Meditation Oasis in Downtown Silver Spring

Looking for a quiet respite in downtown Silver Spring?

Try the Meditation Museum, which has been in Silver Spring since 2009. It's a peaceful place with an informative exhibit on meditation and spirituality, and a comfortable, curtained-off room for meditation. Everyone is welcome, and there is no charge to visit.

"Meditation is an ancient practice," which isn't something that should be used to make money, Sister Jenna, who runs the museum, explained.

Sister Jenna encourages people to drop by for quiet meditation during lunchtime, after work or at any time of the day when the museum is open. While meditation can by done anywhere, at any time when one is awake, it can help to have a quiet place to go. 

The museum also offers classes in meditation, anger management and positive thinking, among other topics.

When Sister Jenna first moved to the Washington area to share meditative practices with Washingtonians, she was told that it wouldn't work—that Washingtonians wouldn't be interested in meditation.

But she's found that not to be the case. People of all ages and from all walks of life have visited the museum (and other meditation centers that she has run in the area).

"I don't believe anyone has ever left here not feeling good," she said.

Meditation is an "opportunity to work with [oneself] until we get to where we're supposed to be," she added.

And, meditation is part of all religions, she said. Jesus, the Buddha, Muhammad—all of them practiced meditation. God isn't part of any one religion—and the Meditation Museum isn't for any one religion, either, she said. 

The Meditation Museum is looking to expand—first, to Turks and Caicos, Sister Jenna told Patch. She's looking at getting a meditation center going at an Internet bookstore there. She's also taking part in a reality television-type of program called "Soul Search," in which she and the crew will travel around the country in an RV, talking to Americans about spirituality.

The Meditation Museum is located at 8236 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, and is open Monday through Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (and later when evening classes are held).

Do you have a favorite place for meditation? In your home or in the community? Tell us in the comments.