Welcome to Still Water

Many of us live as though there were tape recorders in our heads - constantly playing back worries, fears, regrets, commentary, and criticism; or replaying old songs and scenes from the past. Mindfulness practice enables us to find the pause buttons on our recorders, to shift from thinking about the world to experiencing it. We become more aware of our bodies, our feelings, our emotions, and our environment. We are better able to respond wisely and compassionately to events as they unfold.

The Still Water Mindfulness Practice Center's mission is to nurture all who wish to practice Mindfulness. We are part of a world-wide network of communities inspired by the teachings and practices of Thich Nhat Hanh, a widely-known Vietnamese Buddhist monk, author and activist. We are also incorporated as a religious non-profit corporation in the state of Maryland.

Members of the Still Water community come together to sit quietly in meditation, to learn Mindfulness practices (from sitting meditation to walking and eating meditation), and to support each other in our lives' journeys. Each Thursday evening, from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m., there is a community gathering which includes sitting meditation and a program focused on mindfulness in everyday life. (A Still Water orientation is offered the first Thursday of each month, beginning at 6:30 p.m.) Each weekday morning members of the Still Water community gather together to practice sitting and walking meditation before beginning their daily pursuits. Newcomers and experienced practitioners are always welcome.

In addition to our regular program we regularly offer workshops, retreats, and other special events. The best way to stay informed about our activities is to subscribe to our e-mail newsletter, which provides information about each Thursday's program as well as other events in our community and in the area.

Almost 60 years ago Paul Reps published a picture poem in Zen Telegrams:

When we drink tea with Mindfulness we resist the busyness, materialism, and alienation of our modern world. We practice Mindfulness for ourselves, to become calmer, more alive, more genuine. And we practice Mindfulness for the world - to create a world in which there is greater understanding and compassion, a world in which our essential oneness is embodied in thought and action.

Mitchell Ratner, Ph.D. has been a lay member of the Tiep Hien Buddhist order since 1993 and in 2001 received the Dharmacharya (Meditation Teacher) transmission from Vietnamese Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh.

An applied anthropologist and a founder of the Still Water Mindfulness Practice Center, since 1994 he has taught classes and workshops focused on practicable methods of integrating mindfulness meditation with work, meaningful relationships, and the challenges of everyday life.

Our Core Values

Mindfulness: To be fully present and awake in our own lives and to be aware of the inextricable connectedness of life.

Compassion: To have the intention and capacity to relieve and transform suffering.

Community: To live and grow being supported by and supporting others.

Our Core Purpose

To nourish the seeds of mindfulness, compassion, and community in individuals, families, and the larger society.

Our Community Practice

Just as a home is enriched when there is a room or place set aside for meditation, breathing and calming, so too a community is enriched when there is a center where people can come to learn and practice the art of mindful living. As a nurturing and supportive practice community in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, the Still Water Mindfulness Practice Center offers programs of sitting and walking meditation, classes in the traditions and practices of mindfulness, retreats, service projects, and social and family events. The community joins with other faith communities in promoting understanding and compassion in our daily interactions and in the interactions of communities and nations.

Our Goals

Supporting practice: encouraging and nourishing the daily practice of mindfulness, compassion, and community through events and actions such as on-going meditation and discussion groups, community gatherings, classes and workshops, retreats, website and email announcements, online communities, and personal interactions and spiritual friendships.
Creating community: cultivating a welcoming and diverse community in which members can embody their understanding and love for each other, share deeply, maintain nurturing spiritual friendships, support each other through difficulties, and celebrate accomplishments and milestones.
Building an effective and resilient organization: developing an appropriate organizational structure and culture that allows the Still Water MPC mindfully to set goals and objectives in support of our core purpose, make timely decisions, implement meaningful programs, foster commitment and participation, and meet the community’s financial obligations.
Contributing to love, peace and justice in the world: encouraging community members to live mindfully in the world, aware of the consequences of their actions; and as a community supporting events, programs, and institutions that bring, love, healing, and joy to our neighborhoods, regions, and planet.

Welcome To the Still Water MPC
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Our Practice and Our Community
Mindfulness practice is simple but not easy. We endeavor to bring full presence to whatever we do, to open ourselves fully to what is alive in us and around us, and to be aware of the inextricable connectedness of life.

In the Still Water community we join together at weekly sittings and gatherings; at retreats, classes, and workshops; and informally, as friends. We come to know and respect each other, to live and grow being supported by and supporting others.

