What do you know about the Latinx immigrants who are facing historic level deportations and incarceration in the United States today? Would you like to learn more and grow your understanding along with other mindfulness practitioners?

Join us for our next free Zoom (phone or computer) call on Thursday, November 8, 7-8:30 pm ET for another session on understanding more about the millions of Latinx people living in the United States, their history in this country, and their lives today. 

The topic for session #5 will be learning about the contributions of Latinx people in the US. This will be our final session in the Invisible Latinos series.

Hispanic people are the largest minority in the United States, and fully one in six people in the U.S. are Latinx, and one in ten are of Mexican heritage. Only Mexico has a larger Hispanic population than the United States.The Census Bureau describes Hispanic or Latino ethnicity as "a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race." 

In lieu of fees, we ask you to consider making a donation to Nueva Vida to benefit Latinas with cancer in the DC area. Donate here: http://nueva-vida.org

Ways to get involved in immigrant justice -- locally (DC area): www.caircoalition.org, http://sanctuarydmv.org/, https://www.theyoungcenter.org/about-the-young-center/

Sessions will be in English, accessible, and co-led by Adriana Arizpe and Annie Mahon.  if you need Spanish translation or physical accommodations, please let us know.

Adriana is a Mexican woman who has lived in the DC area for 8 years. She has degrees in Communications and Gastronomy and is an executive in media, research, marketing and communication. Adriana has been practicing mindfulness since 2014 and has extensive knowledge of relationships and cultural contrasts and a special interest in how Latin-American culture contributes to US culture as a whole.

Annie is a white, Armenian-American, ordained (lay) in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, founder of Circle Yoga Cooperative, DC Yoga Week, and Opening Heart Mindfulness community, and founder and treasurer of the Pink House Foundation, a grant making organization supporting the development political and social capital for marginalized groups in the US. She has been a student of mindfulness since the early 1990's.

Dial-in info for our call is below. Please email annielakemahon@gmail.com if you have questions.

Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://zoom.us/j/956327268

Or iPhone one-tap :

    US: +16465588656,,956327268#  or +16699006833,,956327268# 

Or Telephone:

    Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): 

        US: +1 646 558 8656  or +1 669 900 6833 

    Meeting ID: 956 327 268

International numbers available: https://zoom.us/u/ewZOs4fa8

This week Annie will invite the bell for dharma teacher Shantum Seth who will speak to us about the life and teachings of the Buddha. Shantum's full bio is below.  You can listen to him talk about his Buddhist journey here.

Shantum leads tours of the Buddhist sites in India and Nepal and was the teacher of Annie's trip to India in 2016. Shantum has been a student of Thich Nhật Hanh for several decades and has been a friend of Annie's for many years. You will definitely enjoy his talk!

After our meditation period, Shantum will talk, and then we will have some time to ask him questions and share about our practice.  

More about Shantum:

Shantum Seth is a teacher, social development worker and a man of peace with Indian roots and a world experience not easily found in one person.

He is an ordained teacher (Dharmacharya) in the Zen lineage of the Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh, and the foremost guide to the sites associated with the Buddha. He has been leading highly acclaimed pilgrimages 'In the Footsteps of the Buddha' and other amazing journeys of discovery throughout India and parts of South Asia since 1988. His tours have been featured in The New York Times and on the BBC/PBS’s “Story of India” (www.buddhapath.com ).

He advises the Government of India's Ministry of Tourism and Culture and was instrumental in initiating the Endogenous Tourism program for the United Nations Development Program where he worked for 15 years. He has used his considerable experience to contribute to a number of books, including “Walking with the Buddha,” “Planting Seeds…, Sharing Mindfulness with Children,” and “Volunteers against Conflict.”

Shantum has been in demand as a guest speaker at many forums including to the Young President’s Organization, the UNDP executive board, the Chicago Council for Global Affairs, the Confederation of Indian Industries and at a number of museums and universities East and West.

He is actively involved in the non-profit trust Ahimsa, which is pioneering work on ‘Mindfulness in Education’ and setting up a centre for this purpose in the foothills of the Himalayas (www.ahimsatrust.org). While at the University of East Anglia in England, studying Development Studies, he titled his thesis 'Ahimsa Shoes', basing it on Gandhian economics.

An itinerant traveler himself, he has visited more than 50 countries and has lived in England, the USA and France. He now lives with his wife, two daughters and parents in the suburbs of Delhi, India.

In many ways Shantum is an exciting window to today's India. He helps the world understand, interpret and value a multi-faceted civilization and its people.

