August 7, 2025
@
7:00 pm
–
9:00 pm
PDT
Insight Meditation and Dharma Talk with SIM Community Presenter Jeff Hardin
For biographical details of the teacher Jeff Hardin, click here.
* The teacher will present remotely via Zoom.
Hybrid events can be attended via Zoom or onsite at the Sacramento Dharma Center.
Embodied Compassion: Loving Awareness of the Aging, Ailing, and Mortal Body
The Buddha named old age, sickness, and death as divine messengers—undeniable truths that call us to practice and open the path to awakening. In this Dharma talk, we will explore how embodied compassion can become a liberating practice as we face the realities of an impermanent and mortal body.
Drawing from the early teachings of the Buddha, guided reflections, and stories from Jeff’s work as a physician, we’ll investigate how cultivating kind and mindful awareness of the body can support insight, soften fear, open the heart, and deepen our capacity to meet life and death with wisdom and love. The evening will include a guided meditation, Dharma reflections, and time for discussion.
JEFF HARDIN has practiced meditation since 2000, with a foundation in daily mindfulness, metta, and concentration practices, sutta study, and Dharma service. He has accumulated over 500 days of intensive residential retreat practice. Jeff began teaching the Dharma in 2008 and previously served as a faculty mentor and instructor at Sacramento Insight Meditation (SIM). He is a graduate of Spirit Rock’s Community Dharma Leader training, the SIM Mentor Training Program, and the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teacher training.
Jeff is a co-founder of Insight World Aid, a nonprofit insight meditation community organization that offers compassionate service to individuals in need, both locally and internationally. He has also held leadership and volunteer roles in several Dharma communities, including SIM, the Sati Center for Buddhist Studies, and Verde Valley Insight Meditation Center.
His teaching emphasizes the early Buddhist suttas, embodied awareness, and meditative concentration. Jeff lives in Charlotte, NC with his wife and 3 cats and works as an integrative, preventative and holistic medicine physician.
Offer a Teacher Donation
Jeff Hardin will receive at least 75% of your donation.
Use the following donate button and select Talk – Aug 7 Jeff from the dropdown list.
JEFF HARDIN has practiced meditation since 2000, with a foundation in daily mindfulness, metta, and concentration practices, sutta study, and Dharma service. He has accumulated over 500 days of intensive residential retreat practice. Jeff began teaching the Dharma in 2008 and previously served as a faculty mentor and instructor at Sacramento Insight Meditation (SIM). He is a graduate of Spirit Rock’s Community Dharma Leader training, the SIM Mentor Training Program, and the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teacher training.
Jeff is a co-founder of Insight World Aid, a nonprofit insight meditation community organization that offers compassionate service to individuals in need, both locally and internationally. He has also held leadership and volunteer roles in several Dharma communities, including SIM, the Sati Center for Buddhist Studies, and Verde Valley Insight Meditation Center.
His teaching emphasizes the early Buddhist suttas, embodied awareness, and meditative concentration. Jeff lives in Charlotte, NC with his wife and 3 cats and works as an integrative, preventative and holistic medicine physician.
How to Attend Remotely
Join online meeting: https://zoom.us/join or join by phone at 1-669-900-6833
( Meeting ID: 846 4947 9345 and Passcode: 111759)
For tips and instructions to join the meeting, click here to check this news blog.
(Hybrid) Sit & Dharma Talk – Jeff Hardin – Embodied Compassion: Loving Awareness of the Aging, Ailing, and Mortal Body
Online Remote, Weekly MeditationAugust 7, 2025 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm PDT
Insight Meditation and Dharma Talk with SIM Community Presenter Jeff Hardin
For biographical details of the teacher Jeff Hardin, click here.
Embodied Compassion: Loving Awareness of the Aging, Ailing, and Mortal Body
The Buddha named old age, sickness, and death as divine messengers—undeniable truths that call us to practice and open the path to awakening. In this Dharma talk, we will explore how embodied compassion can become a liberating practice as we face the realities of an impermanent and mortal body.
