Blooming Heart Sangha is a community devoted exclusively to the practice of mindfulness in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. We maintain close ties with the Order of Interbeing – the international community founded by Thich Nhat Hanh in Vietnam in the 1960s and now headquartered in Plum Village in the Bordeaux region of France, as well as in the United States at Blue Cliff Monastery in New York, and Deer Park Monastery in southern California. The Order of Interbeing is a four-fold community, including men and women, monastic and lay members, and is committed to the practice of “engaged Buddhism” through the practice of the Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings and a blend of Buddhist morality with contemporary social concerns.

Our weekly gatherings include seated and walking meditation, and a dharma discussion that is focused on the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, as we practice them in our daily lives. Our primary facilitator is Judith Lies – ordained lay member of the Order of Interbeing. All interested Sangha members, however, take the role of facilitator, and our intention is to create a non-heirarchical and participative community in which we work together to support, encourage, and learn from each other.

In addition to regular weekly meetings, Blooming Heart Sangha offers:

• Regular recitation of the Five Mindfulness Trainings, the core of our practice. These are recited on alternate months, and offer the chance for reflection and support as we practice with these teachings.

• Mindfulness retreats for Sangha members, led by our members and also by visiting teachers from the Order of Interbeing.

• Public retreats lead by visiting Dharma Teachers, both lay teachers and monastics.

• Special ceremonies, including the Rose Ceremony (honoring mothers on Mother’s Day and fathers on Father’s Day), and an annual Tea Ceremony in the style of Thich Nhat Hanh.