[Downtown Dharma Sangha Listserv] Sangha Activity - Celebrate Winter with a Haiku Hike & Dharma Talk

Hello!

Winter is such a contemplative season, so why not join us for a contemplative haiku hike and dharma talk? We are excited to continue this informal Downtown Dharma haiku series with an winter hike through Rock Creek 😊

What: Please join us for our Winter Haiku Hike through Rock Creek Park beginning with a dharma talk! Participants will learn how haiku relate to mindfulness and Zen Buddhism and receive brief instructions on how to write haiku. We will then take a mindful hike, taking breaks to write our own haiku about the nature we observe. (Haiku are short, accessible poems that typically evoke nature and contemplation of the present moment. Find examples of famous haiku here.)

When: Sunday, February 22, 11am-1:30pm (We will inform the sangha listserv and RSVP'd participants at least 24 hours in advance if the event will be canceled due to inclement weather or rough trail conditions.)

Where: We will meet at 11am near the Pierce Barn (2401 Tilden St NW) to gather for a ~30-minute introduction, including a dharma talk from Griffen Saul. Then, we will hike approximately 2.5 miles up the Western Ridge Trail to Boulder Bridge and loop back down the Valley Trail to end where we began. Lot parking is typically available near the start/end of our route. See the tentative route at the bottom of this email.

Who: Please RSVP on Partiful. (You can email us if you don't want to use Partiful.) All are welcome–no experience required! We have capped participation at 25 to ensure a great experience for everyone. While our pace will be slow and steady, this event is best suited for people who feel comfortable hiking more than 2.5 miles on park trails that are uneven and have some steep inclines and declines.

How: No experience necessary! We will go over simple instructions on how to write haiku. A handout on haiku will be provided. Please bring a notebook and pen.

Why: While haiku is not a strictly Buddhist form of poetry, haiku and Zen are closely linked historically and thematically. Haiku relies on the senses and encourages contemplation of the present moment, so both new and experienced meditators may enjoy practicing haiku as a way to engage with mindfulness. See additional resources at the bottom of this email for more info.

 Questions? Please email Jude (judelavellewrites@gmail.com) and Griffen (griffensaul@gmail.com).

 

<3 Griffen & Jude

Further Resources on Contemplative Haiku:

These are completely optional! No need to explore them before you attend.

 

Podcast: Writing and Haiku as Spiritual Practice (Tara Brach Interviews Natalie Goldberg)

Discussion on haiku, its relationship to spirituality, and Goldberg's book Three Simple Lines begins in earnest at 10:35.

 

Article: Haiku: A Whole Lot More than 5-7-5

This comprehensive article covers a linguistic perspective on the differences between Japanese and English haiku, as well as some principles ("rules") of haiku and the traditional haiku masters.

 

Article: Why Haiku Holds the Flavor of Zen

This brief article explores the Zen nature of haiku and connects the form to some principles from Western writing, if folks are more familiar with that.

 

Site: The Monthly Tricycle Haiku Challenge

This site is a hub for Buddhists interested in writing and sharing haiku, including submitting to a regular contest.

 

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[Downtown Dharma Sangha Listserv] Reminder: Introduction to Insight Dialogue begins tonight at 7pm

Hi Dharma Friends,

Just a gentle reminder that Introduction to Insight Dialogue with Sue Brown begins tonight at 7:00-8:30pm online.

With the weather being so chilly, this feels like a perfect time to gather.  This course explores relational dharma—how mindfulness comes alive in connection.  Each week, we'll spend time with one of the Insight Dialogue guidelines, learning how to bring more presence, kindness, and clarity into the way we listen, speak, and relate with one another.

This is a welcoming, experiential space where you can slow down, practice together, and discover how wisdom naturally unfolds through relationship.  Sue Brown is an exceptional teacher, bringing genuine warmth and care to the practices she offers.

You're warmly welcome to join us.  This is being organized by the Center for Mindful Living - DC.   For more information or to register: https://tockify.com/cmldc/detail/806/1770249600000

With a grateful heart,
Michele 

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[Downtown Dharma Sangha Listserv] Fwd: Welcoming the Peace Walk Monks as they enter Washington DC

I dont' know if this is the same as the Walk for Peace that IMCW alluded to in its last email, but I thought I'd pass it along in case not. I find it inspiring. 

