“Right” View is considered the North Star of practice. It can guide the mind, and mobilizes our attention and effort, in nourishing, enriching and healing directions. It is the first condition in the chain of causation that leads to deep peace and satisfaction. But the Historical Buddha also insisted in multiple discourses that there is “Wrong” view. It points our mind and heart in a different direction – into confusion, dissatisfaction and suffering.
During this evening we will explore the meaning and differences between these two contrasting aspects of practice. Dennis, SIM’s Founding Teacher, will illustration the real-life value and power of Right View in the context of dealing with the aging and disability of a member of his family and his recent experience of being hospitalized after a major accident involving fractures to his back and ribs.
This subject is appropriate for all stages of practice. You can attend in person or by ZOOM. Dennis will be presenting in person and encourages you to be there in person as well.

Clear Comprehension, or “Clear Knowing,” is the Historical Buddha’s four (4) step process for making good choices. It can be used as a helpful tool during meditation and as a powerful resource in every day decision making. This evening will explore each step from a practical, hands-on perspective using examples from both meditation practice and daily life. (The subject matter of this evening is appropriate for all stages of practice.)

It seems obvious that one of the foundations of practice is paying careful attention to our experience. What paying attention means from a Buddhist perspective, however, may not be so obvious.
The answers to the What? and How? of paying attention are closely linked with the purposefulness of practice; our intention in practicing; and the short and long-term consequences (karma) of how and to what we pay attention.
This evening will be a practical, working exploration of these issues from the standpoint of Buddhist psychology, teachings and methods.
The subject matter of this evening is appropriate for all stages of practice. 

Buddhist practice is based on the idea of “directly” exploring experiences and events that come into our awareness. What does “directly” experiencing or “direct experience” really mean? How does it relate to thinking and conceptualizing? Is it different, and in what way, from the experience of ideas? The answers to these questions influence and shape our understanding of, and our ability to work with, all of the teachings and methods in practice. This will be the focus of our discussion this evening.
This subject is appropriate for all stages of practice. You can attend in person or by ZOOM. Dennis will be presenting in person and encourages you to be there in person as well.

“Thinking is a good servant but a poor master.”
This short, well-known statement sums up the conflicting potentials inherent in thought. But what does it mean, specifically, in terms of our how we conduct our spiritual practices and live our lives?
Buddhist practice is designed to develop a fundamentally different, more helpful relationship with thinking. This evening will look at the possibilities available to us as practitioner.
We’ll work with a number of familiar situations to explore these themes. In particular, we’ll look at how thinking can turn a simple, straight-forward situation into one that is complex, confusing and problematic…and how work with it.