Monday, September 9, we will meet in person.
Address for OHMC meditation space:
3812 Northampton St. NW, Washington DC 20015
Please arrive a few minutes early so we can invite the bell on time. You may also arrive 15 minutes early to practice working meditation by helping us set up cushions.
Dear friends,
This week, we will meet Monday evening, Sept. 9, from 7-8:30PM EDT in person at our meditation space (3812 Northampton Street NW); Wednesday morning, Sept. 11, from 7-8AM EDT online; and Friday, Sept. 13, from 12-1PM EDT in person.
Last week Marie shared the topic of exploring and nourishing joy and happiness. It was a lovely evening as we listened to a teaching by Thich Nhat Hanh (Thay), where he shared how easy it can be to generate joyful happy feelings in the present moment, right here, right now, without worrying about the past or the future, and how this practice can help reduce suffering.
A practice that helps me access those joyful happy feelings is smiling. When I smile, I bring more calm and peace into my body, and I release tension. When I feel anger or worry or regret coming on and my body tenses, I know that is the time to smile, and that is the time it can be difficult to smile. I was recently looking at some photos of myself as a child and noticed that I smiled a lot. Was it easier then than now?
In a short video that I will share below, I am reminded by Thay that when we smile all can benefit. He shares how smiling can be a way to peace and bring happiness to all. I notice when I am walking and smile at someone passing by and they smile back at me, I feel a bit happier, more peaceful and also feel a sense of connection. I am hoping they feel the same.
Thay encourages us to practice smiling during walking meditation, while we sit, cook, eat, and just live. He shares that our family and all the world profits when we are able to smile and be in touch with all the wonderful things in the world like the blue sky, the sunshine, the flowers blooming, and the presence of others.
I am smiling as I write this knowing that my smile can make you happy and your smile can make me happy. “Smiling is the way to peace.”
Some questions we might explore:
How does smiling feel in your body and is it easy to access?
Can smiling feel healing?
Where might you bring a smile into your day to bring more healing and less suffering?
Thay’s video:
Practice Smiling... And The Whole World Benefits ♡ Zen Master Thích Nhất Hạnh
I look forward to seeing you in person on Monday night!
Smiling,
Camille