01/31/2019 “Entering the Stream” with Diane Wilde

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Buddhist practice offers those who yearn for “awakening” a map of sorts. “Entering the Stream” or “Stream Enterer” is the first location on this map leading towards complete liberation. Tonight we will discuss the characteristics of a Stream Enterer and what needs to take place in order to realize the liberating qualities of being firmly on the path.
According to the teachings, entering the path of liberation means we should ultimately rely on our own direct experiential knowledge. The Buddha put himself practiced this way. Yet, even the most gratifying experiences can be dangerous if we become attached to them. What “goes beyond all views” probably defines the experience of liberation when we are no longer clinging to experience of any kind—including book-learning, rites or rituals, or sophisticated techniques. Ironically, due to its simplicity and elegance, it can often appear difficult, even though signposts on how to proceed are evident everywhere — if we pay attention. Stream Enterers, according to the teachings, are now firmly on the path to liberation. It is impossible to go back once this state is realized.

Near the 5 minute 35 second time marker, Diane mentions two interesting books she’s read:

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Special Tax Note

SIM is grateful for all our donors and has already emailed tax letters to those who gave $250 or more in 2018. If you have not received the tax letter and you think you should have, please check your email Inbox, as well as your Spam or Junk folder. If you still don’t find it, please contact SaraD@sactoinsight.org.

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New Book Club Forming

We are setting up the first meeting for those people interested in a dharma based study group / book club. Everyone is welcome to attend this meeting where folks are encouraged to provide input on their interests and their schedule availability for ongoing club meetings.

At the bottom of this page, you may enter the number of people planning to attend and select the button “Confirm RSVP“.
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Meet date change for Climate Sangha

NOTICE: The Climate Sangha has changed its meeting day and time for 2019. The new time is 6:30-8:30 pm on the Third Wednesday of each month. So, it will be February 20 next month.

Regarding the meeting already held in January . . .

  • In this New Year, you are invited to participate in the re-energized SDC Climate Sangha. Our mailing list of over 100 includes many we have not seen in a while. To accommodate as many of our core group as possible, we have shifted the meeting to the Third Wednesday, January 16 this month, and moved the time a bit earlier, 6:30-8:30 pm. This month, we will have a presentation from Ruthy Ballard and Michelle Stevens. If you haven’t seen Ruthy’s message yet, or want details about the meeting this month, click here.

 

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01/24/2019 “Restlessness, Worry and Anxiety” with Dennis Warren

If you would like to download this talk, please right click and select “save as” here.

Investigation Leading to Liberating Insight – A Practical Model For Working With Restlessness, Worry and Anxiety
How can Restless, Worry & Anxiety be investigated in a way that leads to liberating insight? This is one of the fundamental skills of a good practice. This evening will be devoted to examining a practical, experiential and hands-on model of working with these obstacles and challenges to mindfulness and practice.
While these states of mind can appear in different areas in our practice and our life, they usually acts as an undermining factor in our confidence, decision making and behavior. What are the related experiences of Restless, Worry and Anxiety? What are their experiential origin? What causes them to be present? What causes them to diminish and no longer be present? What can we do to work with them skillfully while they present?
As preparation for this evening, reflect on how Restless, Worry and Anxiety has influenced your experience and decision making in the last year. Come prepared with questions you have regarding your experiences.

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Daylong Retreat with Vance Pryor – Cultivating Awareness and Wisdom

A One Day Retreat with visiting Teacher Vance Pryor

Retreat Theme: Cultivating Awareness and Wisdom

This will be a beautiful peaceful day of Practice including both Sitting and Walking Meditation. There may also be time for questions, answers and reflections. All are welcome. Come for all day or for a portion of the day. Please bring your lunch.

Note that Vance Pryor, along with Kamala Masters, will also be teaching at SIM’s 7-night retreat in September 2019. For details about the residential retreat, click here.

VANCE PRYOR, PsyD, began insight meditation in 1998. He has been deeply influenced by the teachings of Sayadaw U Pandita and Sayadaw U Tejaniya. His training to become a teacher has been supported by the mentorship of Steve Armstrong and Kamala Masters. He is currently participating in Insight Meditation Society’s 2017-2021 Teacher Training Program.

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. If you prefer to make a donation for this event online using a credit card or PayPal account, click here to DONATE ONLINE.

Summary of Important Dates

  • 01/22/2019 – Registration opens.
  • 03/29/2019 – Registration via this website is closed however there is space. Come and register in person on the day of the event.
  • 03/30/2019 – 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 on the day of the event, 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.

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*Sit & Dharma Talk – Vance Pryor – Cultivating Awareness and Wisdom

Cultivating Awareness and Wisdom

Sit & Dharma Talk with Vance Pryor

VANCE PRYOR, PsyD, began insight meditation in 1998. He has been deeply influenced by the teachings of Sayadaw U Pandita and Sayadaw U Tejaniya. His training to become a teacher has been supported by the mentorship of Steve Armstrong and Kamala Masters. He is currently participating in IMS’s 2017-2021 Teacher Training Program.

