The Third Precept, #MeToo, and what happens now.
Sit & Dharma Talk with SIM Community Mentor Rev. Diane Wilde
The Five Precepts are the training in moral conduct for the individual as well as providing safety for all sentient beings. The third precept is; “I will train in refraining from sexual misconduct”. This precept is generally recited along with the other four, but rarely discussed in great length. Dharma teachers sometimes find it to be an uncomfortable topic and even amongst Buddhist scholars, there are differences on its interpretation.
Contemporary society is now contending with the ramifications of sexual misconduct (and alleged sexual misconduct) at all levels of society, and Buddhist teachers and students are not immune. Reports of allegations of predatory behavior are now being openly discussed in all three major Buddhist traditions, Theravada, Mahayana and Vajryana. Currently, recognized teachers in all three are being accused of sexual exploitation of students and others.
Tonight we will look at the actual teachings regarding the Third Precept, how it is effecting our teachers and our own lives, and how do we as a community contend with what is taking place.
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.
*Sit & Dharma Talk – Dennis Warren – Evaluating Your Practice
Weekly MeditationA Practical Model For Evaluating Your Practice.
Sit & Dharma Talk with SIM Founding Teacher Dennis Warren
We seldom talk about evaluating how we are practicing or what model might be used for doing an evaluation.
This evening will be devoted to examining a practical, experiential and hands-on evaluation model that we can use to evaluate how we are practicing, regardless of the stage or sophistication of our practice. A handout of the model will be used as the outline for the evening.
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.
Sit & Dharma Talk with Visiting Teacher Tony Bernhard
Weekly MeditationSit & Dharma Talk with Visiting Teacher Tony Bernhard
The topic of the talk is to be announced.
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.
*Sit & Dharma Talk – Diane Wilde – The Third Precept, #MeToo, and what happens now
Weekly MeditationThe Third Precept, #MeToo, and what happens now.
Sit & Dharma Talk with SIM Community Mentor Rev. Diane Wilde
The Five Precepts are the training in moral conduct for the individual as well as providing safety for all sentient beings. The third precept is; “I will train in refraining from sexual misconduct”. This precept is generally recited along with the other four, but rarely discussed in great length. Dharma teachers sometimes find it to be an uncomfortable topic and even amongst Buddhist scholars, there are differences on its interpretation.
Contemporary society is now contending with the ramifications of sexual misconduct (and alleged sexual misconduct) at all levels of society, and Buddhist teachers and students are not immune. Reports of allegations of predatory behavior are now being openly discussed in all three major Buddhist traditions, Theravada, Mahayana and Vajryana. Currently, recognized teachers in all three are being accused of sexual exploitation of students and others.
Tonight we will look at the actual teachings regarding the Third Precept, how it is effecting our teachers and our own lives, and how do we as a community contend with what is taking place.
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.
*Sit & Dharma Discussion – Rev. Diane Wilde – Taking Refuge … in the sangha
Weekly MeditationTaking Refuge … in the sangha
Sitting and Dharma discussion with Rev. Diane Wilde
As Buddhist practitioners, we take refuge in the Buddha (and our own potential for Buddhahood), the Dharma (how life unfolds) and the sangha, (a supportive community of practitioners.) On August 16, we’ll take a closer look at sangha.
There are activities going on “behind the scenes” at SIM that you most likely don’t know about, as well as other supportive programs which will be offered in the future. We will also discuss what YOU would like to see offered at YOUR sangha.
Cookies and other treats will be featured during the break. Be sure to be there!
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.
*Sit & Dharma Talk – Diane Wilde – Present Moment
Weekly MeditationWhat’s so great about the present moment anyway?
Sit & Dharma Talk with SIM Community Mentor Rev. Diane Wilde
“Be mindful.” “Stay in the present.” “Bare attention.” We’ve all heard one of these phrases. And if you’re more experienced in insight practice, these may be the watchwords that chime in the back of consciousness from morning till night, reminding you that everything genuine in the spiritual path is to be found in the now. So, if this is such an important practice, why is it so hard to stay present and what’s so great about it anyhow? We’ll discuss the reasons for staying present according to Buddhist teachings, and offer some practical techniques for staying present that you will find helpful.
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.
Introduction to MBSR with SIM Community Member Matt Russell
Weekly MeditationThis evening will provide an introduction to Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in anticipation of the 8-week MBSR course which will be offered at SIM starting September 2018. Designed by Jon Kabat-Zinn in 1979, MBSR is an integrative and scientifically validated approach that combines mindfulness practices with group processing and psycho-education around stress. MBSR helps participants mobilize their inner resources to alleviate suffering associated with chronic pain and illness, as well as conditions such as anxiety, depression, headaches, high blood pressure, sleep disturbances, gastrointestinal problems and the stresses of everyday life. This work was featured in Bill Moyers’ television special, “Healing and the Mind” in a dated but still compelling piece.
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.
At the bottom of this page, you may enter the number of people planning to attend and select the button “Confirm RSVP”.
05/24/2018 “Meaning and Practice of ‘Investigation’” with Dennis Warren
Audio DharmaThe Meaning and Practice of “Investigation” in Insight Practice – The principal purpose of Insight Practice is the creation of conditions that lead to spontaneous, intuitive Insight that liberates the mind and heart from suffering. This occurs through “Investigation.”
An exploration of the meaning of Investigation involves an examination and understanding of the most fundamental and radical viewpoints expressed in the teachings of the historical Buddha. Likewise, it involves how those viewpoints are operationalized into the Buddha’s instruction for practicing meditation and paying attention to our experience in everyday life.
Dennis’ talk explores these topics and the challenges they represent to evaluating our own individual meditation and daily life practices. The talk uses the Buddha’s teachings on the “Seven Factors of Awakening” as a jumping off point for discussion and exploration of this fascinating topic. It would be helpful to review the first 12 pages of the article by the same name by Piyadassi Thera which can be found at https://accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/piyadassi/wheel001.pdf.
This talk references the following handout: Seven Factors Chart (.pdf)
If you would like to download this talk, please right click and select “save as” here.
05/10/2018 “Reflections on Old Age, Sickness, and Death” with Rich Howard
Audio DharmaIt is said that the historical Buddha started his journey to awakening after being shaken by encountering the “heavenly messengers” old age, sickness and death. He recommended reflecting on these life experiences often. We will take this evening to reflect on and discuss our relationship to these messengers and how they might enliven our practice.
If you would like to download this talk, please right click and select “save as” here.
Family Sangha cancelled for Mother’s Day
News04/26/2018 “Dependent Origination” with John Travis
Audio DharmaExamining this core teaching of the historical Buddha. We’ll look, specifically, at how the past creates the present, and the present creates the future, in our daily lives. And we’ll focus on how a good hear, with clear thinking, creates a positive future.
If you would like to download this talk, please right click and select “save as” here.