Wednesday Night

Welcome to Vipassana Meditation Class Led by Tara Brach

6301 River Road, Bethesda, MD 20817

Wednesdays 7:30 - 9:00 PM

The meditation period begins promptly at 7:30
Please make every effort to arrive o­n time and enter the sanctuary mindfully and quietly
(See "Meditation Etiquette" below)

Orientation: 7:00pm
For those new to class or Vipassana or Mindfulness meditation Orientation is held in the Fellowship Room. Orientation material is provided on our Welcome Flyer.

Dharma talks:
A selection of Tara's dharma talks are available on the web. Click here for the audio download/streaming page.

What you will find by scrolling through this page:

  • Class Description
  • Directions
  • About Parking
  • Meditation Etiquette
  • Lending Library
  • Blessing Circle

CLASS DESCRIPTION:

This class includes Vipassana meditation instruction and guided meditation followed by Dharma talk.

Both newcomers and long time meditation practitioners are welcome to this large gathering of approximately 200.

No registration is necessary. You may bring your sitting gear or sit in a chair.
(See Welcome Flyer for more information about IMCW and the class)

A donation of $10 - 15 is suggested

Guest Teachers:

Tara Brach will be teaching on Wednesday night unless guest teachers are listed here.

2008:

July 16: Zoketsu Norman Fischer
July 23: Hugh Byrne
July 30: Luisa Montero-Diaz
September 10: Ruth King 
October 22: Tsoknyi Rinpoche


Inclement weather: In the event of inclement weather, information about class cancellation will be posted here. If you are concerned about the driving conditions, please be kind to yourself and stay home.

Dharma talk CDs/tapes: CD's of the evenings dharma talk are available for purchase. Sign-up and prepay before 9:30 pm at the book and audio table in the fellowship room. You order will be available for pick up at class approximately two weeks after purchase.

Interpreting Schedule: Interpreting services will not be offered at the Wednesday night class during 2008. Services will be offered at the Sunday night class. Click here for the schedule.

Assistive listening devices are available for sign out at the book and audio table. ASL interpreting services: Please contact us if you need interpreting services.


Lost and found:

All found items will be kept for o­ne month and then donated to charity. Looking for a lost item? Please contact Rose Monsell, IMCW Assistant Administrator at monsellr at juno.com or 301-270-4710.

About parking

Please comply with posted parking guidelines, and o­nly park in designated areas. No parallel parking along the driveways. The limited parking in the RRUC lot fills up quickly. Street parking is available. Please respect the residential neighborhood in which you park by abiding by all parking regulations at driveways, stop signs and intersections. Illegally parked cars are very likely to be ticketed. Please help IMCW and RRUC maintain a good relationship with the neighbors.

(1) Driving Directions

(2) Public transportation: Take Metro Red Line to Friendship Heights. Take bus T2 to River Road, which takes about 10 minutes to reach Whittier Blvd.

If you have questions about this class, please Contact IMCW Administrator.

Meditation Etiquette

Meditation gives us an opportunity to quiet our minds and focus our attention on what is happening to us right now. Silence and stillness are supportive of this quieting and deepening process. With this in mind, we strive to create a sacred space in which to meditate and study the Dharma.

Creating a sacred space for meditation and Dharma study.

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 are supportive of this quieting and deepening process. With this in mind, we strive to create a sacred space in which to meditate and study the Dharma.

The following guidelines are in the spirit of creating and supporting a sacred space to benefit everyone.

  • Make every effort to arrive by 7:30. Make every effort to arrive by 7:30. If you arrive after 7:30 and the sanctuary is full, you may be directed to seats in the balcony or the lobby. You will be able to hear the teacher from the lobby and can enter the sanctuary or the balcony at the break.
  • The quieting process begins as soon as you enter the sanctuary or balcony.
    Please enter the room, set up blankets and settle in mindfully and quietly. Please leave the seats in the back of the room for those arriving after 7:30 or for those who need to leave early.
  • Practice mindful movement during the meditation.
    If you need to change your position, move slowly, making the movement part of your meditation. This way you will support the best quality of stillness and silence possible for yourself and others in the room.
  • Limit your comings and goings during class out of respect for the practice, the teachings and others. If you know you have to leave early, please take a seat near at the back near a door.

May all beings feel safe and secure

May all beings come to know great and natural peace.

IMCW's Lending Library

In the Buddhist tradition of circulating Dharma material, the IMCW lending library is available o­n the 1st Wednesday of the month.

You are invited to donate Buddhist related books, magazines, tapes and CD's to our growing Lending Library.

Check out the table, see something of interest, fill in the sign-out sheet and take the material home to enjoy. Items can be returned or donated o­n any Wednesday night.


Blessing Circle

IMCW offers the Blessing Circle to comfort and support those experiencing loss, grief, illness or any of the "10,000 sorrows" of this life.

Tara, other IMCW teachers and Care committee members lead the 30-minute service of metta practice and chanting, offering blessings to all in need as we take refuge together in the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. The Circle meets after Wednesday night class at 9:15 and will be convened every month.

The Blessing Circle is not meeting at this time. Check back later for information on when the Blessing Circle will be meeting.



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