Dharma &

Hi everyone,I gave this talk last night at the River Road Unitarian Universalist Church (RRUUC) on caring, one of the four Limitless Attitudes (Pali: Apāmāṇa). Enoy!Upcoming OfferingsJune 3rd, 7:00 - 8:30 PM, Drop-in Session, RRUUC, 6301 River Rd, Bethesda, MD 20817June 14th, 7:00 - 8:30 PM, Drop-in Session, Downtown Dharma @ Yoga District, 1910 14th St, NW Washington, DCJune 24th, 7:00 - 8:30 PM, Drop-in Session, RRUUC, 6301 River Rd, Bethesda, MD 20817July 29th, 7:00 - 8:30 PM, Drop-in Session, RRUUC, 6301 River Rd, Bethesda, MD 20817Spring Retreat - Save the Date!March 11th - 14th, 2027 Insight Meditation Residential Retreat, Seven Oaks Retreat Center, Madison, VA (With lots of single room accommodations this year!) Get full access to Devin Maroney at devinmaroney.substack.com/subscribe

Hi friends,This is the first talk in a series I’m offering on the Limitless Attitudes (Pali: Appamāṇa), which are also called the Divine Abodes (Pali: Brahmavihāra). I am working my way backward through the Limitless Attitudes, starting with equanimity, which is often taught last and is the subject of this talk. This was recorded at Downtown Dharma on April 12th. I hope you find it beneficial. Upcoming Offerings:I’ll be back at Downtown Dharma on June 14th, and will be teaching a few classes at River Road Unitarian in May, June and July, though the dates have not yet been finalized. I will post a complete schedule soon, with those details and, hopefully, details on next year’s spring retreat. Photo by Srikanth Sistu on Unsplash Get full access to Devin Maroney at devinmaroney.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone,Here is the talk I gave on Right Intention at River Road Unitarian Church on February 4th. I hope you find it helpful.Upcoming Offerings:RetreatMarch 12 - 15, Madison, VA: “The Path of the Restful Warrior” is a residential Insight meditation retreat that I’m teaching with Dechen Ellen McSweeney. Click here for more information and registration.Drop-in ClassesFebruary 23rd, 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM, St. Marks Capitol Hill, 301 A St SE, Washington, DC 20003. More infoMarch 25th, 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM, River Road Unitarian Church, 6301 River Rd, Bethesda, MD 20817 More infoApril 12th, 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM, Yoga District, 1910 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009 More InfoApril 22nd, 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM, River Road Unitarian Church, 6301 River Rd, Bethesda, MD 20817 More infoPhoto by Steven Weeks on Unsplash Get full access to Devin Maroney at devinmaroney.substack.com/subscribe

Hi friends,This is a recording of the talk I gave last night at River Road Unitarian as well as the Q&A that followed. The subject is Right Action and Its Place in the Eightfold Path. I hope you find it beneficial!Upcoming Events3-Day Meditation Retreat in the foothills of the Shenandoah MountainsA meditation retreat is a chance to learn how your mind works, experience the peace that comes from collected mental energy, and to open your heart. If that is of interest to you, consider joining me and my co-teacher Dechen Ellen McSweeney for a 3-day medtiation retreat March 12-15 in the Insight Tradition. It’s a rare opportunity to step out of the rhythms of daily life and see what happens to a mind that is allowed to settle. Having appreciated retreats as a student for many years, I am happy to be able to offer the experience to others for the second year in a row. For details and registration information please visit https://imcw.org/event/?eventId=1678Drop In Class:January 7th 7:00 - 8:30 PM, River Road Unitarian Church, 6301 River Rd., Bethesda, MD Get full access to Devin Maroney at devinmaroney.substack.com/subscribe

Hi friends,Here is the talk I gave last night at the River Road Unitarian Church on Right Effort and Its Place in the Eightfold Path. It’s about how to invite the dharma into every aspect of our lives, gently, moment-by-moment. The recording also includes the Q&A that followed the talk.Upcoming OfferingsResidential Retreat: I’m happy to let you know that registration is now open for a 3-night residential retreat that I am offering with my teaching partner Dechen Ellen McSweeney at Seven Oaks in Madison, VA March 12-15. Drop In Classes:November 30th, Downtown Dharma, 7:00 - 8:30 PM, Yoga District, 1910 14th St, NW Washington, DCDecember 7th, River Road Unitarian Church, 7:00 - 8:30 PM, River Road Unitarian Church, 6301 River Rd., Bethesda, MDJanuary 4th, Downtown Dharma, 7:00 - 8:30 PM, Yoga District, 1910 14th St, NW Washington, DCJanuary 7th, River Road Unitarian Church, 7:00 - 8:30 PM, River Road Unitarian Church, 6301 River Rd., Bethesda, MDApril 12th, Downtown Dharma, 7:00 - 8:30 PM, Yoga District, 1910 14th St, NW Washington, DCI’ll probably add a few more teaching dates in February and March and will email a revised schedule when those are set. Get full access to Devin Maroney at devinmaroney.substack.com/subscribe

Hi friends, Here’s the talk I gave last night at the River Road Unitarian Church. It’s about the journey to (and from) a quiet mind.With love and blessings,Devin Get full access to Devin Maroney at devinmaroney.substack.com/subscribe

Get full access to Devin Maroney at devinmaroney.substack.com/subscribe

This is the dharma talk and meditation from a class I taught last Wednesday (I’ll be teaching there again this Wednesday). The talk is about defining dukkha. I pointed out that after 2,600 years, there still isn’t an agreement about what exactly dukkha refers to or how we would define it in English, despite the fact that it is the cornerstone of the most foundational teaching in the Pali Canon. Rather than engage in an intellectual exercise, I invited participants to use a meditation technique developed by Eugene Gendlin, a psychotherapist, called “Clearing the Space.” I find that the technique brings us right up to our deepest understanding of the nature of dukkha, and the possibility of freedom. This technique was taught to me by Jonathan Foust and I am glad to be able to share it with you. Many blessings. Photo by Matt Hardy on Unsplash Get full access to Devin Maroney at devinmaroney.substack.com/subscribe

I shared this meditation with students who reported that “the planning mind” was a constant during their meditation practice. Many of them found that the metaphor helped them disengage the planning mind, even if for just a few moments. Some said that through the course of the meditation they found they could “pull up their oar” repeatedly as they noticed the habit pattern of planning arise again and again.* Sit, lean back, or lie down.* Notice that there is a body here. Try to think of it as “a body” rather than “my body.” This shift in perspective will help the mind let go a little of its running narrative about the self. * Give this body permission to relax.* Notice that this body is breathing.* You might allow yourself to imagine that you are in a canoe and rather than paddling along as you usually do, you are going to pick up your oar and set it in the boat.* Your breath is like the water rising and falling beneath the boat. * For a few minutes, you will just rest in the boat, hearing the sounds around you, feeling the rising and falling of the body. Let everything just float. * The oar will be there when you need it, but right now, give yourself complete permission to stop paddling.* After a few minutes, you can slowly open the eyes. Watch the mind as it shifts back into a more active role - planning, analyzing, and engaging with the demands of the day. Photo by David M. Chambers on Unsplash Get full access to Devin Maroney at devinmaroney.substack.com/subscribe