Meditation Descriptions
Sunday 7am - QiGong - Led by Paul Martin. Join us Sunday mornings to practice QiGong before our Sitting Meditation. QiGong is characterized by gentle movements to open the energy pathways throughout the body. Practiced by Buddhist and Taoist practitioners, QiGong is valued as a tool for cultivating an embodied Meditation practice. All are welcome to participate regardless of your level of experience in QiGong and/or Meditation..
Sunday 8am - Meditation and Dharma - Led by Brian Arnell and others. Welcome to our Sunday Morning Meditation and Dharma Talk. This is our most attended gathering. We practice silent, sitting meditation for 45 minutes, and receive a Talk given by our Senior Teacher, Brian Arnell, or a guest teacher who shares their insights into the Buddha's teachings followed by an interactive time for questions and comments. Even when meditating together via Zoom, many people feel the interconnectedness and benefits of meditating in community. If you prefer to meditate in person, we have a hybrid Sit on the 2nd Sunday of the month at the Unitarian Society of Germantown.
Sunday 7pm - Meditation and Dharma - Led by Brian Arnell and others. Join Springboard for a 45 minute meditation, followed by a 45 minute Dharma talk and discussion.
Monday 6:30pm - Lesbian Group - Led by Joanne Fleischer. The Lesbian Meditation Group meets for a 30-minute meditation which is followed by a discussion about the practice and then open time for sharing. The structure may shift to accommodate the needs of the group. Beginners and advanced meditators are welcome.
Tuesday and Thursday 8am - Morning Meditation - Led by Michelle Stortz and others. This morning practice consists of a 30-minute meditation, with possible guidance for beginners. We will then have about 15 minutes for casual discussion about the Buddha’s teachings and how they support mindful living.
Tuesday noon and Friday 11am - Deepening Our Insight Practice - Led by Beth Adelson. Beth gives a short dharma talk and instructions for the silent meditation. There is also a check-in where each person gets to share both their life-practice experience and their on-the-cushion practice experience. Beth gives feedback tailored to their individual needs. There is group discussion as well.
Tuesday 7pm - Emptiness and Love - Led by Brian Arnell and others. This is primarily a discussion group – we often do not sit, but rather we have in depth discussions around the topics raised through our practice and study of the Anapanasati Sutta. This is the practice of having our primary focus be on the in-and-out of the breath while remaining mindful of life flowing through us as thoughts, emotions, and sensations in the body and sense experiences. We work on developing a felt understanding of the constancy of change and the deep interconnectedness of self identity. Emptiness and Love are foundations - emptiness as the intrinsic reality in which we live, love as the underlying field of all life. Knowing this brings us ease and deep joy.
Wednesday 2:30-3:30 - Led by Deborah Cooper. Join Deborah as she leads us into calm and reflection with meditation, inspiring writings, and poems from the great meditation teachers and teachings based on her own extensive training in mindfulness.
Wednesday 7pm - Dharma Matters- Led by Brian Arnell and others. We will have a rotating group of facilitators/presenters. We are asking the sit leaders to share a piece of dharma from a teacher they admire, either in written form or audio such as a podcast or you tube video. We will then have a time for silent meditation, followed by discussion of the presented dharma.
Thursday 7pm - Evening Meditation - Join Jesse Frechette for an evening sit and discussion. Special emphasis is on mindful self-compassion and strengthening our inner ally, as well as allyship toward each other. The talk/teaching integrates aspects of mindfulness, mindful self-compassion, and mindful communication.
Friday noon - Sound Sangha - Led by Michael Reiley. A topic is introduced around the intersection of meditation, sound, listening, awareness, and attention. This is followed by a mindfulness practice and discussion.
Second Sundays at Sullivan - Led by Brian Arnell and others. On Second Sundays, we meet for the 8am meditation at the Unitarian Society of Germantown (USG) for a hybrid sit.
Meditations Book Group - Led by Beth Adelson. This group continues to meet monthly on second Fridays via zoom.
Meditation Orientation Class - Led by Bob Chapra. This is an introduction to the meditation process, with a short 15 minute sit, tips on how to sit more comfortably and address any questions or concerns you may have. The class occurs when five or more register with Bob.