Your generosity helps SIM thrive!

“Generosity brings happiness at every stage of its expression. We experience joy in forming the intention to be generous. We experience joy in the actual act of giving something. And we experience joy in remembering the fact that we have given.”

the historical Buddha

Dear SIM Friends,

This past year has been a challenging year for all of us and we hope that you are well.

We are proud that our sangha at Sacramento Insight Meditation (SIM) has risen to the challenges of this year. Although we have not been able to meet in person at the Sacramento Dharma Center (SDC) since March, we have successfully maintained our commitment to fulfill SIM’s mission of offering continuing support for those practicing in the Insight (Vipassana) Meditation tradition.

Our progress this year required a huge learning curve in shifting to remote meetings for all our activities. In addition to meeting regularly on Zoom on Thursday nights, we created and held in September a successful on-line annual retreat with Guiding Teacher John Travis and over 30 retreatants. The on-line monthly Saturday one-day retreats have been well attended, as have been the Beginning Meditation Class, Living on the Other Side of Suffering, and A Year to Live classes.

In addition to our dedicated faculty of Dennis Warren, Rich Howard, and Diane Wilde, we have brought in a variety of new teachers for the Thursday night talks. When Covid-19 first affected us, we created a community information source on our website for Sangha members and anyone needing support. Being aware of climate change, we gave support to SDC for the addition of solar panels to the center. We continue to work at being an inclusive and welcoming community to all who are interested in Insight Meditation.

Our fund-raising goal for 2021 focuses again on our mission as an educational non-profit and has two parts:

  • First, to continue to express SIM’s gratitude to our existing faculty through a year-end dana contribution in recognition of their ongoing commitment and teaching. Without them, we would not be the community that we are now.
  • Second, to support the Teaching and Development Initiative. This initiative aims to continue to maintain relationships with our faculty and Senior Teachers, develop relationships with new teachers, and work to identify and support potential teachers from within the community.

As you plan your year-end giving, we hope that you will continue to support SIM, our faculty, and the Teaching and Development Initiative. You can do so through a one-time, year-end contribution and/or signing up for a monthly, automatic on-line contribution to SIM. Monthly contributions are key to our long-term financial health, covering basic operating expenses as well as sustaining our Teaching and Development Initiative. (A portion of either type of donation will go to the faculty’s year end dana.)

To donate today, go to Sacramento Insight Meditation.

Looking forward to continuing to strengthen our community and our practice together in the coming year.

Warmly,

Sara E. Denzler
Treasurer, SIM Board of Directors

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