Enlightenment

### The Body: Power, Shame, and Freedom The body is one of the most personal and universal aspects of human existence. It is how we experience the world, express identity, form relationships, and navigate society. Yet the body is never purely biological. Across history and cultures, bodies have been shaped by social norms, political systems, religious beliefs, economic structures, and ideas about morality, beauty, gender, and control. The human body is deeply connected to power. Societies regulate bodies through laws, institutions, medicine, fashion, labor, media, and cultural expectations. Certain bodies are privileged, protected, and celebrated, while others are marginalized, disciplined, or excluded. Standards surrounding beauty, health, sexuality, gender, and physical ability influence how people are perceived—and how they perceive themselves. At the same time, the body is closely tied to shame. Shame can emerge from social judgment, religious expectations, family dynamics, cultural ideals, or comparison with others. People may experience shame related to appearance, aging, sexuality, vulnerability, illness, disability, race, gender expression, or bodily imperfection. In this sense, shame is not only personal but also social and political, shaped by broader structures of power and belonging. Yet the body is also a site of freedom, resistance, and self-expression. Throughout history, individuals and movements have challenged norms surrounding bodies, identity, sexuality, dress, and physical autonomy. The struggle for bodily freedom includes questions of consent, self-determination, health, gender equality, reproductive rights, disability rights, and freedom from violence and discrimination. In contemporary society, the body is increasingly shaped by technology, digital culture, and consumer capitalism. Social media intensifies visibility, comparison, and self-presentation, while medical and technological developments transform how bodies are modified, monitored, and understood. New possibilities for self-expression coexist with new pressures surrounding perfection, productivity, and control. Looking ahead, emerging technologies—including artificial intelligence, biotechnology, genetic engineering, and virtual reality—may fundamentally reshape how humans experience embodiment, identity, and physical existence. This raises important questions: What does bodily freedom truly mean? How much control should individuals or societies have over bodies? And how can dignity and autonomy be preserved in a world of increasing surveillance, optimization, and technological intervention? This discussion invites a critical exploration of the body as a biological, psychological, social, and political reality—one deeply connected to identity, power, vulnerability, and human freedom. *** 📅 Event Details 🗓️ Date: Saturday, 16 May 2026 ⏰ Time: 14:30 📍 Location: Hardenbergstraße 10, 10623 Berlin 📱 WhatsApp: For prep materials and directions (Group Chat) [Group Chat](https://chat.whatsapp.com/Ba8ZAaH2Yuk6FGmD3LLO7H)

Fuelled by our pre-workout Espresso we go on a scenic run to Treptower Park. Whether you're training for a marathon or just decided to give running a shot: with us, you are welcome. We offer 5k or 10k routes, both with plenty of talk and good vibes all the way. > Meet us @ 9:20 AM @ Green Wall Coffee Lichtenberg > Get your pre-workout Espresso for only €1

