Meditation and Mysticism

**NOW ONLINE** The weekly Sunday morning (10:30 am to 12 noon) class begins with a welcome, short reflection on an aspect of the teachings, and includes an arriving meditation (15 minutes) that will often incorporate poems and may end with a reflection or question. The opening meditation is followed by an invitation to each person to share their name and a few words (for example, what is alive for them right now or what their intention is for the class or the day). The sharing has been a powerful support to help welcome new people, get to know each other, and build community/sangha. Following a brief period of mindful stretching/movement, we finish with a longer meditation (25-30 minutes) and final reflections on the teachings, sharing, Q&A, and announcements. Class participants are welcome to stay and engage with other members of the community or adjourn to a neighboring restaurant or coffee shop. This space is inclusive, everyone is welcome, and we invite you to bring with you all aspects of yourself. Learn more here: https://imcw.org/Calendar/Event-Calendar/EventId/3686/e/drop-in-class-livestreamed-19-apr-2020

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).

Learn to manage stress and achieve self-growth through simple relaxation and Meditation. Heartfulness Meditation is a simple, modern, methodical approach to meditation. Rather than homing in on your breath or repeating a mantra, you simply focus inward, on your heart, to cultivate inner strength and serenity. Heartfulness meditation is gaining traction in recent years. It focuses on the heart, allowing individuals to connect with themselves on a deeper level, and ultimately achieve peace, relaxation, and clarity. It is a practice that encourages patience, self-compassion, and acceptance, helping cultivate a deeper appreciation for the present moment. This practice is offered with love and at no cost

Be one in a million. Join millions around the world in a virtual meditation session—one rhythm, one heart, one collective breath. Your presence makes a difference.  21st December \|  930 AM ET Register for free: [hfn.link/meditation](http://hfn.link/meditation?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExOEI5WG5DQjhsWXB1RFhhbHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR6X3GeOF0FqisOUSqht_MXsLkuAOJ62Jtx2XaKlZJuPWfO5wiqNRS6zELlmAA_aem_gmF5WSgluoeTtQM0DVp50w) More information:

**Weekly Sunday Meditation Classes with Sanema Naomi Hardrick** * Each class begins with **guided breathing meditation**, to help settle the mind, let go of distractions and cultivate inner peace. The meditation is followed by a brief, traditional Buddhist prayer, called *Liberating Prayer.* * The Teacher will then give a **practical teaching** based on the topic of the class series and explain how we can integrate Buddha’s timeless wisdom into our busy daily lives. * The teaching is then followed by a **guided meditation** to help us mix our mind with the teaching and take it to heart. * Time permitting, at the end of the meditation class we spend a few minutes in **group discussion** and the teacher will take any **questions** that the class might have about the topic. **COST:** Standard: $12 \| Financial Hardship: $6 \| [Register](https://meditation-dc.org/sunday-mornings/) \*\*[Member Pricing: ](https://meditation-dc.org/membership/)\*\*FREE & Available as an online class. **LOCATION** Kadampa Meditation Center DC 1200 Canal St\. SW \| Washington\, DC 20024 **Metro Stop:** Waterfront or Navy Yard

ZAZEN Since the start of 2024 we've been back to our original location at 2402 Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray, for seated meditation Sundays starting at 8:00am. **Please note that this event is in-person only.** It's best to arrive by 7:45am to be ready for the 8:00 start of our zazen. If it's your first visit, try to arrive by 7:35 so we can have time for a brief introduction to the practice. After a half-hour of *zazen* we put away the cushions and open a discussion about zen teachings and life in general, ending by 9:15. You can also join us on weekday mornings, when we have a half-hour virtual zazen session starting at 6:45. For details, visit our website: www.delrayzen.org.

