Hai Nguyen

09/05/2026

Last Saturday, we came together for a Day of Spiritual Well-being to learn the wisdom teachings, be mindful, nurtures mind & body, and support each others in the Fairfax area. It was a beautiful and meaningful day, filled with friendship, connection and strengthen the spirit of community. Photos of this wonderful Spiritual learning day may be viewed at the link below.

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07/24/2026

Cần Rõ Biết Tâm Thay Gì Đổi Cảnh

Trong một khóa tu thiền quán cuối tuần, Quảng Minh Đức đã chia sẻ một điều rất thiết thực: trong đời sống, chúng ta thường có xu hướng thay đổi hoàn cảnh cho hợp với sở thích và mong muốn của mình — khi buồn thì tìm chỗ đi chơi cho thoải mái, khi giận thì phải nói ra cho người kia biết để hả cơn phiền muộn.

Tuy nhiên, nguồn gốc của những khó khăn hay hạnh phúc trong đời sống không hẳn nằm ở hoàn cảnh bất lợi hay thuận lợi, mà thật ra lại xuất phát từ chính thái độ Tâm Thức của mình. Khi tâm không yên, thì dù thức ăn có ngon ta cũng chẳng thưởng thức được trọn vẹn; khi tâm thoải mái, thì dù ai có nói nặng lời, ta cũng dễ dàng bỏ qua.

Kính mời quý thân hữu xem đoạn video ngắn trên YouTube tại https://youtu.be/xIFORKhQB30 ghi lại những chia sẻ về Tâm Thức rất thực tiễn qua hình ảnh biểu tượng tấm gương soi, dễ hiểu và gần gũi. Qua đó, chúng ta sẽ có thêm sự hiểu biết thiết thực để thường xuyên nhìn lại tâm thức của mình trong đời sống hằng ngày, từ đó hành xử hiệu quả hơn — thay vì cứ bận rộn tìm cách thay đổi hoàn cảnh cho vừa ý để chỉ được tạm thời thoải mái, hạnh phúc mà thôi.

07/16/2026

Believing You Know What's Best

You are invited to listen to a short teaching talk on YouTube at https://youtu.be/TUX50dIZiNA on an insightful lesson: What we think we know instead of making our life easier can often box us in—limiting our potential or, at worst, causing unnecessary suffering when we believe things must be a certain way for us to be happy.

I recounts a life-changing experience from a friend—something that began as the worst thing that could happen to a person, yet 6 months later became the best thing that could have happened. The difficult situation itself didn't change. What changed was the mind: letting go of the insistence that life's circumstances had to be a certain way, and instead opening up to accept and be with reality as it is. In doing so, we discover that what we think we know may be only a grain of sand in the desert—a vast expanse of endless possibilities and wonder.

I warmly invite you to watch this short yet insightful teaching talk, and to stay open to the well-being and possibilities that everyday life offer.

07/10/2026

29 August A Day of Well-being "Living Well with the Full Catastrophe of Life, Moment-by-Moment" at Fairfax Government Center, VA

Life is full of wonder and extraordinary moments. Unfortunately, many of us become so busy—caught up in daily schedules and responsibilities—that we overlook these moments. Often, we do not recognize their presence until life forces us to slow down and reevaluate our priorities due to a life changing situation. Let us not wait for those moments.

At this day, we will explore to discover that both peace & chaos coexist, joy & sadness are both present, just as day & night or warmth & cold arise based on conditions. Further, what we call happiness or suffering, heaven or hell, are often labels we place on our experiences—not necessarily the experiences themselves.

The path to well-being is not about working hard to make life more perfect or striving to become more skillful to handle challenges. Rather, it is about recognizing where we are caught—where we demand life to conform to our expectations. With clarity, we begin to see how often we insist on getting what we want, instead of learning to recognize the true situation, fully appreciate what present and live with what we already have.

The day of Well-being is offered free of charge at the Fairfax Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22193. The day will be held in a warm, friendly, and supportive environment, featuring a balanced program of practical teachings, mindfulness meditation, insightful storytelling, group discussions, and Q&A. Online registration is required at https://forms.gle/vqPtJWyBUCkRTTYL9 so we can adequately prepare for the event. Light lunch and water bottles will be provided.