Join an immersive meditation experience to deeply free your body, mind and brain from accumulated stressful states. It’s an opportunity to take a conscious pause from the rush of daily life, and to discover greater wellbeing, calm and joy from within. **Learn six meditative arts** Dissolve stress in deeper layers of your consciousness to break the habitual continuity in your thinking, emotions and actions and nurture beautiful states of being. **Transform through insights** Be in a field where the mind naturally calms down and insights happen, leading to greater relief from accumulated stress and thinking patterns. **Grow in awareness through Deeksha** Experience Deeksha, the phenomenon that helps to speed up your growth and takes you from merely understanding a teaching into experiencing its essence. **Enjoy restfulness in your body and mind** Let your body recharge and your brain rewire for greater clarity and emotional balance, naturally experience joy and connection. **Receive powerful tools for your inner state:** Learn to apply practices that become your daily instruments for dissolving inner stress and nurturing beautiful states of being. **Who is this course for** The course is suitable for you regardless your meditation experience. Join it if you like to: * Discover joy, motivation, and clarity in life * Feel greater connection to yourself and the people around you * Spend much less of your time in anxiety, fear, or doubt * Pursue your career goals not from a place of exhaustion and strife, but from calmness and passion * Dissolve the sense of dissatisfaction with life * Live a greater life, in touch with your inner compass, without feeling empty or lost You will deeply detox from stress on all levels, and feel renewed, with more clarity in mind and greater inner balance to live from beautiful states. **Course format** * The format is a 2-day course where you arrive in the morning and leave in the evening, so it is not a residential retreat. * Expect approx. 8-9 hours per day, with time allocated for breaks and lunch. * The course includes guided meditations, wisdom teachings, breathing practices, and Deeksha. * This is not a yoga retreat. However, we will include some simple body movement just to support ourselves during the day. * The course language is English. * Please participate only if you can attend both full days to receive the full experience. **Dates & Time** Course dates: 16-17 May 2026 Daily timing: 09:00–18:00 **Pricing** The prices include participation in the course, a small gift and tea and snacks during the breaks. * €200 – Early bird price until 26th April * €290 – Regular price starting from 27th April Refund policy: * Full refund until 15th of April (1 month prior event) * 50% refund until 8th of May (1 week prior event) * No refund from 9th of May This course is also offered in a retreat format in Sweden from 28-31 May. The content will be the same, but the experience includes staying at the Oneness Nordic Center in a beautiful Swedish forest. Learn more about it [here](https://www.meetup.com/oneness-berlin/events/313783601/?utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=share-btn_savedevents_share_modal&utm_source=link&utm_version=v2&member_id=474772230). **How to join** To reserve your spot please [sign up](https://forms.gle/H5U5nRqHWQe9BW778) and complete the payment. You will find the payment details in the form. Feel free to reach out if you need any help or have a question. *The minimum number of participants for this course is 7, the maximum is 21, so please secure your spot.*

Second round, because last time was fun. This time we got a typical Berlin game on the table, namely table tennis! There's a nice spot in Friedrichshain outdoors, which we can use, but you need your own equipment. We'll meet at a meeting point nearby and then go there together. In case weather changes, we go to the place from last time that has a table tennis inside. MEETING TIME: 8pm START: 8:15pm \*\*\*IMPORTANT, since space is limited to 10 people and the group experience is best, when everyone arrives on time at the meeting point to get to know each other, make sure to: 1\. Be cool: If you mark yourself as going\, show up 2\. If you registered but can't make it anymore\, de\-register on time \(\!\)\, so someone from the waitlist takes your spot 3\. If you are late more than 15 minutes and message me when we already started or shortly before\, I'll not see it and can not send you the location\. Just decide early enough\, if you can make it at 8pm or not\, to keep the group experience coherent\.

ECSTATIC DANCE · BREATH · CACAO Saturday, May 16 · 19:00–22:00 Dharma Studios Kreuzberg · Berlin A conscious evening of movement, music, breath, and connection. We begin softly together with cacao, breath, grounding, and arrival into the body — before opening the dance floor into a deeper journey through tribal rhythms, electronic waves, playful movement, emotional release, stillness, connection, and ecstatic expression. No choreography. No performance. No talking on the dance floor. Just space to move freely, listen to the body, and reconnect with yourself and others through music and presence. The evening weaves together dance, ritual, sound, freedom, softness, intensity, and deep rest. Whether it’s your first ecstatic dance or you’ve joined many before, you’re very welcome. ✨ Come alone or with friends ✨ No experience needed 📍 Dharma Studios Kreuzberg Oranienstraße 189 · Berlin 🕖 Doors open 18:45 Journey starts 19:00 🎟 Tickets: https://linktr.ee/Sebastiaanlefuce

Intermediate players Only. 5-10 Euro/ hour per guest, depending on number of total attendant people. Address: Tennisschule Netzroller - FVT Sangerhauser Weg Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/5dpajZgt95HUDQBC8?g_st=ic Join us for competitive but friendly tennis in Berlin! About me: * One regular players * Around NTRP 3.5 - 4.0 level * Comfortable with both singles and doubles * Consistent rallying and match play * Friendly but genuinely intermediate level I am looking for: * Intermediate players only * Roughly NTRP 3.0+ (Mittelstufe / fortgeschrittenes Freizeitniveau) * German equivalent: Fortgeschrittenes Freizeitniveau * Reliable rally skills * Bring your own racket Schedule: * Thursday: 19:00–21:00 * Saturday: 17:00–19:00 Format: * Singles: 1vs 1 * 1 vs 2 * Doubles:2 vs 2 * Flexible depending on numbers Group size: Ideal: 2–4 players Max: 4 players per session Important: * Bring your own racket * Court costs split fairly if applicable(0-10Euro per person hour ) * Friendly, respectful atmosphere * No beginners please If you’re looking for enjoyable but quality tennis without inflated ratings, feel free to join!

