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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
Community, Board Newsletter #3
NewsRegarding the 2022 Sacramento Insight Meditation Retreat at the Mercy Center in Auburn, CA, we have some retreat photos and reflections to share. Click on a photo or click here for details, including reflections written by Cedric Orange and by Megan Carney.
09/22/2022 “Apologies, Forgiveness, and Reconciliation” with Seth Castleman
Audio DharmaSIM Annual Retreat Online Survey
Annual Retreat, NewsSurvey regarding the 2023 annual retreat.
Are you interested in attending a 2023 SIM retreat at the Mercy Center with Greg Scharf?
How likely are you to attend the SIM retreat if the dates are November 12 through November 19?
Are you willing to help with planning or managing the SIM 2023 retreat?
Protected: 2022 Retreat Audio Dharma
Retreat09/15/2022 “The Essential Dhamma” with Ayya Anandabodhi
Audio Dharma09/08/2022 “Various Aspects of Faith in Buddhism” with Walt Opie
Audio DharmaOne of the attractive aspects of Buddhism to many of us is that it does not require blind faith in a teacher or the teachings. However, in several suttas, the Buddha referred to faith as a type of wealth or treasure. And Bhikkhu Bodhi has said the significance of faith is that it “serves as a spur to practice.” There are at least three different types of faith described in our Buddhist tradition, including bright faith, verified faith, and unshakeable faith. We will take a look at these and other facets of faith.
09/01/2022 “The Dukkha Response” with Tony Bernhard
Audio Dharma08/27/2022 “Death As Our Teacher” with Ayya Santacitta and Diane Wilde
Audio DharmaJust as life is happening all around us, so is death. Human beings appear to be the only species that are conscious of our mortality. Yet most people ignore this fact of our existence, preferring to put efforts, thoughts and practice on “more pleasant things”. We want to “wake up”, to let go of our endless attachments and experience contentment and ease in our lives. Paradoxically, facing the death of our loved ones and ourselves, is one of the classic Buddhist teachings for accepting the truth of existence and waking up to impermanence. It is also a teaching that can greatly reduce and perhaps even eliminate the biggest delusion of all… that everyone else will die, except me.
This daylong retreat may not be suitable for those with anxiety, trauma or those who have recently experienced the death of a loved one.
08/25/2022 “Revisiting Fundamentals: Acceptance” with Dennis Warren
Audio Dharma“Acceptance” is a quality of mind and a continuing relationship with experience that is a pre-condition for genuine inclusion, forgiveness, conflict resolution and healing. It plays an even more foundational role as a basic element underlying the psychology, teachings and methods of Buddhist practice.
During this evening we’ll explore the definition and meaning of Acceptance from a practice perspective. What does Acceptance look like in action as part of the method or process of meditation? And transitioning meditative awareness into daily life? How does Acceptance change the fundamental dynamics of mindfulness? How does it empower us to see more clearly and make better choice and decisions? We’ll work with a number of familiar situations to explore these themes.
The subject matter of this evening is appropriate for all stages of practice.
New Meditation Course – Discovering Balance
NewsSIM’s Founding Teacher Dennis Warren will be teaching a new seven-week course “Discovering Balance – A Meditation Course for Experienced Meditators“. This course offering runs October 5 through November 16, 2022 (7:00 pm to 8:30 pm), meeting remotely via Zoom. There’s a one-day retreat on November 12. For more information about this course, visit this course overview page.
The 2023 schedule for this course is set as: This course meets in 2023 for seven (7) consecutive ninety (90) minute Zoom sessions beginning at 7:00 pm on Wednesday evenings: October 4, 11, 18, 26 and November 1, 8 and 15. A one-day in-person retreat meets on November 11 from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
If you’d like us to notify you via email when registration opens for the 2023 course, use the following RSVP form to indicate your interest. Enter a quantity of 1 and select the colored button. Note that an RSVP is not the same as registering; it just means we’ll notify you about the registration schedule and procedure.