A group of Insight meditation practitioners in the Washington, D.C. area are creating a new sangha in response to the growing threat of climate change. Our mission is to create a community of teachers and practitioners to support one another in awakening and responding to this and other threats to our shared home.

Beginning this summer, One Earth Sangha will gather, share and cultivate the dharma perspective on climate change. Through our website, www.1earthsangha.org, we will give sangha members ways to connect and support one another in practicing wise response....

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The fourth annual BuddhaFest will be here soon! We hope you’ll join us June 20-23 for another wonderful four days of films, talks, meditation and music. This year you’ll be treated to some favorite teachers, and introduced to a few you may not know. The festival will be held at Artisphere in the Rosslyn section of Arlington, VA....

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Please consider supporting "Planting Seeds," based on the book 'Planting Seeds: Practicing Mindfulness with Children by Thich Nhat Hanh & The Plum Village Community. A flexible funding campaign is underway to help Plum Village complete this film....

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Benefit for the Am Kolel Retreat Center
with Hugh Byrne and Candace Pert

Sunday, April 28, 3-6 p.m.
River Road Unitarian Church, Bethesda, MD

Hugh Byrne will teach about "Meditation: Training Your Mind Can Improve Your Brain." Candance Pert will talk about the "Science of Conciousness and Molecules of Emotion." There will also be a healing sound concert by Eli Ammerman and Kathryn Ashera Rose.... Read more

Heavenly Messengers is a two-year program drawing on the practice and study of classical teachings and contemporary approaches to illness, aging, death and the potentialities of awakening, and in mindful and compassionate companionship to others facing these experiences.

What drove Siddhartha Gotama to leave the palace were the inescapable realities of aging, illness, and death and the potentialities of awakening. It was this realization that sparked and fueled his urgency to be released from suffering and experience deep freedom. We trust this "leaving the palace" is as personally relevant to you as it is for us.... Read more

IMCW is excited to announce the launch of The Mindfulness in DC Area Schools Project (MINDS). MINDS aims to introduce secular practices of mindfulness to K-12 schools in the Greater Washington D.C. area, starting this spring and fall. Read more

Heavenly Messengers is a two-year program drawing on the practice and study of classical teachings and contemporary approaches to illness, aging, death and the potentialities of awakening, and in mindful and compassionate companionship to others facing these experiences.

What drove Siddhartha Gotama to leave the palace were the inescapable realities of aging, illness, and death and the potentialities of awakening. It was this realization that sparked and fueled his urgency to be released from suffering and experience deep freedom. We trust this "leaving the palace" is as personally relevant to you as it is for us.... Read more

Come join us as we continue to explore the possibility of forming a meditation centered cohousing community in the DC area. Cohousing is a type of collaborative housing in which residents actively participate in the design and operation of their own neighborhoods. Cohousing residents are consciously committed to living as a community. The physical design encourages both social contact and individual space.... Read more

We will be meeting with Ann at Takoma Village on Saturday, February 23, 1-3 p.m. Ann will take us on a tour and then she and other Takoma Village residents will talk with us about what it has been like to create and live in this cohousing community.... Read more

I’m happy to let you know that the 2013 Awakening Joy course is now open for registration at our new website: www.awakeningjoy.info. I’m very excited about the course. There are a number of innovations in the next course, so even if you’ve taken it before, I think you’ll find it a fresh experience... Read more

Tara Brach's new book, True Refuge: Finding Peace and Freedom in Your Own Awakened Heart, will be on bookshelves on January 22, 2013.  Find out where to pre-order Tara's book and read an interview with Tara about how she came to write True Refuge....

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We hope you can join us at a class or meditation session at the new Center for Mindful Living in Tenleytown—and can come and see the new space at our Open House from 1–3:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 9.

In September IMCW opened the Center for Mindful Living, a space in the Washington metro area dedicated to Buddhist teachings, the practice of meditation, and the exploration of the many ways we can bring deeper presence and awareness into our lives.