Stell dir vor, die kritische Stimme in deinem Kopf, die dir einredet, du seist nicht gut genug oder könntest deine Träume nicht verwirklichen, verstummt. Dies geschieht auf wunderbare Weise durch das sanfte Berühren der Access Bars®-Punkte an deinem Kopf. Die Anwendung der Bars® hat positive Auswirkungen auf nahezu alle Bereiche deines Lebens: von Körper und Beziehungen über Sexualität, Heilung und der Manifestation von Geld bis hin zur Lebensfreude, Kommunikationsfähigkeit und Kreativität. Limitierende Glaubenssätze werden auf sanfte Art und Weise aufgelöst, negative Emotionen in Kraft verwandelt. Die Wirksamkeit der Access Bars® bei Ängsten, Depressionen, ADHS und anderen psychosomatischen Symptomen ist wissenschaftlich belegt! Du hast die Möglichkeit, die Access Bars bei dir selbst, deinen Liebsten und sogar bei Klienten anzuwenden. Möchtest du herausfinden, welche weiteren Veränderungen die Access Bars bewirken können? Welche wertvolle Toolbox für Transformation du nach diesem Kurstag mit nach Hause nimmst, erfährst du auf meiner Website: https://www.i-feel-so-good.de/access-consciousness/kurse-ausbildungen/access-bars-kurs.html Bitte beachte, dass die Kursanmeldung ausschließlich telefonisch möglich ist. Bei unseren Kennenlerntreffen hast du die Gelegenheit, eine Session zu genießen und dich mit Praktizierenden auszutauschen. Wenn du ein sehr persönliches Thema in der Tiefe bearbeiten möchtest, lade ich dich ein, eine Einzelsession zu vereinbaren.

Das Thema Angst ist nicht nur ein Thema der Psychologie. Angst kann man auch soziologisch und philosophisch untersuchen. Das soll beim nächsten Treffen geschehen.

Chitta Walks is for people whose days move fast, while the mind never fully lands. Thoughts keep looping even when nothing is urgent. The body moves, but attention is elsewhere. Over time, this disconnect drains clarity and ease. This walk is a simple reset. We meet in Berlin’s Tiergarten and walk at a gentle pace. Parts of the walk are in silence, with light guidance and a few short prompts. The walk itself is the practice, bringing body and mind back into the same moment. No apps. No performance. Just a clear space to slow down and notice what is happening. If you want to slow down without withdrawing from life, join a Chitta Walk. ✨ **What to expect (approx. 90 minutes):** * A short arrival and orientation * A guided silent walk (phones off, no conversation) * One concise science-based impulse on attention or stress * Optional reflection in pairs or small groups * A simple takeaway or experiment for daily life 🚶**Who this is for:** * Professionals, creatives, and people in transition. * People who feel mentally busy and want more clarity and balance. * Those curious about mindfulness, but grounded and practical. * Anyone comfortable with silence and gentle self observation. 🔔 **Practical notes:** * Duration: 60-90 minutes * Wear comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing * No prior experience needed * Group size is limited to keep the space quiet and focused 🧭 **Facilitator:** My name is Partha Sarathi, you can call me PS. I have lived in Berlin for over 12 years. With a background in physics and materials science, my interest in mindfulness grew through personal experience with stress and health challenges. I facilitate the space and structure of the walk, inviting shared exploration rather than instruction. 🤔 **Why Chitta Walks?** Chitta is a Sanskrit word referring to the mind or field of awareness, used here in a practical, non-religious sense. Chitta Walks is about noticing how the mind works by slowing down and walking together. Mindful walking makes thought patterns visible in real time, while moving and sensing in the world. The name points to a simple capacity: noticing what is happening in the mind without immediately trying to fix, judge, or optimize it. 🌿 **Possible effects:** A calmer nervous system. Clearer attention. A felt sense of being more present in your body. Subtle insights into how your mind reacts under everyday conditions. A quieter, more grounded way of moving through the city. **Come as you are. Walk. Notice. Leave with a little more space inside.**

