Falling Petals

IMCW is pleased to offer to the sangha Falling Petals, our new RSS newsfeed. In it you will find articles, announcements, and information that will keep you "enlightened" about the happenings at IMCW.

• New Meditation CD by Tara Brach

  Editor posted on May 16 2012
  Discover a way to live your life aligned with heart and spirit... Read more
  Posted in: Announcements, Falling Petals

• A Film Festival for Heart & Mind: June 14-17 at BuddhaFest

  Editor posted on May 06 2012

  BuddhaFest speakers this year include Rick Hanson, author of Buddha's Brain and one of the world's leading authorities on the neuroscience of mindfulness, and Congressman Tim Ryan, whose new book, A Mindful Nation, explores the growing presence of mindfulness in many areas of American life....

  Read more
  Posted in: Announcements, Falling Petals

• Integrating Mindfulness into the Schools

  Editor posted on Apr 28 2012

  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....

  Read more
  Posted in: Announcements, Falling Petals, Engaged Buddhism

• Building a Mindful Nation: Talk by IMCW Guest Speaker Congressman Tim Ryan

  Editor posted on Apr 16 2012
  

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

  Read more
  Posted in: Announcements, Falling Petals

• The Question of Essential Human Goodness

  Carl Skooglund posted on Apr 01 2012
  

  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....

  Read more
  Posted in: Announcements, Falling Petals, Deepening Practice

• The Brahma Viharas by Hugh Byrne

  Hugh Byrne posted on Jan 30 2012
  

  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....

  Read more
  Posted in: Announcements, Falling Petals

• State of the Sangha 2010-11

  Editor posted on Jan 19 2012

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

  Read more
  Posted in: Falling Petals

• Websites of Interest and Peace & Justice Groups

  Editor posted on Nov 16 2011

  IMCW offers a number of websites to pique your interest: audio dharma, readings, online Buddhist magazines, study groups, retreats, and peace & justice groups.

  Read more
  Posted in: Falling Petals

• Leaning into Fear: Gateway to Freedom

  Tara Brach posted on Oct 15 2011
  

  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
  Posted in: Falling Petals

• 9.11 Weekend of Compassion Dharma Talks Now on Video

  Editor posted on Oct 03 2011

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

  Read more
  Posted in: Announcements, Falling Petals

• Basic Mind, Extraordinary Kids

  Editor posted on Sep 03 2011
  

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

  Read more
  Posted in: Falling Petals

• Awakening Through Mindful Prayer

  Tara Brach posted on Aug 23 2011
  

  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....

  
  

  Read more
  Posted in: Falling Petals

• Hosting a Buddhist Monk: Opening to Human Connection

  Editor posted on Jul 27 2011

  ... 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....

  Read more
  Posted in: Falling Petals, Engaged Buddhism

• Love, Commitment and the Creation of a Sand Mandala: Teachings by the Monks of Drepung Monastery

  Trish Magyari posted on Jul 25 2011
  

  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?

  Such are the teachings of the monks of Drepung Monastery, emissaries of the Dalai Lama’s lineage, who spent five days this past week prayerfully creating an exquisite Medicine Buddha sand mandala only to ceremonially “destroy” it when it was finished....
  
  

  Read more
  Posted in: Announcements, Falling Petals

• The Sacred Pause

  Editor posted on Jul 22 2011
  

  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...

  Read more
  Posted in: Falling Petals, New to Meditation

• Comic, How to Work with Fear 2

  Editor posted on Jul 18 2011
  

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

• Being...in Nature: A Retreat Experience

  Jonathan Foust posted on Jul 01 2011

  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....

  Read more
  Posted in: Falling Petals, Green Sangha

• Guest Teacher, Lama Surya Das, Wednesday, July 13

  Editor posted on Jun 13 2011
  

  Listen to Buddhist teacher Surya Das, poet, writer and chant-master....

  Read more
  Posted in: Announcements, Falling Petals

• Explore Our New Website: the Calendar

  Editor posted on Jun 12 2011
  

  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.

  Read more
  Posted in: Announcements, Falling Petals

• Book Review: The Making of Buddhist Modernism by David McMahan

  Editor posted on Jun 12 2011

  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....

  Read more
  Posted in: Announcements, Falling Petals

• Comic, Fear as our Ally

  Editor posted on May 18 2011
  

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

  Read more
  Posted in: Falling Petals

• Self-Compassion: Stop Beating Yourself Up and Leave Insecurity Behind, by Kristen Neff, PhD

  Editor posted on May 09 2011

  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.

  Read more
  Posted in: Falling Petals, New to Meditation

• The Five Daily Recollections

  Editor posted on Apr 12 2011

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

  Read more
  Posted in: Falling Petals

• Teacher Profile: Ofosu Jones-Quartey

  Editor posted on Apr 09 2011
  

  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.

  Read more
  Posted in: Falling Petals

• Radical Self-Compassion

  Tara Brach posted on Mar 03 2011
  

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

  Read more
  Posted in: Falling Petals, New to Meditation

• How to Meditate: A Guide to Formal Sitting Practice

  Tara Brach posted on Feb 26 2011

  Tara Brach explains practical steps for establishing a meditation practice and offers resources for deepening practice.

  Read more
  Posted in: Falling Petals, New to Meditation

• To Scratch or Not to Scratch

  Jonathan Foust posted on Feb 20 2011
  

  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?"

  Read more
  Posted in: Falling Petals

• Comic: How Do We Transform Fear

  Editor posted on Feb 18 2011
  

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

• Sharon Salzberg, Guest Teacher Wednesday night/PBS interview segment

  Editor posted on Feb 12 2011
  

  Watch Sharon Salzberg's PBS segment--filmed at IMCW.

  Read more
  Posted in: Announcements, Falling Petals

• Teacher Ofosu Jones-Quartey Interviewed about Spiritual Rap Music

  Editor posted on Feb 09 2011
  

  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.

  Read more
  Posted in: Falling Petals

• Someone Once a Stranger: A Retreat Experience

  Editor posted on Jan 18 2011
  

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

  Read more
  Posted in: Falling Petals, Deepening Practice

• Mentoring Program: Companionship through the Dharma

  Editor posted on Jan 15 2011
  

  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
  Posted in: Announcements, Falling Petals, Deepening Practice

• Comic, Inviting Mara to Tea

  Editor posted on Jan 07 2011
  

  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
  Posted in: Falling Petals

• State of the IMCW People of Color & LGBTQ Sanghas/Diversity Efforts, 2010-11

  Editor posted on Dec 10 2010

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

  Read more
  Posted in: Announcements, Falling Petals

• Loving the Earth

  Editor posted on Nov 08 2010
  

  This article begins to discuss IMCW's examination of its response to global environmental crisis and how you can get involved.

  Read more
  Posted in: Announcements, Falling Petals, Engaged Buddhism

• Suttas: Digging for Treasure

  Editor posted on Sep 16 2010
  

  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
  Posted in: Falling Petals, Deepening Practice

• The Sangha Speaks!

  Editor posted on Sep 08 2010
  

  2010 survey receives 600 responses!

  Read more
  Posted in: Announcements, Falling Petals

• The Blessings of a Patient Heart

  Editor posted on Aug 31 2010
  

  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....

  Read more
  Posted in: Falling Petals

• Comic, How to Work with Fear

  Editor posted on Aug 17 2010
  

  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
  Posted in: Falling Petals

• Working with Desire

  Jonathan Foust posted on Nov 01 2009
  

  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
  Posted in: Falling Petals, New to Meditation

• Dharma as Refuge

  Editor posted on May 18 2009
  

  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
  Posted in: Falling Petals, New to Meditation