Islamic Knowledge

***“I am struck with how rare it is to find a few good friends on the path. It is easy to find people who simply want to sit and be entertained by teachers, or who want to sit and entertain by playing the role of teacher. In other words, the quest for affirmation often outweighs the quest for truth.*** ***Yet you may have one or two good friends, and definitely have one or two waiting to be discovered. Find them; be thankful.”*** ***— Shawn Nevins*** 'What will make me happy in life?' ... 'Am I my thoughts?' ... 'What is Enlightenment?' ... We meet every week to ask questions like these in the pursuit of Self-Knowledge and Truth. We are interested in topics like: Zen, stoicism, spirituality, psychology, mindfulness, Nisargadatta, non-violent communication, Socrates, existential philosophy, Alan Watts, taoism, Eckhart Tolle, meditation, Ramana Maharshi, etc. But we are not affiliated with any dogma, philosophy, or religion. Our goal each meeting is to serve as mirrors for one another using question-based inquiry in a safe environment. In a session, every participant takes turns discussing the week's question or topic, and the group asks reflective questions without any agenda besides trying to understand the person's beliefs. A few other guiding principles of our group: * No one is obligated to share * Be honest with yourself and others * Do not try to convince others to believe or think as you do * Keep the focus on the person being questioned We meet at the [Bethesda Library](https://maps.app.goo.gl/GWMozF8zpY1m1PY26) every Monday. The library is a 5 minute walk from the Bethesda Metro on the Red Line, approx 25 minute Metro ride from Metro Center and Gallery Place stations. The library has a a parking lot with metered parking for $1/hour. \*\*\* WE WILL BE IN MEETING ROOM 3 UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED ----- THE MEETING ROOM IS IN THE BACK OF THE LIBRARY \*\*\* Please contact us with any questions!

📚 Do you love reading, but wish you had a structure and a community to share your insights with? Join our small circle of curious minds (just 4 members per gathering) as we come together for an hour of focused reading—in the calm setting of a library or the cozy atmosphere of a café. Here’s how it works: First part: Quiet reading on your own—bring a book you’re exploring, whether it’s philosophy, history, psychology, literature, or anything meaningful to you. Second part: We regroup and each person shares key takeaways, insights, or questions sparked by their reading. This sparks a structured yet free-flowing conversation around ideas, perspectives, and personal reflections. Why join? Add structure to your reading habit. Discover new books, authors, and ideas through others’ choices. Build real connections by sharing and listening deeply. Socialize around something meaningful instead of small talk.

The Power of a Peaceful Mind In situations of conflict, we easily become angry. However, anger limits us and leaves a trail of painful feelings. On the other hand, the creative mind of patience opens us to options. In this series, we learn to understand and meditate on patience. We will discover how meditation helps us to find peaceful solutions to everyday problems. **REGISTRATION** Standard: $12 \| Financial Hardship: $6 \| Free for [Members](https://meditation-dc.org/membership/) [Pre-Register Here](https://meditation-dc.org/monday-evening-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

Class: Developing Your Intuitive/Energy Skills Contents: Clearings, empath work, meditation, learning and enhancing energy work skills for working on self and others For further information, please contact Madhu 301-760-7491, info@stress-reliefcenter.com

Please join us. We are a welcoming group who have been meeting for two years. About 6-10 of us gather together weekly on Mondays for silent meditation, walking meditation, ending with shared reflections, tea and poetry. No RSVP needed; just show up! We start and end on time. Enter the front door and look for a sign. Someone will greet you. No experience necessary. Schedule: **4:30** a brief instruction or reading about meditation and silence **4:35-4:45** silent meditation (10 minutes) walking meditation **4:55 -5:15** silent meditation (20 minutes) **5:15-5:30** poetry, tea, reflections, departing ***This is a good place to rest and refresh on the way home from work and before dinner.*** Free. Try it.