**Welcome to Sober Berlin – Sober Dance Party, Ecstatic Movement & Soundhealing** Join our **Telegram** or **WhatsApp** group to stay updated on all artists: * Telegram: [https://t.me/+hd1BG5kuh1A4NDgy](https://t.me/+hd1BG5kuh1A4NDgy) * WhatsApp: [https://shorturl.at/YWnCr](https://shorturl.at/YWnCr) A **sober, heart-centered space** for movement, music, and genuine connection. Sober Berlin hosts **alcohol-free events** where you can dance, express yourself, and connect – fully present and substance-free. Perfect for the sober, sober-curious, in recovery, or anyone seeking mindful nightlife. ✨ **What We Offer:** * Ecstatic Dance sessions with live DJs * Cacao Ceremonies and or guided warm-ups * Safe, inclusive space – no alcohol, no drugs * Tea, snacks, and a cozy community corner No dance experience needed – just bring your body, breath, and presence. 💖 **Giving Back:** 10% of earnings go to women-centered and child-focused NGOs. 🕊️ Join **Sober Berlin** and rediscover connection – with yourself and others.

Registration available also on Luma : https://luma.com/jjg884su (Only sign up once please) Silent Book Club is a group of book lovers who enjoy reading together in public. All books and all readers are welcome. (Kindly RSVP 'yes' only if you can make it, so we can save a seat for you and our fellow readers on the waitlist!) This page-turning party will unfold in the Café (1st floor) at the Bode Museum. There's no entrance fee, but please order at least one item from the cafe and don't bring any outside drinks :) No quizzes, no pressure, no assigned books - just a group of book-loving souls basking in the beauty of silent reading. **Our thrilling agenda:** 10:30 am - 11:00 am - Arrivals, ordering drinks/food (social time) 11:00 am - 12:00 pm - The Great Quiet Reading Hour (where silence is the star) 12:00 pm - 13:00 pm - Optional socializing, share your reading adventures or just keep exploring the pages Stay for lunch, and who knows? You might just find your next favorite book over a pizza. NB: If you plan to go for lunch, please consider bringing cash, as some restaurants only accept card payments after a certain amount.