As we enter fall, please consider joining the Opening Hearts Mindfulness Community for conversation, snacks and fresh air in beautiful Rock Creek Park. Everyone is invited to join, bring friends and family and a food item to share. We will meet at Rock Creek Picnic site #13.  Please RSVP to Linda Loranger lindaloranger4@gmail.com .

What do you know about the Latinx immigrants who are facing historic level deportations and incarceration in the United States today? Would you like to learn more and grow your understanding along with other mindfulness practitioners?

Join us for our next free Zoom (phone or computer) call on Tuesday, August 7, 7-8:30 pm ET for another session on understanding more about the millions of Latinx people living in the United States, their history in this country, and their lives today. 

The topic for session #4 will be learning about the causes of immigration from Central America and from Mexico. There are many reasons for families and individuals to be risking their lives to cross the border, and in this call we will explore these reasons through a variety of media, leaving time to share with each other about what we have learned.

Hispanic people are the largest minority in the United States, and fully one in six people in the U.S. are Latinx, and one in ten are of Mexican heritage. Only Mexico has a larger Hispanic population than the United States.The Census Bureau describes Hispanic or Latino ethnicity as "a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race." 

In lieu of fees, we ask you to consider making a donation to Nueva Vida to benefit Latinas with cancer in the DC area. Donate here: http://nueva-vida.org

Ways to get involved in immigrant justice -- locally (DC area): www.caircoalition.org, http://sanctuarydmv.org/, https://www.theyoungcenter.org/about-the-young-center/

Sessions will be in English, accessible, and co-led by Adriana Arizpe and Annie Mahon.  if you need Spanish translation or physical accommodations, please let us know.

Adriana is a Mexican woman who has lived in the DC area for 8 years. She has degrees in Communications and Gastronomy and is an executive in media, research, marketing and communication. Adriana has been practicing mindfulness since 2014 and has extensive knowledge of relationships and cultural contrasts and a special interest in how Latin-American culture contributes to US culture as a whole.

Annie is a white, Armenian-American, ordained (lay) in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, founder of Circle Yoga Cooperative, DC Yoga Week, and Opening Heart Mindfulness community, and founder and treasurer of the Pink House Foundation, a grant making organization supporting the development political and social capital for marginalized groups in the US. She has been a student of mindfulness since the early 1990's.

Dial-in info for our call is below. Please email annielakemahon@gmail.com if you have questions.

Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://zoom.us/j/956327268

Or iPhone one-tap :

    US: +16465588656,,956327268#  or +16699006833,,956327268# 

Or Telephone:

    Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): 

        US: +1 646 558 8656  or +1 669 900 6833 

    Meeting ID: 956 327 268

International numbers available: https://zoom.us/u/ewZOs4fa8

What do you know about the Latinx immigrants who are facing historic level deportations and incarceration in the United States today? Would you like to learn more and grow your understanding along with other mindfulness practitioners?

Join us for our next free Zoom (phone or computer) call on Tuesday, June 19, 7-8:30 pm ET for another session on understanding more about the millions of Latinx people living in the United States, their history in this country, and their lives today. 
 

Hispanic people are the largest minority in the United States, and fully one in six people in the U.S. are Latinx, and one in ten are of Mexican heritage. Only Mexico has a larger Hispanic population than the United States.The Census Bureau describes Hispanic or Latino ethnicity as "a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race." 

In lieu of fees, we ask you to consider making a donation to Nueva Vida to benefit Latinas with cancer in the DC area. Donate here: http://nueva-vida.org

Ways to get involved in immigrant justice -- locally (DC area): www.caircoalition.org, http://sanctuarydmv.org/, https://www.theyoungcenter.org/about-the-young-center/

Sessions will be in English, accessible, and co-led by Adriana Arizpe and Annie Mahon.  if you need Spanish translation or physical accommodations, please let us know.

Adriana is a Mexican woman who has lived in the DC area for 8 years. She has degrees in Communications and Gastronomy and is an executive in media, research, marketing and communication. Adriana has been practicing mindfulness since 2014 and has extensive knowledge of relationships and cultural contrasts and a special interest in how Latin-American culture contributes to US culture as a whole.

Annie is a white, Armenian-American, ordained (lay) in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, founder of Circle Yoga Cooperative, DC Yoga Week, and Opening Heart Mindfulness community, and founder and treasurer of the Pink House Foundation, a grant making organization supporting the development political and social capital for marginalized groups in the US.  She has been a student of mindfulness since the early 1990's.

