To download this talk, right-click and select ‘save audio as’ or select the 3-dot menu to the right of the speaker icon.
What happens when we refuse to forgive? We’ve all felt it—holding on to insults or painful actions done to us, or replaying the memory of harm caused to others. Old wounds harden into resentment, anger drains our energy, and self-blame keeps us stuck in the past. Buddhism offers another way: forgiveness as a path to freedom. By letting go of grudges, daring to ask for forgiveness, and softening toward ourselves, we release the poisons that cloud the heart. In doing so, we also loosen the grip of the restless ego.
Tonight’s talk will offer some inspirational stories of forgiveness and will invite you to explore forgiveness in your own lives. Genuine forgiveness is not a weakness or forgetting, but is a courageous practice that restores peace, clarity, and compassion.
https://sactoinsight.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/SIM-logo-trans.png00David Guerrierihttps://sactoinsight.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/SIM-logo-trans.pngDavid Guerrieri2025-09-11 22:00:002025-09-14 09:36:379/11/2025 “Why Is Offering Forgiveness So Difficult” with Diane Wilde
Guided Meditation (the first part of the meditation is missing – the audio was not clear)
To download this talk, right-click and select ‘save audio as’ or select the 3-dot menu to the right of the speaker icon.
Dharma Talk
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 the suttas, the Buddha encouraged us to be grateful and thankful. Intentionally cultivating gratitude even during challenging times helps serve as an antidote to the negative bias of the mind. Otherwise, we often focus too much of our energy on what is wrong or lacking in our lives, rather than appreciating the many simple blessings all around us. Being grateful also counters tendencies towards greed, envy, jealousy and pride.
https://sactoinsight.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/SIM-logo-trans.png00David Guerrierihttps://sactoinsight.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/SIM-logo-trans.pngDavid Guerrieri2025-09-04 22:00:002025-09-04 21:33:519/4/2025 “The Buddha’s Antidotes for Challenging Times: Gratitude” with Walt Opie
This is a 12-month course lead by SIM Teacher Diane Wilde. Course participants meet in-person, monthly in 2026 from January through December on the third Sunday of each month from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. For more information, visit the course overview page at Maranasati: Mindful of Death, Alive to Life.
The fee is $50.00 per person due before the start of the first class meeting. If you are able and interested in further supporting SIM financially, you have the option of a registration fee of either $75 or $100 dollars. For the registration fee, we also accept personal checks; please contact the registrar for more information. Before registering for this course, please click here to review SIM’s Registration Refund Policy.
After we receive payment, SIM will confirm your registration within 48 hours. If the class fills up, the registration fee automatically secures your place on the course wait list.
https://sactoinsight.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/DianeWilde-pic2022sm.jpg400400Sabitrehttps://sactoinsight.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/SIM-logo-trans.pngSabitre2025-09-03 17:28:342025-12-05 14:28:19(Onsite) Maranasati: Mindful of Death (1-Year Course 2026)
To download this talk, right-click and select ‘save audio as’ or select the 3-dot menu to the right of the speaker icon.
This evening’s presentation is the first in a series of six offered by the SIM Faculty on “The Buddha’s Antidotes for Challenging Times.” Each presentation will explore a positive mind state that can be cultivated to bring happiness and contentment into our life while reducing the stress and dissatisfaction we cause ourselves and others. The faculty will conclude each session with questions for reflection, which will serve as prompts for the kalyāņamitta groups that SIM is forming (see the announcement elsewhere in this newsletter for details). From October 23 to 25, the faculty will offer an in-person mini-retreat to devote an extended practice period to each of these mind states, as well as further instruction on applying the practices in daily life.
In this first session, SIM Community Teacher Rich Howard will introduce the entire series, then focus on the quality of compassion (karunā in the ancient Pali language). With wisdom from Joanna Macy, Bhikkhu Anālayo, Andrea Gibson, the Dalai Lama, and others (offered as a handout for future reference), we will touch on what mindful compassion looks like, what it is not, and how to increase its appearance in our daily life.
https://sactoinsight.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/SIM-logo-trans.png00David Guerrierihttps://sactoinsight.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/SIM-logo-trans.pngDavid Guerrieri2025-08-21 22:00:002025-08-25 11:15:038/21/2025 “The Buddhas’s Antidotes for Challenging Times: Introduction & Karuṇā (Compassion)” with Rich Howard
Participants meet for six weeks on Tuesday evenings 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm from January 6 through February 10, with a daylong retreat on Saturday, January 31 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 pm. For more information, visit the course overview page.