** Take note: This is not in Burke** Let's get together again and practice our Tarot card and pendulums. This is for beginners through advanced readers to practice their skills. Everyone will get to do a reading. There will be extra decks and pendulums if you do not have some. We will try different layouts and share our experiences. All fun! See you there! Shaman Phil

Discover the path to stress management, life's tranquility, and self-improvement through Heartfulness Meditation. Embrace relaxation, meditation, and emotional detoxification practices to unlock your best self. Join our free sessions every Sunday at 8 AM and Wednesday at 7 / 7:30 PM at various centers in MD and VA. Experience the profound benefits of these simple yet powerful practices. Commit to a few months of meditation and witness the transformative impact firsthand. We eagerly await your presence at these enlightening sessions.

So, the world of meditation has a lot to offer, and you have heard it all. This Meetup is about discovering the EXPERIENCE of meditation. Come check us out - volunteer meditation instructors from the Maryland Community will help lead you into the East's best kept relaxation secret, meet like-minded people, and in general have a fun time. As an added bonus, you will also get to experience some of the Art of Living Foundation's breathing programs and get an insight into what makes the Sudharshan Kriya tick. Try saying it 10 times in a row for some tongue twister fun! Anyways, your group lead is likely to be young, fun, a professional who does this on a volunteer basis, might have an accent, smiles a lot (yeah, meditation does that to you)... and at the end of the day, is a meditation instructor par excellence. We are trying to hold meetups across MD but, for now, we will stick to the one free venue we have. Let us know if you want to host one of the meditation Meetups at your venue.. somewhere in MD though!

An alternative Valentines Day event! Spend the morning developing authentic love, the foundation of all harmonious and successful relationships. During this retreat, Kadam Michelle will explain and guide us in the meditation known as developing cherishing love. In ordinary life, we often confuse love with desirous attachment, and as a result we often experience pain and disappointment within our so-called ‘loving’ relationships. But authentic love can never cause pain. It only ever produces happiness. Why? Because true love actually arises from a profound understanding of our interdependence and interconnection with everyone. This understanding liberates us from our painful self-centered grasping attachments, and opens us to an expansive and ever more inclusive empathy and love that brings joy, harmony and purpose into our lives. Through talks and guided meditations, Kadam Michelle will take us into the heart of this practice. There will be the opportunity for Q&A throughout the day. If you wish to enjoy a gadget free retreat, you can turn your phone in at the registration desk. * **Cost**: General: $30 Financial Hardship: $15 Online: $30 Online Plus/Friend/Supporter: $15 Benefactors & Benefactor Plus: Free Optional Lunch: $7 * **Event Schedule** Session 1: 10 to 10:45am Break: 10:45 to 11:15am Session 2: 11:15 to 11:45am Break: 11:45am to 12:15pm Session 3: 12:15 to 1pm with Q&A

An Eckankar Soul Adventure Podcast * Hear the story of the love bond between a woman in crisis and a rescue kitten * Get a powerful dream exercise that can help you find answers to your most burning questions! Join us for this exciting and uplifting podcast. You will have the opportunity to share your thoughts and insights with other like-hearted individuals. People of all faiths are warmly welcome; feel free to invite friends and family. The program will be presented at our Ruscombe Mansion location in Baltimore and streamed on Zoom. Sunday, December 21, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Three easy ways to participate! 1. Attend in person at: The Ruscombe Mansion Main Mansion dining room, 4801 Yellowwood Ave., Baltimore, MD 21209 2. Join others for a virtual participation at: The Maryland Eckankar Center, 1738 Elton Rd., Suite 104, Silver Spring, MD 20903 3. Attend online at: Zoom Meeting ID: 895 7212 3209 Passcode: 559017 Dial-In: 301-715-8592 For more information: Call or text: (301) 439-2120 [BEC@eckankarmaryland.org](mailto:BEC@eckankarmaryland.org)

