Every year, Sacramento Insight Meditation (SIM) hosts a community potluck during the holidays. This event is open to the general dharma community.
Savory or Sweet, bring a dish to share (6-8 Servings). In SIM’s tradition please bring your own plate, cup, utensils and as we attempt to go paperless, cloth napkins. Again this year we will need a few people to bring table cloth(s) and holiday decor! We will be setting up our Holiday Feast starting from 6:30 PM, and planning to eat at 7PM.
A Unique Opportunity to Visit and Share
All are invited to come celebrate the holidays with our sangha, as we eat together and enjoy each other’s company. Come and visit with your SIM friends, acquaintances and dharma communities. This evening is a fun and joyful way for us to spend time getting to know one another better. It’s a wonderful opportunity to make new friends.
This evening will be what we make of it.
There will not be a Dharma talk. Instead, as we’ve done in years past, people are invited to share of themselves. We all have something to give – our personal dana – a poem, a reading, a story, a song, a dance, a picture – whatever comes from the heart, in the spirit of the holidays. It does not have to be original. For sharing your personal dana, be mindful of the time, 4-6 minutes, so that everyone who wants to can have the opportunity to participate. To sign up for sharing your personal dana, or to learn more about it, contact Linda Franklin by email or phone (530) 902-1364 or complete this online form.
Tell us if you’re Going or Not Going
For the potluck, your RSVP is requested as it will help us estimate the number of tables and chairs we’ll be setting up. At the bottom of this webpage, enter the number of people planning to attend, select the button Confirm RSVP and then pick “Going” or “Not Going”.
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.
Community Evening
Weekly MeditationAs we approach the end of the year, SIM Mentor Rich Howard and SIM Board Member Cathy Vigran will host an evening of community discussion. We will invite participants to review their practice over the past year in terms of the “Three Pillars”: generosity, ethical living, and training the mind (dana-sila-bhavana). We will also encourage folks to share what SIM can do to support their aspirations for practice. Come prepared to speak from the heart and listen mindfully.
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.
SIM Community Holiday Potluck
NewsEvery year, Sacramento Insight Meditation (SIM) hosts a community potluck during the holidays. This event is open to the general dharma community.
Savory or Sweet, bring a dish to share (6-8 Servings). In SIM’s tradition please bring your own plate, cup, utensils and as we attempt to go paperless, cloth napkins. Again this year we will need a few people to bring table cloth(s) and holiday decor! We will be setting up our Holiday Feast starting from 6:30 PM, and planning to eat at 7PM.
A Unique Opportunity to Visit and Share
All are invited to come celebrate the holidays with our sangha, as we eat together and enjoy each other’s company. Come and visit with your SIM friends, acquaintances and dharma communities. This evening is a fun and joyful way for us to spend time getting to know one another better. It’s a wonderful opportunity to make new friends.
This evening will be what we make of it.
There will not be a Dharma talk. Instead, as we’ve done in years past, people are invited to share of themselves. We all have something to give – our personal dana – a poem, a reading, a story, a song, a dance, a picture – whatever comes from the heart, in the spirit of the holidays. It does not have to be original. For sharing your personal dana, be mindful of the time, 4-6 minutes, so that everyone who wants to can have the opportunity to participate. To sign up for sharing your personal dana, or to learn more about it, contact Linda Franklin by email or phone (530) 902-1364 or complete this online form.
Tell us if you’re Going or Not Going
For the potluck, your RSVP is requested as it will help us estimate the number of tables and chairs we’ll be setting up. At the bottom of this webpage, enter the number of people planning to attend, select the button Confirm RSVP and then pick “Going” or “Not Going”.
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 – Heather Sundberg – Deeper Refuge: What Does It Really Mean to Be ‘All Right’?
Weekly MeditationDeeper Refuge: What Does It Really Mean to Be ‘All Right’?
Sit & Dharma Talk with Visiting Senior Teacher, Heather Sundberg
This Talk is based on some poetry from a Bob Dylan song which someone sent Heather recently, and she has been reflecting on this question from a dharma perspective ever since. Teachings & short experiential practices include the 4 Noble Truths, mindfulness of the body, heart practices & how to recognize & release reactive thoughts & stories which limit our access to a deeper sense of Refuge. As Heather generally does not record these days, you have to be present at the sitting group to hear her teachings. See you there!
