DC UL Backpacking Guiding Philosophy: To backpack the Mid-Atlantic, with the idea of waking early, walking far, traveling light, and having a fulfilling backcountry experience. “Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away”—Antoine de Saint-Exupery This meet up group specializes in high-mileage, light-weight, overnight backpacking adventures throughout the Mid-Atlantic, especially Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.  …

CFI–DC Drinking Skeptically is an informal social event designed to promote fellowship and networking among skeptics, critical-thinkers, and like-minded individuals. CFI–DC Drinking Skeptically provides an opportunity for skeptics to talk, share ideas (and yes, drink) in a casual, relaxed atmosphere. We discuss the issues of the day and whatever else is on our minds. But most of all, we have fun while promoting skepticism, science, and rationality. Don't drink? Don't let that stop you from joini …

This group is open to anyone interested in discussing philosophy, perception, spirituality or just looking a little more deeply at the world around us, how it works and how we relate to it and each other. Some of the topics we will be discussing are: - What is life?  a gift from the divine, a chemo-electric byproduct, an interesting concept, or something else? - What do we know?  a discussion of knowledge and belief - Emotion and reason, the collaboration or conflict  between the mind and the …

Cutting edge discussions yet timeless truths! Weary of the "same old same old"? Want to meet very interesting people outside the customary? Well come connect with others who are interested in Socrates Cafe, a philosophical community. Be a social thinker! Our basic guidelines, established centuries ago in Plato's Dialogues, are that all opinions expressed need to be supported by reasons, and that all assumptions need to be examined. Dialogue is not a competition, a sport or debate with winners an …

This group is for anyone interested in developing mindfulness in daily life through meditation. We welcome everyone from any background. We want to provide a supportive environment for practicing meditation and developing mindfulness. Byoma Kusuma offers guided meditation sessions which are designed to help you develop mindfulness and its resultant benefits through Shamatha (Calm Abiding) and Vipashyana (Insight) techniques. Group sessions provide a supportive environment and group synergy, and …

What is “Integral”? It simply means whole, complete, full, all inclusive.  It is both a theory and the basis of a life practice. It demonstrates how to integrate and include body, mind, and spirit in self, culture, and nature. This means acting so as to find your entire life to be full and complete, a life that “makes room for everything,” from wild rock star to devoted family man, from bodily pursuits to spiritual practice, from nature worship to meditation, from business practices to play and …

Bodhi Path (www.bodhipath.org) is an international organization of Buddhist meditation centers founded by Shamar Rinpoche. Rinpoche and many other teachers provide meditation, philosophy instruction and guidance to learn and practice Buddhism. Meditation instruction is geared to the needs of those in attendance. Various texts are also studied and discussed to deepen our understanding of Buddhist Philosophy. Our meditation group in DC has been together for 10 years and is expanding in order to be …

Are you between the ages of 18 and 35 and looking for a welcoming community of young adults in the Bethesda area? Are you interested in exploring your spirituality, meeting like-minded people, and becoming active in great causes? We're starting a Young Adult group at the River Road Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Bethesda, MD. We'd love for you to join us! RRUUC is a welcoming community with a strong congregation. If you are asking yourself: What is UU? Am *I* a UU? We believe that person …

This is a non-denominational book club. Just like any other book club, we are reading down a list of books on the topic of Buddhism and we discuss them at restaurants and cafe's near Takoma Park and Silver Spring. You don't need to be self identifying Buddhist to participate and the organizer will not pressure you to "join the club." We'll be reading books for the popular audience and will rotate through all the major traditions with a mild leaning towards Buddhism as it is developing in the US …

The Mahayana Sutra ad Tantric Center of Washington, DC (or MSTC-WDC) is a Tibetan Buddhist group following the Gelugpa traditons of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Our group was founded by the late Sermey Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Tharchin in 1979. We offer classes open to everyone, in Tibetan Buddhism, meditation including mindfulness and guided meditations and the occasional classes in Tibetan language. We also offer ceremonies open to anyone such as our Monthly Medicine Buddha recitation (in Engl …