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IMCW would like to announce that teachers Trudy mitchell-gilkey and La Sarmiento, and affiliate teachers Mary Aubry, Alicia Bazan-Jimenez and Larissa Kitenko graduated in September 2012 from the CDL program sponsored by Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, CA. The 2-year CDL program seeks to train "leaders who are ethical, who understand the principles of dharma practice and who can elicit clarity, kindness and patience within their community."

IMCW congratulates these teachers a is pleased to announce that Mary Aubry, Alicia Bazan-Jimenez and Larissa Kitenko have accepted IMCW's invitation to become full teachers.

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Fear is a primal response to death. Fear of death often obstructs our longing to be who we are. Many people long to provide compassionate care at the bedside of the dying; each of these individuals has the capacity to cultivate this art of compassion. The pathway to an open heart is through mindfulness and presence: by coming face-to-face with our own suffering and fear of death and the suffering and death of others, we let go of our fear and open our hearts....

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iBme teaches teens proven awareness and concentration practices that have been used for thousands of years. Teens learn how to settle a busy mind, how to skillfully handle emotions and thoughts, how to direct and sustain attention, how cultivate compassion, and how to truly listen and communicate....

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If you are an Active Duty, National Guard or Reserve member of the military, a veteran, family member, or identify with the military in some way we are offering a “home base” for you in the newly forming military interest/KM groups.

We invite you to share your story and explore the benefits of mindfulness and meditation. We may form separate groups according to interest....

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In the Takoma Park sangha, five long-term yogis took the Eight Lifetime Precepts on Sunday evening, September 23. In a simple but powerful ceremony, lead by Venerable Dhammasiri, abbot of the Washington Buddhist Vihara, the yogis made a public declaration of intention to follow the path of Buddhist practice in life.... Read more

Have you ever been caught up in a wave of anger, craving or worry where you felt the emotion carry you away like a wild horse you could not control? Most of us have experienced the strength of these energies and wondered how to work with rather than be ruled by them.

Have you felt such a wave of unruly emotion but been able to bring awareness to it and observe it instead? An important shift takes place: the awareness creates space and allows us to see other possibilities than just acting out whatever we are feeling.....

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Eckhart Tolle, best known as the author of the The Power of Now and A New Earth, is coming to Washington DC for an evening talk on Thursday October 4, 2012 from 7:30-9 p.m. The event will be held at Warner Theater 513 13th Street NW, Washington, DC. 

Event planners are reaching out to some of the local high schools, universities and colleges in the DC area to invite students to come experience this live event as their guests....

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The Mindfulness-Based Practitioners website is a resource for those who are interested in finding a therapist or practitioner who practices mindfulness-based therapy, contemplative psychotherapy, or teaches mindfulness and meditation consistent with Buddhist teachings. The practitioners on this site... Read more

Once people have been coming to IMCW classes for a while, they often feel drawn to explore what might support them in deepening practice. This fall we have a wonderful set of options for those looking for such support. Read more

Renowned wisdom teacher Eckhart Tolle will give his first-ever Washington, DC public talk on Thursday, October 4 at 7:30 p.m. This landmark event is being cosponsored by IMCW. The face-to-face encounter with this visionary author is a rare opportunity to experience his conscious presence drawing you into what he calls “the spaciousness that words can only point to.” The talk, “Living in Presence” is expected to draw a capacity crowd to the Warner Theatre venue....

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Teens are invited to learn how to settle their busy minds; how to skillfully handle emotions and thoughts; how to direct and sustain attention; how to cultivate compassion; and how to truly listen and communicate. At iBme teens are taught proven awareness and concentration practices through mindfulness meditation, small group discussions, and fun workshop activities....

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Our theme for the class was true refuge. After the opening guided meditation, we had fun with a jar full of water and dirt! Sometimes, when things aren't going our way -- or when they are going sooo our way and we don't want it to end -- our minds get like the jar when we shake it up. Our minds go from being clear and calm to being murky and full of craving and aversion. In this class, we learn to meditate, meaning we learn how to calm, watch, and guide our minds away from suffering (murky mind) and toward lasting happiness (clear mind).