**with Tina & Ricardo – on Tempelhofer Feld** (deutscher Text weiter unten) We warmly invite you to a free, open Osho Kundalini Meditation in the open air – right in the heart of Berlin, on Tempelhofer Feld. This invitation is for anyone who feels curious, enjoys movement, music and inner spaciousness, or simply wants to try something new. You don’t need to know anything, achieve anything, or be good at anything. **What to expect** The Osho Kundalini Meditation is an active dance and relaxation meditation, bringing together movement, music and stillness. It creates space to release tension, arrive fully in the body, and gently sink into deep relaxation afterwards. The meditation consists of four phases: 1\. free movement and shaking to loosen the body 2\. dancing with music to allow energy to flow 3\. a quieter\, still phase for sensing and noticing 4\. relaxed lying down to integrate No experience with meditation is needed, and no prior knowledge of Osho or Kundalini is required. There is no “right” or “wrong” way – everything is welcome, nothing is expected. **Our way of guiding the meditation** Tina and I (Ricardo) will guide the meditation in English, with music and clear, welcoming impulses. We follow the structure of the Osho Kundalini Meditation while also leaving space for our own inputs and an open, personal experience. What matters most is your own lived experience – not techniques or concepts. **What you might like to bring** If you wish, feel free to bring something to sit or lie on during the final phase, such as: \- a meditation cushion \- a yoga mat \- a blanket or a cloth \- You are also very welcome to come with nothing at all and simply lie or sit directly on the grass. **Location & registration** The meditation will take place on Tempelhofer Feld, like shown on the marker on the map. Its close to the entrance Oderstrasse, just 300m north west of it. Participation is free and open, and you are welcome to join spontaneously. We would still appreciate a Meetup registration, as it helps us estimate the number of participants. This meditation is also an invitation and a taste of our retreat **“Emotional Detox Through Tantric‑Tao Bodywork”**, but it stands on its own and can be attended independently. We look forward to spending this time together – with movement, music, spaciousness, and the Berlin sky above us. here is a link to our next retreat: [Emotional Detox Through Tantric-Tao Bodywork (Englisch) - Rosenwaldhof](https://www.rosenwaldhof.de/event/mal-weeraratne-emotional-detox-31-aug-6-sept-2026/) *** **mit Tina & Ricardo – auf dem Tempelhofer Feld** Wir laden dich herzlich ein zu einer kostenlosen, offenen Osho Kundalini Meditation unter freiem Himmel – mitten in Berlin, auf dem Tempelhofer Feld. Diese Einladung gilt allen, die neugierig sind, Lust auf Bewegung, Musik und innere Weite haben oder einfach mal etwas Neues ausprobieren möchten. Du musst nichts „können“, nichts wissen, nichts leisten. **Was dich erwartet** Die Osho Kundalini Meditation ist eine aktive Tanz‑ und Entspannungsmeditation, bei der Bewegung, Musik und Stille zusammenkommen. Sie gibt Raum, Spannung loszulassen, im Körper anzukommen und danach in eine tiefe Entspannung zu sinken. Die Meditation besteht aus vier Phasen: 1\. freie Bewegung und Schütteln\, um den Körper zu lockern 2\. Tanz zu Musik\, um Energie in Fluss zu bringen 3\. ein stiller Teil zum Nachspüren 4\. entspanntes Liegen zum Integrieren Du brauchst keinerlei Erfahrung mit Meditation und kein Wissen über Osho oder Kundalini. Es gibt kein „richtig“ oder „falsch“ – alles darf sein, nichts muss. **Unsere Art, die Meditation anzuleiten** Tina und ich (Ricardo) begleiten die Meditation mit Musik und klaren, einladenden Impulsen auf englisch. Wir orientieren uns an der Osho Kundalini Meditation, lassen aber auch Raum für unsere eigenen Inputs und eine offene Erfahrung. Im Mittelpunkt steht das eigene Erleben – nicht Technik oder Konzepte. **Was du mitbringen kannst** Wenn du möchtest, bring dir gern etwas mit, worauf du am Ende liegen oder sitzen kannst \- ein Sitzkissen \- eine Yogamatte \- eine Decke oder ein Tuch \- Du kannst aber auch ganz ohne alles kommen und dich direkt ins Gras legen oder setzten. **Ort & Anmeldung** Die Meditation findet auf dem Tempelhofer Feld statt. Der Treffpunkt ist ganz nahe des Eingangs Oderstrasse, etwa 300m nordwestlich von dort. Die Teilnahme ist kostenlos und offen, spontanes Dazukommen ist möglich. Über eine Anmeldung via Meetup freuen wir uns dennoch, damit wir die Anzahl der Teilnehmenden besser einschätzen können. Diese Meditation ist auch eine Einladung und ein Vorgeschmack auf unser Retreat "Emotional Detox Through Tantric-Tao Bodywork", steht aber für sich und ist unabhängig davon. Wir freuen uns auf eine gemeinsame Zeit – mit Bewegung, Musik, Weite und dem Berliner Himmel über uns. folgend der Link zu unserem nächsten Retreat: [Emotional Detox Through Tantric-Tao Bodywork (Englisch) - Rosenwaldhof](https://www.rosenwaldhof.de/event/mal-weeraratne-emotional-detox-31-aug-6-sept-2026/)

Ditch the old book club, where everyone has to read the same book...this is better! It works like this: Bring your own book. Come chat, have some tea or coffee, get to know your neighbors. Then we quietly read together, side by side, for about one hour, each one reading their own book, and afterwards we talk with each other about what we are reading. The usual agenda: - Arrival and introduction (~20 minutes) - ⁠Silent reading (~1 hour) - ⁠Discussion (~30-40 minutes) - ⁠Join us for a bite at a local restaurant afterwards, if you like! You may read in any language, you may read any book. We are a group of international residents of Berlin from many different countries, of all ages, and we converse in English. We welcome you! No registration needed – the event is donation based. All funds support the Offenes Wohnzimmer.