Giambattista Vico (1668-1744) stands as one of the great dissenters from the Cartesian worldview that dominated eighteenth-century Europe, and as one of the first sociologists and philosophers of history and class struggle. While Descartes and his followers sought to extend the geometric method to all domains of knowledge, Vico insisted that human affairs require a fundamentally different approach. He grounded this approach not in mathematical certainty but in rhetoric, imagination, and historical understanding. Vico spent most of his life in Naples, working as a professor of rhetoric. From this position, he watched Cartesian science sweep the academies, displacing the ancient humanistic traditions he cherished. His early works defended the value of rhetoric and imagination against those who saw clarity and distinctness as the sole criteria of knowledge. Vico was developing the idea that cultivated imagination is its own, independently valid way of knowing. But his mature philosophy went further, expanding his concept of imaginative or poetic knowing into a comprehensive science of history that has been seen as fundamentally at odds with the Enlightenment project. At the heart of Vico's thought lies the *verum-factum* principle: we can truly know only what we ourselves have made. Since God made the natural world, only God can fully comprehend it. But the civil world—the world of laws, customs, languages, and institutions—is a human creation, and therefore deeply knowable by human minds. This insight reverses the effect of the mathematical philosophy, which had seemed to make physics knowable and human affairs unaccountable. In his great work, the *New Science*, Vico develops his insight into a comprehensive philosophy of history. He argues that all nations pass through an ideal eternal history—a cycle of three ages (gods, heroes, and humans) driven not by rational deliberation but by providence working through human passions and necessities. The earliest humans, Vico claims, did not think in concepts but in what he calls "imaginative universals"—mythic figures like Jove and Juno that organized experience through poetry and ritual rather than analysis. Understanding this "poetic wisdom" requires overcoming what Vico calls the "conceit of scholars": our tendency to assume that ancient peoples thought as we do or did not think at all. **Readings** *[The New Science](https://www.amazon.com/Science-Penguin-Classics-Giambattista-Vico/dp/0140435697?tag=ustxtaddt-20&asin=0140435697&revisionId=&format=4&depth=1)*, Third Edition (1744) * Book 1, parts 2-4 * Book 2, Introduction, parts 1-4, Part 5 paragraphs 582-661 * Book 4 * Book 5 * Conclusion **Further Readings** *[The New Science](https://www.amazon.com/Science-Penguin-Classics-Giambattista-Vico/dp/0140435697?tag=ustxtaddt-20&asin=0140435697&revisionId=&format=4&depth=1)*, Third Edition (1744) * Idea of the work (for an idiosyncratic precis of Vico's project in the form of an image * Book 3 (for an application of Vico's critical method to the Homeric corpus) [Vico, Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy](https://iep.utm.edu/vico/) [Vico, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy](https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/vico/)

Sit back and relax as Tibetan & crystal bowls (and other instruments) help bring you back into alignment thru sacred sound therapy. This is a great way to clear yourself and recharge for the week ahead. For those interested, it can also assist in achieving deeper stages of meditation. Space is limited so a RSVP is required. Once you have joined us for an event, you are welcome to text to confirm your spot. FIRST TIMERS: All are welcome as long as you come with an open/positive mind and respectful heart. No prior experience necessary. Please plan to arrive 15 minutes early so you can get situated. You are also welcome to walk our grounds or check out or crystal shop. IMPORTANT DIRECTIONS: The address is 15406 Riding Stable rd. Property is at end of 1/2 driveway into the woods. you will drive over a small stream. Please be EXTRA MINDFUL to drive slowly (5 MPH) as to not stir any driveway dust. It is a shared driveway so it's important to respect our neighbors. Please do not stop to interact with horses. COST: To help make this affordable to all, we have an offering range of $15-$25. If you would like to contribute in another way, please let us know. With Love and Gratitude

