[Downtown Dharma Sangha Listserv] This Sunday, The Hindrances: Foes or Friends on the Path?

Greetings Dear Sangha,

How often does this happen to you? Full of resolve and determination, you sit down on your cushion for a meditation session only to find your mind persistently agitated, restless, foggy, self-critical or just plain anywhere but here. 

Blessedly named by the Buddha as completely normal and to-be-expected, these are "the hindrances," and they show up unannounced for both new and even the most experienced practitioners. Yet, "normal and expected" doesn't just mean you're not alone or that there's nothing to see here. On the contrary, when held under a compassionate and curious light, the hindrances can become some of the most direct teachers we have about the nature of our experience.

This week we'll explore one of the most fundamental yet endlessly fascinating aspects of Buddhist teachings. We'll discuss what it means to meet the hindrances with genuine interest instead of frustration, and how a steady, honest relationship with them can open into some of the deepest insights available to these human minds.

I hope you can join us this Sunday, in person or online, where we will explore the five hindrances and perhaps discover that what appears to be in the way is the Way.

In-person: Sunday, 7:00 to 8:30pm @ Yoga District — 1910 14th Street NW, 3rd Floor, Washington, DC (please try to arrive at least 10 min. early)

Online via Zoom:  Join here  

Yours In Sangha,

Kristin

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kristin barker

One Earth Sangha

Pronouns she, her and hers; on occupied land of the Piscataway.

kristin@1earthsangha.org

No mud, no lotus. 

  — Thích Nhất Hạnh

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[Downtown Dharma Sangha Listserv] Mindful Movement and Climbing night next Tuesday!

Hello Downtown Dharma Family - 

Want to invite you all to a special, one-of-a-kind opportunity to come together in a supportive environment and try bouldering! Details below or forward to a friend who has always wanted to try climbing :) This could potentially be the start of something bigger - like a Mindful Climbing Affinity Group at Bouldering Project. Let's show them the interest! 

Mindful Movement & Rock Climbing Workshop ~ for women & non-binary individuals
Tuesday, June 16
7:00 - 9:15 PM

If you’ve never touched a climbing wall before, or if you have some experience but feel "stuck" and want to overcome fear, you are exactly who we had in mind! No matter your level, all you need is an open mind and a willingness to explore in a fun, warm, and deeply supportive environment. Together, we will combine a grounding yoga flow, mindfulness practices, and bouldering fundamentals to help you find ease and fresh energy on and off the wall.

Click here to see the full schedule, learn more, and grab your spot!

The hosts of this event are Jackie Powell and Shannon Johnson. 

Meet Your Co-Host, Shannon: Shannon has been climbing passionately since 2019, transitioning from indoor bouldering to leading outdoor sport and traditional routes. As a member of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PAT-C) Mountaineering Section and the American Alpine Club (AAC), she is dedicated to safety, beginner-friendly techniques, and making climbing accessible. Inspired by the supportive, feminist, and mindful environment of women and non-binary climbing collectives, Shannon is passionate about building that exact kind of empowering, inclusive community right here in the DMV.

Bring a friend! A supportive community makes all the difference. If you know a woman or non-binary friend who has been wanting to try climbing or could use a night of mindful movement, please forward this email and invite them to join us! 

With gratitude, 
Jackie

PS - if you're looking for something to do over the Juneteenth weekend - we may be able to find a spot for you at this yoga and meditation retreat 1.5 hours outside of DC! Reach out asap if even slightly interested. 

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_______________________________________________________

Jackie Sue Powell

www.jackiesuepowell.com

LinkedIn | Instagram

jackiesuepowell@gmail.com

Pronouns: she/her/hers

cell: +1.540.718.4888

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[Downtown Dharma Sangha Listserv] Re: Special Invitation: Join Us this September for a Weekend Retreat at Seven Oaks

Devin spoke last night about spiritual friendship, and I find myself wanting to resurface this invitation. In my experience, it's been transformative to spend unhurried time on residential retreat with spiritual friends—and this September's Downtown Dharma weekend with Kristin and Ellen offers a chance for just this. Meditation, mindful dialogue, and room to simply be. Registration is now open; see Kristin's note below.

