The Anapanasati Sutra : The Path of Emancipation

Dwelling in the Here and Now

We hope you will join Sangha members from Deep River Sangha and from across the continent on Thursday, September 18, at 7 p.m. ET for the first in our series of 10 programs, as we gather to begin our monthly exploration of the Anapanasati Sutra on the Sixteen Exercises of Mindful Breathing, which are at the heart of the teachings offered by Thich Nhat Hanh and the Plum Village community. By studying, practicing, and observing these exercises together with the Sangha, we can discover healing, transformation and insight for ourselves, our ancestors, families, communities, and the world.

New Dharma Teachers Susan Poulos from Deep River Sangha, and Denys Candy from the River Valley Sangha in Northampton, Mass. will offer their reflections this month. Our Core Sutra Study Sangha meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month (September 2025 - June 2026). We are encouraged by Chan Huy to study and practice as a Sangha to amplify and strengthen the application and embodiment of these teachings for ourselves, our families, our communities, and for the world.

This year participants are invited to use The Path of Emancipation. You can purchase this new at Parallax Press, using Discount Code: sangha20. You may also be able to find it used at many fine Re-Use Book Stores

We have developed a new Website that has all the information you need as we study and practice together for the next 10 months (the third Thursday of each month through June 2026).

September Readings: The Path of Emancipation Pages 1 - 35: optional : 261 - 276

Zoom link for 7 p.m. (Eastern Time): 

https://zoom.us/j/780647439?pwd=bCt3N2EyOSs1NXVObVhaVXphMXl4Zz09

Meeting ID: 780 647 439  -  Password: 031129     

To support our deepening of our practice this month, we are invited to incorporate one or more of the following practices / reflections below:

1. Download the Mindfulness Bell from the Plum Village App onto your phone, or set a timer to go off periodically. When you hear the bell or the timer, stop and breathe in and out mindfully 3 times. Notice what you experience during this practice.

2. When you go to bed at night, practice breathing in and out with complete attention 5-10 times. (You may like to start with 5 breaths and work up to 10.) Notice what you experience during this practice.

Thich Nhat Hanh studies the “Discourse on the Full Awareness of Breathing” in the book.
Consider these points:

• How does paying close attention to the breath impact the experience of the present moment?

• What are the challenges in sustaining mindfulness of breath?

• How can mindful breathing be integrated into daily activities?

Questions?
joyfulsutrastudy@gmail.com

Visit our Web site

If you need help downloading the Plum Village App to your mobile device, tablet, laptop or desktop, please see below, or write to info@deepriversangha.org.

Looking forward to taking this journey together!

Plum Village App is also on mobile, offering extras like the Bell of Mindfulness and Meditation Timer.

Our Joyful Sutra Study Mission

We are an online Sangha that meets monthly to explore the essential Buddhist teachings at the heart of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s Plum Village tradition. All are welcome for an evening of practice that includes meditation, Dharma reflections by Dharma Teachers and Order of Interbeing members, and small group sharing. We aspire to create a supportive space for deepening our understanding of these core teachings and learning ways to apply them in everyday life.