Hai Nguyen

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.

03/30/2026

We came together at the Spring weekend mindfulness retreat on 20-22 March to learn the Wisdom teaching, sat in meditation, listened to the Teaching talks, asked questions, shared life experiences, participated in group discussion, enjoyed delicious nutritional vegetarian meals and supported each others on the spiritual path. The weather was cool and beautiful. The mountain forest was awaken and began to show off its beauty with colorful flowers. Photos at the Spring weekend retreat may be viewed at

Shared album · Tap to view!

03/29/2026

Recognize Desires vs Necessity

The Short 4-minute teaching video (https://youtu.be/mENoDJ_wCQ8) was recorded during a weekend well-being retreat at Sinh Thuc Meditation Center. During this talk, I offers a profound reflection on how to discern between our everyday desires and our true-life necessities.

Many of us often confuse what we want with what we need, mistaking preferences for essentials. This misunderstanding can create unnecessary stress and make our already complex lives even more challenging.

I invite you to watch this brief yet insightful teaching and apply its wisdom to cultivate greater ease and well-being in your daily life. I would love to hear about your experiences and reflections.

03/05/2026

Mindfulness is NOT Awareness w/ Purpose

Years ago, I regularly taught mindfulness meditation each semester at the local college. One day during the break, a student came up to me and asked, “What is the definition of mindfulness? Is it paying attention from moment to moment? If it is, then it’s exhausting.”
She continued, “I am a federal protective agent. My job is to protect VIPs. Every day, that is all I do. I pay careful attention to everything. I watch everyone near and far—what they are doing, where their hands are, what they are looking at. By the time my shift ends, I am exhausted.”
I listened with empathy. I smiled gently and said, half-jokingly, “I hope that is not mindfulness, because if it is, then we are in trouble.” Then I continued, “What you have described is what I call ‘awareness with purpose’—paying attention with a specific agenda and intention. Mindfulness is the opposite. Mindfulness is natural awareness, open awareness without any agenda or purpose.”
“Think of a camera,” I said. “When you take a photo on the normal setting, the picture includes everything in view clearly. That is just how the camera works; it does not require much effort. This is like mindfulness—natural and effortless. But when you zoom the camera in on a single object, only that object is in focus. This is no longer the camera’s natural use and it requires effort. That is like awareness with specific purpose—not mindfulness.”
“So even when you sit cross-legged on a meditation cushion, quietly trying to guide your mind to stay with the breath and to be in the present moment, that is still not true mindfulness as it is paying attention with purpose. Mindfulness is effortless and as natural as life itself.”

In retreats at Sinh Thuc Meditation Center, I often say, “If what you are doing feels too hard, you may be doing it wrong.” I warmly invite you to join the Mar 20-22 Spring weekend retreat, where we will explore in-depth the Four Foundations of Mindfulness in practical, clear, and easy-to-understand ways.

Please register for the Mar 20-22 retreat online at https://forms.gle/VhRt9QQaAibGpSwk7

02/17/2026

Happy New Year of the Fire Horse!

Wishing everyone a vibrant year filled with good health and serenity. I look forward to connecting with you at the Sinh Thuc events throughout the year. Together, let’s keep the Fire Horse spirit burning bright—bringing positive energy, well-being, and true happiness to ourselves and our families.

02/09/2026

Living with greater Authenticity and Contentment

The spiritual path is not about changing external circumstances, conquering difficulties, or acquiring what we desire. Its true purpose is to understand ourselves completely, so we can rise above the limits of our own perceptions. Only when we see ourselves clearly do we become aware of the truth and begin to transform our actions, allowing us to live each day with greater authenticity and contentment.