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The Mindfulness Meditation Centre

The Mindfulness Meditation Center (MMC) is a group that provides support and instruction for those interested in developing their own mindfulness practice. This practice enables us to become aware of our habits of thinking and reacting and eventually to be able to make wholesome changes.

The practice at MMC is inspired by the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh who has brought together the Zen and Vipassana traditions, and helped make the word “Mindfulness” a part of our everyday vocabulary. This practice aims to bring our accumulated wisdom, knowledge and insights to bear upon the present moment and every moment, and has proved to be useful in counseling, education, therapy, and the creative arts. Countless people have used it successfully to lead happier and more productive lives, to improve the quality of their relationships, and to deal with the stresses of modern living. The practice of moment to moment awareness, attention to ordinary tasks, and seeing poetry in everyday events is conducive to transformation and healing.
As we grow in awareness, different vistas open up, and mindfulness lights up more areas of our life. This dynamic aspect of the practice is stressed at MMC where every session has a slightly different focus, and the excitement of the adventure of self-discovery is always present.

About MMC

In 2010-11, the Mindfulness Meditation Centre begins its 14th year of continuous operation. During this time weekly meetings have been held in Pointe-Claire and in Montreal. The Montreal group currently meets at Padua, a centre for contemporary spirituality at 1950 St. Antoine Street West (metro Georges Vanier). The Pointe-Claire group has been meeting all along at 43 De Breslay Street, in the Village area of Pointe-Claire. More can be found on these weekly meetings under Weekly Programs.

Membership costs 80 dollars for the fall session, September 13 to December 13 (students and people on restricted budgets please mention this fact in order to qualify for a reduced rate). Members attend all weekly programs and Mindfulness Days without cost and have free access to our lending library. But more importantly, with their contributions they make our programs possible, and help others enjoy discovering mindfulness practice.

Joseph Emet founded the centre, and presently coordinates and guides its activities. He has been entrusted with the Lamp Transmission as a Dharmacharya (Dharma Teacher) on January 15, 2003 by Thich Nhat Hanh in Plum Village. He has been a Fulbright Scholar, holds a Doctorate from Boston University, and has been certified in Reality Therapy counseling. He is the author of Basket of Plums, a boxed set with two CD's of Mindfulness Songs and the music by Parallax Press (with a foreword by Thich Nhat Hanh).

For many people, the essence of MMC is in the joy of sharing the practice of mindfulness— in the intimate and revealing conversations that take place during our meetings. Teachings are of course also available from books. For many people, the deficit is not in the teachings, but in the application of the teachings to everyday life. Teachings from books can remain general and distant. They only come to life when they are used — in our approach to workplace conflicts, to family life, and to simple tasks such as meal preparation and eating. This is most often the topic of our sharing and discussion that is part of every meeting.