Mark M. Miller
I have never been lost, but I will admit to being confused for several weeks.
- Daniel Boone
Professor of Geography at
the
University of
Southern Mississippi
Curriculum vitae
Video: how I became a geographer
Interested in the Peace Corps?
(Peace Corps Volunteer, Belize 1979-1981)
Geography Lounge
Geography should be fascinating & fun
Gratuitous advice for students
USM Classes:
- World Regional Geography
- Political Geography
- Spring 2012: Qualitative research in geography & development (undergrad & grad)
- Summer 2010: Economic Geography (GHY 350: online)
AAG Healthy Departments:
International Education & Geography
Economic development for low-income communities
Hattiesburg Neighborhood Project
[click here for neighborhood map]
USDA/RD Rural Economic Disaster Recovery Resource Center
Economic development video project
The Moss Point recovery story:
Magnolia Grove Village & Monastery CULTIVATING THE MIND OF LOVE |
|
 |
|
"Ten years ago Magnolia Grove was little more than 120 acres purchased by a group of committed individuals and families. With hard work, dedication and coordinated effort they created a large meditation hall with an adjoining commercial kitchen to feed participants, and they built by hand a guesthouse to host 120 laypeople. The vision of the community that built this beautiful practice center was more fully realized when Thich Nhat Hanh accepted Magnolia Grove Monastery as a mindfulness practice center in October 2005. Today, more than thirty monastics from Thich Nhat Hanh’s monasteries are in residence." (Magnolia Grove Monastery. Retrieved October 2, 2011: http://www.magnoliavillage.org/) |
|
 A few miles from Batesville, Mississippi.... |
 On the edge of the Mississippi Delta.... |
 The Magnolia Grove Village, Monastery, and Mindfulness Practice Center, in the tradition of "Engaged" or "Applied Buddhism," as created and taught by Thich Nhat Hanh. |
 |
 |
Referred to as "Thay" (Teacher), Thich Nhat Hanh is a Zen Buddhist monk from Vietnam. He gained international attention with his opposition to the violence by both sides of the Vietnam War. Exiled for 40 years by the Vietnamese government, Thay established the Plum Village teaching center in France, followed by Deer Park in California and Blue Cliff in New York - and now Magnolia Grove in Mississippi. He is the author of dozens of books of spiritual teaching, poetry, children's books, and a novel. He has fans and followers around the world. Thay has created a unique tradition of Zen Buddhism which emphasizes "mindfulness" as a path to peace (both inner peace and peace from conflicts between people, groups, and countries) and taking Buddhism out of the monastery and into action in real-world situations. For more information, see the Plum Village website - http://www.plumvillage.org/ - or Thich Nhat Hanh's Facebook page. (Left: Thay about to give a "dharma talk," or lecture, at Magnolia Grove; all photos by MMM) |
Thay's 2011 schedule takes him to places including Tokyo and Kyoto, Japan; Thailand; Vancouver, Canada; Germany, Washington DC; California; Denver; New York City.... and Mississippi! The Monks and Nuns of Magnolia Grove were very pleasantly surprised that Thay's tour organizers were able to squeeze a five-day Mississippi retreat into the crowded world schedule. They had to cap registration at 800 participants - from across the South and elsewhere across the US. For more information, see the Magnolia Village website: http://www.magnoliavillage.org/ (Right: participants start to gather to join Thay for his daily "walking meditation") |
 |
|
If you are interested, here are some of Thich Nhat Hanh's best-known books of teachings:
Walking Meditation, w/DVD & CD-ROM (2006)
|
|
|
The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation
Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life