May 22, 2025
@
7:00 pm
–
9:00 pm
PDT
Insight Meditation and Dharma Talk with SIM Community Teacher Rich Howard & SIM Community Member Sara Denzler
For biographical details of the teacher Rich Howard, click here.
* The teacher will present in-person at the Dharma Center.
Hybrid events can be attended via Zoom or onsite at the Sacramento Dharma Center.
The Fowler and the Quail: A Jataka Tale
The 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.
Offer a Teacher Donation
Rich Howard will receive at least 75% of your donation.
Use the following donate button and select Talk – May 22 Rich 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: 824 3438 6704 and Passcode: 244812)
For tips and instructions to join the meeting, click here to check this news blog.
(Hybrid) Sit & Dharma Talk – Rich Howard & Sara Denzler – The Fowler and the Quail: A Jataka Tale
Online Remote, Weekly MeditationMay 22, 2025 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm PDT
Insight Meditation and Dharma Talk with SIM Community Teacher Rich Howard & SIM Community Member Sara Denzler
For biographical details of the teacher Rich Howard, click here.
The Fowler and the Quail: A Jataka Tale
The 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.
Offer a Teacher Donation
Rich Howard will receive at least 75% of your donation.
Use the following donate button and select Talk – May 22 Rich 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: 824 3438 6704 and Passcode: 244812)
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 – JD Doyle – Reflections on Time and Timeless Awakening
Online Remote, Weekly MeditationMay 15, 2025 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm PDT
Insight Meditation and Dharma Talk with Visiting Teacher JD Doyle
For biographical details of the teacher JD Doyle, click here.
Reflections on Time and Timeless Awakening
We will look at the timeless nature of the Dharma, exploring the question ~ What if time is part of the root of suffering? We’ll look at the impact of attachment to schedules and productivity and some of the ways that Buddhist teachings challenge these conventional understandings. And how as we practice and see more clearly, we the possibility of liberation from suffering for ourselves and our communities deepen.
Offer a Teacher Donation
JD Doyle will receive at least 75% of your donation.
Use the following donate button and select Talk – May 15 JD 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: 824 3438 6704 and Passcode: 244812)
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 – Reflections on the Life of the Buddha – Vance Pryor
Online Remote, Weekly MeditationMay 8, 2025 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm PDT
Insight Meditation and Dharma Talk with SIM Teacher Vance Pryor
For biographical details of the teacher Vance Pryor, click here.
Offer a Teacher Donation
Vance Pryor will receive at least 75% of your donation.
Use the following donate button and select Talk – May 8 Vance 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: 824 3438 6704 and Passcode: 244812)
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 – Walt Opie – Falling in Love with Meditation Practice
Online Remote, Weekly MeditationApril 24, 2025 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm PDT
Insight Meditation and Dharma Talk with SIM Teacher Walt Opie
For biographical details of the teacher Walt Opie, click here.
Falling in Love with Meditation Practice
At some point, hopefully we begin to fall in love with meditation and the inherent wisdom we gain from this path of practice. This means we really make it a top priority, not because we “should” or think it’s a good idea, but because we start to see the tangible benefits manifesting in our life. We may also begin to get a sense of spiritual urgency or samvega. We understand that meditation can be a stable, reliable refuge for us even during the difficult times in our lives.
Offer a Teacher Donation
Walt Opie will receive at least 75% of your donation.
Use the following donate button and select Talk – Apr 24 Walt 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: 824 3438 6704 and Passcode: 244812)
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 – Tony Bernhard – The Skandhas and the Four Foundations of Mindfulness
Online Remote, Weekly MeditationMay 1, 2025 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm PDT
Insight Meditation and Dharma Talk with Visiting Teacher Tony Bernhard
For biographical details of the teacher Tony Bernhard, click here.
The Skandhas and the Four Foundations of Mindfulness
The skandhas and the four foundations of mindfulness map the same experiential territory. We’ll explore how seeing this can change our practice and point to a deeper understanding of not-self.
Offer a Teacher Donation
Tony Bernhard will receive at least 75% of your donation.
Use the following donate button and select Talk – May 1 Tony 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: 824 3438 6704 and Passcode: 244812)
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 – Diane Wilde – Moral Injury
Online Remote, Weekly MeditationApril 17, 2025 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm PDT
Insight Meditation and Dharma Talk with SIM Teacher Diane Wilde
For biographical details of the teacher Diane Wilde, click here.
Moral Injury
The times they are a-changing! This could be stated by every generation and each new epoch in our human and natural history. But the rapidity of cultural, political and environmental changes that are now taking place is unprecedented. Additionally, we now have “alternate” views of reality or what is “truth” — leading to confusion and anxiety. The individual, society and the earth herself are suffering from the abandonment of core values by individuals and members of society. The mental health world has a term for the psychological distress (dukkha), that takes place when our values are violated and/or discarded. It is called “Moral Injury”. How can Buddhist teachings and our practice help us right now in dealing with “Moral Injury?” Not an easy topic, but one that needs our attention.
Offer a Teacher Donation
Diane Wilde will receive at least 75% of your donation.
Use the following donate button and select Talk – Apr 17 Diane 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: 824 3438 6704 and Passcode: 244812)
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 – JD Doyle – Practicing with Fire
Online Remote, Weekly MeditationApril 10, 2025 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm PDT
Insight Meditation and Dharma Talk with Visiting Teacher JD Doyle
For biographical details of the teacher JD Doyle, click here.
Practicing with Fire
Reflections on the fire element, how it shows up in us and in society, and suggestions for practice.
Offer a Teacher Donation
JD Doyle will receive at least 75% of your donation.
Use the following donate button and select Talk – Apr 10 JD 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: 824 3438 6704 and Passcode: 244812)
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
2/27/2025 “Serenity & Insight” with Kodo Conlin
Audio DharmaEach moment, the mind takes on an attitude, perspective, or way of seeing. These perspectives will often color our vision such that reality is missed and we see everything through me-colored glasses. Tonight we will talk about skillful ways of regarding experience that support us to take off distorted lenses and see the world anew.
Beginning Meditation Course Starts April 2025
NewsGood news! Registration for the Spring course will open this upcoming Saturday, March 1, 2025. As a reminder, this will be a six-week hybrid course (in-person and/or on Zoom) taught by SIM Community Teachers Rich Howard, Sara Denzler, Vance Pryor, Diana Clark, and Walt Opie. The course will take place on Tuesday evenings (7PM-9PM) from April 29 through June 3, 2025, with a Daylong Retreat on Saturday, May 24th (8:30 AM – 4:30 PM).
This is a very popular course, and it will fill up fast…so please REGISTER if you are interested. For more information, visit (Hybrid) Beginning Meditation (6-week course):
2/20/2025 “Yearning for Peace” with Diana Clark
Audio DharmaAll of us wish to live in peace, yet we sometimes find ourselves in conflict with others. What can we learn from the Buddha’s teachings on how to effectively work with discord?