What does it mean to bring mindfulness into American culture?

2 views

Skip to first unread message

Meena Srinivasan

unread,

Mar 5, 2026, 5:45:40 AM (7 days ago) Mar 5

to Association for Mindfulness in Education

Dear MiEN Community,

I wanted to share something special unfolding this spring at Deer Park Monastery that may resonate with many of you working at the intersection of mindfulness in education within an American context.

Brother Phap Dung will offer an 8-week course titled Americanizing Buddhism: Evolving a Living Buddhist Tradition in America, and all proceeds will support the Thich Nhat Hanh School of Interbeing, which will welcome its first cohort of students this fall.

Brother Phap Dung is an incredibly dynamic teacher whose talks always leave me feeling inspired, energized, and more deeply connected to the heart of contemplative practice. His ability to weave history, cultural insight, humor, and practical wisdom helps illuminate how ancient traditions can remain alive and relevant in our modern world.

For those who may not know him, Brother Phap Dung came to the United States as a Vietnamese refugee, grew up and was educated here, and later ordained as a monk in the Plum Village tradition founded by Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh. His life experience uniquely positions him to explore how contemplative traditions adapt and evolve across cultures, particularly in the United States.

He has also been a meaningful presence in our family’s life. When our son Kai is around him, Brother Phap Dung always takes time to kneel down and play with him, meeting him fully with warmth and presence. That same quality of attention is what he brings to his teaching.

Brother Phap Dung, together with Brother Phap Luu, has also been one of the monastic guides and visionaries supporting the creation of the Thich Nhat Hanh School of Interbeing, a new educational initiative inspired by mindfulness, ethics, and belonging.

I also want to share a small personal story. In the fall of 2011, during one of Thich Nhat Hanh’s teaching tours, I had tea with Brother Phap Dung at Blue Cliff Monastery. At the time I was unsure whether the householder path was for me. After listening quietly, he paused, tilted his head slightly, and said with a calm confidence, “I see it. You are going to be a mother one day, and you will bring your family to the monastery.”

Fifteen years later, here we are. Our family has moved to the foothills of Deer Park to help support the founding of the Thich Nhat Hanh School of Interbeing.

If you are curious about this journey and the vision for the school, the most recent issue of The Mindfulness Bell includes an article that shares more about our family’s move and the unfolding of the school.

This course offers a thoughtful exploration of how contemplative traditions evolve as they move across cultures, and what it means to carry forward a living lineage in ways that are responsive to the needs of our time.

COURSE DETAILS

Americanizing Buddhism: Evolving a Living Buddhist Tradition in America

Dates: April 18 – June 13, 2026

Over eight sessions, Brother Phap Dung will explore how Buddhism has historically adapted across cultures and what it means for these teachings to take root authentically in the United States today. The course includes weekly talks, a live Q and A session, and optional small group dialogue circles.

All funds raised through this course will directly support the Thich Nhat Hanh School of Interbeing.

If this resonates with you, we warmly invite you to join.

Learn more here: https://deerparkmonastery.org/courses/americanizing-buddhism-course/

Whether you participate for your own learning or simply wish to support the school through this offering, we would be deeply grateful.