Advaita Vedanta

Mindfulness Meditation group practice every Wednesday evening at Unity of Gaithersburg. Mindfulness practice is not about achieving some special state of mind; it is more about noticing the experience you are having without trying to change it. This interesting video suggests why you might sit and watch your mind wander off. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmmBF8eTl18 This noticing tends to shift your nervous system from a 'fight-or-flight' state to a more relaxed and receptive state. In this receptive mental state, you begin to see your own experience differently and, over time, see other people and the world differently. Also, it is good for you: "the effect of regular meditation on the cortex was so profound that fifty-year-old meditators had a prefrontal cortex that looked like that of a twenty-five-year-old" [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PLRZVTT](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PLRZVTT) Here is an interesting and funny take on meditation by Ajahn Brahm: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR60RRmXeYs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR60RRmXeYs). If you arrive on time, there will be an introduction at the beginning, if you arrive late, find a chair and join us. There will be some discussion after. This is a free event, but contributions to the church's expenses are welcome. You can just show up this Wednesday or subsequent Wednesdays. More information at [https://www.unityofgaithersburg.org](https://www.unityofgaithersburg.org/)/

**Living with Purpose: Meditations for a Peaceful Life** **Wednesdays, 7:00pm-8:00pm** **With various Kadampa Teachers** Living with Purpose: The Power of Prayer & Meditation Wednesdays, May 13 - June 3, 7pm-8pm Reciting prayers is a special method for generating positive, peaceful states of mind, letting go of inner negativity and opening up our hearts to inspiration. Prayers serve as a powerful foundation for successful meditation on all the stages of the path to lasting happiness and enlightenment. Join us for this four-week series as we explore the meaning and function of The Liberating Prayer and Prayers for Meditation. Through understanding and reciting these prayers, we learn how to connect with positive intentions, deepen our meditation practice, and bring greater purpose and clarity into our daily life. No prior experience is needed—just an open mind and a willingness to explore. May 27: Living with Intention: Connecting to Clarity and Purpose June 3: How to Meditate for a Busy Life *June 10th: No Class Offering to the Spiritual Guide* **REGISTRATION** Standard: $12 \| Financial Hardship $6 \| Free for [Members](https://meditation-dc.org/membership/) [Pre-Register Here](https://meditation-dc.org/lamrim-meditation/) Each class is available by drop in. Everyone is welcome to attend, no previous experience is required. **LOCATION** Kadampa Meditation Center DC 1200 Canal St\. SW \| Washington\, DC 20024 **Metro Stop:** Waterfront or Navy Yard

Capoeira (capo-way-ra) is an Afro-Brazilian martial art that is unlike any other martial art. Capoeira incorporates flowing movements with kicks, dodges, and some acrobatics. It is often mistaken for a dance for those reasons. Since it’s origins in the 17th century, it has evolved from a secret fighting practice into an art emphasizing self-expression and community celebration. It is great for the body and mind! In addition to gaining strength and flexibility in class, students learn about Brazilian culture, history, and language (Portuguese). On November 26, 2014 capoeira was granted a special protected status as "intangible cultural heritage” by UNESCO. The session is offered InStudio only. **Sign up at www.piesfitnessyoga.com required at least two hours before class begins.** The address is 1322 Prince St Alexandria, VA 22314. Our entrance is located on the side of the building, parallel to West St. **Street parking is available and additional parking is located at Shiloh Baptist church, spaces 36,37,38,39.** The church is located across the street from the studio, on the corner of Duke St. and West St.

Covid Alert: We will start having classes again at Canal Park on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Please bring your own hand sanitizer, and mask are a must! We'll practice from a safe distance from each other; and progress from there. "DC Kali" is an official training group for FCS Kali. Our curriculum includes knifes, swords, stick-fighting, striking, and grappling; but we place a special emphasis on edged weapons. Please come out and learn some Kali. Our aim is to train hard, learn some sound defense strategies, and make friends along the way. Although FCS Kali is a combat-oriented systems that involves edged weapons, we provide a safe environment for learning w/o sacrificing realism in our training. We teach in small semi-private groups, allowing each individual student to progress as quickly as he or she can absorb the info being taught. Hope to see you all there. Mosi K. Jack, Esq. Training Group Instructor · FCS Manong (under Tuhon Ray Dionaldo) http://www.fcskali.com/ ) FCS Kali: Founded by Tuhon Ray Dionaldo,Filipino Combat Systems is an organization dedicated the preservation and promotion of all Filipino Martial Arts. Filipino Combat Systems(FCS) is an organization/system with members from around the world. FCS is based onTuhon Ray Dionaldo's over 35 years of practicing various FMA (Filipino Martial Arts) styles. He's combine elements of each, into one system that's efficient, fast, concise, and logical. FCS members have extremely diverse backgrounds, and Martial Arts systems. We’ve all come together because of our love of the Filipino Martial Arts, and our unwillingness to become involved in the politics that has so often stifled our growth. Please pick one of the following class and fee combos: Drop-In Fee: $25/per class (after 1st free Saturday class) Monthly fees: $80/month (Wednesday park classes included for free), or Quarterly fees: $210/every 3 months (which comes to $70/month; includes the Wednesday park classes), or Wednesday Park only: $50/month • Credit cards and Paypal are preferred method of payment (online payments via Square are available at: https://squareup.com/market/dc-kali ) • One free trial class is permitted (but must rsvp ahead of class) • Equipment: if you have training knives, rattan sticks, training swords, and/or mma gloves bring them. If not, we may have a few extra. Training Videos http://www.fcskaliphilippines.com/fcs-curriculum-videos.html http://www.bloodnbonesgear.com/id5.html

