11/14/2024 “The Courage to Be Vulnerable” with Diane Wilde

To download this talk, right-click and select ‘save audio as’ or select the 3-dot menu to the right of the speaker icon.

Vulnerability is a scary word.  We believe that if we become vulnerable, we will lose control of the narrative that has defined ourselves, our judgements… our control over our lives. Our stories have defined us, yet we rarely ask if these stories are helpful or even true. Practicing mindfulness on the cushion and daily life could also be defined as learning to become vulnerable. The result of having the courage to be vulnerable allows genuine joy, contentment and ease to arise. 
Tonight we will briefly summarize four practices that allow vulnerability to arise. The upcoming mini-retreat will go into much greater detail about meditation methods and daily practices which foster and support these four special qualities of mind and heart… letting go/forgiveness, gratitude, boundless friendliness and equanimity.

/by

(Hybrid) Daylong Retreat – Heather Sundberg – Awakened Awareness Releases Reactivity

,
Hybrid Hybrid Event

January 25, 2025 @ 10:00 am – 3:30 pm PST

Daylong Retreat with Visiting Teacher Heather Sundberg

For biographical details of the teacher Heather Sundberg, click here.

Retreat Theme

Awakened Awareness Releases Reactivity
Deepening our connection with Refuge through accessing Awareness, ‘that which knows’ the experience of being human in this world is an important development on the spiritual path.  In this daylong we will cultivate the qualities of Spaciousness, Presence and Equanimity to support the clear seeing and  transformation of the internal Reactive Patterns, which run our mind and lives when we are unaware of them.  The teachings will come from the Buddha’s Fire Sermon as well as the Thai forest tradition. 
Enjoy a day of quiet sitting and walking meditation, which allow our body & mind to settle down and our hearts to open to an inner wisdom. In addition to insight meditation practice, Heather will offer teachings & guided meditations on the theme, as well as discussion about how to live these teachings in our daily lives.
In this daylong retreat, we will:

  • Deepen inner Resiliency through somatic practices.
  • Open the mind & heart to our natural capacity to be Aware and have a Wiser more Spacious perspective in our lives.
  • Use the power of Spacious Awareness to identify and transform Reactivity patterns in our system.
About This Hybrid Retreat
  • The teacher will present remotely via Zoom. Participants may attend this Hybrid event via Zoom or in-person at the SDC.
  • Pre-registration is required and we recommend you pay the registration fee in advance using the registration button shown below. Since your registration choice indicates if you’ll be attending via Zoom or in-person, registering early helps us determine how many people the meditation room should accommodate.
  • After you’ve registered you may later offer a donation in gratitude of the teacher. To offer teacher dana, visit https://sactoinsight.org/retreat-dana-online/.
Summary of Important Dates
  • 01/02/2025 – Registration opens.
  • 01/25/2025 – Attend and enjoy the wonderful retreat.
  • 01/25/2025 – For registration after the retreat, send a message to the registrar to arrange payment.
Registration (opens Jan 2)

After registration opens you’ll be able to select one of the following registration “ATTEND” buttons to indicate if you’ll be attending via Zoom or in-person. The fee is $25.00 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 $35 or $50 dollars. For the registration fee, we also accept personal checks. No one will be turned away for lack of funds; please contact the registrar for more information.


Before registering for this event, please click here to review SIM’s Registration Refund Policy.

Questions for the Registrar?

If you need to contact the retreat registrar with any questions, click here.

Teacher Dana

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. To make a donation for this event using a credit card or PayPal account, click here to DONATE ONLINE.

How to Attend Remotely via Zoom
  • The link to attend the retreat via Zoom appears in three places: The Zoom link is on this page – select the button “Join Retreat Online” to connect to the meeting.
  • The Zoom link is included in the automated email sent with your “Attend on Zoom” registration.
  • The Zoom link is https://joinconferencing.zoom.us/join, with Meeting ID: to be announced and Passcode:  to be announced

Hybrid (in-person and online)

3111 Wissemann Drive (or *ZOOM)
Sacramento, CA 95826 United States
/by

11/7/2024 “Lessons from the Last Days of the Buddha” with Walt Opie

To download this talk, right-click and select ‘save audio as’ or select the 3-dot menu to the right of the speaker icon.

In the Maha-parinibbana Sutta, we learn what occurred during the last few months of the Buddha’s life. We will explore a few episodes from this sutta and examine some of the Buddha’s compassionate teachings during this poignant time leading up to his death. 