Joan 

Joan Mooney

Writer/editor

joanhmooney@gmail.com

www.linkedin.com/in/joanmooney

Member, American Society of Journalists and Authors, National Press Club

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Opening Heart Mindfulness Community <info@openingheartmindfulness.org>
Date: Tue, Feb 3, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Subject: Welcoming the Peace Walk Monks as they enter Washington DC
To: <joanhmooney@gmail.com>

Save the dates: Peace Walk events in Washington, DC (Feb 10–11)

View this email in your browser Dear friends,  Like many, we have been following and being inspired by the progress of the Peace Monks (and Aloka) as they make their way from Fort Worth to Washington, DC. We are writing to let you know that our sanghas in the DMV are making plans to welcome the monks with our own peaceful, mindful presence when they arrive in DC. We hope you will join us! Our local sanghas have formed a "Peace Walk Welcoming Committee" which will suggest meeting location(s) and keep you informed about suggestions for where and when to meet so that we can practice together on the day of their arrival. For Opening Heart, our point of contact for folks who want to join the walk is Sunil Misra. You can email him here. Route, Timing, and Meeting Location: While the monks have now confirmed their presence in Washington, DC, on February 10 and 11, details related to their arrival walk into the city, including route, timing, and gathering locations, are still unfolding and may not be finalized until one or two days beforehand. Route: The monks plan on being in Arlington prior to entering DC. They have mentioned ending their walk at the White House, but it is not clear if that means the Mall, the actual White House, or some other location, such as the Capitol. If they are staying in Arlington the night before, they might come via the Key Bridge or the Memorial Bridge.  We may not know which bridge until one or two days ahead of time. Timing: TBD. Friends in North Carolina have reported that the monks arrived several hours later than advertised at their location in Siler, NC. Furthermore, the crowds were larger than expected, so the location for the dharma talk was changed at the last minute. We should be flexible and prepared for changes and delays (impermanence!). Meeting Location(s): As there are still several unknowns about the actual route, the ending point, and whether they have a Permit for a specific location on the Mall (we are trying to find out), we cannot finalize our own meeting points just now.  Again, none of this may be clear until one or two days prior to their arrival. For now, we are considering two locations:  a meeting point for those who would like to walk in mindful silence with or in close proximity to the monks (maybe a mile or less)  a final gathering point for those who prefer to wait in silent meditation for the monks to arrive and to be joined by their fellow sangha members.  Our Sangha Presence as we Welcome the Peace Monks: As we gather together, let's have the intention to support the wish of the monks who, over and over again, remind us that they are not practicing for us, but to encourage us to practice peace and compassion in our own lives.  Let us bring the teachings of our dear and respected teacher, Thay, in our hearts as we come together in Washington DC to welcome the monks.   It is possible that the day will bring us challenges - changes of venue, large noisy crowds, or inability to hear the monks, etc. May we accept the conditions that arise with gratitude. Let us support each other and those around us with equanimity and hold fast to our intention to maintain peaceful silence, to walk mindfully, and to offer our collective presence for all beings that they may be safe, happy, and peaceful. Keeping in Touch: Please keep in touch with your sangha representative as listed above, and let them know if you plan to attend so that we can know who to expect. Still Water (Lori Perine) WMC (Nigel Twose) Baltimore & Beyond (Marisela Gomez) Flowers of Peace (Tom Livingston) True Names (Jeff Johnson) OHMC (Sunil Misra) Sugarloaf Mountain (Joyce Bailey) MPCF (Jill McKay) WakeUp DC (Alyssa) With gratitude for all the conditions that are making it possible for us to participate in this beautiful event, The Peace Walk Welcoming Committee    Links to inspire and help plan for the Walk for Peace:   The official Walk for Peace website Live Map Walk for Peace Facebook Walk for Peace Instagram Walk For Peace Beautiful song Donate to Opening Heart Credit Card, PayPal, Venmo, and Zelle are accepted. Cash and QR code donations are accepted and appreciated at our in-person sittings. OHMC Facebook Group Copyright © 2026 Opening Heart Mindfulness Community, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted to receive email from the Opening Heart Mindfulness Community (OHMC). Our mailing address is: Opening Heart Mindfulness Community 3812 Northampton St NW Washington, DC 20015 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

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