Tuesdays\, Wednesdays \| 12:15pm\-12:35pm Take an afternoon break and intentionally cultivate inner peace, mindfulness and concentration, No previous experience is necessary. No special clothing is required. Just show up! Each 20 minute session will include: * A short introduction to the meditation for the day * A guided meditation to relax and refresh body and mind * Advice for the day ahead No experience is necessary. Everyone is welcome! **REGISTRATION** Standard: $5 \| Financial Hardship Available \| Free for [Members](https://meditation-dc.org/membership/) [Pre-Register Here](https://meditation-dc.org/quick-class-registration/#top) Each class is available by drop in. Everyone is welcome to attend, no previous experience is required. **LOCATION** Kadampa Meditation Center DC 1200 Canal St\. SW \| Washington\, DC 20024 **Metro Stop:** Waterfront or Navy Yard

* **Discover the doorway to peace, love, and divine guidance** * **Learn how to handle day-to-day life through a simple spiritual practice** * **Get the benefits of awakening to the present moment** **Whether you are searching for inner peace, spiritual connection, or a greater sense of purpose, this Regional ECK Light and Sound Service offers practical spiritual tools and insights to help you experience the richness of the moment you are living now. We gladly welcome people of all faiths; feel free to invite friends and family.** **Two easy ways to participate!** **IN-PERSON** **Virtual participation:** **Maryland ECK Center** **1738 Elton Rd #104** **Silver Spring, MD 20903** **ON ZOOM:** **[Register for the Zoom meeting](https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcucuurqjguGtVWSduDgvFcnm30OKRD2pRy#/registration)** **After registering, you will receive a** **confirmation email containing login** **information for joining the meeting.** **For local information:** Call or text: (301) 439-2120 [MEC@eckankarmaryland.org](mailto:MEC@eckankarmaryland.org)

[Book Your Classes by Clicking This Link! ](https://crowndancestudio.com/group-classes/) Friday: Advanced Expression End the work week with high-energy **Advanced Rhythm** from **7:00 PM to 8:30 PM**. This session dives deep into the technicalities of Latin and Ballroom styles like Rumba, Samba, or Mambo, designed for dancers who value precision and artistic expression. For $25, you'll receive intensive instruction that pushes your physical boundaries and refines your competitive or performance edge in a high-vibe atmosphere. **When: Every Friday** **Time: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm.** **1 Dances per month:** **\*Please check the flyer on the group class page for the dance of the month. Or contact us to find out.** **Cost:$25 per person for 90 min.**

This event is a fundraiser for The Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, NSAC (The CSE). Readers volunteer their time in 15-minute sessions to provide a sampling of a reader’s abilities and introduce patrons to various modalities. You will have the opportunity to experience Inner Healing, Guidance, and Connection, through modalities such as Mediumship, Reiki, Tarot, Reflexology, Pet Readings, and much more! To see Reader bios and reserve your spot(s) in advance by credit card for $20 each, use the QR code in the flyer on the right; click here https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4FA5AC2DABF9C52-64171716-psychic#/; or pay at the door with cash or by credit card through PayPal. Park free at Kaiser Permanente garage across N. Washington street, at Park Av. entrance. Address any questions to thecse@thecse.org.

Playtesting Agent and Battle-scale of the Zone-17 role-playing and miniatures game.

Join us for an hour of relaxing Yoga which. Cost: Free Level: Beginners What we will be doing: 1. This will be an hour long beginners flow yoga class. You are welcome to join if you are experienced or absolute beginner, just being interested is enough. Yoga is for everyone! 2. Through this meetup we will learn some yoga poses, breathing techniques, stretch our body, build strength. More importantly, we will try to learn about our body and find inner peace. Please: 1. don't get too full before practice but you can always bring snacks. 2. Please be on time, class will start on time. 3. Wear comfy clothes. 4. Bring your own mat or towel, water and YOURSELF. 5. UnRSVP if you can't make it. Disclaimer: Please consult with your healthcare provider before beginning any exercise program, including yoga. Yoga involves physical movement and may not be suitable for everyone. It is important to listen to your body and modify poses as needed to accommodate your individual needs and abilities. By participating in this yoga class, you acknowledge that you are responsible for your own safety and well-being, and agree to release the instructor from any liability for injuries or damages that may occur during or after the class