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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Climate Sangha

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Meeting the 3rd Wednesday of each month, the Sacramento Climate Sangha provides dharmic support and a refuge for exploration of our hopes and fears about climate change.

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Climate Sangha

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Meeting the 3rd Wednesday of each month, the Sacramento Climate Sangha provides dharmic support and a refuge for exploration of our hopes and fears about climate change.

Climate Sangha participants,

Here is a message from our presenter, Oscar Belaguer. We look forward to seeing you for tonight’s discussion.

For discussion at the Climate Sangha’s Feb 20 discussion of “engaged Buddhism”, I propose we reflect on the following three questions and the below first four of the Order of Interbeing’s Precepts of Engaged Buddhism; and read this short article, “A Stand Against Suffering”:

Questions

  1. Do you ever suffer – physically, emotionally, or spiritually – from experiencing or thinking about the effects of climate change on you and others? If so, how do you respond?
  2. Do the terms engaged Buddhism and activism evoke positive, negative, or neutral sensations/ feeling tones for you?
  3. Is engaged Buddhism part of your practice? If so, does it include activism?

 

Thich Nhat Hanh, Fourteen Precepts of Engaged Buddhism (first four)

  1. Do not be idolatrous about or bound to any doctrine, theory, or ideology, even Buddhist ones. Buddhist systems of thought are guiding means; they are not absolute truth.
  2. Do not think the knowledge you presently possess is changeless, absolute truth. Avoid being narrow-minded and bound to present views. Learn and practice nonattachment from views in order to be open to receive others’ viewpoints. Truth is found in life and not merely in conceptual knowledge. Be ready to learn throughout your entire life and to observe reality in yourself and in the world at all times.
  3. Do not force others, including children, by any means whatsoever, to adopt your views, whether by authority, threat, money, propaganda, or even education. However, through compassionate dialogue, help others renounce fanaticism and narrowness.
  4. Do not avoid contact with suffering or close your eyes before suffering. Do not lose awareness of the existence of suffering in the life of the world. Find ways to be with those who are suffering, including personal contact, visits, images, and sounds. By such means, awaken yourself and others to the reality of suffering in the world.

From “Interbeing: Fourteen Guidelines for Engaged Buddhism,” Revised edition: Oct. 1993 by Thich Nhat Hanh, published by Parallax Press, Berkeley, California.

Thank you very much,
Oscar Belaguer

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Climate Sangha with Michelle Stevens and Ruthy Ballard

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*  *  N O T I C E  *  *  *  The meeting in January will be held Wed, Jan 16 instead of Tues, Jan 22 .

Dear Climate Sangha members,

Michelle Stevens and I are busy finalizing plans for the next climate sangha meeting, which we will be leading in the absence of Ayya and Diane. The space-time coordinates are Wednesday January 16th 2019, 6:30-8:30 PM, Dharma Center (3111 Wissemann Dr, Sacramento, CA).

“Where Creativity and Buddhism Meet: Keeping a Practice of Hope Alive in an Era of Climate Change”

In this context, we define creativity in its broadest sense: any creative act (whether yours or someone else’s) that brings you hope as you navigate your grief, guilt, spinning thoughts (busy mind), anxiety, depression, etc. about climate change and the Anthropocene. Our intent is that the meeting be inclusive, upbeat, and inspirational. We’re hoping that many of you will bring something to share, though that part is optional (your body and spirit are plenty!) Given time constraints, plan on 3-5 minutes for sharing. If you need more time, please let me know (email me back at this address) and we’ll try to accommodate as best we can given the two hour time frame of the meeting. For those of you bringing visual art, we’ll take a break about halfway through the meeting for folks to walk around and appreciate it.

Here are some examples of creative products you can share (broad definition). This list will get your juices flowing, but is not meant to be “all inclusive.” You may have other ideas, and those are most welcome!

  • Vegan recipes or yummies (for the kitchen, we can pass them out as people leave)
    Political comment letters
    Sacred stones, runes, angel cards, etc
    Eco jewelry, tattoos…
    Poems
    Snippets of stories, memoirs
    Paintings, drawings, cartoons, sculpture…
    Music
    Fashion (external advertisement and expression of your eco values!)
    Dance, creative movement (e.g. yoga, tai chi, etc)
    Readings from your favorite authors

Get the idea? Sounds like fun, right?

We’ll have music stands (to serve as easels or to hold your music while you play) and a table for laying out items. If you want to bring copies of your offering to distribute, feel free. For example, you may have time to read only a few paragraphs of a memoir, but you can bring copies of the whole thing for folks to read on their own time.

We’re anticipating a wonderful evening. Together, let’s jump-start 2019 as the Turnaround Year for climate change! ????

Ruthy Ballard
Author, Artist, and Scientist

Typically meeting the 4th Tuesday of each month, the Sacramento Climate Sangha provides dharmic support and a refuge for exploration of our hopes and fears about climate change.

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