Drawing from the early teachings of the Buddha, guided reflections, and stories from Jeff’s work as a physician, we’ll investigate how cultivating kind and mindful awareness of the body can support insight, soften fear, open the heart, and deepen our capacity to meet life and death with wisdom and love. The evening will include a guided meditation, Dharma reflections, and time for discussion.
JEFF HARDIN has practiced meditation since 2000, with a foundation in daily mindfulness, metta, and concentration practices, sutta study, and Dharma service. He has accumulated over 500 days of intensive residential retreat practice. Jeff began teaching the Dharma in 2008 and previously served as a faculty mentor and instructor at Sacramento Insight Meditation (SIM). He is a graduate of Spirit Rock’s Community Dharma Leader training, the SIM Mentor Training Program, and the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teacher training.
Jeff is a co-founder of Insight World Aid, a nonprofit insight meditation community organization that offers compassionate service to individuals in need, both locally and internationally. He has also held leadership and volunteer roles in several Dharma communities, including SIM, the Sati Center for Buddhist Studies, and Verde Valley Insight Meditation Center.
His teaching emphasizes the early Buddhist suttas, embodied awareness, and meditative concentration. Jeff lives in Charlotte, NC with his wife and 3 cats and works as an integrative, preventative and holistic medicine physician.
Offer a Teacher Donation
Jeff Hardin will receive at least 75% of your donation.
Use the following donate button and select Talk – Aug 7 Jeff from the dropdown list.
JEFF HARDIN has practiced meditation since 2000, with a foundation in daily mindfulness, metta, and concentration practices, sutta study, and Dharma service. He has accumulated over 500 days of intensive residential retreat practice. Jeff began teaching the Dharma in 2008 and previously served as a faculty mentor and instructor at Sacramento Insight Meditation (SIM). He is a graduate of Spirit Rock’s Community Dharma Leader training, the SIM Mentor Training Program, and the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teacher training.
Jeff is a co-founder of Insight World Aid, a nonprofit insight meditation community organization that offers compassionate service to individuals in need, both locally and internationally. He has also held leadership and volunteer roles in several Dharma communities, including SIM, the Sati Center for Buddhist Studies, and Verde Valley Insight Meditation Center.
His teaching emphasizes the early Buddhist suttas, embodied awareness, and meditative concentration. Jeff lives in Charlotte, NC with his wife and 3 cats and works as an integrative, preventative and holistic medicine physician.
How to Attend Remotely
Join online meeting: https://zoom.us/join or join by phone at 1-669-900-6833
( Meeting ID: 846 4947 9345 and Passcode: 111759)
For tips and instructions to join the meeting, click here to check this news blog.
Hybrid (in-person and online)
Sacramento, CA 95826 United States
(Hybrid) Sit & Dharma Talk – Rick Maddock – How Practice Changes Us, with a View from the Brain
Online Remote, Weekly MeditationJuly 31, 2025 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm PDT
Insight Meditation and Dharma Talk with SIM Community Presenter Rick Maddock
For biographical details of the teacher Rick Maddock, click here.
How Practice Changes Us, with a View from the Brain
In his teaching on the four foundations of mindfulness, the Buddha describes beneficial changes that result from cultivating these practices. This talk will explore many of the ways the mind can be shaped or transformed by our practice, including findings from modern neuroscience that converge with what the Buddha taught.
Offer a Teacher Donation
Rick Maddock will pass any donations he receives to Sacramento Insight Meditation
Use the following donate button and select Talk – Jul 31 SIM from the dropdown list.
How to Attend Remotely
Join online meeting: https://zoom.us/join or join by phone at 1-669-900-6833
( Meeting ID: 846 4947 9345 and Passcode: 111759)
For tips and instructions to join the meeting, click here to check this news blog.
Hybrid (in-person and online)
Sacramento, CA 95826 United States
(Hybrid) Sit & Dharma Talk – Seth Castlemen – Working with Fear and Anxiety
Online Remote, Weekly MeditationJuly 24, 2025 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm PDT
Insight Meditation and Dharma Talk with Visiting Teacher Seth Castleman
For biographical details of the teacher Seth Castleman, click here.
