[Downtown Dharma Sangha Listserv] Year-end daylong retreat tomorrow, Saturday 12/20

Hi friends, 

Marina Colby and Greg Hermsmeyer are offering a year-end daylong tomorrow at the Buddhist Vihara (8:30 am to 3 pm) on the dharma of endings. This solstice time is a perfect moment to reflect on endings and to clear space to invite new beginnings. 

Sign up is here:

https://dandelion.events/e/i3svm

There will be a vegetarian potluck. 

Sending you good wishes from California,

Robert Rhyne 

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[Downtown Dharma Sangha Listserv] This Sunday: Insight Dialogue and the winter season

Hi Dharma Friends,

Ben Lasso and I will co-facilitate Insight Dialogue this Sunday from 7:00pm-8:30pm at Downtown Dharma.  

No prior experience is needed—just curiosity and kindness.

This ID practice is inspired in the beginning of the winter season mirroring nature's inward turn to nourish our spiritual journey during the colder months. Together we will explore how the stillness of the practice allows us to notice what is changing inside and outside as we listen deeply and speak the truth. 

We look forward to sharing this practice with you!

• In-person: 7:00pm to 8:30pm @ Yoga District — 1910 14th Street NW, 3rd Floor, Washington, DC. 
• Please arrive 5-10 minutes early and register in advance here; it's the last Sunday class and listed under: "FREE (14th St.) Insight Meditation @ 1910 14th St"
• Online via Zoom: Join here 

Warmly,
Ben & Ana María

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[Downtown Dharma Sangha Listserv] Retreat Invitation & PSA

Hi friends,

I will be co-leading, with Dechen Ellen McSweeney, a 3-day meditation retreat in the Insight Tradition March 12–15 in the foothills of the Shenandoah Mountains at the Seven Oaks Retreat Center, and you are welcome to join us.

For those of you who are new to retreats, it is a chance to learn how your mind works, experience the peace that comes from collected mental energy, and explore your radiant heart. For details and registration information, click here.

***

PSA: On a different note, I would like to offer a PSA to the community. Someone I know was recently detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the entrance to Clara Barton Parkway near my house. He has a wife and two children. We have been aware of this checkpoint and have taken efforts to share it with potentially affected individuals, but I failed on this occasion to realize that this person might get caught in it.

So, I'm taking a more proactive approach and reminding the communities I am a part of that federally owned highways in the DC area have checkpoints that routinely stop drivers and demand proof of citizenship. Please share this information with people who might benefit from it, even if you suspect they already know. This Instagram post provides a summary of the local highways affected in English and Spanish and I am attaching a screenshot of the slide that specifies the impacted locations.

If you would like to provide financial assistance to support this family during an unbelievably challenging time, please email me directly.

With love,

Devin

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[Downtown Dharma Sangha Listserv] Re: This Sunday: On Praise and Blame

Hi all,

Thanks to those who came out last night! Here are the sources for my talk:

-  Kaira Jewel Lingo, We Were Made for These Times

- Pema Chodron, When Things Fall Apart

- 

https://suttacentral.net/an8.6/en/bodhi?lang=en&reference=none&highlight=false

- 

https://ancient-buddhist-texts.net/English-Texts/Buddhist-Wisdom-Verses/14-Blame.htm

- 

https://www.lionsroar.com/love-me-hate-me/

- 

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/how-to-deal-with-praise-a_b_111693

- 

https://studybuddhism.com/en/advanced-studies/science-of-mind/training-programs/balanced-sensitivity-5-advanced-training/19-dispelling-discomfort-at-eight-worldly-concerns

With metta,

Ava

El El vie, dic 12, 2025 a la(s) 6:03 p.m., Ava Morgenstern <ava.morgenstern@gmail.com> escribió:

Hi friends,

This Sunday we'll explore praise and blame. These are two of the eight phenomena of the Eight Vicissitudes, or the Eight Worldly Winds — the Buddha's teaching on how to be at peace with the inevitabilities of life. 

I hope you're able to join us for seated meditation and dharma reflection.

• In-person: 7pm to 8:30pm @ Yoga District — 1910 14th Street NW, 3rd Floor 

  • Please arrive 5-10 minutes early and register in advance here; it's the last Sunday class and listed under: "FREE (14th St.) Insight Meditation @ 1910 14th St"
• Online via Zoom: Join here 

With metta,

Ava

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[Downtown Dharma Sangha Listserv] This Sunday: On Praise and Blame

Hi friends,

This Sunday we'll explore praise and blame. These are two of the eight phenomena of the Eight Vicissitudes, or the Eight Worldly Winds — the Buddha's teaching on how to be at peace with the inevitabilities of life. 