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This new family meditation class provides young children 5-11 years old with a mindfulness framework to develop healthy responses to the ever-changing world around and inside of them. Children will learn how to express their innate qualities of being present with what is happening, respect for others and nature, loving kindness and compassion. Planting these seeds at an early age can reduce stress as well as sustain and nourish the mind, body and spirit for a lifetime...

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I was stunned by the news that Jesse was in critical condition with pneumonia and heart failure. We had just talked the week before about his passion—bringing mindfulness to teens. He was in his early thirties and one of the most bright, vibrant people I knew. How could Jesse be on a life supp... Read more

IMCW would like to offer a warm thanks to BuddhaFest staff and volunteers for offering us an inspiring weekend of film, music, meditation and sangha. It was exciting to see first-run films investigating the spread of Buddhism in the modern world, and discussing the importance of the sense of connection with the people and world around us. We loved hearing the teachings and the sacred music that was offered.

We know that many of you were able to join us at BuddhaFest—we met sangha members from many states, and even Canada... Read more

IMCW is working this weekend to update it's homepage and calendar. Our events and programs will be even easier to find and to register for. We hope you like it!

Please be patient with us as we work to complete the improvements to the site. We hope to have all upgrades completed this weekend.

We welcome your comments and questions. Thanks. Read more

Hear stories of intimate journeys into meditation told through video: what people have learned, how they’ve struggled, why they began and how it’s transformed their lives when you watch the new "Finding True Refuge" videos.

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“Sacred Earth: Healing Ourselves, Healing Our Planet” explores the practice of mindfulness as a means for helping each of us individually, and for helping us to preserve life on Earth. It takes place at BuddhaFest... Read more

Being on a spiritual pilgrimage we donned the brown sashes that signified us as such and made our way to an ancient temple and cleaned it of it’s accumulated sand and termite piles... Read more

Discover a way to live your life aligned with heart and spirit... Read more

Tara Brach will be one of 40 teachers featured in a 20-week, free series of online interviews on how spiritual teachers deal with their own personal challenges....

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BuddhaFest speakers this year include Rick Hanson, author of Buddha's Brain, on the neuroscience of mindfulness, and Congressman Tim Ryan, of A Mindful Nation....

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Would you like to come to an IMCW meditation space in Washington, DC that is beautiful, accessible from different parts of the metro area, and available for sitting groups, classes, and other dharma activities?

Would you like to join others for a group meditation before your working day begins, or after work, or drop in during the day for some moments of quiet and presence in the midst of our busy lives?

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Buddha talked about five key hindrances that can get in our way of happiness if we aren't attentive. We all experience these feelings everyday. They are part of the normal human experience. Even the Buddha experienced these feelings ...

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On Saturday, May 4 at 9 p.m. (ET), C-Span will air Congressman Tim Ryan's talk from IMCW's Bethesda class on April 11. C-Span notes:

Democratic Representative Tim Ryan from Ohio presents his thoughts on the teachings of mindfulness and what he believes are the meditative practices' benefits...

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Over the past decade, training in mindfulness—the intentional cultivation of moment-by-moment non-judgmental focused attention and awareness—has spread from its initial western applications in medicine to other fields, including education....

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The movie I Am, received so well at last year's BuddhaFest, will be shown tonight on Oprah's Network.... Read more

Tsoknyi Rinpoche discusses his teachings on "Open Heart, Open Mind" with Tara Brach....

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Congressman Ryan received a standing ovation at Wednesday's Bethesda class when he spoke of building a nation based on mindfulness and kindness...

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Volunteers from IMCW's prison dharma program, Insight on the Inside will begin teaching meditation at the District of Columbia Department of Corrections (DCDC). IMCW is pleased that the IOI program, begun in 2009 through the Good Works initiative, is continuing to expand....

