2/6/2025 “The Art of Being Wrong” 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.

Be honest.  How well do you accept criticism or an admonishment?  What is your response when an action you have taken, or a view you hold is challenged by another?  or corrected? Have you ever investigated your physical and mental response when you have been in this situation? 

According to Buddhist philosophy, a critique of an action or belief which is contrary to your own could be of strategic benefit to you… if you are able to hear it. One of the Buddha’s most well-known senior monks, Mahamoggallana, offered guidance on this subject — enumerating the qualities of someone who can and cannot be admonished. Equally important, how do we effectively offer another person a differing —and often challenging — point of view or advice. Will we endanger our relationship? Mahamoggallana’s reflections are as relevant today as they were 2,600 years ago.

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(Onsite) Daylong Retreat with Rich Howard – Awareness of Presence and Absence

March 29, 2025 @ 9:00 am – 3:00 pm PDT

Daylong Retreat with SIM Community Teacher Rich Howard

For biographical details of the teacher Rich Howard, click here.

Retreat Theme

Awareness of Presence and Absence
In these challenging and uncertain times, our practice of awareness can benefit us greatly. Being aware of our state of mind, we are less likely to react unconsciously when things don’t go our way. While we may be familiar with noticing what is present, the historical Buddha instructed us in the Satipatthana Siutta section on “mindfulness of mind” (cittanupassana) to be aware also of what is absent: “ It’s when a [practitioner] understands mind with greed as ‘mind with greed,’ and mind without greed as ‘mind without greed.’ They understand mind with hate as ‘mind with hate,’ and mind without hate as ‘mind without hate.’ They understand mind with delusion as ‘mind with delusion,’ and mind without delusion as ‘mind without delusion.’ etc.” In this daylong retreat, we will explore awareness in the style of Sayadaw U Tejaniya, with short instructional talks from Rich and ample opportunity for loosely structured sitting and walking practice, as well as question/response periods.

Plan to bring a lunch and stay all day. The intention for the day is to leave participants with confidence in there ability to bring awareness into diverse situations in this world, right now. 

About This Onsite Retreat
  • This is an IN-PERSON event only.
  • Pre-registration is required and we recommend you pay the registration fee in advance using the registration button shown below. 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
  • 02/03/2025 – Registration opens.
  • 03/29/2025 – Attend and enjoy the wonderful retreat.
  • 03/29/2025 – For registration after the retreat, send a message to the registrar to arrange payment.
Registration
$25 – $50 Registration Fee

Select the following registration “ATTEND” button to indicate that you’ll be attending 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.

NOTE: After payment the registrar will confirm your registration within 48 hours. Thanks for your patience.

ATTEND In-person
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.

Sacramento Dharma Center Building

3111 Wissemann Drive
Sacramento, CA 95826 United States + Google Map
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State of the Sangha (Feb 13)

Sacramento Insight Meditation invites you to a special gathering on Thursday, February 13 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm PST. On this evening, we’ll reflect on our journey as a community, share our vision for the next five years, and discuss the financial health of our sangha. This is an opportunity to connect with fellow practitioners, learn about our five-year plan, and explore how we can all contribute to creating a vibrant and sustainable future together.

Together, we’ll deepen our understanding of SIM’s initiatives in teaching, leadership, and infrastructure, and consider how our collective efforts will support future generations of Dharma practitioners.

Your presence and input are vital as we shape the path forward. We hope to see you there, either in-person or on Zoom! For meeting location and Zoom details, CLICK HERE.

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1/30/2025 “What is the Middle Way?” with Kim Allen

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

The Buddha used the term “middle way” a bit differently than we do in everyday language. It is not splitting the difference, staying safely in a “middling” zone, or even the literal avoidance of extremes, but rather, a distinct mode of action that leads to a superior result.

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2025 SIM Residential Retreat – Wait List

March 30, 2025 – April 6, 2025 PDT

Sunday March 30-Sunday April 6, 2025

Diana Clark
Walt Opie
Vance Pryor

Our 2025 residential retreat with SIM faculty Diana Clark, Walt Opie, and Vance Pryor is set for March 30 through April 6 at the Mercy Center in Auburn, CA.

For general information about this retreat, visit https://sactoinsight.org/event/2025-sim-residential-retreat.

Wait List – Annual Retreat

The retreat is full however you may use this form to add your name to the wait list. Plans do change and spaces may open up prior to the start of the retreat.

Name(Required)
Registration Type(Required)

Sacramento Dharma Center Building

3111 Wissemann Drive
Sacramento, CA 95826 United States + Google Map

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1/23/2025 “The Bias of Perception” 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 this talk we will explore how our perceptions are often conditioned by many assumptions, beliefs, habits, desires, attachments, misconceptions, resentments, and more. Through mindfulness practice, we can even begin to train our perceptions and counteract our conditioning, allowing us to respond to events with greater wisdom and less reactivity. 

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1/16/2025 “Clear Comprehension – Clarifying and Integrating Intention into Practice and Life” 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.

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1/9/2025 “The Beauty of Beginnings” 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.

The new year often stirs a focus on “beginnings.” How might we align this fresh outlook with our practice and life in a way that feels uplifting and free?

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(Remote) Experiencing Insight (14 of 14)

Virtual Event

March 18, 2025 @ 7:00 pm – 8:40 pm PDT

This is a 3-month course lead by SIM Founding Teacher Dennis Warren. Meetings are scheduled on Tuesdays every week* as on-line only sessions. For course details or to make a teacher donation while participating in the course, visit Experiencing Insight.

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

Sacramento Dharma Center Building

3111 Wissemann Drive
Sacramento, CA 95826 United States
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(Onsite) Experiencing Insight (13 of 14) Retreat

March 15, 2025 @ 9:00 am – 12:30 pm PDT

This is a 3-month course lead by SIM Founding Teacher Dennis Warren. Meetings are scheduled on Tuesdays every week* as on-line only sessions. For course details or to make a teacher donation while participating in the course, visit Experiencing Insight.

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

Sacramento Dharma Center Building

3111 Wissemann Drive
Sacramento, CA 95826 United States + Google Map
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