I hope you're able to join us for seated meditation and dharma reflection.

• In-person: 7pm to 8:30pm @ Yoga District — 1910 14th Street NW, 3rd Floor 

  • Please arrive 5-10 minutes early and register in advance here; it's the last Sunday class and listed under: "FREE (14th St.) Insight Meditation @ 1910 14th St"
• Online via Zoom: Join here 

With metta,

Ava

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[Downtown Dharma Sangha Listserv] Meditation at the White House & the Musicality of Being

Dear Downtown Dharma Friends, 

I have two invitations for you as the New Year approaches, both of which are about improving the quality of our listening.

Meditative listening at the White House every Sunday, 10am-12pm

As I've previously shared, I'm meditating in front of the White House every Sunday morning. In the past couple weeks, others have been joining me and it's been a fascinating experience to share together. Although this time of year requires real preparation for the cold, everyone involved so far has had really valuable experiences. 

You are welcome to join us this Sunday or any other Sunday. 

We always watch the weather and those who are participating regularly stay in touch to adjust timing when necessary, but generally speaking, we plan for 10am-12pm.

Please reply to this email if you'd like to join and/or check out one of these two online resources for more information:

- Facebook event

- Info page

If you'd like to help spread the word about this, a flyer is attached and you are welcome to make use of it.

Musicality of Being workshops - Saturdays, December 20 & January 3, 10am-1pm

The Musicality of Being workshop is very simple: we just take a walk together in Rock Creek Park! 

However, by slowing down, tuning into our bodily sensations, emotions and thoughts, the richly unfolding perceptual field offered by the park and our interactions with each other, we discover a deeper embodied sense of "what interconnectivity feels like." 

Throughout the 3-hour gathering, we walk the trails with a series of different partners, sharing our moment-by-moment sensations and emotions. This aspect of the workshop is very much in the same spirit of Insight Dialogue practice - with the added dynamism of being in the park and relating to a series of different partners. There are also portions of time set aside for individual reflection, including the opportunity to sit directly next to the creek.

The last workshop of 2025 is on December 20 and the first workshop of 2026 is on January 3. Both workshops run 10am-1pm. You are warmly invited for either or both!

Register for either workshop here

Happy weekend to all.

Warmly, 

Seth Dellinger

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[Downtown Dharma Sangha Listserv] New Years Retreat by the Mindful Sundays Community Sat Jan 3

Greetings DD Community!

I'm leading the 2nd Annual Mindful Sundays Retreat on Saturday January 3 with some community members from our Mindful Sunday weekly gathering. It will definitely involve mindful movement, stillness, and some low-pressure New Years reflection activities. High likelihood of good community vibes & snacks as well. It's pay-what-feels-right to you so please all feel welcome! 

 

I hope you'll join us -- RSVP here!

Be well,

Alex

Slowmindfulness.com | Writing | Instagram

Love your inner sloth 

🗓️ Meet with me!

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[Downtown Dharma Sangha Listserv] This Sat @ 10:30am: Insight Dialogue Gathering on Spiritual Friendship

Hi friends,

If you're looking for a grounded Saturday morning, Michele Bledsoe and I are hosting an Insight Dialogue gathering in Tenleytown on spiritual friendship—which the Buddha described as "the whole of the path."

Together, we'll explore how heartfelt speech and receptive listening help friendship flourish. It feels like a timely theme to explore before the holidays.

All are welcome! We'll gather at 10:30am, two blocks from Tenleytown Metro (at Iona Senior Services).

https://tockify.com/cmldc/detail/670/1765639800000

Warmly,

Vince

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Re: [Downtown Dharma Sangha Listserv] Home Safety Update: Optional Dryer Vent & Duct Cleaning

Stephanie, 

     This post about duct cleaning is not appropriate for our listserv, we've seen you post this in many other similar listservs and we're tired of your spamming and violating our community norms.  We know you've never been to a Downtown Dharma event or been a part of our community.   We know you're not a real duct-cleaning customer; we know you're doing marketing for "Steve's" company.  You're going to get banned from this listserv.  You're wasting your time and our time.   

There are far better ways to market that are both ethical and professional than masquerading in our communities.

Thank you.