Northern Virginia and the surrounding area is very liberal.  As a result, it often is difficult for conservatives and libertarians to meet and discuss timely topics or current books. This meetup group is unique by giving conservatives and libertarians an informal forum to exchange ideas, debate issues, and develop a network of like-minded individuals. The group meets once a month, at least, and we will focus on timely issues.  If you are interested in thoughtful discussions and meeting fellow …

We are an organization dedicated to learning and practicing Heart Chan meditation.  We do not only sit quietly and relax, because Chan is far beyond this.  We learn what mediation is about—its purpose, practice, and effects—through tradition-based practice. Chan (it’s the same word as “Zen” from Japanese) could be regarded as a philosophy about one's life from birth to death and all its ups and downs in between.  Through this philosophy, we could understand ourselves better.  Not many people un …

This group was established with two objectives: 1. If you are Jewish Christian or any other religion and have questions about the Quran then we have open doors and you are more than welcome. 2. To create a community of Muslims in the DC Metro area who adhere or are interested in Quran alone Islam. You can meet and discuss with like minded people, make friendships, attend gatherings, or even help volunteer. Our approach is open minded and non-judgmental to anyone's understanding and interpretat …

Arlington Metaphysical Chapel 5618 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA 22205 703 276-8738 www.arlingtonmeta.com Please join us on the fourth Sunday of each month from 1:30 to 3:00 pm for friendship, discussion, exchange of ideas, and support for our individual and shared journeys.  The book group will meet right after the luncheon that follows the 11:00 am Worship service. Each month, a member of the book group will lead discussion of the book.  The reading list will be established by the members thr …

Hello DC! Our meeting format: Approximately an hour and 15 minutes to discuss the topic agreed upon at the start of each meeting. If more than 20 people attend I may ask for a volunteer to lead a second group, in order to keep things manageable. Toward the end of the session we will go around the table to give everyone an opportunity to make a short closing remark. When time is up, we will take a short break to give people an opportunity to leave; if the conversation is good, people are welcome …

Why we call ourselves the Faith & Freedom Coalition: "Freedom regards religion as the companion in all its battles and all its triumphs as the very cradle of its infancy and the source of all its claims.... because religion alone is the safeguard of morality, and morality is the best and surest pledge for the survival of freedom.” -Alexis de Tocqueville We believe that the greatness of America lies not in the federal government but in the character of our people — the simple virtues of faith, ha …

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Become your Own Best Psychic! Connect with your Angels! This group is for you if you are looking for practical tools for spiritual growth. You'll learn ways to develop your intuitive abilities, connect with your guardian angels, heal, and most importantly, learn and grow spiritually. Instead of going to psychic to get insights for you, become empowered to develop your own intuition and get your own insights and answers for your direction and success. You have a unique life purpose and a spiritua …

LADIES!!!! Just because we live in the suburbs doesn't mean we don't know how to have fun, right?!?!?! This meetup is designed to target ladies that want to meet and network with people with similar interest. I would like to keep this group within the age range of 20s - 30s years old. So let's go out to socialize and flirt with life! We will be hosting happy hours, dinners, lunches, brunches, sporting events (watching and playing), movie nights, shopping, dancing, pot lucks, festivals, concer …

"Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival." This is not a group who just meets up when we are bored and have nothing to do, its about open women building genuine and lasting friendships, sharing a common bond, and simply having fun!! It doesnt matter where you're from, what color you are, your age, weight, backgroud, marital status, etc, as long as you're a woman......this group is for you. Thi …

If your like me, you not only find marathons and running boring but frankly their impractical - unless your running from the long-arm of the law.... Obstacle course races like Spartan, Tough Mudder, Warrior Dash or military, survival and scavenger hunt style challenges such as Go Ruck, SERE Performance and others require more than a trip to your local gym for cross-fit. You need to train your mind as well as your body. So I challenge you to alter your approach, change the way you think and train …