Be A Lamp Unto Yourselves
Daylong Retreat with SIM Community Teacher Diane Wilde
“Be a lamp unto yourselves” were 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.
Because of this last teaching, practitioners read, study, attend retreats, come to regular weekly sittings and attempt to understand the Dharma in order to cultivate that inner, wise compassionate teacher. We hope that our “inner-teacher” is the one who always takes the right action, in thought word and deed. And yet, for most of us, we continually question ourselves, our practice and our motives. Today we will have a conversation about becoming our own teacher, and methods for assessing how we are doing and how to begin trusting ourselves and our practice… no matter where we are on the path.
Please bring your lunch.
DIANE WILDE has studied meditation in various traditions since 1990. In 2001 she was a founding member of Sacramento Insight Meditation. She founded Buddhist Pathways Prison Project (BP3) in 2010. Since 2003, she has been a BP3 prison chaplain and aids in coordination of 75 volunteers who offer Buddhist services at numerous California prisons and jails. She is a graduate of Sati Center’s Buddhist Chaplaincy program and graduated from Spirit Rock Meditation Center’s Community Dharma Leadership Training Program. She is a board member of Sati Center for Buddhist Studies, Sacramento Dharma Center, Buddhist Pathways Prison Project and California Dept. of Corrections Volunteer Advisory Board. In 2015 she was lay-ordained as a Buddhist minister by her teacher Gil Fronsdal.
Sacramento Insight Meditation events are sustained by the generosity of instructors in offering teachings freely and on the generosity of students and members of the meditative community in the form of financial support, service and participation in events. With our practice of dana, we support our Sangha.
Summary of Important Dates
- 08/29/2018 – Registration opens.
- 10/26/2018 – Registration via this website closed at 8:00 pm. You may register in person the morning of the event.
- 10/27/2018 – Attend and enjoy the wonderful retreat.
Registration Details
Registration is $15.00 per person due before the start of the event. If you are able and interested in further supporting SIM financially, you have the option of a registration fee of either $25 or $35 dollars. To pay the registration fee online, use the “Tickets” section at the bottom of this page. It’s not necessary to Log in before purchasing and you won’t need to print the ticket on paper. On the left side, specify the number of people you are registering to this course. On the right side, click the button “Buy now” and you’ll be automatically directed to a secure webpage where your registration payment can be made by credit card as a guest (no PayPal account required) or payment can be made by PayPal after you sign-in to your PayPal account if you have one.
For the registration fee, we accept checks and cash. No one will be turned away for lack of funds; please contact the registrar for more information. Day-of registration will be on a first-come first-serve basis, contingent on availability of space.
Before registering to this event, click here to review the terms of use for this website.
Volunteer Opportunities
It “takes a village” to put on a large event for our community. If you would be available to assist in set-up, take-down, tea service, providing flowers or other duties for the event, please contact the retreat registrar for more information..
Questions for the Registrar?
If you need to contact the retreat registrar with any questions, click here.