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.
Celebration with Cake and Tea
NewsAlong with the dharma talk tonight, we’ll be adding in a celebration. For details, click here.
Buddhist Recovery Group
Buddhist Recovery GroupOur Buddhist Recovery Group meets every Monday evening. For additional information, visit the 12 Step Sangha page at https://sactoinsight.org/activities/practice-opportunities/12-step-sangha/
Buddhist Recovery Group
Buddhist Recovery GroupOur Buddhist Recovery Group meets every Monday evening. For additional information, visit the 12 Step Sangha page at https://sactoinsight.org/activities/practice-opportunities/12-step-sangha/
Buddhist Recovery Group
Buddhist Recovery GroupOur Buddhist Recovery Group meets every Monday evening. For additional information, visit the 12 Step Sangha page at https://sactoinsight.org/activities/practice-opportunities/12-step-sangha/
SKIPPED MEETING – Buddhist Recovery Group
Buddhist Recovery GroupAttention
The Monday night Recovery Sangha will not be meeting on Labor Day evening, Monday September 4th. The group has been meeting on all the other holidays, but not this one this year.
08/03/17 “In the Buddha’s Words: Approaching the Dhamma – Part 2” with Rich Howard
Audio DharmaIn the Buddha’s Words: Approaching the Dhamma – Part 2
(You can listen to a recording of Part 1 here: July 13th Audio Dharma post)
“It is fitting for you to be perplexed, O Kalamas.” These words spoken by the Buddha to the citizens of Kesaputta ring true for us today. How do we approach the teachings of the Buddha, when there are so many competing spiritual, philosophical, and secular teachings, so many schools of Buddhism, and so many interpretations and teachers even within our own Insight (vipassana) tradition?
This evening, we will continue our exploration of Chapter III, Approaching the Dhamma, from In the Buddha’s Words, edited by Bhikkhu Bodhi. On July 13, we discussed the most familiar part of the Buddha’s teaching to the Kalamas (AN 3:65), a list of the 10 things one should not rely on to decide which teachings to follow. This time, we will look at Bhikkhu Bodhi’s point of view on the context for this first part of the Kalama Sutta. We will then move on to lesser known aspects of the sutta, including how to practice and what benefits result from the practice. If there is time, we will explore when, if ever, we might arrive at a place in our practice where we might accept teachings beyond the range of our personal experience. We will also look at the brief two paragraphs presented as the first text in this section. To prepare for this evening, please read the Introduction to Chapter III starting on page 81 through the first incomplete paragraph at the top of page 86, and texts III,1 and III,2 (pages 88-91). If you do not have the book yet, here are some alternative citations from accesstoinsight.org:
If you would like to download this talk, please right click and select “save as” here.
Daylong Retreat with SIM Founding Teacher, Dennis Warren
RetreatResting In Awareness and Experience
A One Day Retreat with SIM’s Founding Teacher Dennis Warren
At the center of long term practice is the ability to rest, to abide, in awareness. Practice becomes a refuge, a comfort, a self-restoring experience when we learn this skill, even when challenges are present. This will be a day of examining the fundamentals and practices that allow us to abide and rest into our experiences. It will involve be a combination of examination, reflection and guided experimentation. You will find something helpful during this day whatever your level of experience and practice.
Please plan on staying on-site during the day, including bringing your own lunch.
Registration Details
Pre-registration is required to secure your space at the retreat. 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. In addition to the registration fee, at the retreat there will be an opportunity to offer dana (in the form of a financial donation) to support the retreat presenter and Sacramento Insight Meditation.
For the registration fee, we accept credit cards, 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.
Summary of Important Dates
Questions for the Registrar?
Use the form below only if you need to contact the retreat registrar with any questions. Expect a reply within 48 hours.
[contact-form to=’website@sactoinsight.org, barbbsim@gmail.com’ subject=’Question about November Daylong Retreat ({name})’][contact-field label=’Name’ type=’name’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’Email’ type=’email’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’Comments/Questions’ type=’textarea’/][contact-field label=’Yes, subscribe me to the eNews.’ type=’checkbox’/][/contact-form]
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 mention this in the comments of contact information form shown above.