into our daily lives.
OHMC supports and practices social action and inclusive community building. Rooted in our commitment to diversity, we operate with transparent democratic governance, generosity-based economics, and environmental sustainability.
We seek to foster understanding and compassion by providing vibrant and generous opportunities to practice mindfulness within a diverse community in the Plum Village tradition, founded by Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh.
We highly value the diversity of racial and cultural identity and background, nationality, sexual and affectional orientation, gender identity and its expression, religious background and belief, marital status, family structure, age, mental and physical health and ability, political perspective, and educational and class status.
We recognize that in supporting racial and social justice equity within our sangha and throughout the mahasangha, we support the work of transformation individually and collectively.
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.
“Taking refuge in the sangha means putting your trust in a community of solid members who practice mindfulness together. You do not have to practice intensively—just being in a sangha where people are happy, living deeply the moments of their days, is enough. Each person’s way of sitting, walking, eating, working, and smiling is a source of inspiration; and transformation takes place without effort. ”
You’re invited to a video call curated by filmmaker and Piscataway rights activist, Sebastian Medina-Tayac. We will take time to stop and rest in community. Each moment of stopping is critical for our greater collective healing. Making visible is a free webinar program supported by the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation, based in California, along with the Opening Heart Mindfulness Community in Washington, DC. This call includes one hour of teaching led by our expert, Sebastian, with lived experience. There will be time for mindful questions and answers and sharing, and a follow up dharma sharing call after.