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Buddhism today, through its myriad forms, presents to us two very different models of human nature: one of inherent goodness and purity, and one of plasticity, of malleability, of no-essence. Where we come down in this issue – consciously or unconsciously – determines what we see as our existential starting point and necessarily leads to two very different frameworks of intention and effort.  It has a profound effect on what we think our Dharma practice should be about....

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We have created an overview of our December class, per the parents request...

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April 11 & 18 bring two special speakers to the Wednesday class in Bethesda.  You are invited to attend their talks and book signings...

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Playing traditional instruments and chanting, the Gaden Jangtse monks will perform a Medicine Buddha puja. Hearing the Medicine Buddha mantra is believed to alleviate our physical and mental suffering and leave the imprints of the entire path to Enlightenment in our minds....

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If the profound teachings and practices of mindfulness are to address the great social suffering of our society and world, and help us live with greater wisdom and compassion, there is probably no more important area to put attention than bringing the practices of mindfulness and compassion into our schools.... Read more

Please join Wednesday guest speaker, Congressman Tim Ryan on April 11 as he talks to IMCW about his new book about how in these tough times, living mindfully is creating a quiet revolution...

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An exciting new feature--the BuddhaFest Short Films Showcase--has been added to this year’s festival. A $1,000 top prize is being offered for films of five minutes or less that explore the question, “What does it mean to be awake in the world?”

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The Buddha provided a path of training that helps us to see the thoughts, words, and actions that lead us to continued suffering and those that lead to freedom from suffering....

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Join us to continue the discussion about how to bring compassion to D.C.'s schools and military veterans...

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The State of the Sangha 2010-11 describes the continued growth of the IMCW community....

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La Sarmiento, IMCW teacher, sings 3 dharma spoof songs for the 2011 IMCW Solstice Celebration. Read more

Awakening Joy is an engaging and highly regarded internet course that has been written up in O Magazine. Joy is not for just the lucky few–it’s a choice anyone can make....

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A holiday greeting video from Tara and all of us at IMCW...

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Join us for candles and chanting...

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Join us as we bring the teachings and practice of mindfulness into bear, exploring ways in which we can act together to create a more compassionate community and world....

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Anam Thubten, Buddhist teacher and author of the recently released No Self, No Problem teaches at IMCW's Arlington class on Monday, December 5.

He says, "Buddha spoke of attention as one of the most powerful methods to become free...."

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Access to Insight: The Dhammapada Access to Insight: Readings in Theravada Buddhism. BuddhaNet: Dharma education Buddhist Peace Fellowship: Cultivating compassionate action Dharma Voices for Animals: Bringing Awareness to the Suffering of Animals DharmaNet: Study, practice & action DharmaS... Read more

La Sarmiento, IMCW teacher & iBme teen retreat leader, witnesses "what can happen when young people are given a space where they are fully accepted for all of who they are and where their perspectives are heard, seen, and honored, and taken seriously. Through this container, their natural wisdom and compassion flows."

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Although fearing the pain of loss is biological and universal, because it is so compelling, fear profoundly shapes our sense of identity. When fear arises, we pull into ourselves, clinging to whatever we perceive as our core, the way a sea anemone does when it is poked. Read more

Join the IMCW community at a fall picnic!

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Watch video dharma talks by Tara Brach, Sylvia Boorstein, Hugh Byrne and Ruth King...

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Tara Brach welcomes newcomers to IMCW and invites you to explore the resources available to you here...

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Tara offers new insights on how to establish a rich and satisfying meditation practice. 

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Explore our audio dharma and our new video dharma on the Talks webpage...

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Tara Brach and other IMCW teachers are teaching introduction to meditation classes this fall. Learn how to quiet the mind and awaken mindful and compassionate awareness with Vipassana (insight) meditation. 

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Practicing the dharma in the jungles of the home life...

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When I had remained present with pain in the past, something had indeed changed—I opened to a more spacious and kind awareness. Suddenly I realized that maybe this situation was about really trusting suffering as the gateway....

