2025 SIM Residential Retreat – Returning to Presence, Transforming the Heart

Sunday March 30-Sunday April 6, 2025

Our 2025 residential retreat with SIM faculty Diana Clark, Walt Opie, and Vance Pryor is set for March 30 through April 6 at the Mercy Center in Auburn, CA.

For general information about our retreats, visit https://sactoinsight.org/retreats/residential-retreat/.

Retreat Theme: Returning to Presence, Transforming the Heart

This annual SIM community silent retreat invites you to step away from the noise and stress of daily life and deeply connect with the present moment. Anchored in the Buddha’s teachings, the retreat offers practices to awaken awareness, calm the mind, and nurture the qualities of lovingkindness, compassion, and equanimity. Suitable for both beginners and seasoned practitioners, the program includes systematic meditation guidance (including metta/lovingkindness), Dharma talks, and opportunities to meet with teachers to discuss your practice. Through stillness and presence, participants will cultivate insight, wisdom, patience, self-compassion and resilience for daily life.

Registration

This retreat accommodates no more than 25 registrants. Registration on this webpage opened on January 29.
The registration fee is $1000, with an opportunity to later make a donation to support the retreat teachers. The registration fee covers the costs of accommodations, meals, and a portion of SIM’s administration costs. Once you fill out the registration form, you will receive an invoice to be paid upon receipt. If the retreat fills before you complete your registration, you will have the opportunity to add your name to the wait list. 
We encourage you to pay the full registration fee if your finances allow. However, if needed, you may pay a 50% deposit and the remaining balance must be paid by February 28. If the remaining balance is not received by February 28, your deposit will be refunded automatically, and your spot at the retreat will be offered to the next person on the Waiting List.
To register, find the “Register Now – Yes I Want to Attend” section of this page and fill out the registration form.

Partial Scholarships

SIM encourages registrants to pay the full registration fee if finances allow. However, a limited number of partial scholarships (50% of cost) may be available, depending on donations received. These scholarships are offered to members of SIM, the Young Persons Sangha, or other Sacramento Dharma Center sanghas (Valley Streams and SBMG).
To register with scholarship assistance, follow these two steps:
1) Find the “Register Now – Yes I Want to Attend” section of this page and submit the registration form. 
2) Complete the Scholarship Request Form.
After completing both steps, a member of the SIM Residential Retreat Scholarship Committee will follow up with you via email. Scholarship requests must be submitted by February 14 or before the retreat fills, whichever comes first. Please note that scholarship recipients will be invoiced for a $500 registration fee (50% of the full retreat cost) upon approval of their application.

Scholarship Donations

We invite you to support a sangha friend in this special dharmic opportunity by contributing to the scholarship fund. To donate, use the following Donate Now button and select “Retreat Scholarship” from the dropdown list. Please note that donating to the scholarship fund does not register you for the retreat.

Cancellation Policy

• On or before February 28: If you cancel and notify us by this date, you will receive a full refund, provided your spot is filled by someone on the waiting list.
• Between February 29 and March 13: If you cancel during this period, you will receive a full refund minus a $100 administrative fee, provided your spot is filled by someone on the waiting list.
• On or after March 14: If you cancel on or after this date, 50% of the paid fee will be retained by SIM. This balance may be refundable if your spot is filled by someone on the waiting list. Otherwise, the balance will not be refunded.

Exceptions to this policy may be considered in limited circumstances, such as a family emergency, illness (with a doctor’s note), or financial hardship.

Schedule – Summary of Dates

• January 29: Registration opens.
• February 14: Last day to request a scholarship (see “Partial Scholarships” above).
• February 28:
  • Last day to request a full refund (see “Cancellation Policy” above).
  • Registration payment in full due.
• March 13: Last day to request a refund of the balance paid (see “Cancellations” above).
• TBD: Registration closes (date to be announced).
• March 30: Retreat begins (check-in starts at 3:00 PM).
• April 6: Retreat ends (check-out is at 10:00 AM).

COVID-19 Protocols

The wellbeing of everyone attending the SIM Annual Retreat is our top priority. Upon check-in, a negative COVID test (or a photo of one) must be presented to the retreat manager. If you experience any symptoms or feel unwell prior to the retreat, please contact the registrar promptly to cancel your registration. During the retreat, masking indoors will be optional but encouraged as needed, and social distancing will be practiced as space allows. We deeply appreciate your cooperation in creating a safe and supportive retreat environment.

Audio Recordings

Talks and meditations recorded during the retreat will be made available for a limited time to retreat attendees. Access information will be provided after the retreat.

Questions?

If the retreat is full, we’ll invite you to add your name to the wait list – click here.
Please contact the retreat registrar with any questions.