The Art & Science of Letting It Be
A Daylong Retreat with Ayya Santacitta and Rev. Diane Wilde
Grasping is not something done by the self, but rather the self is something created by grasping.
“What” are we letting be? What does it mean when we just let things be? Do we accept without concern the state of the world, cruelty, climate change, misogyny, racism, etc? Perhaps we are more precise when we say “letting it be” means not adding onto the already cumbersome, suffering self-identity that we carry around.
Today’s daylong will address the issues that present themselves when we practice “letting it be”, along with periods of meditation and mindful movement.
Please bring a vegetarian dish to share. Along with sharing with each other, we will offer Ayya Santacitta her meal of the day.
AYYA SANTACITTA was born in Austria and has a multifaceted background in hotel management, ethnology and avant-garde dance theater. Her first teacher was Ajahn Buddhadasa, who sparked her interest in Buddhist monastic life. She has practiced meditation for 30 years and trained as a nun in both the East and West since 1993, primarily in the lineage of Ajahn Chah. Since 2002 she has also received teachings in the lineage of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. Ayya Santacitta is co-founder of Aloka Vihara Forest Monastery, where she has resided since 2009 and took Bhikkhuni Ordination in 2011. She is particularly interested in creating sanctuary close to nature, practicing in community, and bringing wisdom traditions to the environmental movement.
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
- 05/27/2018 – Registration opens.
- 08/24/2018 – Registration via this website will close at 8:00 pm.
- 08/25/2018 – 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 also 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.
*Sit & Dharma Talk – Dennis Warren – “Investigation” in Insight Practice (part 3)
Weekly Meditation“Investigation” in Insight Practice – Part III
Sit & Dharma Talk with SIM Founding Teacher Dennis Warren
This evening will be the third in a series examining the purpose and nature of “Investigation” leading to Liberating Insight in meditation practice.
We’ll explore two handout charts as the jumping off point for the presentation and discussion. The first details the actual development stages in the process of Investigation. The second depicts the way that Investigation is a source of resilience in practice and is internally renewing – it sustains and supports itself and every other part of practice.
The evening will include, among other things, a discussion of the distinguishing characteristics of both cognitive and intuitive Insight, a look at the unique quality of effort involved in the investigative process, and an examination of a number of obstacles to investigation producing Insight.
If you have the time, you may want to revisit the two prior talks on June 21 and May 24 in the Audio Dharma section of SIM’s webpage at https://sactoinsight.org/category/audio-dharma/ .
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 – Rich Howard – What I Learned on Retreat
Weekly MeditationTopic details to be announced.
Sit & Dharma Talk with SIM Community Mentor Rich Howard
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 – Legend of Mass-Murderer Angulimala
Weekly MeditationThe Legend of Mass-Murderer Angulimala … and lessons about negative karma
Sit & Dharma Talk with SIM Community Mentor Diane Wilde
The redemption of the mass murderer Angulimala, is memorialized in the Pali Canon in Majjhima Nikaya 86. Angulimala’s brutality and his ultimate liberation has long been an inspiring story to Buddhist practitioners. What is not known is the deeper meaning behind the legend and the various interpretations that have come down to us from both Buddhist and Hindu traditions. While the acts committed by Angulimala caused unspeakable suffering for his victims and their families, a question which is often ignored is how did he contend with the karma resulting from all he had done? How was he able to “start over” with a legacy of murder and cruelty? In our own lives, how do we contend with the harm we have caused, both in regards to ourselves and others? How do we “clear” our own karma? How do we respond to others who have harmed us? We will look at this legend from a variety of vantage points and how the legend of Angulimala has many lessons to teach.
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 – Meaning and Practice of “Investigation” part 2
Weekly MeditationThe Meaning and Practice of “Investigation” in Insight Practice – Part II. If you’d like to listen to the part I talk, click here.
Sit & Dharma Talk with SIM Founding Teacher Dennis Warren
The principal purpose of Insight Practice is the creation of conditions that led to spontaneous, intuitive Insight that liberates the mind and heart from suffering. This occurs through “Investigation.”
This evening will be Part II in an exploration of the meaning of “Investigation” in the context of the Buddha’s teachings on the “Seven Factors of Awakening.”
It would be helpful to review the first 12 pages of the article on the Seven Factors by Piyadassi Thera at https://accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/piyadassi/wheel001.pdf .
The discussion this evening will be helpful if plan on attending the one day retreat this month led by Dennis.
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 – Rich Howard – Commitment to Practice
Weekly MeditationCommitment to Practice: Hobby, Pastime, or Lifetime Aspiration?
Sit & Dharma Talk with SIM Community Mentor Rich Howard
We may come to the practice of meditative awareness as a curiosity or from an intense experience of suffering. We may practice continually from the first day or intermittently. As we progress, the role of practice in our lives may increase, shift or fall away completely. Just as we periodically look at why we practice, it is helpful once in a while to examine our level of commitment. Both are supported by the power of intention. On this evening, we will look at our level of commitment and the conditions that support or undermine our aspiration.
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 – Tony Bernhard – Dependent Origination
Weekly MeditationSit & Dharma Talk with Visiting Teacher Tony Bernhard
The Buddha is said to have taught, “One who sees dependent origination sees the Dhamma; one who sees the Dhamma sees dependent origination.” What is this teaching that’s so central to Buddhist understanding and what does it mean for our practice? Join longtime friend of SIM Tony Bernhard for an exploration of this question.
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 – Meaning and Practice of “Investigation”
Weekly MeditationThe Meaning and Practice of “Investigation” in Insight Practice
Sit & Dharma Talk with SIM Founding Teacher Dennis Warren
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 this evening will explore these topics and the challenges they represent to evaluating our own individual meditation and daily life practices. The talk will use 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.
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 – Noliwe Alexander – Impermanence
Weekly MeditationImpermanence
Is it possible to find ease and grace in a world full of change?
It is possible to trust the mind of non-clinging and so find our liberation within the world of impermanence. ~ Gil Fronsdal
We will explore this question of finding refuge in the truth of change in our uncertain and often turbulent times. While letting go of our fixed views and opening to the possibilities of freedom, we have the opportunity to deepen our understanding of living with clarity and ease in each moment.
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.
*Daylong Retreat with SIM Founding Teacher Dennis Warren
RetreatAssessing Your Practice
Daylong Retreat with SIM Founding Teacher Dennis Warren
SATISFACTION
WELL_BEING
A one day Mindfulness retreat with an in-depth exploration of a user-friendly practice self-assessment tool.
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
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.
Daylong Retreat with Ayya Santacitta and Rev. Diane Wilde
RetreatThe Art & Science of Letting It Be
A Daylong Retreat with Ayya Santacitta and Rev. Diane Wilde
Grasping is not something done by the self, but rather the self is something created by grasping.
“What” are we letting be? What does it mean when we just let things be? Do we accept without concern the state of the world, cruelty, climate change, misogyny, racism, etc? Perhaps we are more precise when we say “letting it be” means not adding onto the already cumbersome, suffering self-identity that we carry around.
Today’s daylong will address the issues that present themselves when we practice “letting it be”, along with periods of meditation and mindful movement.
Please bring a vegetarian dish to share. Along with sharing with each other, we will offer Ayya Santacitta her meal of the day.
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
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 also 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.