*Day-long Retreat with SIM Founding Teacher, Dennis Warren

Day-long Retreat with SIM Founding Teacher, Dennis Warren. For a biography of Dennis Warren, click here.

Attention & Mindful – An Exploration

Mindfulness is sometimes described as non-judgmental “bare” attention. As helpful as this general description may be, it tends to cloud the fact that there is a significant difference between attention and mindfulness. They play separate and distinct roles in practice. And, most importantly, it gives no hint of the reality that attention and mindfulness are both purposeful in Buddhist practice. In a period of time when both of these terms are been uncoupled from their historical Buddhist meanings, what do they mean for each of us as 21st century, urban practitioners?

This will be a day of practice, reflection, experimentation and investigation:

  •           What is the functional difference between attention and mindfulness?
  •           What are we supposed to be paying attention to and being mindful of?
  •           What does it mean that attention and mindfulness are purposeful in Buddhist practice?

What is the relationship between the answers to these questions and the underlying psychology of the historical Buddha?

We’ll practice together inside the dharma hall, and outside under the trees. The retreat format makes it appropriate for both experienced practitioners, and those new to practice.

Additional Dana

This is a donation for Mini-Retreat on Friday, Nov 15th.

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

Some of the earliest teachings in the Pali Canon may surprise you!

SIM Community Mentor Diane Wilde has undertaken three “study/meditation” retreats with Venerable Analayo, one of the premier scholars of the early Pali Canon.  Bhikkhu Analayo researches the earliest teachings and determines their authenticity by comparing them to the Chinese āgamas (brought to China 300 years after the Buddha’s death), as well as portions which have survived in Tibetan translation and in Sanskrit. The āgamas’ existence and similarity to the Sutta Pitaka are sometimes used by scholars to assess to what degree these teachings are an historically authentic representation of the Canon of Early Buddhism. Sometimes the differences between them are used to suggest an alternative to the accepted meaning of a sutta in either of the two recensions.  Bhikkhu Analayo is the first Westerner to translate many of these texts from the ancient Chinese.

At the Analayo retreat — held in April 2017 at Insight Retreat Center for teachers and senior practitioners —a wealth of information was offered. Topics included (but were definitely not limited to!) the early teachings on forgiveness, conceptual thinking, sickness and death (research derived from his new book, “Mindfully Facing Disease and Death”) and many other relevant topics for today’s practitioner. Community Mentor Diane Wilde will share what she learned at the retreat and the practical application of these teachings in everyday life.

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*Sit & Dharma Talk with SIM Founding Teacher Dennis Warren

Exploring Attachment and Its Consequences

All of us have some understanding of the Buddhist element of Attachment. This evening with SIM Founding Teacher Dennis Warren will involve a practical and in-depth exploration of Attachment; its role in Buddhist psychology; its place in the Buddhist description of causation; the phenomenon of “positive” attachment; and Attachment’s consequences, both intentional and unanticipated. 

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*Sit & Dharma Talk with Visiting Teacher, Heather Sundberg

Dancing with Uncertainty

Using a story from the elders as a center point, the teaching & practice will dance with the theme of being in wise & compassionate relationship with uncertainty – in our bodies, hearts, lives and wider world climate.

Because Heather doesn’t promise to record her teachings, best to come and join us if you want to experience them (smile).

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*Sit & Dharma Talk with Community Dharma Leader, Bruce Pardoe

The Practice of Stop, Drop, & Ask – with Community Dharma Leader Bruce Pardoe

Community Dharma Leader Bruce Pardoe will be with us this Thursday evening. He will talk on the practice of Stop, Drop and Ask. He will also lead a reflection on how wisdom and love are one.
Bruce has practiced Vipassana meditation for the past ten years including numerous 1, 2 & 3 month retreats at Insight Meditation Society and Spirit Rock. He has been on pilgrimage and practiced in Asia, and sat numerous extended solo retreats. All combined he has spent more than one and a half years in silence. He is a graduate of the Spirit Rock Dharma Leaders Program.
Bruce expresses his wonder for awakening and dharma in direct, joyous and experiential teachings. His focus on sensory feeling to convey wisdom derives from his years of Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement and Hakomi Body-Centered Psychotherapy experience. He also draws extensively upon his deep experience with both Advaita and the path of devotion to complement and enrich his offerings
Don’t miss this evening with our friend Bruce Pardoe.

