Sit & Dharma Talk with SIM Community Mentor, Diane Wilde

When Meditation is Not Enough

After several years of teaching and practicing meditation, many of us have found that meditation on its own is not enough. While we may enjoy our times of silence, we find our times off the cushion, “in real life” are challenging and often painful. We might reflect, “What else can I do? What’s missing?” The Buddha’s approach to alleviating suffering begins with mindfulness of conduct, and this component of our practice is generally ignored by most meditators. There is a tendency in the West to dismiss virtue as simple Sunday-school type rules which no longer apply to our modern sensibilities. Yet the Five Training Precepts are part of a fundamental course of therapy for wounded minds. In particular, they are aimed at curing two ailments that underlie low self-esteem: regret and denial. We will discuss how to make the Five Training Precepts an integrated, and perhaps primary focus of our practice.

June 2, 2016/by James Barnes

Day-long Retreat “Mobilizing Our Resources” with SIM Founding Teacher, Dennis Warren

News, Retreat

Saturday, May 28, 2016 – 8:30-4:30 pm. One Day Retreat. MOVING TO THE NEW DHARMA CENTER – REFLECTING ON WHO WE ARE, WHO WE CAN BE, AND NEW DHARMA RELATIONSHIPS – with SIM FOUNDING TEACHER DENNIS WARREN

This one day will explore our move to the new Sacramento Dharma Center in the coming months. It will be a combination retreat, reflection and workshop for anyone interested in SIM’s future; and learning about and being involved in preparing for the move to a new Dharma Center.

It is important to recognize that preparation for the move involves both our community as a whole, and each of us individually. This move represents a significant transition for SIM’s 14 year history and for each of us as individual practitioners.

What are the challenges – for our community and each of us personally – in moving to a new Dharma Center? What are the opportunities? How will SIM maintain its unique identity when living so closely with two other Buddhist communities? How can SIM members contribute to making this move and transition in SIM’s history a smooth one?

Pre-registration is required, although there is no cost to attend. Register by sending an email to Dennis, dwwotp@gmail.com , indicating your intention to attend. You’ll receive a confirmation and a number of issues to reflect upon prior to the 28th.

The day will begin at 8:30 am and end at 4:30 pm at the Friends Meetinghouse at 890 57th Street. Bring your own lunch and plan on staying on-site during the lunch hour

May 28, 2016/by James Barnes

Introduction to Meditation with SIM Founding Teacher, Dennis Warren

Meditation Course, News

This 45-minute introductory 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.

May 26, 2016/by James Barnes

Sit & Dharma Talk with SIM Founding Teacher, Dennis Warren

News, Weekly Meditation

“WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF LIVING THE CONTEMPLATIVE LIFE?” – with SIM FOUNDING TEACHER DENNIS WARREN – THURSDAY, May 26, 2016 – 7:00-9:15 PM

“What is the benefit of living the contemplative life?”

This is the question put to the historical Buddha by King Ajatasattu. The dialogue that continues is one of the most comprehensive and eloquent presentation of the Buddha regarding his teachings; a comparison of his teaching to the other major spiritual and philosophical theories of the time; the original Sangha’s code of ethics; the Buddha’s own lifestyle, and more.

The Samannaphala Sutta is consider one of the most useful and helpful discourses of the Buddha. The question “What is the benefit of living the contemplative life?” is as relevant to all of us today as it was in the time of King Ajatasattu. Ajatasattu was a layman who become a devoted follower of the Buddha after this encounter and sponsored the First Buddhist Council.

The evening will explore the specifics of this sutta and how they have direct application to our practice and daily life today in an urban setting. This will be the first in a series of two or three talks Dennis will give based on this sutta.

Dennis believes that the key question in this sutta, and the Buddha’s answers, are particularly timely because of our move to a new and permanent home in the coming months in the Sacramento Dharma Center. Dennis will discuss this and the one day retreat he will lead this coming Saturday, May 28, exploring the present and future SIM and the move to our new home.

This event will begin at 700 pm at Sacramento Friends Meetinghouse, 890 57th Street.

May 26, 2016/by James Barnes