(English below) Lerne buddhistische Meditation von echten Mönchen für innere Ruhe, Stressreduktion, mehr Kraft und Klarheit. Finde Ruhe im Herzen Berlins – Einführungsworkshop in WeiYang Chan Meditation Mitten im lebendigen Rhythmus Berlins entdeckst du einen Raum der Stille und inneren Gelassenheit. Am Sonntag, den 17. Mai 2026, laden wir dich von 15:00–17:00 Uhr herzlich zu einem Einführungsworkshop in WeiYang Chan Meditation in den Räumen der Buddhistischen Gesellschaft Berlin e.V. ein. Dieser Workshop verbindet authentische buddhistische Lehren mit sanftem Stretching und bietet dir die Möglichkeit: 🌿 Stress und Anspannung loszulassen und auch in herausfordernden Momenten ruhig zu bleiben. 🌿 Konzentration und geistige Klarheit zu stärken, um fokussierter und ausgeglichener durch den Alltag zu gehen. 🌿 Mitgefühl und Geduld zu entwickeln, und so Beziehungen auf natürliche Weise zu vertiefen. 😔 Fühlst du dich erschöpft oder niedergeschlagen? Chan-Meditation hilft dem Geist, zur Ruhe zu kommen. Mit weniger zerstreuten Gedanken fällt es leichter, sich zu konzentrieren und die eigene Energie über den Tag hinweg zu bewahren. Viele Teilnehmende berichten von mehr Klarheit, Gelassenheit und innerer Stabilität – ganz ohne Druck oder Leistungsdenken. Das erwartet dich: • Einführung in die WeiYang Chan Meditation • Dehnübungen zur körperlichen Vorbereitung • Gemeinsame stille Sitzmeditation • Fragen & Antworten 🗣 „Durch Chan-Meditation hat sich mein Gesundheitszustand verbessert. Außerdem kann ich besser mit anderen Menschen umgehen.“ — Steffen Programmdetails: 📅 Datum: Sonntag, 17. Mai 2026 📍 Ort: Buddhistische Gesellschaft Berlin e.V. (BGB), Wulffstr. 6, 12165 Berlin 🧘‍♂️ Leitung: Meister YongHua, Meister XianXin und die Ehrwürdige XianPu Die Teilnahme ist kostenlos und erfolgt auf Spendenbasis. Alle Interessierten sind herzlich willkommen – es sind keine Vorkenntnisse erforderlich. Fragen oder Anmeldung: 📞 Steffen: +49 170 893 5041 (WhatsApp) 📧 chanreinesland@gmail.com ✨ Eine Einladung, zur Ruhe zu kommen, Weisheit zu kultivieren und mit leichterem Herzen nach Hause zurückzukehren. ________________________________________ Learn Buddhist meditation from authentic monks—for inner peace, stress reduction, greater strength, and clarity. Find peace in the heart of Berlin – Introductory workshop in WeiYang Chan Meditation In the midst of Berlin’s vibrant rhythm, discover a space of stillness and inner calm. On Sunday, May 17, 2026, we warmly invite you from 3:00–5:00 PM to an introductory workshop in WeiYang Chan Meditation at the premises of the Buddhist Society Berlin e.V. This workshop combines authentic Buddhist teachings with gentle stretching and offers you the opportunity to: 🌿 Let go of stress and tension, and remain calm even in challenging moments. 🌿 Strengthen concentration and mental clarity, so you can move through daily life more focused and balanced. 🌿 Develop compassion and patience, naturally deepening your relationships. 😔 Do you feel exhausted or low? Chan meditation helps the mind come to rest. With fewer scattered thoughts, it becomes easier to concentrate and sustain your energy throughout the day. Many participants report greater clarity, calmness, and inner stability—without pressure or performance mindset. What to expect: • Introduction to WeiYang Chan Meditation • Stretching exercises for physical preparation • Group silent sitting meditation • Q&A session 🗣 “Through Chan meditation, my health has improved. I can also relate to other people better.” — Steffen Program details: 📅 Date: Sunday, May 17, 2026 📍 Location: Buddhist Society Berlin e.V. (BGB), Wulffstr. 6, 12165 Berlin 🧘‍♂️ Led by: Master YongHua, Master XianXin, and Venerable XianPu Participation is free and based on donations. Everyone is warmly welcome—no prior experience is required. Questions or registration: 📞 Steffen: +49 170 893 5041 (WhatsApp) 📧 chanreinesland@gmail.com ✨ An invitation to come to rest, cultivate wisdom, and return home with a lighter heart.