* **Feeling overwhelmed or stressed?** * **Looking for inner peace, clarity, or spiritual connection?** * **Curious about spirituality—but not sure where to begin?** **HU, a sacred sound, an ancient mantra, can uplift anyone regardless of background or faith. Join us online or in-person and experience the Sound of Soul through Spiritual Meditation, followed by quiet contemplation, and a spiritual conversation. Participate at your comfort level, with no obligation.** **Some of the Benefits of the HU:** * **Inner peace and calm** * **Healing of the heart** * **Release from fear** * **Inner Guidance** * **Spiritual self-discovery and growth** **Two easy ways to participate!** 1. **In-person at: Central Maryland ECK Center,** **1738 Elton Rd., Suite 104, Silver Spring, MD 20903.** 2. **On Zoom at: [THE SOUND OF SOUL EVENT](https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89597899210?pwd=reKwx1zJtFNylttx8N4LKs3zYJN7a3.1)** **Meeting ID: 895 9789 9210** **Passcode: 978196** **Phone: 301-715-8592** **For more information:** **Call or text: (301) 439-2120** **Email: [MEC@eckankarmaryland.org](mailto:MEC@eckankarmaryland.org)** **Presented by the MD & DC Satsang Societies, Inc., Chartered Affiliates of Eckankar.** **Copyright © 2026 ECKANKAR. The terms ECKANKAR, ECK, EK, MAHANTA, SOUL TRAVEL, and VAIRAGI, among others, are trademarks of ECKANKAR, PO Box 2000, Chanhassen, MN 55317-2000 U.S.A.**

**Please join us for an unforgettable exploration of mind, body, and spirit!** ECKANKAR of Northern Virginia will host a booth and lead a lively discussion about how to embrace Soul’s highest destiny of freedom, joy, and divine love in **this** life. The Expo is at Hilton McLean Tysons Corner, 7920 Jones Branch Drive, McLean, VA 22102. The hours are 10 am to 6 pm, but you’re free to arrive and depart at any time. A preliminary copy of our workshop poster is available at: [https://eck-va.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Table-Sign-for-2026-Expo-Rev-2a.pdf](https://eck-va.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Table-Sign-for-2026-Expo-Rev-2a.pdf) **When the start time and room location for our workshop is announced, we’ll post it here, in an update of this posting.** Don’t miss this opportunity to share with other spiritual explorers and pick up **free** copies of books and brochures filled with practical tips and inspiring stories. We’ll see you there!

We do the Unlimited bowling for $21.99 shoes included. You can bowl as many games as you like.

**Access the quiet wisdom that already lives inside you.** Within each of us is a quiet, wise presence, your inner sage. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to reconnect with that steady inner guidance through meditation, reflective journaling, and gentle intuitive inquiry. Walk away with simple practices to quiet mental noise, hear what you truly know, and make decisions with greater clarity and self-trust, on your spiritual path and in everyday life. **Key Takeaways**: · Connect with your inner wisdom and steady guidance · Practice simple methods for intuitive insight and clarity · Strengthen self-trust and confident decision-making · Build a lasting relationship with your inner teacher Saturday, March 21st, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM. Held at the Meditation Museum, 9525 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD. Free Event – Register at: [https://shorturl.at/jcYbW](https://shorturl.at/jcYbW) | | | --- | |

**A Divine Connection to Nature (Free Event)** **Who is responsible for taking care of the earth?** **We talk about the environment in many contexts – politically, economically, socially and morally – but do we also have a spiritual responsibility to the world around us?** **Concern over the changing climate continues, with more and more questions about what it means for our future. And there doesn’t seem to be a consensus on what to do about it, leaving us overwhelmed and confused. But what if the way we’re treating the planet is really a symptom of something else? Is it actually an indication of how we’re treating ourselves and each other? How might our actions change if we wanted the best for others just as much as we do for ourselves? Can a spiritual lens help us see the way forward to having healthy and growing societies and also a healthy environment?** **Come join a different kind of conversation – one that welcomes every perspective in a search for the truths that unite us all – as we discuss the spiritual perspectives offered by the Bahá’í Teachings on the earth and its natural environment. Join us for a lively discussion as we explore how we can work together for the betterment of us all.** **“Consider how all created things eloquently testify to the revelation of that inner Light within them.” – Bahá’í Teachings** **\*\*\*This event is free and open to all regardless of background or belief. Donations will not be accepted.**