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When I first met Tibetan teacher Anam Thubten informally, I was immediately struck by his warmth and humor. As we began talking, a striking depth and clarity of wisdom came through. Anam is the real deal- a very realized, awake being.... Read more

Join IMCW and Omega for a weekend with these 3 noted Buddhist teachers and psychologists, as they explore how Western psychology and Eastern Buddhist psychology have become partners in one of the greatest of human quests—the exploration, understanding, healing, and awakening of the human heart and mind....

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... I had been given the Buddhist name, Shenpen Lhamo or Goddess of Helping Others, by Thrangu Rinpoche, a familiar monk to our pending house guest.

One day I had a call from someone I could not understand. I thought it must either be a possible client (I am retired) or a sales person, both common occurrences. I ultimately said, “I am very sorry but I am afraid you have the wrong number and hung up. A few minutes later I discovered it was my Monk! Next time he called he said, “I thought you were the Goddess of Helping Others!” “I have much to learn,” I replied....

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What if the thing that you lovingly crafted would be destroyed as soon as it was complete and perfect—how would you not suffer from that loss?

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Teachers Hugh Byrne and Rebecca Hines talk about simple ways to come home to yourself in everyday life: begin your life fresh in the moment by pausing, relaxing, and paying attention to your immediate experience using the sacred pause.

A link to a downloadable mindfulness bell is included...

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Transform fear with Darwin's help. A talk by Tara Brach, translated by Barbara and Doug Levine. Read more

Lama Surya Das speaks about living the "infinite possibilities of now."

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See Tara Brach's dharma talks on video!    

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As a central part of its commitment to diversity and inclusiveness, IMCW supports the formation and continued presence of affinity groups such as the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender & Questioning (LGBTQ) Sangha, and the People of Color (POC) Sangha....

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Close your eyes and awareness naturally flows inward and to the other senses. Our daylong retreat on Saturday explored what it means to “be” with nature as a backdrop.

Much of our day was on a knoll over the Potomac River at River Bend Park....

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Learn about the new website's many features.  This week we look at the calendar and talk about how to find classes, teachers, and other items of interest.

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Eastern Buddhism meets Western philosophy and culture in a book by Religious Studies professor David McMahan. Read the book review by IMCW teacher Carl Skooglund....

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Teen and adult summer retreats offered by iBme in nearby Virginia offer "a practical toolkit for lifelong mental health, social-emotional wellbeing, and sustainable living."

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September 16–17, 2011 

Join three of the West's most prominent Buddhist teachers—Jack Kornfield, Tara Brach, and Mark Epstein—for an exclusive weekend program. Tap into the healing wisdom for lasting happiness inherent within each of us through the ancient, life-changing power of Buddhist teachings and the latest research in contemporary Western psychology. 

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Barbara and Doug Levine offer a light-hearted interpretation of Jonathan Foust's class, "Fear Can Be Our Ally."

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This book review describes how Kristen Neff, PhD, brings some fresh perspective about suffering and has concluded that Self-Compassion is, as Cheri Huber once said, the magic ingredient.

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New website, new look, new features, new experience--with metta from IMCW.

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A printable mentor application is provided here; however, we hope you will find it easier to log in and complete the online application.

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Regional Insight Meditation Centers Insight Meditation Group of Charlottesville (VA) Washington Buddhist Vihara (DC) Insight Meditation Community of Chestertown (MD) Insight Meditation Group of Lewes (DE) Residential Dharma Centers Bhavana Society: Forest Monast... Read more

Teacher Catherine Brousseau explains how the the Five Recollections create a perspective of gratitude.

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Ofosu teaches IMCW’s Family Meditation class and is an accomplished hip hop, rap and electronica musical artist known as Born. He talks about his life, his goals, and how his Buddhist practice and music intersect.

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Read the "Best of DC 2011"!

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Welcome to Buddhist practice. These books, taken from the broader list of readings suggested by the teachers on a number of subjects, will help introduce you to meditation and Buddhist dharma (teachings).  We hope you find them useful. Please also look into our audio and video dharma offerings, and our classes and retreats.