The registration payment form displays “SOLD OUT” because the course is full and the wait list is closed. Click here for a list of other SIM courses are upcoming on the calendar.
Registration
$50.00 Registration is CLOSED
If registration is open, select the “REGISTER” button to indicate you’ll be attending. For the registration fee, we also accept personal checks; please contact the registrar for more information. Before registering for this course, please click here to review SIM’s Registration Refund Policy.
Daylong Retreat/Workshop with SIM Founding Teacher Dennis Warren
For biographical details of the teacher Dennis Warren, click here.
Retreat Theme
Artificial Intelligence & Buddhist Practice: Harnessing AI to Support Study, Meditation and Daily Life This day of practice explores how emerging Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can meaningfully support the study, meditation and integration of Buddhist teachings into daily life. Participants will move beyond common technology-related concerns to engage with a grounded, practical framework for working with the opportunities and challenges of using AI into a contemplative practice. The day is structured around real-world AI examples drawn from the teacher’s experience around three themes: What you can do with AI; How to do it; and What not to do. Participants will leave with specific guidelines and hands-on tools they can use immediately. Topics will include:
What AI is, and isn’t, from a technological perspective.
What AI is, and isn’t, from a Buddhist perspective.
What a helpful Buddhist relationship with AI could look like.
How AI can support and deepen our study, meditation, and daily use of Buddhist teachings.
During this one day, we’ll have at least one period of mindful movement, so please bring your yoga mat. The session will be led by Sandra (Sam) Halford, a member of our community who is both a therapist and a trauma-sensitive certified yoga instructor.
No prior AI experience is necessary. The day is appropriate for all levels of practice and experience. Please bring a pen/pencil and paper, and your own lunch. Plan on staying on-site at the Sacramento Dharma Center all day during the retreat.
About This Onsite Retreat
The teacher will present in-person at the Sacramento Dharma Center. All participants will attend in-person as the retreat will not be available via Zoom.
Pre-registration is required and we recommend you pay the registration fee in advance using the registration button shown below. Since your registration choice indicates that you’ll be attending in-person, registering early helps us determine how many people the meditation room should accommodate.
11/29/2025 – Attend and enjoy the wonderful retreat.
11/29/2025 – For registration after the retreat, send a message to the registrar to arrange payment.
Registration
Select the Register Now button to indicate you’ll be attending in-person. The fee is $25.00 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 $35 or $50 dollars. For the registration fee, we also accept personal checks. No one will be turned away for lack of funds; please contact the registrar for more information. Before registering for this event, please click here to review SIM’s Registration Refund Policy.
After we receive your registration payment, SIM will confirm your registration within 48 hours. Thanks for your patience.
If you need to contact the retreat registrar with any questions, click here.
Teacher Dana
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. To make a donation for this event using a credit card or PayPal account, click here to DONATE ONLINE.
Sacramento Dharma Center Building
3111 Wissemann Drive Sacramento,
CA
95826United States+ Google Map
https://sactoinsight.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Dennis-Warren-2508-400.jpg400400Sabitrehttps://sactoinsight.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/SIM-logo-trans.pngSabitre2025-08-19 12:26:582025-11-05 16:43:33(Onsite) Daylong Retreat – Dennis Warren – Artificial Intelligence & Buddhist Practice: Harnessing AI to Support Study, Meditation and Daily Life
Practicing with the Five Hindrances: a 4-week course with Diana Clark
This meeting is part of an online four week course lead by SIM teacher Diana Clark. For course details or to make a teacher donation while participating in the course, visit the course over page Click-Here.
Sacramento Dharma Center Building
3111 Wissemann Drive Sacramento,
CA
95826United States
Practicing with the Five Hindrances: a 4-week course with Diana Clark
This meeting is part of an online four week course lead by SIM teacher Diana Clark. For course details or to make a teacher donation while participating in the course, visit the course over page Click-Here.