This is an **event at 1801 Robert Fulton Dr., Reston, VA 20191** (All participants must have RSVP'd). We continue exploring the foundational Buddhist sutra: the **Heart Sutra**. This the shortest sutra but the most fundamental. Our meeting schedule will be as follows: * **40 minutes:** Sitting meditation * **5 minutes:** Break * **45 minutes:** Group discussion of the Heart Sutra. During the sitting meditation session, we will provide you with a non-roller chair (or feel free to bring in your own meditation pad/pillow). If you are a first timer, detailed instructions will be provided when you are here at 1801 Robert Fulton Drive).

Join us for a Sunday morning inspired by the teachings of Eli Jaxon-Bear as we collectively explore the pathless path to spiritual awakening and enlightenment. This gathering is designed for those seeking inner peace and life transformation through inquiry into the nature of reality and consciousness. Come connect with like-minded individuals from the DMV area and embark on an experiential journey of discovery of who we really are. Doors open at 10:30 AM for 20 minutes of unguided silent meditation followed by a short Eli video and time to share, ask questions and connect. We will finish at approximately 12:00 PM. For more information about Eli, go to [https://www.leela.org](https://www.leela.org)

Join us for conversations that go beyond small talk, diving into topics like the shifting nature of spirituality, the challenges and joys of midlife transitions, the impact of culture and capitalism, and the search for meaning in art, travel, and daily life. Our gatherings are about genuine, thought-provoking dialogue, with no set leader or strict agenda—just an open space to share ideas, perspectives, and experiences that matter to us. The direction of the discussion is shaped by everyone who shows up, making each event unique and enriching. Come ready to share, reflect, and connect with others who are also seeking deeper conversations. Let the conversation flow from topic to topic. Optional questions are listed below.

Optional Questions: Life Stages & Transitions

1. What did you think you'd have figured out by now that you're still completely winging?
2. When did you realize your parents' advice was for a world that no longer exists?
3. What are you finally old enough to stop pretending to care about?

Optional Questions: Identity After the Roles

4. Who are you when nobody needs anything from you?
5. What dream keeps resurfacing even though the "practical" time has passed?
6. How do you handle having the freedom you always said you wanted?

Optional Questions: AI & Being Human

7. What human experiences will AI never truly understand?
8. If machines handled all your have-to's, what would you actually do?
9. What becomes more precious as everything becomes automated?

Optional Questions: Belief & Meaning

10. What certainties have you given up, and what rushed in to fill that space?
11. How has knowing someone who died changed how you live?
12. What do you believe now that would shock your younger self?

Optional Questions: The Modern Psyche

13. What anxiety do you carry that previous generations didn't have?
14. Which of your survival strategies are you ready to retire?
15. What uncomfortable truth about happiness did it take you years to accept?

Optional Questions: Work & Purpose

16. When did you stop believing that your job would complete you?
17. What would you do for work if money and status weren't factors?
18. How has your definition of "making it" changed over the years?

Optional Questions: Relationships & Connection

19. What relationship dynamic do you keep recreating, and why?
20. When did you realize your parents were just people trying their best?
21. What kind of loneliness doesn't go away even when you're with others?

