Jonathan Foust

Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church

7:30 – 9:00PM, through June 29th, 2010

Please note that the Monday Night gathering at St. Mark’s continues through the summer!  Meditation will begin as usual at 7:30, followed by an informal discussion.  If you’d like to be part of a smaller email group specifically related to the summer gatherings, please send me an email.

Please join us for an ongoing weekly class offering instruction in Buddhist meditation and talks on the awakening of our natural wisdom. While the meditation practices derive from the Buddhist tradition, they are universal in orientation and address spiritual themes of concern to all contemplative traditions.

In addition to cultivating an inner experience of presence and peace, we explore how meditation awakens our compassion towards others and a direct realization of our interconnectedness. We explore universal spiritual themes, allowing us to deepen our understanding of contemplative and meditative Christian traditions.

Monday Night Meditation welcomes both parishioners from St. Mark’s as well as all others who are interested. Each week will offer the opportunity to quiet our minds and reconnect with a sense of wholeness and inner freedom.

Date: Every Monday evening, 7:30-9:00 pm

Location: Nave

Leaders: Jonathan Foust and John McIlwain

For a list of the topics and teachers, scroll to the bottom of this page.

Jonathan Foust is a founder of the Mindfulness Training Institute of Washington and serves on the teacher’s council of the Insight Meditation Community of Washington. He was raised in the Quaker faith and has studied numerous disciplines from both the yogic and Buddhist traditions. Jonathan has been leading meditation retreats for over 25 years and directs trainings in the art of teaching meditation.

John McIlwain is a former member of St. Mark’s. He is a lifelong Episcopalian, was on the vestry at St. Mark’s and has taught confirmation class. He has been practicing vipassana or insight meditation for over seven years. He is the immediate past President of the Insight Meditation Community of Washington.

Cost: There is no set fee for this class. In the spirit of the Buddhist tradition, the teachings are offered without charge so that no one is denied access to them. The tradition is also based on generosity and encourages participants to offer donations to support the continuation of the teachings. The suggested donation of $10-20 helps support the teachers in their work and allows us to continue serving all who want to learn meditation.

Directions: St. Mark’s in located at 118 Third Street, SE Washington, DC

Topics and Teachers

Date	Topic	TeacSt.Tea
Sept 14	Suffering, Freedom and the Four Noble Truths	John
Sept 21	Mindfulness of the Body: Cultivating Embodied Presence	Jonathan
Sept 28	Mindfulness of Emotions: An Overview of the Hindrances	Jonathan
Oct 5	Mindfulness of Emotions: Working with the Hindrances	John
Oct 12	Mindfulness of Thoughts: With Your Thoughts You Create Your World	John
Oct 19	Components of the Practice: Concentration, Mindfulness and Insight	Jonathan
Oct 26	The Art of Metta: Cultivating Loving Kindness	John
Nov 2	The Bodisattva Path: Cultivating Compassion	Jonathan
Nov 9	Increasing Your Capacity for Joy	John
Nov 16	Clear Seeing: Cultivating the Equanimous Heart	Jonathan
Nov 23	Gratitude and Giving	John
Nov 30	Cultivating Sangha	Jonathan
Dec 7	The Art of Practice I	John
Dec 14	The Art of Practice II	Jonathan
Dec 21	Christmas Dharma	John
Dec 28	New Beginnings: The Power of Intention	John
Jan 4	Wise Speech	Jonathan
Jan 11	The Refuges	Jonathan
Jan 18	Buddha and the Body	John
Jan 25	Concentration and Mindfulness	Jonathan
Feb 1	Working with Fear	John
Feb 8	Working with Pain	John
Feb 15	Working with Desire	John
Feb 22	Waking from the Dream of Thoughts	John
Mar 1	The Three Characteristics	John
Mar 8	The Life of the Buddha	Jonathan
Mar 15	Life Off the Mat: Engaging in Social Change	Jonathan
Mar 22	Cultivating Faith	Jonathan
Mar 29	Mindfulness in the Workplace	Jonathan
April 5	Relationships and Conscious Communication: Working with Conflict	John
April 12	The Heavenly Messengers (Sickness, Old Age and Death)	Jonathan
April 19	The Power of Inquiry	Jonathan
April 26	Doing and Non-Doing	Jonathan
May 3	The Nature of Karma	John
May 10	TBA	Jonathan
May 17	TBA	John
May 24	TBA	Jonathan
May 31	TBA	John
June 7	TBA	Jonathan
June 14	The Path of the Bodhisattva	John