08/11/16: “Right Effort and Right Action” with Dennis Warren

The previous two talks (Jul 28, Aug 4) focused on Right Effort, or Energy, and the prominent role it plays in Buddhist practice. This talk has a focus on the important relationships between Right Effort or Energy, on the one hand, and Right Action on the other. Understanding these two different elements of practice; how they are similar; and how they are different is an important step in making them operational in daily life. This talk explores the meanings of Right Effort and Right Action, their role in practice and their place in Buddhist psychology.

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

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08/04/16: “Right Effort, Part 2” with Dennis Warren

Right Effort, or Energy, plays a prominent role in Buddhist practice. It is one of the “5 Spiritual Faculties”, one of the “7 Factors of Awakening”, one component of the “8 Fold Path”, and is a foundation for the “4 Foundations of Mindfulness.” It’s obviously pretty important for the Buddha to have included it as an element in all of these groupings of core spiritual tools.

This talk is a follow up to the initial discussion of Right Effort held July 28. We switch gears and look at Right Effort or Energy from a different perspective – as the application, monitoring, and adjustment of both physical and mental energy as the basic underpinning of all of our practice efforts.

In its most basic form, this involves non-conceptually figuring out, and using our effort to support, what works — what allows us to remain mindful and see into the nature and consequences of what is unfolding — in any moment of experience. In this sense, Right Effort’s contribution to helping us get free of suffering in our lives involves using it to stay focused on a particular way of investigating our experience and the nature of our lives. Understanding Effort in the context of meditative psychology, and how to use it as a reliable and practical tool in formal meditation practice, as well as daily life, is essential to developing, stabilizing, and maturing our practice.

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

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Dana Workday for the Sacramento Friends

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During this workday, SIM community members will do 4-5 hours of light landscaping work (weed pulling and pruning shrubs) on the grounds of the Sacramento Friends Meeting House. This workday is intended as dana (generosity) for the Sacramento Friends for the many years they have allowed our community to rent the Sacramento Friends Meeting House for our events.  Please ware long pants, long-sleeve shirts, and sturdy protective footwear.  RSVP is required to participate. Please contact SIM Board member James Barnes at james@sactoinsight.org for more information or to RSVP.

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07/28/16: “Right Effort, Part 1” with Dennis Warren

This talk has a focus on Right Effort and presents a model for understanding and working with this core practice that may be a little different than you have heard before. Drawing on a number of talks of the Historical Buddha and other teachers, Dennis explores a practical approach to jump starting your practice.

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

To listen to Part 2 of the series, click here.

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07/21/16: “Four Personality Types,” with Diane Wilde

Have you ever wondered why there are people who, though born in poverty and deprivation, yet managed to evolve as wise and compassionate people, seemingly content with very little, while others, born with privilege and wealth, seem to require more and more “stuff” and often succumb to cruel behavior towards themselves and others. The Buddha had something to say about these “four types of people” in the Tamonata Sutta:

“There are these four types of people to be found existing in the world. Which four? One in darkness who is headed for darkness, one in darkness who is headed for light, one in light who is headed for darkness, and one in light who is headed for light.” The Buddha did not speak in riddles. His teaching is clear and well-explained. Whenever he said something that people might not understand properly, he explained it immediately. What is darkness? What is brightness? How does one keep on running from one to the other?

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

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New Year’s Eve Day Retreat with SIM Founding Teacher Dennis Warren

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Finding Balance In The New America

The landscape of American society and politics is in the process of significant change. Many of us find this period of transition confusing, troubling, destabilizing. The future seems so uncertain. What do we do?

This one day retreat, with SIM’s Founding Teacher Dennis Warren, will end 2016, and begin 2017, with an exploration of how we cannot just survive, but engage and thrive in this new environment. It will take all of our dharmic skills, as well as our creativity, engagement and the support of our community. During this one day retreat, we’ll rest, practice together in silence, share our common distress, set a number of themes in a dharma talk, and work with questions and answers. An important part of the day will involve examining our common dilemma and looking at how we can mobilize our resources to take care of ourselves, our families, our community and our country in 2017. Bring a lunch and plan on staying on-site all day, including the lunch period.

Your RSVP will help our volunteers plan and setup the event space appropriately.

 Scroll down to RSVP to the event.
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Sitting and Dharma Reflection/Discussion with SIM Community Mentor, Rich Howard

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REFLECTION AT YEAR’S END:  THE PARAMIS

For SIM’s last Thursday gathering, we will take time to reflect quietly together on the past year in terms of the Paramis, those qualities that lead to peace when cultivated and perfected. Rather than evaluating or judging, we will then use this reflection to assess our strengths and weaknesses as a way of setting intentions for our practice in the coming New Year. Join the SIM community one last evening in 2016 for a time of silence, sharing, reflection, and community.

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Introduction to Meditation with SIM Founding Teacher, Dennis Warren

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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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Sit & Dharma Talk with SIM Founding Teacher, Dennis Warren

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Karma & Reincarnation from a Buddhist Perspective

Here’s the topic that so many Buddhists try to avoid – Karma & Reincarnation. Some claim – incorrectly – that the historical Buddha did not teach reincarnation. Others claim that you don’t need to know about these teachings or take them seriously to engage in conscious Buddhist practice. Others are just confused and want to avoid the whole topic. But this is an important topic, and one that needs to be thoughtfully and deeply considered if you take the Buddha’s teachings seriously.

What did the historical Buddha actually teach regarding karma & reincarnation? How do these teachings differ, if they do, from the teachings on the same subject by other major spiritual and religious traditions of the day? Why are the Buddha’s teachings on karma & reincarnation relevant to our daily spiritual lives today ?

This evening with SIM Founding Teacher, Dennis Warren, will explore these topics from both a short and long term perspective. As background for this evening, you may find it helpful to review Dennis’  November 17th presentation on “Change and Karma”.

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SIM Community Holiday Potluck

Every year, SIM holds a community potluck during the holidays. Your RSVP is requested as it will help us estimate the number of tables and chairs we’ll be setting up. Event details and the RSVP are posted on Eventbrite at https://simpotluck.eventbrite.com/.

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