Optional Questions: Time & Mortality

22. What are you running out of time to say or do?
23. How differently do you spend your time knowing it's finite?
24. What will you regret not trying, even if you fail?

Optional Questions: Society & Culture

25. What social convention do you follow even though it makes no sense?
26. Which generation do you understand least, and what might you be missing?
27. What aspect of how we live now will seem insane in 20 years?

Optional Questions: Personal Philosophy

28. What rule for life did you create after learning something the hard way?
29. When did you stop believing that everyone else had it figured out
30. What paradox about life have you learned to live with?

**LOCATION CHANGE as of APRIL 1, 2026:** **Body Grace has moved to 133 Maple Avenue East, 3rd Floor, above the Bear Branch Tavern.** Whether you're new to Insight meditation or an advanced practitioner looking for like-minded people to sit with, you're welcome to join us at our Sunday morning drop-in group, sponsored by the Insight Meditation Community of Washington. Insight meditation cultivates our natural wisdom and compassion. Meditation practice develops concentration, which allows us to calm and steady the mind. This class includes a 30-minute lightly-guided meditation, followed by a short talk and time for questions and discussion. The size of the group usually runs somewhere between 25-40 people in-person and between 12-25 online. Chairs are provided, or you may bring a sitting cushion or bench. You may also use the blankets and bolsters offered by the yoga studio. **We offer both in-person and online attendance.** To learn more about our topics and teachers, view our videos or **get the Zoom link**, visit our [class page](https://imcw.org/event/?eventId=735&utm_source=MeetUp&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=vienna-drop-in).

## ***Join emerging Gen Z leader Akshay Kuchibhatla for this special workshop. Move beyond expectations and make choices that feel right for you.*** In a time when everyone is trying to figure out who they are, it’s easy to get pulled in different directions, by expectations, social media, relationships, and the pressure to “have it all together.” Somewhere along the way, many begin to feel disconnected from their true self. This workshop is a space to pause, reset, and reconnect with your true self. Come explore who you are at your core, beyond labels, trends, and outside opinions. Through guided reflection, real conversations, and simple mindfulness practices, you’ll gain clarity on your values, strengthen your inner voice, and learn how to make choices that feel right for you. You don’t have to lose yourself to find yourself. You can grow, evolve, and still stay true. Come as you are. Leave more connected, clear, and confident. ***Akshay Kuchibhatla*** *is a thoughtful and emerging Gen Z leader currently pursuing a degree in Computer Science at George Mason University. Passionate about personal growth, self-awareness, and helping young people navigate life with clarity and purpose, Akshay brings a grounded and relatable perspective to conversations about identity, values, and inner strength.* Sat., May 24th, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm. Held at Brahma Kumaris, 14020 Thunderbolt Pl, Suite 200, 2nd Floor, Chantilly, VA. Free Event – Register at: [https://shorturl.at/luks5](https://shorturl.at/luks5)

***NOTE: This event is open only to students who have already taken the "Meditation with Intention...Connecting with Spirit! class"*** If you have not taken this class and would like more information, please contact me - lightworksreiki@aol.com or check out the next Light Works' "Meditation with Intention....to Connect with Spirit!" class on the meetup calendar. http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/7/0/2/0/600_447088704.jpeg Monday Night Meditation with Intention! Join us as we put our meditation skills to work and practice raising our vibration to connect with Spirit for messages of love, guidance, healing, and inspiration! Bring your journals and your open crown, third eye, and heart chakras and give it a try! After the meditation, we'll share and discuss what we experienced. This process is designed to exercise your meditation skills and to learn from each other. Having a difficult time meditating on your own? Many people find that it's much easier to do in a group setting. Please be sure to RSVP as space is limited. Looking forward to seeing you there! Water, tea, & good vibes provided. Cost: $20.00 FINAL NOTE: THESE ARE GROUP SESSIONS SO IF WE DO NOT HAVE AT LEAST FOUR ATTENDEES SIGNED UP BY NOON, THE MEDITATION WILL BE CANCELLED. http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/6/a/8/e/600_447087278.jpeg

This is introductory meditation for people who wants to learn basics of meditation. It's a free event held every week and everyone is welcome to join.