/by

Holiday Fundraiser – Adopt a Family

SIM once again is participating in the Saint John’s Adopt-A-Family Program this holiday season. We have a goal of $600 to purchase gifts for a family of four to five people. Help us bring joy to the women and children who are striving for a brighter future. Any money beyond what is needed for the holiday gifts will go to SIM to pay for the St. John’s monthly meal expenses. Each month SIM sponsors a dinner for the residents of St. John’s. Volunteers purchase the groceries, cook, and serve a meal of meatloaf, broccoli, rice, salad, and clementines for 80+ people. This meal costs around $300 each month. We need your help to continue this long-standing tradition that is much appreciated by all who partake in it.

Since 1985, Saint John’s Program for Real Change has supported more than 30,000 formerly homeless women and children, providing them with the essential tools and knowledge to change the trajectory of their lives.

To make a general donation to Sacramento Insight Meditation, click here.

/by

10/31/2024 “Dharmette: Equanimity” with Rich Howard

To download this talk, right-click and select ‘save audio as’ or select the 3-dot menu to the right of the speaker icon.

EQUANIMITY PHRASES from SIM Senior Teacher John Travis:

May I accept things as they are.
May I remain in peace, and let go of expectations.
May I find the inner resources to remain present and be kind to myself and others.
May I see my limits compassionately, just as I see the limitations of others.
No matter how I might wish things could be otherwise, things are the way they are.
Whether I understand it or not, things are unfolding according to karma.
I wish you happiness and peace, but cannot make your choices for you.
I will care for you, but cannot keep you from suffering.
All beings are the owners of their own karma. Their happiness and unhappiness depend upon their actions, not my wishes for them.
Although I wish only the best for you, I know that your actions, not my wishes for you, will determine your happiness or unhappiness.
I care about your pain, but cannot control or eliminate it.
May I offer love, knowing I cannot control the course of your life, suffering or death.
May I offer my care and presence without conditions, knowing they may be met by anger, gratitude or indifference.

Equanimity Phrases (PDF)Download

/by

SIM Community Night 10/31/24

Dear Friends,

Come join us on October 31st (7 PM – 9 PM) for a Community Night facilitated by Rich Howard. It will feature a sit, a dharmette on the theme of equanimity, and small group discussions in the first hour. The second hour will be for socializing with our community.
With the election coming up, anxiety levels may be high. We won’t be talking politics, but we’ll focus on how we use our practice to deal with the election and other world events.
In the spirit of Halloween and to have some fun, we are encouraging everyone to come in costume. Don’t worry, you won’t be alone, several board members and faculty will be in costume. Let’s have some fun together and support one another during this pre-election period.
Bring a treat to share. No tricks!

With Metta,

SIM Board and Faculty

/by

10/24/2024 “Big Mind” with Seth Castleman

To download this talk, right-click and select ‘save audio as’ or select the 3-dot menu to the right of the speaker icon.

/by

10/17/2024 “Lessons & Practices from the Traditional Model of Awakening” with Dennis Warren

To download this talk, right-click and select ‘save audio as’ or select the 3-dot menu to the right of the speaker icon.

Awakening, or Enlightenment, is considered the point of liberation when a practitioner exits the Wheel of Suffering associated with daily life. The biographies of those who practiced directly with the Historical Buddha are filled with stories of Awakening and Enlightenment…while meditating, listening to a dharma talk, during the course of daily monastic life.
It’s reasonable to ask if this profound notion of liberation – where the mind is purified of all obstacles, limitations and suffering – is relevant and realistic today for the community practitioner?


This evening will explore the meaning and different models of Awakening or Enlightenment. It will examine a working model that may help us reframe our understanding and experience of this important potential in our lives, and provide for a more satisfying practice and life.

/by

10/10/2024 “The Story About Stories” with Diana Clark

To download this talk, right-click and select ‘save audio as’ or select the 3-dot menu to the right of the speaker icon.

Humans love stories. Part of the path of practice is to not only help us see the unspoken stories in our lives but also to help us discern whether they support greater freedom or not.

/by

10/3/2024 “Peacemaking, Outer and Inner” with Rich Howard

To download this talk, right-click and select ‘save audio as’ or select the 3-dot menu to the right of the speaker icon.

Humans long for peace in our lives and in our world. In our practice of boundless kindness (Metta in Pali), we say, “May you be peaceful.” So, what are the conditions that lead to peace in the outer and inner worlds? The Buddha counseled rulers about outer peace, and gave many instructions to practitioners about inner peace. We will examine these instructions and see how we might apply them to bring peace for ourselves, those around us, and our world. 

/by