Buddhist Recovery Group

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Our Buddhist Recovery Group meets every Monday evening from 6:30 pm–8:00 pm at the Sacramento Dharma Center, 3111 Wissemann Drive, Sacramento, CA 95826 .

For additional information, visit the 12 Step Sangha page at https://sactoinsight.org/activities/practice-opportunities/12-step-sangha/

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Introduction to Meditation with SIM Community Mentor, Rich Howard

This 45-minute course is suitable for beginners or anyone who would like a refresher. It is offered on the fourth Thursday of every month before the regular sitting and dharma talk. There is no fee.

Introduction to Meditation with SIM Community Mentor, Rich Howard.

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*Day-long Retreat with SIM Community Mentor, Diane Wilde

“The most difficult person in your life is your best teacher…”  The Dalai Lama

Day-long Retreat with SIM Community Mentor, Diane Wilde. For a biography of Diane Wilde, click here.

Along with periods of walking and meditation, we will spend time investigating the “difficult person” in our lives through guided meditation and discussion.  When practicing metta (boundless friendliness), this person is traditionally defined as the “enemy.” Our goal with metta practice is to feel a sense of benevolence even to him or her!  Quite a goal and what a relief when it actually happens!
Please bring your lunch.

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*Sit & Dharma Discussion with SIM Community Mentor, Diane Wilde

What about God???

It seems appropriate to discuss god and its compatibility — or not — with the holiest seasons in the Judeo-Christian calendar approaching in April.  In the West, there is a widespread assumption that you can’t be a Buddhist and believe in a supreme being.
At prison, inmates — especially people who are new to the practice —frequently ask about Buddhism and its teachings on god.  Underlying this question is a concern about being cajoled to “convert to Buddhism.”  (As I have stated numerous times to inmates, the only conversion is the desire to investigate your own mind.) At SIM as well, practitioners often embrace the Buddha’s path and simultaneously maintain a strong allegiance to a belief system which defines “God” as the supreme being.  Tonight we will discuss the “gods” that were an important component of the Buddha’s culture, as well as the Buddha’s teachings on god. For many westerners, reconciling a belief in god while following the Buddha’s path of alleviating suffering can cause confusion. For others there is no problem at all, with a comfortable marrying of both.
Should make for a lively discussion!

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*Sit & Dharma Talk with SIM Community Mentor, Rich Howard

Four “Nobel” Truths: Bob Dylan’s Dharma

Sit & Dharma Talk with SIM Community Mentor, Rich Howard.

Bob Dylan received the 2016 Nobel Prize for Literature “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition.” His poetic song lyrics have an ambiguity that allows for many different interpretations. This Thursday night, “far between sundown’s finish an’ midnight’s broken toll,” we will re-visit one of the core teachings of the historical Buddha, through the lens of the words of a Jew who converted to Christianity. Even if Dylan did not have a Buddhist background like Leonard Cohen or Jane Hirshfield, we might learn something about the Four Noble Truths from the lyrics of this important American singer-songwriter-poet. Whether you are a big Dylan fan, or someone for whom he is ancient history from your grandparents’ time, or just one of the “searching ones, on their speechless, seeking trail,” join us for an evening of poetry, dharma, and discussion.

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*Sit & Dharma Talk with SIM Community Mentor, Diane Wilde

“I’m Right, you’re wrong… end of discussion”
Part 1 of Right View — the views we hold in everyday life

Sit & Dharma Talk with SIM Community Mentor, Diane Wilde. During this historic and volatile period in our nations’s history, it is helpful to return to the guidance provided by the basic principles of this practice — Right View or Wise View, “samma ditthi.”  All of us across the political and social spectrums are tenaciously cleaning to our views which we summarily declare as “truth.” Too often fear, anger, resentment and even hatred are propelling us in one direction or another.  If we take the time to take inventory, we might discover which closely-held views are wise and compassionate and which promote ignorance and cruelty.  Looking at these beliefs in our lives is practicing Skillful or Wise View in daily life. Clearly seeing how things are is a formidable task, yet this is what is asked of us if we truly desire to decrease, and hopefully eliminate, suffering in our lives.

We will leave time to discuss the views in our own lives and how they enhance or promote suffering.

Part 2 of Right View on March 30 will investigate the “enlightened” state of not clinging to a view.   What does that really mean?  Is this possible, or even desirable, in today’s world?

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*Sit & Dharma Talk with SIM Founding Teacher Dennis Warren

Revisiting the Meaning, Benefits & Risks of Suffering

We talk so much about “suffering” in Buddhist practice, we sometimes lost touch with the original meaning of suffering found in the historical Buddha’s teaching. Instead, we turn we slide into a western psychological meaning. And we also lose touch with the tangible benefits and the clear risks or dangers of suffering.
This evening with SIM Founding Teacher, Dennis Warren, will explore the meaning, benefits and risks of suffering from a Buddhist perspective. It will extend a number of the principles outlined in Dennis’s talk on February 16th. You may want to review that talk as a way of preparing for this evening.
Come prepared with your questions on these topics to supplement the talk and discussion with SIM’s Founding Teacher Dennis Warren.

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*Sit & Dharma Talk with SIM Community Mentor, Rich Howard

Uncertainty and Doubt

We may come to practice in search of clear answers, but as practice matures, we become more comfortable with uncertainty and ambiguity. Suzuki Roshi wrote, “In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s mind there are few. ” Maintaining this “beginner’s mind” keeps practice fresh and opens the mind to surprising insights. Too much uncertainty and ambiguity may lead to doubt. Let’s explore this rich territory together and see what it means for our formal and daily practice. Bring your experiences with uncertainty and doubt for sharing with the community.

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10/20/2016 “Change and Adapting to Change” with Dennis Warren

Change and Adapting to Change

While change is inevitable in our lives, the appearance of things remaining the same seems to be the constant focus of our attention. Many, if not most, of our decisions are based on an assumption – the assumption that things will remain as they are. Why do our minds do this?

This evening with SIM’s Founding Teacher will explore the nature of change and adapting to change from the perspective of Buddhist psychology and practice. What are the conditions, mind states, and attitudes that allow us to adapt to change with a sense of ease, acceptable and equanimity? And which hinder or act as obstacles to it?

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

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February Instructor Schedule Posted

The SIM Calendar now includes the instructor schedule for February.

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