Mark your calendars and plan to join the celebration. It’s Sacramento Dharma Center’s (SDC) Third Anniversary Party on Saturday, November 9, 2019 from 1 to 4 p.m.
- Cooking Demonstration ~ 1:30
- Music ~ 2:15 to 3:30
- Some closing words ~ 3:30
SDC wants to remind you to come to the annual celebration of the official opening of our Dharma home which was November 6th 2016. SDC has a great party planned for you with a food demonstration from Jay Nair, and music by Kent Lacin. Isn’t it wonderful to have such talented sangha members who share their talents with us? SDC will also have the latest proposed landscaping designs on display for your perusal.
Recently Katie Thomas gifted the Dharma Center with a beautiful framed oil pastel painting by her mother, Susan Orr, for the purpose of fundraising. It is called The Anguish, The Grace. It is with a grateful heart that we thank Katie for carrying on her mother’s dream with such a generous act. SDC will be holding a silent auction during the afternoon for the painting, announcing the winner at 3:30.
The Anguish, The Grace (oil pastel by Susan Orr)
Here is a photo of the painting and you can see it currently hung in the South lobby of the Dharma Center for all of us to enjoy. If you are unable to attend the party and would like to bid on the painting you may send a proxy or contact the SDC at 916-386-9844 to make other arrangements.
Why do we do all this? That is an easy question to answer, because SDC is proud of what they’ve been able to do in the three years since opening, and mostly they are so grateful to all of you! Yes all of you have put in your time, energy, funds, hopes and dreams and created a beautiful home for the Dharma to thrive in. So bring your family and friends, make new friends, and have some fun!
08/29/2019 “Framing Experience” with Dennis Warren
Audio DharmaThe Role of “Framing Experience” In Performance, Satisfaction and Happiness
NOTICE: the first eight seconds of this audio is poor quality and then improves.
If you would like to download this talk, please right click and select “save as” here.
Every day we are presented with circumstances that can be opportunities, challenges or problems depending on how our mind frames the experience that is taking place. The way our mind frames an experience has enormous influence in determining how we relate to the experience, and how we feel about our capacity to deal with it skillfully and how we perform.
This event – how the mind frames what is it about to engage – is critical in guiding how, and whether, we can mobilize our inner resources to take on what life brings to us with determination, patience and satisfaction; or whether we struggle, suffer and are disappointed. This is the difference between feeling empowered and capable vs vulnerable and at risk.
This principle applies whether the circumstances, or life situation, involves our interior life, our relationship with others, or economic, cultural or political events taking place in our community, our country or the work.
Dennis’ talk Thursday night, and the related discussion, with focus on this critical, and frequently overlooked, element of practice. We will examine the what, why and how of framing events from a practice perspective using real life illustrations. How can we use our practice to improve the fundamental way we relate to our experience, improve our performance and feeling better about ourselves?
SDC ~ Anniversary Party
SDCSave the Date – SDC Party
NewsSDC wants to remind you to come to the annual celebration of the official opening of our Dharma home which was November 6th 2016. SDC has a great party planned for you with a food demonstration from Jay Nair, and music by Kent Lacin. Isn’t it wonderful to have such talented sangha members who share their talents with us? SDC will also have the latest proposed landscaping designs on display for your perusal.
Recently Katie Thomas gifted the Dharma Center with a beautiful framed oil pastel painting by her mother, Susan Orr, for the purpose of fundraising. It is called The Anguish, The Grace. It is with a grateful heart that we thank Katie for carrying on her mother’s dream with such a generous act. SDC will be holding a silent auction during the afternoon for the painting, announcing the winner at 3:30.
The Anguish, The Grace (oil pastel by Susan Orr)
Here is a photo of the painting and you can see it currently hung in the South lobby of the Dharma Center for all of us to enjoy. If you are unable to attend the party and would like to bid on the painting you may send a proxy or contact the SDC at 916-386-9844 to make other arrangements.
Why do we do all this? That is an easy question to answer, because SDC is proud of what they’ve been able to do in the three years since opening, and mostly they are so grateful to all of you! Yes all of you have put in your time, energy, funds, hopes and dreams and created a beautiful home for the Dharma to thrive in. So bring your family and friends, make new friends, and have some fun!
08/22/2019 “Just let it go!” with Diane Wilde
Audio DharmaIf you would like to download this talk, please right click and select “save as” here.
Where have you heard that before? These words have become as ubiquitous a phrase as “Have a nice day!” How seriously should we take it, and is this directive even possible OR desirable?
This rather prosaic statement is stating in colloquial terms the core Buddhist practice of “non-attachment” — which is often viewed as one of the most confusing and seemingly impossible Buddhist injunctions… especially as a lay practitioner. How can we become non-attached to our children? Personal relationships? The state of the world? The confusion may come from our misunderstanding about what this teaching really means. We will discuss the deeper meaning of this statement, and methods for its practical application — both on and off the cushion.
*Sit & Dharma Talk – Sue Taylor – WISDOM
Weekly MeditationTalk topic: Wisdom
Sit & Dharma Talk with Visiting Teacher Sue Taylor
The talk will be a short “dharmette” on Wisdom (anchored in the paramis).
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.
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08/15/2019 “Pilgrimage, Devotion, and Uposatha” with Rich Howard, John Phelps
Audio DharmaIf you would like to download this talk, please right click and select “save as” here.
How does our practice include the warmth of heart, expressed freely in devotion? Sometimes it may seem as if Buddhism’s intention to relieve suffering and be awake to the way things are, in Western practice centers, sidesteps the personal intimacy of devotion that we see in Asian temple life, and in other faith traditions. To whom and what is devotion given? What can we learn from others, and from attending to our own longings and gratefulness? Rich and John have been exploring this topic and will invite our participation in that exploration.
After the presentation, Rich Howard and John “Boogie” Phelps hosted an evening of meditation and chanting as long as people wanted to stay (up to midnight). In many Theravada countries, special practice days are observed in line with phases of the moon, called Uposatha. On this full moon day, folks were are also invited to practice the eight precepts. Chanting books were provided.
MBSR Course in August Cancelled
NewsThe Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course scheduled to start August 21 , 2019 is cancelled due to low enrollment.
If you’d like to be notified the next time this course is offered, simply “Leave a Reply” to this NEWS post and SIM will later contact you with further details about the next scheduled course. If the “reply/comments” won’t work, try using the “RSVP” click here.
Touching the Earth Service
Climate SanghaNEW Touching the Earth Sundays
NewsBuddhism’s emphasis on our interconnectedness with all sentient beings and the earth herself, is the focus of the new “Touching the Earth” service offered by Sacramento Dharma Center’s Climate Sangha. This service is open to all! Sangha members, neighbors, friends and curious others. We look forward to meeting you! In a spirit of celebration of our earth, we will come together as a spiritual community, cultivating mindful living as well as compassion for all living beings.
Service schedule: Thirty minute meditation; Twenty minute “Dharmette” talk; Music, Kirtin, chanting; “Get to know each other” time; Coffee, tea, and treats
08/08/2019 “Exploring the Refuges” with Tony Bernhard
Audio DharmaExploring the Refuges as an Investigative Practice
If you would like to download this talk, please right click and select “save as” here.
Calling to mind The Three Refuges is usually done as a devotional practice. This discussion will look into the nature of refuge itself and ask how Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha might serve as a sanctuary for Buddhist practitioners.