Old Path Sangha, a Small Sangha in a Tiny Village with a Big Heart
Old Path Sangha, located in historic Bucks county, Pennsylvania, is a community of people who practice mindfulness in the tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh.
Our Mission….
As a small community of mindfulness practitioners, we welcome everyone with warmth and kindness, and we recognize the invaluable support of a spiritual community. We seek to nurture mindfulness in our daily lives and to share our practice with others to promote greater understanding and love.
Old Path Sangha then….
Old Path Sangha, one of the oldest in Bucks county, was founded in 1998 by Valerie Brown, Michael Dessoy, Ben Marcune and Kathy Tanner. The sangha was formed after Judith and Philip Toy, long-time Quakers and students of Thich Nhat Hanh, left historic Rolling Green Farm in New Hope to live closer to their family in North Carolina. The Toys lovingly nurtured Old Path Zendo at their 300-year old farm, holding weekly sitting meditation sessions, a prison sangha, teaching mindfulness courses at the local community college, holding sesshins, and Days of Mindfulness.
After the Toys moved to the south, Old Path Sangha was formed, leaving Rolling Green Farm and found a home at St. Philip’s Chapel, located next to the village’s dormant beaver pond and adjacent to Primrose Creek and the charming Hotel du Village. Since we’ve relocated to St. Philip’s in 1999, the sangha has supported many events, including our 10th anniversary celebration, Days of Mindfulness open to the entire community, weekly mindfulness practice sessions, and sangha potluck dinners. Old Path Sangha has assisted poor children in Vietnam, participated in interfaith community events, and published a sangha newsletter and chanting book.
Old Path Sangha now….
We remain a small community of mindfulness practitioners dedicated to the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, though we draw on the wisdom of other well-know teachers and wisdom traditions.
Old Path Sangha has nurtured members seeking to ordain in the Order of Interbeing (OI) and has several OI members. The sangha was instrumental in the founding of Dharma Moon Sangha, which began with the work of former Old Path Sangha member, Michael Gill.
We meet the third Wednesday of each month at St. Philip’s Chapel located at River and Chapel Road in New Hope, PA, 7:30-9:30 pm. We welcome everyone: those who are brand new to the practice of mindfulness meditation and those with decades of experience.
Our Monthly Meeting Format
Welcome & Introductions
Inspirational Reading followed by 30-minute silent sitting meditation
Walking Meditation 15-20 minutes
Inspirational Reading followed by 20-minute silent sitting meditation
Dharma Discussion 12-20 minutes---This is an opportunity to practice mindful speaking and listening
Closing
All are welcome.
A modest $5.00 donation is requested to support St. Philip’s Chapel.
About Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh…
Thich Nhat Hanh is one of the best-known Zen Buddhist teachers in the world today. His best-selling books include The Miracle of Mindfulness and Peace is Every Step. He lives in Plum Village, in southwest France, where he gardens, writes, and teaches on the art of mindful living.
About St. Philip’s Chapel…
Meeting in a picturesque former one-room schoolhouse, St Philip's Episcopal Church has represented the life and spirit of New Hope and the surrounding communities for nearly 85 years.
The original building was constructed of locally quarried stone sometime between 1800 and 1820 for use by the township as a school. The school was always known as "The Phillips School" because the land had been donated by a local family of that name. The building was abandoned for use as a school in 1919 due to declining enrollment.
In the late 1980's a beaver dam on nearby Primrose Creek created a pond that threatened the chapel building. After much deliberation on how to best manage this situation, the beaver was eventually moved and the threat to the chapel was relieved. One can still see the vestiges of the beaver pond on the property and there is also a monthly poetry sharing group that bears the name "Beaver Pond Poetry Forum."
Want More Information….
Contact: Valerie Brown 215-933-9978 or [email protected].
Old Path Sangha, located in historic Bucks county, Pennsylvania, is a community of people who practice mindfulness in the tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh.
Our Mission….
As a small community of mindfulness practitioners, we welcome everyone with warmth and kindness, and we recognize the invaluable support of a spiritual community. We seek to nurture mindfulness in our daily lives and to share our practice with others to promote greater understanding and love.
Old Path Sangha then….
Old Path Sangha, one of the oldest in Bucks county, was founded in 1998 by Valerie Brown, Michael Dessoy, Ben Marcune and Kathy Tanner. The sangha was formed after Judith and Philip Toy, long-time Quakers and students of Thich Nhat Hanh, left historic Rolling Green Farm in New Hope to live closer to their family in North Carolina. The Toys lovingly nurtured Old Path Zendo at their 300-year old farm, holding weekly sitting meditation sessions, a prison sangha, teaching mindfulness courses at the local community college, holding sesshins, and Days of Mindfulness.
After the Toys moved to the south, Old Path Sangha was formed, leaving Rolling Green Farm and found a home at St. Philip’s Chapel, located next to the village’s dormant beaver pond and adjacent to Primrose Creek and the charming Hotel du Village. Since we’ve relocated to St. Philip’s in 1999, the sangha has supported many events, including our 10th anniversary celebration, Days of Mindfulness open to the entire community, weekly mindfulness practice sessions, and sangha potluck dinners. Old Path Sangha has assisted poor children in Vietnam, participated in interfaith community events, and published a sangha newsletter and chanting book.
Old Path Sangha now….
We remain a small community of mindfulness practitioners dedicated to the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, though we draw on the wisdom of other well-know teachers and wisdom traditions.
Old Path Sangha has nurtured members seeking to ordain in the Order of Interbeing (OI) and has several OI members. The sangha was instrumental in the founding of Dharma Moon Sangha, which began with the work of former Old Path Sangha member, Michael Gill.
We meet the third Wednesday of each month at St. Philip’s Chapel located at River and Chapel Road in New Hope, PA, 7:30-9:30 pm. We welcome everyone: those who are brand new to the practice of mindfulness meditation and those with decades of experience.
Our Monthly Meeting Format
Welcome & Introductions
Inspirational Reading followed by 30-minute silent sitting meditation
Walking Meditation 15-20 minutes
Inspirational Reading followed by 20-minute silent sitting meditation
Dharma Discussion 12-20 minutes---This is an opportunity to practice mindful speaking and listening
Closing
All are welcome.
A modest $5.00 donation is requested to support St. Philip’s Chapel.
About Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh…
Thich Nhat Hanh is one of the best-known Zen Buddhist teachers in the world today. His best-selling books include The Miracle of Mindfulness and Peace is Every Step. He lives in Plum Village, in southwest France, where he gardens, writes, and teaches on the art of mindful living.
About St. Philip’s Chapel…
Meeting in a picturesque former one-room schoolhouse, St Philip's Episcopal Church has represented the life and spirit of New Hope and the surrounding communities for nearly 85 years.
The original building was constructed of locally quarried stone sometime between 1800 and 1820 for use by the township as a school. The school was always known as "The Phillips School" because the land had been donated by a local family of that name. The building was abandoned for use as a school in 1919 due to declining enrollment.
In the late 1980's a beaver dam on nearby Primrose Creek created a pond that threatened the chapel building. After much deliberation on how to best manage this situation, the beaver was eventually moved and the threat to the chapel was relieved. One can still see the vestiges of the beaver pond on the property and there is also a monthly poetry sharing group that bears the name "Beaver Pond Poetry Forum."
Want More Information….
Contact: Valerie Brown 215-933-9978 or [email protected].