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Introduction to Meditation with SIM Founding Teacher Dennis Warren

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.

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*Day-long Retreat on Earth Day with SIM Community Mentor, Rich Howard

Day-long Retreat on Earth Day with SIM Community Mentor, Rich Howard.

The Buddha touched the Earth as witness to his awakening. He encouraged meditating under trees. Our practice benefits ever-expanding circles of beings when we connect it to the Earth. In this daylong retreat on Earth Day, we will combine mindful discussion with silent practice, including outdoor awareness exercises, working with the Four Elements, and eating meditation. We will open to the grief and the joy of our current relationship with the Earth and all its inhabitants.

Bring a lunch and sun protection (hat and/or fragrance-free sunscreen). At the retreat and at the bottom of the webpage, participants will have an opportunity to offer monetary dana. All dana collected will be shared with One Earth Sangha, whose mission is “to bring the essential wisdom and practices from the Buddhist tradition to collective engagement on critical ecological crises.”

Additional Dana

“Generosity is the virtue that leads to peace.” – The Historical Buddha

If you’d like to provide additional Dana for this retreat beyond the registration fee, enter the amount you’d like to give. This donation will be shared with One Earth Sangha, whose mission is “to bring the essential wisdom and practices from the Buddhist tradition to collective engagement on critical ecological crises.”

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Questions for the Registrar?

Use the form below only if you need to contact the retreat registrar with any questions.

[contact-form to=’website@sactoinsight.org’ subject=’Question about April 22 Day-long Retreat’][contact-field label=’Name’ type=’name’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’Email’ type=’email’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’Comments/Questions’ type=’textarea’/][/contact-form]

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

Engaged and Aware: Finding a Balance

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

For many of us, commitment to justice and ethics leads us to engage in action in the real world. But our practice of meditative awareness calls us to “be” not just “do.” Are these impulses opposed to each other? Or are they mutually supportive? How can we sustain our engagement and connect our mindfulness to the suffering all around (and within!) us? Let’s explore the implications of bringing our practice into every day life. This evening will serve as a good preparation for SIM’s Earth Day Daylong Retreat on Saturday April 22.

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

“What About God?”  Part 2     –     Sit & Dharma Talk with Diane Wilde

“What About God” Part 1 addressed the Buddha’s perspective concerning god, which of course was strongly influenced by his own cultural imperatives.  Tonight we’ll begin the evening with a brief overview of how various contemporary teachers address this topic both personally and in their sanghas.  The remainder of the evening will be a community discussion on the topic.  Some of us incorporate “god” into our practice due to cultural mores or personal spiritual values. Others experience a sense of relief practicing a path which is non-theistic.  Please come and share your own perspective!  Should be an interesting discussion.

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*Sit & Dharma Talk with SIM Founding Teacher Dennis Warren

Forgetting  and Remembering

The original definition of Mindfulness contains the element of “remembering.” What does this mean? And why is it important? What are we “forgetting?”  What are we trying to “remember?” Does it mean remembering to engage in “moment-to-moment non-judgmental awareness”?  As difficult as it is to maintain such a state of mind, is that it? Is that all? Or is there more? Or is there much more?
Understanding these questions, and their answers, in the context of the historical Buddha’s teachings, is important to practicing well and developing a progressively maturing practice. Reflect on these questions and come prepared with your questions to supplement the talk and discussion.

Sitting and Dharma Talk, with Dennis Warren, SIM Founding Teacher

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