About Us

 We are a community of experienced practitioners and beginners, from many different backgrounds, spiritual traditions, and beliefs. Newcomers and visitors are always welcome. 

Ripples of Peace Sangha is an open community of practice whose members come together weekly to strengthen and support our individual practice through meditation and through the study and discussion of Buddhist teachings. Our principal teacher and spiritual guide is Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh whose interpretations of ancient Buddhist texts and personal teachings inspire us and point the way to deeper understanding, insight, and mindfulness.

Thus we say that we practice in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, and we focus our sangha activities on the study and practice of his teachings.  However, this does not mean that we exclude the wisdom of countless other Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Dharma teachers whose guidance enriches our practice and our lives.

We practice together weekly on Tuesday evenings from 5:15 – 6:45pm in the Childrens Chapel, First Parish UU Church at 114 Main Street, in the heart of Kennebunk, Maine on the first and third weeks. The remainder weeks are online. Our weekly reminders gives you our schedule. Our weekly gatherings include sitting and walking meditation, reading Buddhist teachings, and discussion.

Our group activities reflect our individual commitments to practice compassion, lovingkindness, equanimity, and joyfulness. We are an open and welcoming community for any and all who wish to practice with us, or who wish to explore meditation and Buddhist practice to determine whether or not they will undertake the practice as a personal commitment.

We support and encourage one another to take our practice beyond the meditation cushion and to practice “engaged Buddhism” in the larger community and the world. Ripples of Peace Sangha, however, is not a political or social action group.

Respectful of one another’s privacy and the integrity of our practice, we do not use or seek to use the sangha as a means of personal gain or personal advantage, and we consider all matters discussed within the sangha as personal and confidential.

Community

"It is possible that the next Buddha will not take the form of an individual. The next Buddha may take the form of a community — a community practicing understanding and lovingkindness, a community practicing mindful living. This may be the most important thing we can do for the survival of the Earth."

—THICH NHAT HANH