12/14/23 “Ten Books That Mattered” with Dennis Warren

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All of us have experiences which change the direction of our lives.
Sometimes we know this at the moment it is happening. Other times, we only realize it later. One of those experiences can be encountering a book that causes us to question how we are living or helps us have a new vision of practice or life.
This evening will explore ten books that mattered in this way for SIM’s Founding Teacher, Dennis Warren. Each book will be discussed from the viewpoint of how it was encountered, its impact, and the change or shift in direction that followed.  Dennis will discuss why each book was helpful for him…and maybe for you.
The subject matter of this evening will be appropriate for all stages of practice.

Talk Handout – Ten Books that Mattered (.pdf)Download
Talk Handout – Quotations (.pdf)Download
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12/07/23 “The Mental Attitude of Metta (Lovingkindness)” with Walt Opie

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11/30/23 “I Feel More Comfortable When I’m Tense” with Dennis Warren

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“I Feel More Comfortable When I’m Tense”

One insight that unfolds in many layers is how we hold, brace, and defend against experiences that make us feel vulnerable, uncertain, confused or at risk. These form into deeply embedded patterns in both the body and mind. These patterns are the result of years of self-protective thoughts, habits, assumptions, projections, and actions.
Understanding these patterns brings the practical real-life problems associated with fixed views, and attachment to outcomes, into focus. It frames the common difficulties and challenges of being human, including self-sabotage, into a more workable Buddhist framework.  And it provides a basis for opening to, and experiencing, more accessible and meaningful forms of empathy and compassion.
This evening will explore this field of experiences through practical common situations in meditation and everyday living.
The subject matter of this evening will be appropriate for all stages of practice.

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11/09/23 “Hand in Hand: The 4 Noble Truths Meet the 4 Brahma Viharas” with Heather Sundberg

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In this talk we will explore ways that Wisdom and Heart practices inform each other, along with practical applications in our daily life practice.

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11/02/23 “Creating the Conditions for SIM’s Future”

Presenters: Amy Kovak, David Guerrieri, Diane Wilde, Dennis Warren, and Rich Howard

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(Audio 2 of 2) To download this talk, right-click and select ‘save audio as’ or select the 3-dot menu to the right of the speaker icon.

In this special presentation, we will look at the historical roots of SIM’s evolution, the concepts behind the current Legacy Project, and information on our current three “Legacy Project” teachers (Diana Clark, Walt Opie, and Vance Pryor), including some exciting news about upcoming offerings. We will also present SIM’s new Operations Manager position and look at how the Sangha might support these important steps in creating the conditions for SIM’s future. There will be time for discussion, questions, and responses.

Legacy Teacher Project
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10/26/23 “Be Your Own Teacher” with Diane Wilde

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“Be a lamp unto yourselves and strive forward with diligence” is one of the translations of the last words the Buddha uttered to his grieving disciples as he achieved paranibbana, or complete liberation. He left no heirs — no recommended teachers, but rather advised those gathered around him to depend on the Dhamma itself.  He left us with a detailed path which alleviates much suffering and unhappiness in our lives.
The challenge is, how do we each individually stay on the path?  Have we incorporated these essential teachings into our daily life?  If we have, how do we do it?  If not, why? Tonight we’ll discuss a few “prompts” that may be useful as a guide while navigating the path the Buddha outlined, in both daily life and on the cushion. 

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10/19/23 “Noting and Naming” with Dennis Warren

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“Noting” or “Naming” is the practice of making a soft mental note to highlight the present experience that is unfolding in meditation or in daily life. It has a number of different purposes and uses. Among others, it can interrupt the distorting grip of reactivity, reframe present moment experiences, and create a new context for working with events, particularly difficult or challenging ones.
Noting/Naming is frequently misunderstood or undervalued even though it has the potential to be one of the most helpful, practical, and powerful tools of practice available to us. 
This evening we look at the different purposes and applications of the Noting/Naming process through practical illustrations of common situations in meditation and everyday situation. We will also place the practice into the larger framework of Buddhist psychology, teachings, and methods.
The subject matter of this evening will be appropriate for all stages of practice.

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10/05/23 “Community Discussion, Retreat Practice”

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9/21/23 “The Buddha Summarizes the Dharma” with Diana Clark

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9/14/23 “Revisiting Fundamentals: Energy & Effort” with Dennis Warren

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Energy and Effort are essential, and interdependent, elements of good meditation and daily living practice. They can be valuable tools for keeping the mind alert, focused and curious if we understand the difference between the two, and develop the ability to monitor and regulate both. And they can become confusing and disrupting aspects of practice if we don’t.
This evening we look at a framework for skillfully working with Energy and Effort using common situations in meditation, daily living, and relationships – becoming drowsy during meditation, losing focus of attention, being unable to sustain relaxed awareness, getting lost in thought or narratives.
The evening will also explore a practice approach using Energy as the primary focus of attention and exploration. Experientially understanding thought, emotions, and actions as fundamental expressions of different types of energy can be a door way to immediate, direct experience and insight.
The subject matter of this evening will be 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.

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