On Sun, May 3, 2026 at 1:37 PM Kristin Barker <kristin@1earthsangha.org> wrote:

Greetings Dear Sangha,

Dechen Ellen McSweeney and I will co-teach a weekend retreat at Seven Oaks Retreat Center from Friday, September 18 through Sunday, September 20. While open to the public, we wanted to extend a special invitation to the Downtown Dharma Community.

The theme of the retreat is attending to relationship: with ourselves, one another, and our worlds. Rather than an exclusively silent retreat, we will undertake a mix of practices: silent meditation, dialogue, group sharing, and conversation with the land. Yet Saturday in particular will be held in noble silence as a means of developing relationship with ourselves and the land. Learn more here.

Registration opens May 21. These retreats tend to fill so we encourage you to mark both the retreat dates and the registration date on your calendar. 

With appreciation,
Kristin & Ellen

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kristin barker

One Earth Sangha

Pronouns she, her and hers; on occupied land of the Piscataway.

kristin@1earthsangha.org

No mud, no lotus. 

  — Thích Nhất Hạnh

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[Downtown Dharma Sangha Listserv] This Sunday

Hi friends,

I'm looking forward to meditating and exploring the Dharma together tomorrow evening from 7:00-8:30 PM at Yoga District on 14th St and on Zoom.

I'd like to talk this week about spiritual companionship, a topic near and dear to my heart. It'll be nice to explore the topic together, in a community that has fostered this companionship for many years.

Details:

• In-person: Sunday, April 12 from 7:00–8:30 PM @ Yoga District — 1910 14th Street NW, 3rd Floor, Washington, DC (please arrive 5–10 minutes early)
• Please! :) Register in advance here — it's the last class listed for Sunday under the name, "FREE (14th St.) Insight Meditation @ 1910 14th St"
• Online via Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/466237117?pwd=cGxHaTJlTVhBdldVSk8weDZuSW5udz09

https://www.downtowndharmadc.org/

With love,

Devin

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[Downtown Dharma Sangha Listserv] Musicality of Being this Saturday in Rock Creek Park

Hello friends, 

Here I am inviting you once again to the Musicality of Being workshop in Rock Creek Park - this Saturday, 10am-1pm.

Aside from the fact that it's absolutely gorgeous in the park this time of year, what I can tell you about this gathering is that it's a really unique opportunity to take your practice on the cushion into the dynamic flowing movement of daily life. 

At these gatherings meditation takes place as a moving dialogue between you, your partner and the flow of the land below your feet and the sights and sounds that surround you as you walk through the park. Together we observe how perception inspires thoughts and emotions ...which inspire speech ...which creates communication ...and how this cycle continually turns over again, carving new pathways through the unfolding of relationship moment by moment.

The workshop includes both partner and group dialogues as well as opportunities to commune directly with the natural surroundings. Being in this space together for 3 hours invites a profound slowing down of time and a fresh lens on life as a whole. It's also a beautiful opportunity to connect with people in your community who value deep listening and connection.

If you have any questions about the event, please let me know.

You can register here.

Warmly, 

Seth Dellinger

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[Downtown Dharma Sangha Listserv] Dharma Book Club | June & July Events

Hi Community,

I hope you're all having a wonderful start to summer! We're excited to share both our June and July Dharma Book Club meetings. 

One update: We're going to experiment with a Partiful invite to hopefully self-manage some of the reminders, updates, and waitlists. If we don't end up liking it, we can go back to the Google Sheet in August!

June Book Club: The Untethered Soul

• Date: Sunday, 6/28 from 4-6pm
• Location: We'll meet in a central park if the weather is nice. We'll share the exact location (and inclement weather plan) in the Partiful soon. 
• Reading: The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer
• Facilitator: Karen Kwok
• Sign Up Link: https://partiful.com/e/lvZpGlmcR9e8eO1PrGby?c=VWCrH2iP

July Book Club: Braiding Sweetgrass

• Date: Saturday, 7/11 from 4-6pm
• Location: the picnic area at Peirce Mill
• Reading: Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
• Facilitator: Jackie Powell
• Sign Up Link: https://partiful.com/e/gCX3eQ2tiKXLGhy6n4aS?c=No6appZz

Just like in May, there's no expectation that you've completed the entire book for either meeting. Come as you are, and share whatever portion of the reading resonates with you. 

With metta,
Kerrigan

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