Powerful cultural and technological forces are reshaping the landscape of American Buddhist practice: several years of COVID isolation; the ability to attend events by Zoom in the comfort of your own home; an explosion of on-line Buddhist practice opportunities; and a new generation of practitioners introduced to meditation thru on-line apps.
These forces present each of us individually, and Sacramento Insight Meditation, with far-reaching issues:
Are our traditional understandings of the 3 foundational elements of Community, Spiritual Friendship and Service still relevant?
Do these forces threaten the stability and future of SIM as both an organization and as a community?
Do we need to be flexible and creative in adapting and adjusting these 3 elements of practice to the rapidly changing landscape of Western Buddhist practice? If so, what would that look like.
Dennis will present an overview of issues which will be explored by Margaret Buss, SIM’s long-time coordinator of volunteer services, Karen Tercho, Board of Directors member, and community volunteer extraordinaire David Guerrieri.

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.