Sacramento Dharma Center Building
3111 Wissemann Drive Sacramento,
CA
95826United States
Practicing with the Five Hindrances: a 4-week course with Diana Clark
This meeting is part of an online four week course lead by SIM teacher Diana Clark. For course details or to make a teacher donation while participating in the course, visit the course over page Click-Here.
Sacramento Dharma Center Building
3111 Wissemann Drive Sacramento,
CA
95826United States
9/11/2025 “Why Is Offering Forgiveness So Difficult” with Diane Wilde
Audio DharmaWhat happens when we refuse to forgive? We’ve all felt it—holding on to insults or painful actions done to us, or replaying the memory of harm caused to others. Old wounds harden into resentment, anger drains our energy, and self-blame keeps us stuck in the past. Buddhism offers another way: forgiveness as a path to freedom. By letting go of grudges, daring to ask for forgiveness, and softening toward ourselves, we release the poisons that cloud the heart. In doing so, we also loosen the grip of the restless ego.
Tonight’s talk will offer some inspirational stories of forgiveness and will invite you to explore forgiveness in your own lives. Genuine forgiveness is not a weakness or forgetting, but is a courageous practice that restores peace, clarity, and compassion.
9/4/2025 “The Buddha’s Antidotes for Challenging Times: Gratitude” with Walt Opie
Audio DharmaGuided Meditation (the first part of the meditation is missing – the audio was not clear)
Dharma Talk
In the suttas, the Buddha encouraged us to be grateful and thankful. Intentionally cultivating gratitude even during challenging times helps serve as an antidote to the negative bias of the mind. Otherwise, we often focus too much of our energy on what is wrong or lacking in our lives, rather than appreciating the many simple blessings all around us. Being grateful also counters tendencies towards greed, envy, jealousy and pride.
(Onsite) Maranasati: Mindful of Death (1-Year Course 2026)
Meditation Course, Upcoming ClassesJanuary 18 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm PST
Maranasati: Mindful of Death, Alive to Life
This is a 12-month course lead by SIM Teacher Diane Wilde. Course participants meet in-person, monthly in 2026 from January through December on the third Sunday of each month from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. For more information, visit the course overview page at Maranasati: Mindful of Death, Alive to Life.
Registration
The fee is $50.00 per person due before the start of the first class meeting. If you are able and interested in further supporting SIM financially, you have the option of a registration fee of either $75 or $100 dollars. For the registration fee, we also accept personal checks; please contact the registrar for more information.
Before registering for this course, please click here to review SIM’s Registration Refund Policy.
After we receive payment, SIM will confirm your registration within 48 hours. If the class fills up, the registration fee automatically secures your place on the course wait list.
Maranasati – 12-month Course
$50.00
Course Full – SOLD OUTContact the Registrar
If you have any questions, please contact the registrar for information or assistance.
Sacramento Dharma Center Building
Sacramento, CA 95826 United States + Google Map
8/21/2025 “The Buddhas’s Antidotes for Challenging Times: Introduction & Karuṇā (Compassion)” with Rich Howard
Audio DharmaThis evening’s presentation is the first in a series of six offered by the SIM Faculty on “The Buddha’s Antidotes for Challenging Times.” Each presentation will explore a positive mind state that can be cultivated to bring happiness and contentment into our life while reducing the stress and dissatisfaction we cause ourselves and others. The faculty will conclude each session with questions for reflection, which will serve as prompts for the kalyāņamitta groups that SIM is forming (see the announcement elsewhere in this newsletter for details). From October 23 to 25, the faculty will offer an in-person mini-retreat to devote an extended practice period to each of these mind states, as well as further instruction on applying the practices in daily life.
In this first session, SIM Community Teacher Rich Howard will introduce the entire series, then focus on the quality of compassion (karunā in the ancient Pali language). With wisdom from Joanna Macy, Bhikkhu Anālayo, Andrea Gibson, the Dalai Lama, and others (offered as a handout for future reference), we will touch on what mindful compassion looks like, what it is not, and how to increase its appearance in our daily life.
(Hybrid) Beginning Meditation (6-week course)
Meditation Course, Online Remote, Upcoming ClassesJanuary 6 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm PST
Overview
Participants meet for six weeks on Tuesday evenings 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm from January 6 through February 10, with a daylong retreat on Saturday, January 31 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 pm. For more information, visit the course overview page.