Builders, creators, architects, admins, consultants - come one, come all. This one's for you. We're bringing a little friendly competition to the Columbus ServiceNow community while highlighting the cool things people have built on the platform. Five presenters will take the stage to showcase something they've built, solved, designed, or imagined on the ServiceNow platform - and a panel of judges (plus YOU, our amazing audience) will score them live. So basically, America's Got Talent but make it ServiceNow's Got Talent. Bring a notepad if you'd like 'cause you'll definitely be learning something new. Each presenter gets 10 minutes max to wow the crowd with: • A demo • A real-world business solution • A bold idea • A UX transformation • Or a creative use of the platform Judging Criteria: 🏆 Business Value 🚀 Innovation ✨ User Experience This event is about celebrating ideas, sharing knowledge, and showing how ServiceNow can drive both business impact and meaningful user value. Come learn. Come support. Come get inspired. Refreshments and bites will be provided. And maybe next time… you’ll be on stage.

Meeting Room 2b, Main Library Join us for a welcoming evening of reflection, gentle music, and meaningful conversation. We’ll begin with a short grounding moment, followed by a brief reading from spiritual or philosophical traditions, and an open reflection circle where participants can share (or simply listen). Libera Animae is an interfaith community focused on inner growth, creativity, and authentic connection. We desirere to cultivate a space where all questions are welcome and all members are treated with compassion and respect. All backgrounds are welcome.

**💞 Beginner-Friendly Speed Dating – Connect Virtually, Feel Right at Home!** **🚨 DON'T SKIP THIS: RSVP Does Not Mean Entry!** To lock in your spot, click the link for your age group below, sign up, and complete the quick personality quiz. **We have limited capacity** – claim your place today! **🎟️ Age Group Sign-Up Links (Click Yours Now):** - **Ages 18-32** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=390&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Toledo&groupurlname=cobalt-crest-passionate-singles&ar=18-32&face_v=10.0) - **Ages 30-46** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=390&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Toledo&groupurlname=cobalt-crest-passionate-singles&ar=30-46&face_v=10.0) - **Ages 40-58** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=390&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Toledo&groupurlname=cobalt-crest-passionate-singles&ar=40-58&face_v=10.0) - **Ages 55+** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=390&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Toledo&groupurlname=cobalt-crest-passionate-singles&ar=55+&face_v=10.0) --- 😌 **Dating doesn't have to be stressful.** That's exactly why we built this! Our virtual speed dating sessions are thoughtfully crafted with beginners in mind. Every chat is guided, every interaction feels natural, and you never need to step outside your door. 🎯 **Perfect for:** - People wanting to meet local Toledo singles without stepping outside - Singles looking for a secure, comfortable virtual environment - Quiet or reserved singles who open up better in private conversations **Event Details** - **Format:** Virtual on Zoom – organised rounds in a warm, easy-going setting - **Location:** Wherever you’re most relaxed – that’s your date spot tonight - **Host:** Expert moderator who ensures every conversation flows smoothly - **Vibe:** Great energy, honest talk, and genuine connections with Toledo locals **How It Works** 1. **Choose Your Age Range** – Click the link for your age group and complete sign-up. 2. **Complete the Quick Compatibility Quiz** – Helps us match you with like-minded Toledo newcomers. 3. **Join the Zoom Session** – Log in from home and greet your host. We’ll take care of the rest! 4. **Enjoy the Conversations** – Every round is timed and hosted so each chat feels easy and fun. 5. **Match Results** – Find out who you clicked with. If the interest is mutual, we’ll connect you! 💡 **Advice:** Treat each round like chatting with a mate. Keep it light, keep it genuine! ⭐ *"So much better than any dating app. Genuine conversations with real people. Absolutely loved it!"* – Toledo attendee --- ✨ Amazing connections begin with a single conversation. Yours could start this evening! ❤️‍🔥 ✨

ASH is Atheists, Skeptics and Humanists of First Unitarian Universalists of Columbus Ohio TBD Snacks are usually available, and you are welcome to bringing something to share!