Dial-in info for our call is below. Please email annielakemahon@gmail.com if you have questions.

Topic: Session 2 Making Visible: The Invisible Latinos
Time: May 22, 2018 7:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://zoom.us/j/369941261

Or iPhone one-tap :
    US: +16699006833,,369941261#  or +16465588656,,369941261# 
Or Telephone:
    Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): 
        US: +1 669 900 6833  or +1 646 558 8656
    Meeting ID: 369 941 261
    International numbers available: https://zoom.us/u/c56Ur6rTO

What do you know about the Latinx immigrants who are facing historic level deportations and incarceration in the United States today? Would you like to learn more and grow your understanding along with other mindfulness practitioners?

Join us for our second free Zoom (phone or computer) call on Tuesday, May 22, 7-8:30 pm ET for another session on understand more about the millions of Latinx people living in the United States, their history in this country, and their lives today. 
 

Hispanic people are the largest minority in the United States, and fully one in six people in the U.S. are Latinx, and one in ten are of Mexican heritage. Only Mexico has a larger Hispanic population than the United States.The Census Bureau describes Hispanic or Latino ethnicity as "a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race." 

In lieu of fees, we ask you to consider making a donation to Nueva Vida to benefit Latinas with cancer in the DC area. Donate here: http://nueva-vida.org

Sessions will be in English, accessible, and co-led by Adriana Arizpe and Annie Mahon.  if you need Spanish translation or physical accommodations, please let us know.

Adriana is a Mexican woman who has lived in the DC area for 8 years. She has degrees in Communications and Gastronomy and is an executive in media, research, marketing and communication. Adriana has been practicing mindfulness since 2014 and has extensive knowledge of relationships and cultural contrasts and a special interest in how Latin-American culture contributes to US culture as a whole.

Annie is a white, Armenian-American, ordained (lay) in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, founder of Circle Yoga Cooperative, DC Yoga Week, and Opening Heart Mindfulness community, and founder and treasurer of the Pink House Foundation, a grant making organization supporting the development political and social capital for marginalized groups in the US.  She has been a student of mindfulness since the early 1990's.

IN PREPARATION for our call, consider reading or watching the following:

• America's Millions of Mexicans without Documents Live in Fear, US News, Guardian Article

• This PBS Video La Deportación here. 

• How the Hispanic Population is Changing, Pew Research

• Undocumented Immigrants Tell their Stories, Vanity Fair Video

• The exhibit Carne y Arena at Atlas Theater in DC, info here.

Dial-in info for our call is below. Please email annielakemahon@gmail.com if you have questions.

Topic: Session 2 Making Visible: The Invisible Latinos
Time: May 22, 2018 7:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://zoom.us/j/369941261

Or iPhone one-tap :
    US: +16699006833,,369941261#  or +16465588656,,369941261# 
Or Telephone:
    Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): 
        US: +1 669 900 6833  or +1 646 558 8656
    Meeting ID: 369 941 261
    International numbers available: https://zoom.us/u/c56Ur6rTO

In keeping with our Wednesday morning sangha annual Earth Day celebration, come join us as we will walk the AU campus Labyrinth together this year on April 25 at 7am. 

There is paid parking ($2 per hour) in AU garage entering at 4400 Mass Ave is an option or nearby on street parking at that hour is another. 

Breakfast will follow at nearby Le Pain Quotidien for anyone who can join.

Location info can be found at https://www.american.edu/ocl/kay/Labyrinth.cfm

Promises to be fun and inspiring! Join us!

What do you know about the immigrants who are facing historic level deportations and incarceration in the United States today? Would you like to learn more and grow your understanding along with other mindfulness practitioners?

Join us for a free Zoom (phone or computer) call on Sunday, April 22, 4-5:30 pm ET as we pilot a mindfulness-based educational program that will help us understand more about the millions of Latinx people living in the United States, their history in this country, and their lives today. 
 

After this call, we will embark upon a 6-session mini-sangha will include meditation, dharma sharing, speakers, and videos and readings that will help us look deeply into the challenges facing immigrants, better understand our own internal biases, and learn ways to contribute to healing.

Hispanic people are the largest minority in the United States, and fully one in six people in the U.S. are Latinx, and one in ten are of Mexican heritage. Only Mexico has a larger Hispanic population than the United States.The Census Bureau describes Hispanic or Latino ethnicity as "a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race." 

