A Day of Resting in Mindfulness

Recently I had the opportunity to attend “A Day of Mindfulness,” a seminar given by meditation

teachers Anh-Huong and Thu Nguyen. The Day of Mindfulness is a very special event that is offered twice a year in Philadelphia.

Anh-Huong and Thu are dharma teachers in the tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. 

They have dedicated their lives to teaching others the practice of mindful living. 

Whether mindfulness is in the form of meditation, movement, eating or relaxation, 

this practice brings you back to a sense of awareness within, or as they say, returning home.

Being someone who leads a very active life, I found it very challenging to be still. As
I was lying there during the guided meditation, I realized that even though my body was
still, my mind was racing. I started to wonder if I would be able to make it through the seminar.

Most of us experience some form of stress in our lives. When pressure builds, it is
easy to become frustrated. Too often we become busy and focus on our work rather
than taking care of ourselves. We don’t take time to walk. We rush through our meals or,
even worse, skip them. As I continued to breathe mindfully, I realized that I needed to slow down and be more gentle with myself. At that moment when I let go of my thoughts, my mind became still, my body totally relaxed, and I was able to experience the deep rest.

There is no separation of body, mind and spirit. I believe that learning how calm your
mind is essential to your overall well being. When our mind is still we become clear and
more open to the endless possibilities in life. When we make time to take better
care of ourselves, we have the ability to become more effective, productive, healthier
and happier human beings. Be kind to yourself so that you can be kind to others.

I am grateful and appreciative for a day of relaxation, peace, renewal and
resting in mindfulness. Thank you Anh, Thu, and everyone who made this day possible.