--Darrell

--Darrell Duane 

Text/Mobile:         +1 202 670 8728 

Telegram:              @dduane

LinkedIn:                dduane

On Tue, Dec 9, 2025 at 2:33 PM Stephanie Harpole <stephanieharpole5@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Everyone,
I just wanted to pass along that Steve and his team will be in our area again doing dryer vent and duct cleaning. We had them out before and they did a really good job—professional and thorough.

If you haven't had your dryer vent or ducts cleaned in a while, it's worth considering for safety and for keeping the air in the house a little fresher. Since they'll already be here, they offered a lower price if a few households join in.

If you'd like to be added to the list, send me your name, address, and a phone number, and I'll let Steve know. We'll figure out a date that works for everyone.

Thanks!

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[Downtown Dharma Sangha Listserv] Home Safety Update: Optional Dryer Vent & Duct Cleaning

Hi Everyone,
I just wanted to pass along that Steve and his team will be in our area again doing dryer vent and duct cleaning. We had them out before and they did a really good job—professional and thorough.

If you haven't had your dryer vent or ducts cleaned in a while, it's worth considering for safety and for keeping the air in the house a little fresher. Since they'll already be here, they offered a lower price if a few households join in.

If you'd like to be added to the list, send me your name, address, and a phone number, and I'll let Steve know. We'll figure out a date that works for everyone.

Thanks!

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[Downtown Dharma Sangha Listserv] Living Dharma Groups

Hi Dharma Friends,

Six years, I started offering weekly dharma groups for students looking to deepen and sustain their practice and their connection to a dharma community through the ups and downs of daily life. Most of the members of that original cohort, and many of the members since, came from the Downtown Dharma community. 

There have been between 2 and 4 cohorts every year since we started, and the next two cohorts of the Living Dharma Group will start this January. The groups will meet Friday mornings on zoom from January 9th through Friday March 27th (excluding March 13th) and will take place on Zoom. One will run from 9-10 AM and the other from 10-11 AM. The groups start with 25 minutes of meditation, followed by a 5-minute "dharmette" on a topic, and then an open discussion. This is an opportunity to integrate the dharma skillfully into our lives, to explore meditation practice in a small supported environment, and to form friendships with other practitioners. These groups are offered on a donation basis.

Registration is limited to 12 members per group. I ask that you only sign up if you can commit to making 8 of the 11 scheduled sessions. You can sign up for the group here.

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions. I'd also be happy to put you in touch with recent participants who can share their experience. 

With love,

Devin

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[Downtown Dharma Sangha Listserv] This Sunday: The Wisdom of Not Knowing

Hi friends,

This Sunday we'll explore the wisdom of not knowing—the open, curious stance at the heart of insight meditation. 

Instead of holding tight to certainty, we'll look at how loosening our grip reconnects us with life's natural flow, and why this can feel both vulnerable and freeing.

I hope you're able to join us for seated meditation and dharma reflection.

• In-person: 7pm to 8:30pm @ Yoga District — 1910 14th Street NW, 3rd Floor 

  • Please arrive 5-10 minutes early and register in advance here; it's the last Sunday class and listed under: "FREE (14th St.) Insight Meditation @ 1910 14th St"
• Online via Zoom: Join here 

With love,

Vince

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Together, We Can Create Change. Discover How You Can Help Today!

Your Support Means More Than Ever Hello Friends, This year has brought unprecedented challenges and significant changes, especially for non-profit organizations like Mission of Love Charities. The needs in our community have grown, and we've witnessed firsthand the incredible resilience of families facing hardship. At Mission of Love Charities, we've stepped up to the plate, working tirelessly to meet these evolving needs. Thanks to the generosity of supporters like you, we've been able to ensure that families are not going hungry, providing vital food assistance when it's needed most. We've also continued our crucial work with the unhoused population, offering not just a warm meal, but also the dignity of a place to take a shower and wash their clothes. We believe in the power of community, and your support directly translates into tangible impact. To give you a deeper look into the heart of our mission, we invite you to hear from a few of our dedicated board members. They'll share more about the impactful work Mission of Love Charities does every single day:   Donate Now Your generosity today helps us continue to serve with love, compassion, and dignity—because now, more than ever, our community needs us. Thank you for standing with Mission of Love Charities. With gratitude, Mission of Love Charities

Mission of Love Charities, Inc. | 6180 Old Central Avenue | Capitol Heights, MD 20743 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice

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