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SIM meets online and in-person at the Sacramento Dharma Center
What is Dana?
Dana is a Buddhist word that means generosity or heart. Nearly all Sacramento Insight Meditation activities are offered on a dana (donations) basis. This means our programs 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. Practice dana, please support our Sangha. DONATE NOW
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
Sacramento Dharma Center Building
Sacramento, CA 95826 United States + Google Map
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
Sacramento Dharma Center Building
Sacramento, CA 95826 United States + Google Map
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
Sacramento Dharma Center Building
Sacramento, CA 95826 United States + Google Map
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.
6/5/2025 “Trying to Make Change in the World” with Seth Castleman
Audio DharmaHow contemplative practice and non-violence approaches can bring about transformation, not just internally but in the world at large.
We’re Almost There — Pledge Campaign
NewsWe’re Almost There—Let’s Finish Strong!
Thanks to your incredible generosity, we’ve already raised 92% of our goal for Rooted in the Dharma: Creating the Future Together. Your support is helping bring SIM’s Five-Year Plan to life by expanding our teachings, supporting leadership, and strengthening our community and infrastructure.
We’re just $13,350 away from fully funding this vision.
If you haven’t had a chance to give yet, we invite you to help us close the gap this week. Even small gifts make a big difference.
Whether you’re able to give $10 or $100, your support matters. Every offering helps SIM grow into a vibrant future rooted in the Dharma.
Let’s turn this shared aspiration into a lasting reality.
To Make a Pledge
5/29/2025 “When the Heart Sees Clearly” with Diana Clark
Audio DharmaIt’s not uncommon to think of insight as cool clarity, but its deepest power may arise through the warmth of the heart.
5/22/2025 “The Fowler and the Quail: A Jataka Tale” with Rich Howard & Sara Denzler
Audio DharmaThe Jataka Tales are stories of the past lives of the Buddha. More importantly for our purposes, they are teaching lessons about the qualities of heart and mind to be developed if we want to get free from the grips of greed, aversion, and delusion. For this evening’s presentation, Rich will read Jataka 33, the Sammodamana Jataka. We will then break into small groups (both in person and on Zoom) to discuss the lessons we can find from this simple story. Then Sara will read it again, and the discussion groups will meet again to see what new insights arose from hearing the Tale a second time. We will close the evening by sharing with the large group. Join us for an evening of learning in community.