The Practice of Happiness

When we think about the past, feelings of regret or shame may arise. When we think about the future, feelings of desire or fear may come up. But all of these feelings arise in the present moment. And most of the time, their effect does not contribute to our happiness and joy. During this weekend retreat, we will come together as a community to observe the present deeply and take hold of it. We will learn the practice of conscious breathing, mindful sitting, mindful walking, mindful eating, healing movements and deep relaxation in order to relax our bodies, calm our minds and open our hearts to all the wonders of life, such as the blue sky, the birds’ song, or a friend’s smile. We will learn to embrace our feelings when they arise with mindfulness and tenderness, so that we can continue to be nourished and healed.

Retreat Schedule

From 6pm Oct. 16 until 3pm Oct. 18, 2009

Friday evening: Registration (5pm), Dinner (6pm), Orientation (7:30pm), Sitting meditation.

Saturday morning: Guided sitting meditation, Breakfast, Outdoor walking meditation, Talk.

Saturday afternoon: Lunch, Tea meditation, Total body relaxation / Mindful movements.

Saturday evening: Dinner, Group sharing, Sitting meditation / Touching the earth.

Sunday morning: Sitting meditation, Breakfast, Outdoor walking meditation, Talk / Questions and answers.

Sunday afternoon: Lunch, Closing circle.

Anh-Huong Nguyen and Thu Nguyen have practiced the art of mindful living with Thich Nhat Hanh for 30 years. They have led mindfulness retreats in the United States since 1988 and in 1992 were among the first students to be ordained as Dharma teachers by Thich Nhat Hanh. Anh-Huong is the author of "Opening the Heart of Compassion", a guided meditation CD and co-author of "Walking Meditation", a multimedia manual on mindful walking. They are principal teachers at the Mindfulness Practice Center of Fairfax (www.mpcf.org).

Claymont Court (www.claymont.org) is located on 369 acres of forest and farmland in the Shenandoah Valley of West Virginia, less than 90 minutes by car from Washington, D.C., or Baltimore.

The cost of the retreat, including meals (Friday dinner through Sunday lunch) and overnight accommodations is $250 per person. Room accommodation is of dormitory style with three or more beds per room. A limited number of rooms with double beds are reserved for couples. We ask that all participants be at least 13 years of age. A fifty percent deposit is required to reserve a place. (All but $35 of the deposit will be refunded if notification of cancellation is received prior to October 9, 2009.) The balance is due upon arrival at the retreat. A confirmation letter with a map and other necessary information will be mailed or e-mailed to each participant.

To register, please complete the coupon below and send with your deposit to Thu Nguyen, 10413 Adel Road, Oakton, VA 22124. For more information, e-mail the retreat registrar at info@mpcf.org or call 703-938-1377.