Working with Fear and Anxiety
The dharma has much to teach us on how to work with the “afflictive emotions.” While fear and anxiety are a natural response to danger, they are often rooted in a misinterpretation of reality and become a habitual reaction. With practice, we can cultivate a more wholesome and healthy response, becoming more effective in managing the challenges we face, individually and collectively.
Offer a Teacher Donation
Seth Castleman will receive at least 75% of your donation.
Use the following donate button and select Talk – Jul 12 Seth from the dropdown list.
How to Attend Remotely
Join online meeting: https://zoom.us/join or join by phone at 1-669-900-6833
( Meeting ID: 846 4947 9345 and Passcode: 111759)
For tips and instructions to join the meeting, click here to check this news blog.
Hybrid (in-person and online)
Sacramento, CA 95826 United States
Join Us for a SIM Community Event – July 17
NewsRooted in the Dharma: A Celebration of Generosity
Join us for a special evening of community and celebration as we mark the success of our Five-Year Pledge Campaign and look ahead to the opportunities unfolding in our sangha.
SIM Board of Directors Meeting
Board MeetingSeptember 8, 2025 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm PDT
The SIM Board of Directors meets every month and all are welcome. If you can’t attend this meeting, please join us for one of our other up-coming meetings. For details on contacting any of the board members, click here.
President Board of Directors
AmyK@sactoinsight.org
Hybrid (in-person and online)
Sacramento, CA 95826 United States
SIM Board of Directors Meeting
Board MeetingAugust 11, 2025 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm PDT
The SIM Board of Directors meets every month and all are welcome. If you can’t attend this meeting, please join us for one of our other up-coming meetings. For details on contacting any of the board members, click here.
President Board of Directors
AmyK@sactoinsight.org
Hybrid (in-person and online)
Sacramento, CA 95826 United States
SIM Board of Directors Meeting
Board MeetingJuly 8, 2025 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm PDT
The SIM Board of Directors meets every month and all are welcome. If you can’t attend this meeting, please join us for one of our other up-coming meetings. For details on contacting any of the board members, click here.
President Board of Directors
AmyK@sactoinsight.org
Hybrid (in-person and online)
Sacramento, CA 95826 United States
6/19/2025 “On Thought and Thinking” with Dennis Warren
Audio DharmaMany practitioners relate to thought and thinking as obstacles to meditation and daily life practice. This evening, in contrast, will explore the Historical Buddha’s teachings that thought and thinking can be functions of wisdom.
The Buddha’s vision emphasizes the qualities of intention and discernment in thinking as guides for creating, and testing, a sound conceptual framework for practice. This approach includes mindful and intuitive reflection on the results or outcomes of one’s efforts. Thinking and thought can become powerful tools for developing clarity, deepening insight, and supporting ethical conduct.
With Deep Gratitude – Celebrating Our Pledge Campaign Success
NewsDear Friends,
We’re thrilled to share the incredible success of our pledge campaign.
A heartfelt thank you to the 34 generous donors who have pledged a total of $32,750 annually—bringing us to an astounding $163,750 over the next five years. That’s 99% of our $165,000 goal! What we’ve achieved together is truly something to celebrate.
This extraordinary outcome reflects the strength of our community and the deep commitment we all share to SIM’s future. Your support ensures that our vision is not just a dream, but a living reality for years to come.
As we conclude the active phase of the campaign, please know the pledge form will remain open. If you’d still like to join in or adjust your existing pledge, you’re always welcome to do so.
With deep gratitude and joy,
Amy Kovak
On behalf of the SIM Board
To Make a Pledge
6/12/2025 “Understanding The Four Noble Truths” with Walt Opie
Audio DharmaAccording to Bhikkhu Bodhi, it is said that “the purpose of the Buddha’s appearance in the world… is to proclaim the four noble truths.” This was also the Buddha’s very first teaching where he “set in motion the wheel of the dhamma.”
We will explore these four truths of suffering, the origin of suffering, the cessation of suffering and the way leading to the cessation of suffering, and see how they can apply to modern life.