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The Buddhist principles of loving kindness (metta) and generosity (dana) call us to support a meditation experience beneficial for others as well as ourselves. Meditation gives us an opportunity to quiet our minds and focus our attention on what is happening to us right now. Silence and stillness ar... Read more

During the first meeting between mentee and mentor you will review your Mentoring Agreement. You’ll review your goals, how often you’ll meet, where and for how long. This is an excellent way start your relationship.

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A talk with Tara Brach about what it takes to transcend our negativity about ourselves and how to replace that with love.

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A selection of books and CDs are available for sale at the Wednesday night class. IMCW does not sell these materials o­n the website and we can not take mail orders. The following books are recommended by IMCW's senior teachers. We hope that you enjoy them. * Denotes books that are good as a... Read more

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Jonathan Foust asks, "What should we do when we have an itch? What should we do when the body really wants to move or a leg falls asleep in meditation and we become convinced we will never walk again?"

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How do we transform fear? A new perspective on Jonathan Foust's talk on fear by sangha members Barbara and Doug Levine. Read more

A selection of books and CDs are available for sale at the Wednesday night class. IMCW does not sell these materials on the website and we can not take mail orders. The following books have inspired members of the IMCW community and are particularly useful for more experienced students: Vipassana-... Read more

Hugh Byrne talks about the Satipatthana Sutta: mindfulness as a direct path to liberation.

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A YLM "graduate" describes how YLM works and how it has affected her life....

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Shambhala SunSpace, Shambhala Sun Magazine's website, interviews IMCW teacher Ofosu Jones-Quartey, also known as rapper Born Infinite, about the recent release of his new solo album Tomorrow is Today.

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What are retreats like? What should I expect? Teacher Vicki Goodman remembers her first retreat experience...

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Whether you are new to meditation or have been practicing regularly for a while, you may find working with a mentor to be a welcomed support on the path. Read more

How do we fight greed and delusion--the shadow side? With laughter! Sangha members Barbara and Doug Levine produce comic interpretations of Tara Brach's dharma talks and offer them for your enjoyment. Read more

by Tara Brach (Editor's note: This article was originally published in The Awakening Mind, Fall 2003.) We’ve all been hurt, disappointed, betrayed, maybe even abused. Sometimes the perpetrator is someone we love; at other times it may be an institution such as our employer or our government;... Read more

A summary of the past year's classes, retreats, teachers, and the growth of the affinity communities.

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Welcome to IMCW's volunteer program!

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For the last 8 years, I have been on a quest, a kind of archeological dig. The site? The suttas (discourses) of the Buddha. The treasure? To hold in my mind and heart the wisdom of a fully enlightened being and it’s power to reshape my life.... Read more

Tara Brach talks about patience. "Patience isn’t the absence of strong emotions or the denial of unpleasantness, but rather the capacity to accept the tension and anxiety of stress....

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How do we fight greed and delusion--the shadow side? With laughter! A new installment of sangha members Barbara and Doug Levine produce comic interpretations of Tara Brach's dharma talks. Read more

Listen to Jonathan on the Diane Rehm show!

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To bring the dharma to still more people in our troubled world, and to expand its reach to diverse communities, Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Northern California will conduct its fourth Community Dharma Leader (CDL) training course beginning in September 2010. Five teachers and teachers-in- training from IMCW have been accepted to the program. Read more

If I restrain from a habit I know is not life-enhancing and pay attention, I notice some kind of compulsion or need arise. When I pull myself away from getting lost in internet surfing, for example, I notice a restlessness … a desire for entertainment to satisfy a hungry, unsettled mind. Read more

IMCW sangha members volunteer at Habitat for Humanity, July 2009 in Capitol Heights, D.C....

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How do we take refuge in the dhamma? We remember to come home to this moment. We pause long enough to come out of the fog of to do lists, newspapers stories and our own stories of how thing ought to be different than they are.... Read more