Behind the Counter: Meet Sister Jenna from the Meditation Museum

In the heart of the bustling downtown sits a place that’s home to people of many cultures who find relaxation beyond its doors.

The Meditation Museum, located at 8236 Georgia Ave., provides a place for people of diverse cultures to attend courses on meditation and stress management.

Over the past decade, the director of the center—Jenna Mahraj, who is known as "Sister Jenna"—travelled the world spreading her positive message to more than 80 countries, including India, Egypt, Korea, Japan, Greece, and Italy.

Patch sat down with Sister Jenna to chat about her accomplishments and goals for working inside of the museum.

Patch: Why did you decide to start this particular business?

Sister Jenna: Washington, D.C. had so many museums but none that helped us to explore the power of thoughts, relationships, and our soul's process on this journey we call life.

Patch: Tell us about your business and its benefits to the local community? 

Sister Jenna: The Meditation Museum is operated by the Brahma Kumaris, a not-for-profit organization with 5,000 branches for meditation in 120 countries. We chose to open in Silver Spring in 2009. It just seemed like the right space and time.

It is a unique museum which invites visitors to enhance the quality of their thoughts, their lives and the world around them. The museum is specifically designed to bring us back to a natural knowledge of our true selves and our responsibility to humanity. The art works, the events, and the space are designed to nurture you, the inner being...that part which is often neglected in the world of chaos and constant distractions.

The Meditation Museum features interactive displays and tailored training sessions providing tools for personal and spiritual change. It hosts a variety of well attended conversations, workshops, special presenters, dialogues, seminars and, of course, sessions on how to silence the mind. Courses include Raja Yoga meditation, stress management and practicing inner powers to make relationships work. 

Patch: Can you describe the overall goal of your business?

Sister Jenna: This is a treasure of a place, where one can visit to experience peace, wisdom, power and love. While in this virtual space we hope you can "remember" who YOU really are. Our hope is that everyone who experiences the museum finds his or her own authentic meaning for life.

Patch: What are some reasons people should visit the Meditation Museum?

Sister Jenna: People can come to visit the Museum to realize themselves. To be able to include thoughtful reflection in our choices knowing they create ripples to our city and the world. It is to come and rekindle your peace, love, and inner power. It is to find You and strengthen You so that you can bring authenticity and wisdom to your environment and relationships. The moment you enter the Museum, you will feel, "This is a different world".

Upcoming event:

 On Aug. 24, 2012, the National Meditation Museum will host "America Meditating – Make a Shift," at the , from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. There is no charge to the public, however, pre-registration is required.