Socrates Café meets twice a month. Though this may be considered a "philosophical" group, there are no rules as to what is discussed. Usually, the topics revolve around social concerns, morality, and the first principles of things. Prior to each meeting we vote online for the questions we will discuss. That way, we will have enough time to ruminate on them and have more in-depth conversations. If you RSVP to a meeting, you may post your question in the event comments section below. I'll send out a survey for voting a few days prior to the meetup. We discuss two questions each night. So you will get to cast two votes in the survey. When we meet, we break into smaller groups of five to seven to discuss the top two vote-getters. Each group discusses one question for around 45-50 minutes, and we then take a short break. After reconvening, each group moves on to its second question. Hope to see you there! -Brian

Rev. Steven Clevenger is an ordained spiritualist minister with over 40 years experience as a Spiritual Healer, Clairvoyant and Spiritual Teacher, educated and trained at the White Lily Chapel. Rev. Siobhan Wolf Shaffer is an ordained spiritualist minister and certified medium and healer with over 20 years experience. She began her development in 1988 in Pennsylvania and continued when she moved to Ohio in 1998 where she studied at Rays of Lights Church with Rev. Steven Clevenger. Our full worship services consist of an inspirational lecture, healing meditation, and messages from the spirit world that serve to demonstrate evidence of eternal life. Please visit our Official Church Website (http://raysoflightchurch.com) for more information.

# **Saturday, June 20, 2026** **Beginners’ Session 1:30 to 2:00 PM** **Dancing 2:00 to 4:30 PM** **Band: Gem City Revelers** **Caller: David Mould** **You are invited to join us for dinner at Olive and Lime (in the church’s back parking lot) after the dance.** **Location: First Unitarian Universalist Church, 93 W. Weisheimer Road, Columbus, OH 43214.** **Cost is $10 for adults, $5 ages 12-25.** **New to dancing? A beginners’ session, from 1:30 to 2:00 PM, will get you started. You will learn some basic figures that will be repeated in the afternoon’s dances. All dances will be taught and no partner is needed. Dancing is from 2:00 to 4:30 PM.** **Please bring your own refillable water bottle.** **All Soles Dance upcoming dance dates are, as follows:** **July 25, 2026–Summer Potluck and Dance** **No August Dance** **September 26, 2026** **October 17, 2026** **November 21, 2026** **December 19, 2026** **Visit our website at: https://firstuucolumbus.org/connection/all-soles/**

I have been studying the question of "self" online with Prof. Ellie Anderson and so I thought a prompt on the "self" might be interesting. Full confession: I had Claude create this prompt and I like it, so here goes: Imagine a thought experiment that merges two classic puzzles: > You undergo a procedure, performed neuron by neuron, in which every biological component of your brain is replaced with a functionally identical synthetic substitute. At each step, your behavior, memories, and personality remain unchanged. When the last neuron is swapped, is the consciousness experiencing the world still you? And — more pressingly — was there ever a continuous "you" to begin with? ### Questions to Wrestle With * If consciousness is purely physical, does the *gradual* nature of the replacement matter, or is it equivalent to being destroyed and rebuilt? * Could there be a "self" without continuity of experience — even moment to moment, while you sleep? On a more practical level, consider the simpler case first: **hemispherectomy** patients — people who have had an entire cerebral hemisphere surgically removed — often retain a strong sense of personal identity and continuity. This suggests "you" are not rigidly tied to specific physical material. But does that vindicate the synthetic neuron case, or merely show that identity is more *flexible* than we thought — not that it can survive *complete* substrate replacement? I used Claude so I could get this out today and let everyone have some time to consider it. Hope to see you at the Oracle. Sorry about the location change two weeks ago. That's what I get for trusting local weather predictions!

Start your week the right way with Manic Mondays. Giving you an enjoyable Bachata lesson with a push of cool moves. The second hour has Beginner/Intermediate Salsa on 1. You must understand basic Salsa skills to participate. 730pm-830pm Bachata Cool Moves 830pm-930pm Salsa On 1 (Beginner/Intermediate) 15 for One Class 20 for Both Free Parking & Plenty of Dance Space. Viva Dance Columbus 2809 Festival Lane Dublin OH 43017

Sleep in on Sundays. When you've had your fill of pajama-time, roll out and have some tasty brunch with your fellow Humanists!

Ciao a tutt\*! Let's meet Monday at 6.30pm at the Upper Arlington Library (Tremont Branch) in **Meeting Room A** to speak in Italian for 1 hour.

We will have our certified mediums available and you can receive 3 10-minute readings for $20. To keep you safe, we will be following all CDC and Health Dept. guidelines at our psychic fair today. Sitters and readers required to wear a mask. We will maintain a minimum of 6 foot physical distance during readings. Please, if you can, bring your own portable chair to use during your readings. Please note that we are at our wonderful new home at Unity of Columbus, 4211 Maize Road, Columbus, OH