Sessions will be in English, accessible, and co-led by Adriana Arizpe and Annie Mahon.  if you need Spanish translation or physical accommodations, please let us know.

Adriana is a Mexican woman who has lived in the DC area for 8 years. She has degrees in Communications and Gastronomy and is an executive in media, research, marketing and communication. Adriana has been practicing mindfulness since 2014 and has extensive knowledge of relationships and cultural contrasts and a special interest in how Latin-American culture contributes to US culture as a whole.

Annie is a white, Armenian-American, ordained (lay) in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, founder of Circle Yoga Cooperative, DC Yoga Week, and Opening Heart Mindfulness community, and founder and treasurer of the Pink House Foundation, a grant making organization supporting the development political and social capital for marginalized groups in the US.  She has been a student of mindfulness since the early 1990's.

IN PREPARATION for our call, consider reading or watching the following:

• Chapter 1 (Foreigners in Their Own Land) & 2 (Peril and Promise) of the PBS series Latino Americans, accessible here.
• The Americans Our Government won't Count, by Alex Wagner, New York Times
• Chapter 3 of Mexicans in the Making of America by Neil Foley, Becoming Good Neighbors. (will be emailed to you when you register for the call)
• Introduction to The Land of Open Graves, Living and Dying in the Migrant Trail, by Jason de León. (will be emailed to you when you register for the call)
• The exhibit Carne y Arena at Atlas Theater in DC, info here.

Dear friends,

On Saturday morning, March 24, the Washington DC Area Mindfulness Communities practicing in the tradition of Plum Village will gather at the Upper Senate Park between 9:30 and 11:00 a.m, to March for Our Lives. 

You are invited to join us.

During our time together, we will sit in meditation, sing, and walk mindfully in preparation for offering our peaceful presence as participants in the March For Our Lives. We will depart Upper Senate Park at 11:00 a.m.

Location: 
Upper Senate Park  (The Google Maps address for the park is 200 New Jersey Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001. )  The park is located immediately west of the Russell Senate Building. Below is a map that shows how to walk from closest Metro stations (Union Station, Capitol South, Federal Center) to the Upper Senate Park meeting location. 

Schedule:
9:30 a.m. - Begin arriving at Upper Senate Park
10:00 a.m. - 11: a.m. Gathering together for meditation, singing, mindful walking
11:00 - Start to walk mindfully to the rally site.
12 p.m. - Event is scheduled to begin.

Things to Know/Consider Before Attending:

• A very large crowd is expected. Metro will be crowded.
• Cell phones might not work during the event so leave home early enough that you can join us before we leave the Upper Senate Park at 11 a.m.
• Think to buy SmartTrip cards or add money to the cards in advance.
• Metro has created a page with information about getting to the march. It will open at 7 a.m. on Saturday, and add trains to accommodate the march.
• Metro information page: https://www.wmata.com/rider-guide/travel-to-national-mall.cfm
• Although there have been no clear guidelines about backpacks or signs, it would be best to carry a small backpack.
• If you make signs try to avoid using sticks that might be misconstrued as "weapons."
• Everyone should carry water and food.
• Access to restrooms may be limited.
• It has been suggested that to identify ourselves we wear brown and / or wear a paper or cloth sunflower.
• Late breaking information about the mindfulness community's participation in the March will be posted on our Plum Village Community FaceBook Events page:

A Teaching from Thay: 
In Man is Not the Enemy, an essay Thay (the Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh) wrote in 2000, he reflects on his efforts to end the War in Vietnam and the engaged practice insights he has since acquired:
 

"Having learned and practiced the teachings of Interbeing I no longer see anyone as my enemy and in my heart is a feeling of lightness and immense space. I do not even feel hatred towards people who have made me or my people suffer because I know how to look at them with the eyes of understanding and love. You may ask: "Then are you going to give that band of mad, cruel, fanatical thieves and murderers freedom to continue to destroy and make misery without doing anything to stop them?" No! We have to do everything we can to stop them, we cannot allow them to continue to kill, plunder, oppress and destroy, but our actions will never be motivated by hatred. We have to stop them, not allowing them to cause misery. If necessary we can bind them, put them in prison, but this action has to be directed by our bodhisattva's heart and while we act like this we continue to maintain our loving-kindness, wanting them to be able to have a chance to wake up, and change." 
 

with love,

The Washington Area Mindfulness Communities:

Boat of Compassion Sangha

Mindfulness Practice Center of Fairfax

Opening Heart Mindfulness Community

Still Water Mindfulness Practice Center

Washington Mindfulness Community