06/19/2026

July 17–19 Retreat: The Awakening Heart

Emotions and feelings are an essential part of life. Joy and happiness bring depth and meaning to our most cherished moments. Yet at times, emotions can overwhelm us, especially during life’s difficulties. Our experience can feel like a roller coaster—rising with pleasant feelings we want to hold onto, and falling into painful ones we wish would quickly pass. Does life have to be this way—constantly chasing what feels good and resisting what feels bad?

Fortunately, the answer is no. The path of spiritual well-being does not require us to leave our lives behind for a monastery or a cave. Instead, it invites us to remain fully engaged in our everyday lives—with all their complexity and challenges—while developing a new way of seeing and experiencing each moment with greater clarity and understanding.

You are warmly invited to join our weekend mindfulness retreat, “The Awakening Heart,” on July 17–19 at Sinh Thuc Meditation Center in Wardensville, West Virginia. Together, we will explore themes that deeply affect our well-being, including relationships, physical health, body image, the pressures of busyness, and life in an always-connected digital world. We will also learn skillful ways to work with stress and anxiety, while recognizing and nurturing joy in everyday life. The retreat offers a balanced and enriching program, including guided meditation, Teaching talks, mindful living practices, storytelling and personal reflections, question-and-answer sessions, and small group discussions. Through these practices, participants will gain practical tools to cultivate greater peace, clarity, and well-being in daily life. Registration is available online at: https://forms.gle/yfx1bGu1Aonp4JLu7

05/12/2026

Meditation Center 21st Anniversary Celebration & Day of Well-being

This year marks the 21st anniversary of Sinh Thuc Meditation Center. We warmly invite you to join us for a special day of well-being and joyful celebration on Saturday June 6, from 10 AM to 4 PM in Wardensville, West Virginia.
09:30 AM Guests Arriving
10:00 Welcome & Introduction, Guided Meditation
Teaching Talk
12:00 PM Vegetarian Lunch & Break
01:30 Anniversary Celebration and Festivities
04:00 End

This gathering is a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with like-minded friends on the path, step away from the busyness of daily life, and relax deeply in the peace of nature. Together, we will nurture well-being through being mindfully, listen to the teaching talk, enjoy delicious vegetarian lunch, and celebrate the Center’s anniversary in a warm, friendly, and supportive community.

Please register online at https://forms.gle/gx72wLAM9ehk6LMi9 so we can thoughtfully prepare seating, food, and refreshments. Looking forward to see you on this special day!

05/08/2026

A 7-week Mindfulness Class on “Suffering is Optional, Well-being is Natural”

I would like to share with you that I am currently teaching a 7-week Mindfulness Meditation class — held every Friday afternoon in the Tyson, VA area. Although the participants are not necessarily Buddhists, the essence of mindful awareness has been presented through practical and universally teachings — transcending religious boundaries to touch the heart of each individual. With each session, participants have come to realize that Mindfulness is not something beyond reach or mystical — but rather a natural human ability available with openness to see life more clearly, more honestly, and live more fully, bringing joy and inner peace into even the most ordinary moments.

I am delighted to share with you a few photos capturing the meaningful sessions on this 7-week journey.

04/28/2026

Living with Perception is the Norm

The 7-minute video (https://youtu.be/EoTXaS5bMCE) explores the difference between reality and personal perception, offering a clear and practical way to recognize them in everyday life. We often blur the line between the two, and this confusion can lead to unnecessary stress and suffering. Simple, easy-to-remember tips are shared to help you notice the difference in real time.

I warmly invite you to watch this brief yet meaningful talk and discover how its insights might bring greater clarity, ease, and well-being into your life. I’d love to hear what resonates with you and any reflections that arise along the way.

04/17/2026

04/17/2026

Monastic Gathering at Kim Sơn Monastery on Mt Madonna in Northern California

Last week, I returned to Kim Sơn Monastery on Mount Madonna in Northern California—my home monastery, resting quietly on more than 45 acres of redwood forest. Among those ancient trees, I joined a large monastic gathering that felt less like an event and more like a homecoming of the heart. I reunited with the monastic brothers and sisters who once walked the path of spiritual training with me in the 1990s. Time has carried us far, and today each of them stands as a spiritual leader—abbots and abbesses guiding Buddhist temples across the country.

For a few precious days, we shared stories, silence, and the unspoken bond of a life devoted to the spiritual path. Then, as all gatherings must, it came to an end. With both tenderness and reluctance, we parted ways, each returning to our own temples and meditation centers—continuing the same quiet mission: to carry the light of wisdom into the world, for the benefit of all beings.