Registration
If registration is open, select the “REGISTER” button to indicate you’ll be attending. For the registration fee, we also accept personal checks; please contact the registrar for more information.
Before registering for this course, please click here to review SIM’s Registration Refund Policy.
Beginning Meditation 6-week Course
$50.00
SOLD OUT – Course FullContact the Registrar
If you have any questions, please contact the registrar for information or assistance.
Sacramento Dharma Center Building
Sacramento, CA 95826 United States + Google Map
(Onsite) Daylong Retreat – Dennis Warren – Artificial Intelligence & Buddhist Practice: Harnessing AI to Support Study, Meditation and Daily Life
Online Remote, RetreatNovember 29, 2025 @ 9:00 am – 4:30 pm PST
Daylong Retreat/Workshop with SIM Founding Teacher Dennis Warren
For biographical details of the teacher Dennis Warren, click here.
Retreat Theme
Artificial Intelligence & Buddhist Practice: Harnessing AI to Support Study, Meditation and Daily Life
This day of practice explores how emerging Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can meaningfully support the study, meditation and integration of Buddhist teachings into daily life.
Participants will move beyond common technology-related concerns to engage with a grounded, practical framework for working with the opportunities and challenges of using AI into a contemplative practice.
The day is structured around real-world AI examples drawn from the teacher’s experience around three themes: What you can do with AI; How to do it; and What not to do.
Participants will leave with specific guidelines and hands-on tools they can use immediately.
Topics will include:
During this one day, we’ll have at least one period of mindful movement, so please bring your yoga mat. The session will be led by Sandra (Sam) Halford, a member of our community who is both a therapist and a trauma-sensitive certified yoga instructor.
No prior AI experience is necessary. The day is appropriate for all levels of practice and experience. Please bring a pen/pencil and paper, and your own lunch. Plan on staying on-site at the Sacramento Dharma Center all day during the retreat.
About This Onsite Retreat
Summary of Important Dates
Registration
Select the Register Now button to indicate you’ll be attending in-person. The fee is $25.00 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 $35 or $50 dollars. For the registration fee, we also accept personal checks. No one will be turned away for lack of funds; please contact the registrar for more information.
Before registering for this event, please click here to review SIM’s Registration Refund Policy.
After we receive your registration payment, SIM will confirm your registration within 48 hours. Thanks for your patience.
November Daylong registration – Attend in-person
$25.00 – $50.00
Register NowQuestions for the Registrar?
If you need to contact the retreat registrar with any questions, click here.
Teacher Dana
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. To make a donation for this event using a credit card or PayPal account, click here to DONATE ONLINE.
Sacramento Dharma Center Building
Sacramento, CA 95826 United States + Google Map
From Meditation Obstacles to Meditation Objects (4 of 4)
Meditation CourseNovember 25, 2025 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm PST
Practicing with the Five Hindrances: a 4-week course with Diana Clark
This meeting is part of an online four week course lead by SIM teacher Diana Clark. For course details or to make a teacher donation while participating in the course, visit the course over page Click-Here.
Sacramento Dharma Center Building
Sacramento, CA 95826 United States
From Meditation Obstacles to Meditation Objects (3 of 4)
Meditation CourseNovember 18, 2025 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm PST
Practicing with the Five Hindrances: a 4-week course with Diana Clark
This meeting is part of an online four week course lead by SIM teacher Diana Clark. For course details or to make a teacher donation while participating in the course, visit the course over page Click-Here.
Sacramento Dharma Center Building
Sacramento, CA 95826 United States
From Meditation Obstacles to Meditation Objects (2 of 4)
Meditation CourseNovember 11, 2025 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm PST
Practicing with the Five Hindrances: a 4-week course with Diana Clark
This meeting is part of an online four week course lead by SIM teacher Diana Clark. For course details or to make a teacher donation while participating in the course, visit the course over page Click-Here.
Sacramento Dharma Center Building
Sacramento, CA 95826 United States
No Meeting Tonight
Online Remote, Weekly MeditationDecember 25, 2025 All day
Happy Holidays.