6/11/2026 “The Long and Winding Path to Freedom” with Rich Howard

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A long hike requires many resources: a healthy body, food and water, the right clothing and gear, not to mention motivation and a sense of direction. The practice of mindfulness, meditation, and ethical living has been described as a noble path, and it may not be a straight line! For many of us, it is a long and winding path that requires physical, emotional, and spiritual supports. Let’s take this evening to discuss and share some of the supports we have found for our practice.

After a dharmette by SIM Community Teacher Rich Howard, we will break into small groups in person and online to consider a series of questions to explore where we are on the path, where we are headed, and what resources might support us on the way.

Question 1:
What benefits have you noticed from your practice? Name one former unwholesome habit or mind state that has weakened or disappeared. Or one relationship that has healed (including with yourself!) If you are new to the practice, what conditions in your life brought you here?

Question 2:
How do you integrate the dharma into your daily life? What aspirations do you have for your practice?

Question 3:
What resources support your practice most right now? What is the balance of practice, study, and community in your life?

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6/4/2026 “Anger… it’s complicated!” with Diane Wilde

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Anger creeps into our lives uninvited, disguised in a variety of forms. it is a multi-faceted emotion that is on the continuum of “ill-will,” (dosa in Pali) the second of the “Three Poisons” or kilesas that keep us in a state of samsara. The first kilesa is greed (lobha) and the third is delusion.(moha).

There are a wide range of behaviors that signal anger, yet we don’t usually consider ourselves as being “angry.” Traditionally anger is defined as an explosion of violent behavior, either verbally or physically. Explosive anger is the extreme form of ill-will on the continuum of emotional manifestations of dosa.

One of the many difficulties of dealing with anger is that it is inculcated throughout our society. Movies, podcasts, social media, TV shows and politics all have expressions of anger.

Another aspect of anger is when it is self-directed, and may be experienced as disappointment, guilt, jealously as well as a variety of other emotions. Continually experiencing anger in its variety of forms creates sadness, withdrawal and confusion.

Tonight we will discuss anger, its traditional antidotes and some advice from contemporary teachers.

MAD to MADLESS:FronsdalDownload
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5/21/2026 “Reflections on Perceptions” with Rich Howard

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Perception is one of the proximate causes for mindfulness to arise. Perception is also the source of concepts, confusion, and papanca, the proliferation of thoughts that causes us to suffer. This evening, we will explore the many facets of perception and the distortions of perception, with the intention of allowing this powerful capacity of the mind to free us from clinging.

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5/14/2026 “Equanimity and Equanimous Happiness” with Dennis Warren

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Equanimity, and the unique form of happiness that accompanies it, is considered one of the most important qualities of mind and heart in Buddhist practice. It is frequently misunderstood. And how to be Equanimous can sometimes seem confusing or beyond our skill or capacity. Understanding how to cultivate a realistic, practical form of Equanimity seems like something that could help all of us given the conditions in our country and the world.

Join us this evening to examine these questions:

What are the characteristics and qualities of Equanimity? And Equanimous Happiness?

Why is this quality of mind and heart considered so valuable in meditation, daily life and relationships?

In what ways does Equanimity differ from, and is related to, the other three “higher emotions” of Loving Kindness, Compassion and Sympathetic Joy?

How do we develop Equanimity as a readily available resource for dealing with the challenges of life?

You might want to review the essay on SIM’s website entitled “The Practice of Equanimity – The Balanced Embrace of All Experience.” This basic essay will serve as a jumping off point for our exploration on Thursday evening.

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5/7/2026 “Enough is Enough! The Dharma of Renunciation” with Seth Castleman

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4/30/2026 “Vesak Reflections on the Buddha’s Life: The First Step Depends on the Last, and Vice Versa” with Kim Allen

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4/23/2026 “Befriending Your Own Mind” with Walt Opie

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Everyone has heard the phrase “being your own worst enemy” which points to the way we can sometimes use negative self-talk to sabotage or hold ourselves back from progress on the path. This talk will highlight the importance of befriending our own mind and accepting it rather than fighting it. Then, as the meditation master Dipa Ma once said, “it ceases to be a problem.”

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4/16/2026 “Change, Uncertainty, Discomfort and Faith” with Rich Howard

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Gil Fronsdal writes: “Some people have a strong tendency to resist change of any type, including new perspectives and understandings.” “Not me” we might think, “I know about impermanence.” But this practice teaches us that “knowing about” a concept is quite different than “living into” an experience or insight.

While a general understanding of changes in the seasons may be helpful, a more precise awareness can reveal the discomfort that accompanies the transition from one moment to another. Given that change is built into this human life, our practice of using the practice of meditative awareness to work with transitions, uncertainty, and discomfort can serve us well, especially in difficult times in our lives and the world. Further, it can also reveal that change itself can bring great benefits.

This evening will be an opportunity to reflect on our relationship to uncertainty and change and to learn from each other about how to work with them.

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4/9/2026 “Wise Attention: Why We Practice, How We Practice” with Adam Stonebraker

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Why do we practice, and how do we practice, in a life that keeps moving, changing, and asking things of us, especially in times like these, when the world feels intense, fast, and fragile?

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4/2/2026 “Inner Transformation” with Walt Opie

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If there is a goal in meditation practice, perhaps it could best be described as inner transformation of the heart. In Satipatthana Meditation: A Practice Guide, Buddhist scholar Bhikkhu Analayo writes, “Meditation practice should result in an improvement in the way we are, how we relate to others, and how we deal with outer circumstances.” He also describes this as “a genuine opening of the heart to the qualities of kindness and compassion.” During this talk, we will explore this further, with the aid of stories and poems, and perhaps discover ways it might manifest in our own experience.  

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