We are a practice community in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, a Buddhist monk, author, and activist who has introduced the Vietnamese Zen practice of Engaged Buddhism to the West. While we draw inspiration from Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings, we are not limited by the Buddhist tradition – we seek out and learn from other traditions and ways of practice.

As a community, our core purpose is to nourish the seeds of mindfulness, compassion, and community in individuals, families, and the larger society.

Our Senior Teacher is Mitchell Ratner, who has been a lay member of the Tiep Hien Buddhist order since 1993 and in 2001 received the Dharmacariya (Meditation Teacher) transmission from Thich Nhat Hanh.

Sitting Practice
Most of our events begin with a time for settling and contemplation. The basic practice is to find a comfortable upright position, focus our attention on our breath, and calm our chattering minds. We may begin by saying to ourselves, “Breathing in I am aware of breathing in, breathing out I am aware of breathing out.” Some people find it helpful to count their breaths: “Breathing in – one, Breathing out – one. Breathing in – two. . . . We can count to five and begin again with one.

As our minds become more stable, we can let go of the words and the numbers and just be with the breath, giving it our full attention, noticing the changing sensations as we breathe in and as we breathe out. When our attention drifts from our breathing, we simply note that we have drifted and without judgment or self-criticism return our attention to our breathing.

Awareness of the breath, often called conscious breathing, is the beginning practice and the foundation for further practices. Over time, as our thinking mind calms, we learn to open our present moment awareness to all of our body; to our feelings; to our attitudes, emotions, and acts of will; to our thoughts and ideas; and also to the people and the world around us.

Formal Walking Meditation
We also practice formal walking meditation. It is much like sitting meditation, except that we coordinate our steps with our breathing: as we breathe in, we take a step; as we breathe out, we take a step. We are mindful of our breathing and of our stepping. Our bodies are upright and relaxed, our eyes softly focused just ahead of us. When our minds drift to the past or to the future, we gently guide them back to the present moment.

Dharma Discussion
Many of our events include time for dharma discussion, or sharing of the teachings. Dharma discussion creates a supportive environment in which we can mindfully share our practices and insights as well as our deep questions and struggles.

When we want to share we bow into the group, are recognized by the group, share what we have to share, and then bow out. After a pause, someone else may wish to bow in to continue and extend the discussion. There are four underlying principles that support this practice:

We share from our hearts. We say what is true for us, what really matters. It may be helpful to imagine the words literally emerging from our hearts, from our center of being. Unless it is specifically requested, we do not advise, fix, or correct others.

We listen from our hearts. We give each other the gift of our full presence and of our compassion. We are attentive not just to the words, but to all of what is being shared. We listen to understand, affirm, and appreciate.

We are of lean expression. We say what is essential and try not to ramble, recognizing that others may wish to share.

We stay present. Sometimes we call this practicing spontaneity. If we are preparing what we have to say, we are not listening to others, and our sharing may abruptly change the energy of the conversation. We learn to trust that what needs to be said will be said.

Dana
    Dana is a gift given from the heart.
    It brings joy and benefit to both the giver and the receiver.

The Thursday and Sunday evening gatherings, the morning sitting groups, and many other Still Water MPC activities are freely offered to anyone who would like to participate. However, the continued existence of the community depends on the Dana (generosity) of those who attend.

Dana pays for room charges and other community expenses; allows us to make contributions to Plum Village and other institutions that spiritually support us; and allows the community to support our Senior Teacher, whose work is to offer the teachings and organize the community.

How much is enough? Every gift is appreciated and every practitioner treasured. If you need some further guidance, please consider giving $10 or more on a Thursday or Sunday evening or making a monthly pledge of $40 or more. Because the Still Water MPC is a federally recognized religious organization, donations are tax deductible.

Staying Connected
More information about our community, our special programs and weekly activities, and our practice is available on our website: www.StillWaterMPC.org.

The community maintains an email announcement list through which we share teachings relating to our Thursday evening programs and alert participants to upcoming mindfulness practice events. You may subscribe by filling out an enrollment form on Thursday evening or by visiting our website at www.StillWaterMPC.org.

There is also a special email announcement list for those who attend the Sunday evening Columbia program. You may subscribe by emailing abbie@StillWaterMPC.org.

Thank you for joining with us. If you have further questions about our community or our practice, please feel free to contact us by email at info@StillWaterMPC.org or by telephone at 301 270-8353.

In consideration of those who have chemical sensitivities, we request that you do not wear any fragrance (including natural essential oils) while attending Still Water events.