**Join us in Falls Church for conversations that go beyond small talk.** Higher Grounds – Falls Church is where this growing network of gatherings began: a space for thoughtful, authentic dialogue about what matters most. Whether we’re exploring the nature of happiness, the challenges and possibilities of midlife, spirituality, culture, capitalism, parenting, or the role of art and travel in a meaningful life, every conversation is shaped by the people in the room. There’s no set leader or rigid agenda—just a shared commitment to listen as much as we speak. We start with brief introductions focused on what makes you *you* (not your LinkedIn bio), then dive straight into whatever is on people’s minds. The direction of each meetup emerges organically, making every event unique. Come ready to share, reflect, and connect with others in Falls Church who are also seeking deeper conversations. **Suggested 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? **Suggested Questions: Identity After the Roles** 1. Who are you when nobody needs anything from you? 2. What dream keeps resurfacing even though the "practical" time has passed? 3. How do you handle having the freedom you always said you wanted? **Suggested Questions: AI & Being Human** 1. What human experiences will AI never truly understand? 2. If machines handled all your have-to's, what would you actually do? 3. What becomes more precious as everything becomes automated? **Suggested Questions: Belief & Meaning** 1. What certainties have you given up, and what rushed in to fill that space? 2. How has knowing someone who died changed how you live? 3. What do you believe now that would shock your younger self? **Suggested Questions: The Modern Psyche** 1. What anxiety do you carry that previous generations didn't have? 2. Which of your survival strategies are you ready to retire? 3. What uncomfortable truth about happiness did it take you years to accept? **Suggested Questions: Work & Purpose** 1. When did you stop believing that your job would complete you? 2. What would you do for work if money and status weren't factors? 3. How has your definition of "making it" changed over the years? **Suggested Questions: Relationships & Connection** 1. What relationship dynamic do you keep recreating, and why? 2. When did you realize your parents were just people trying their best? 3. What kind of loneliness doesn't go away even when you're with others? **Suggested Questions: Time & Mortality** 1. What are you running out of time to say or do? 2. How differently do you spend your time knowing it's finite? 3. What will you regret not trying, even if you fail? **Suggested Questions: Society & Culture** 1. What social convention do you follow even though it makes no sense? 2. Which generation do you understand least, and what might you be missing? 3. What aspect of how we live now will seem insane in 20 years? **Suggested Questions: Personal Philosophy** 1. What rule for life did you create after learning something the hard way? 2. When did you stop believing that everyone else had it figured out? • 3. What paradox about life have you learned to live with?

As we prepare to enter a new year, the Burning Bowl Ceremony offers a powerful and heartfelt opportunity to let go of what no longer serves us and make space for new beginnings. You are warmly invited to join us for this sacred and reflective ritual. The Burning Bowl Ceremony is a beloved Unity tradition—an empowering moment where we release old patterns, worries, or limiting beliefs by writing them down and symbolically releasing them into the flame. This act of letting go opens the door to clarity, peace, and transformation.

As we prepare to enter a new year, the Burning Bowl Ceremony offers a powerful and heartfelt opportunity to let go of what no longer serves us and make space for new beginnings. You are warmly invited to join us for this sacred and reflective ritual. The Burning Bowl Ceremony is a beloved Unity tradition—an empowering moment where we release old patterns, worries, or limiting beliefs by writing them down and symbolically releasing them into the flame. This act of letting go opens the door to clarity, peace, and transformation.

We are excited to host Guided Meditations on Sundays at 6 pm in our Ashram/Gallery/Home! !! !! Everyone wants to know what kind of God we worship and what kind of meditation we do. We worship the GOD that LOVES US! We understand that god is an energy and it lives in us as us. Our meditations guide others to actually experience that energy! xoxo We don't just talk about peace, love and affection, we experience it :) Also we are a home not a business, so we enjoy building community one friend at a time. We always build in time for people to mingle & develop friendships! xoxo Much Love, Frank Tennyson Namaste, Frank Tennyson http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/a/f/9/9/600_447824953.jpeg

Join us for our Christmas & Winter Solstice Meditation! Or join us on Face Book Live. Our Facebook page is Golden Lotus Yoga for Spiritual Awareness Come for any part of the meditation, try to come and leave on the hour!