What Tradition and Teachings Is MPCF's Mindfulness Practice Based On?

The Mindfulness Practice Center of Fairfax (MPCF) practices in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. Its approach treats mindfulness as an inherent human capacity for healing and renewal, developed through conscious breathing and aware attention to the body, feelings, mind, and world—while avoiding harm to oneself and others. The center frames the practice plainly as "the practice of love."

The Tradition: Thich Nhat Hanh

MPCF identifies itself as a center "in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh." This lineage shapes both the language the center uses and the practices it offers. The site's own description of mindfulness—its emphasis on healing, transformation, and peace available "in the here and now"—reflects that tradition's characteristic vocabulary.

Core Teaching: Mindfulness as Inherent Capacity

According to the center's own explanation, mindfulness is "our inherent capacity of healing and renewal." It is presented not as something acquired from outside but as a capacity already present, which practice cultivates. The stated purpose is transformative: "the basis for transforming ourselves and creating a more harmonious family and society."

What mindfulness means in practice

The center defines being mindful as being aware of what is going on:

• in your body
• in your feelings
• in your mind
• in the world

This awareness is paired with an ethical orientation: practitioners "avoid doing harm to ourselves and others."

Conscious breathing as the method

The central technique described is conscious breathing—"breathing and knowing we are breathing." Through this, the center says, practitioners can "touch and be nourished by the peace and joy that are available within and around us, in the here and now."

With continued practice, the teaching holds that practitioners "touch and understand the roots of the pain that lie deep within us, such as fear, anger, despair, thus making transformation and healing possible."

Mindfulness as the Practice of Love

The center's summary statement is direct: "The practice of mindfulness is the practice of love. Mindfulness relieves suffering because it is filled with understanding and compassion." This links the meditation instruction to an ethical and relational aim rather than a purely personal relaxation goal.

How the Teachings Appear in MPCF's Programs

The center's events carry the tradition's themes into specific formats. From the site's calendar:

The "Five Mindfulness Trainings" class is the most explicit link to the Thich Nhat Hanh tradition, since the trainings are a formal set of ethical guidelines in that lineage. The site also lists "Selected Mindfulness Practices for those in situations of violence, natural disaster, or war," and a collection of songs and guided meditations by Anh-Huong Nguyen.

If You Want to Explore Further

• For a first taste: the regular online meditation sessions (weekday mornings or Thursday evening) are the lowest-commitment entry point listed.
• For structured study: the Five Mindfulness Trainings class runs six evenings and requires registration.
• For a single event: the online workshop or the nature walk suit one-time participation.
• For the center's own framing: the "Mindfulness Meditation & Practices" section of the site contains the full explanation summarized above.

Note that the site lists a mailing list (subscribe/unsubscribe), donations, and a sponsor program, but does not publish fees or pricing for its events on the pages reviewed—check individual event listings or contact the center for cost and registration details.