We are currently scheduling shifts for May 18 and June 15.  Volunteer opportunities include cooks, who prepare the meal from 2:30-4:15 pm, and servers, who work from 4:15-6:00pm. You are not expected to work all three dates, just whatever works for you.  We are welcoming new volunteers as we bolster our volunteer pool.  Come join us as we practice generosity and compassion in the greater community.  If you are not already on the email list and wish to volunteer or have questions, please contact SIM Community member Mary Howard at mary@sactoinsight.org.

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

As practitioners of mindful awareness, we want to remain openhearted to the suffering in the world. Our practice teaches us to turn toward conditions as they are, without needing to avoid unpleasant sensations, emotions, or thoughts. This openheartedness leads naturally to compassion, the impulse to take action on behalf of those who are experiencing suffering. However, Western psychology has recognized a condition called “compassion fatigue,” the “secondary trauma” that can result from helping others and that may lead to diminished capacity to empathize or feel compassion. Given all the suffering in the world and our access to it via global media, we may be overwhelmed and start to shut down to the world and those close to us. This evening, we will take a look at how our practice may help us recognize compassion fatigue as it develops and maintain an open heart.

Sacramento Insight Meditation recently created a Listening Council to hear concerns from members of our sangha, recognizing that in any community difficulties, misunderstandings and conflict may sometimes arise. Items for the Listening Council might include, for example, conflicts or communication difficulties between sangha members; concerns about behavior by a sangha member that might prove harmful to others; or concerns about inappropriate behavior or ethical breaches by a Board or Faculty member.

Our aspiration is to support the resolution of such problems through effective, responsible means based on Buddhist principles of wisdom, compassion, and right action.

Members of our community seeking support in resolving their concerns should feel free to reach out to one of our Listening Council members:

  • Jerry Simkins (jerrys@sactoinsight.org)
  • Robin Primavera (robinp@sactoinsight.org)
  • Tom Vigran (tom@sactoinsight.org)
  • Barb Briscoe (barbb@sactoinsight.org)

Further details about procedures that will guide the work of the Listening Council are available on our Listening Council webpage (shown below).


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Hybrid Event

May 26, 2022 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm PDT

Talk topic: to be announced

Sit & Dharma Talk with SIM Community Teacher Rev. Diane Wilde

* Hybrid events can be attended via Zoom or in-person at the Sacramento Dharma Center

Join online meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82328777620 , Passcode: 739725
Join by phone: 1-669-900-6833 ( Meeting ID: 823 2877 7620 )
For tips and instructions to join the meeting, click here to check this news blog.

Thursday Night Talk Dana
[give_form id=”9758″ show_title=”false” show_content=”none” display_style=”reveal”] “Generosity is the virtue that leads to peace.” – The Historical Buddha
Please use the form above to donate by credit card or your PayPal account. Enter the amount you’d like to give and 75% of your donation will be shared with Rev. Diane Wilde.

Hybrid (in-person and online)

3111 Wissemann Drive (or *ZOOM)
Sacramento, CA 95826 United States
Hybrid Event

May 12, 2022 @ 7:00 pm – 9:15 pm PDT

Talk Topic, “Taking the One Seat:  In the Body, In Stillness, With All Experience”

Sit & Dharma Talk with Visiting Senior Teacher Heather Sundberg

* Hybrid events can be attended via Zoom or onsite at the Sacramento Dharma Center . The teacher will present via Zoom.

Teachings and practices on the following expressions of Taking the One Seat will be offered: Somatically, Steadying the mind and Working with non-reactivity at the sense doors.

This evening Talk will serve as an introduction to the June 25th daylong retreat, covering foundational topics from which the daylong will deepen into and expand upon.  For 6/25/22 retreat details, click here.

Thursday Night Talk Dana
[give_form id=”4336″ show_title=”false” show_content=”none” display_style=”reveal”] “Generosity is the virtue that leads to peace.” – The Historical Buddha
Please use the form above to donate by credit card or your PayPal account. Enter the amount you’d like to give and 100% of your donation will be shared with Heather Sundberg.

Join online meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83471891809 , Passcode: 334531
Join by phone: 1-669-900-6833 ( Meeting ID: 834 7189 1809 )
For tips and instructions to join the meeting, click here to check this news blog.

HEATHER SUNDBERG has practiced insight meditation since 1993, and was first invited to teach meditation classes in 1999. Soon afterwards, she participated in the Spirit Rock Community Dharma Leader program (CDL2), graduating in 2003. She began teaching Residential Retreats in Insight Meditation in 2004. Next, Heather completed the four-year Spirit Rock/Insight Meditation Society Senior Teacher Training. Additional biographical details are available at http://heathersundberg.com/about.html.

Hybrid (in-person and online)

3111 Wissemann Drive (or *ZOOM)
Sacramento, CA 95826 United States
Hybrid Event

May 5, 2022 @ 7:00 pm – 9:15 pm PDT

Talk Topic: to be announced

Sit & Dharma Talk with Visiting Teacher Tony Bernhard

* Hybrid events can be attended via Zoom or onsite at the Sacramento Dharma Center

Thursday Night Talk Dana

[give_form id=”15406″ show_title=”false” show_content=”none” display_style=”reveal”] “Generosity is the virtue that leads to peace.” – The Historical Buddha
Please use this form to donate by credit card or your PayPal account. Enter the amount you’d like to give and 75% of your donation will be shared with Tony Bernhard.

Join online meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82284611142 , Passcode: 852317
Join by phone: 1-669-900-6833 ( Meeting ID: 822 8461 1142 )
For tips and instructions to join the meeting, click here to check this news blog.

TONY BERNHARD is a Buddhist chaplain and teacher. He maintains an active practice with inmates in Folsom Prison and hosts sitting groups in Davis. He sits on the board of the Sati Center for Buddhist Studies and teaches regularly around the bay area and central valley. His practice is non-traditional, guided by his chaplaincy work in prison, his teaching and by his study of the early Pali scriptures.

Hybrid (in-person and online)

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

March 27, 2022 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm PDT

Great news for SIM families, grandparents, aunts and uncles! Family Sangha is returning (Sunday, March 27th); whether you are a parent, aunt or uncle, or grandparent, you are invited to bring your child/children to Sacramento Dharma Center for our first IN-PERSON Family Sangha gathering since the start of the pandemic.  Come celebrate. This is a mahasangha event. Follow the link below for further details or click here:

Virtual Event

April 28, 2022 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm PDT

To join this remote meeting, note the following:

Join Online: * https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87339028191 , Passcode: 778626
Join by phone: 1-669-900-6833 ( Meeting ID: 873 3902 8191 )
For instructions on how to join the meeting, click here.

This 45-minute course is suitable for beginners or anyone who would like a refresher. It is offered on the fourth Thursday of every month before the regular sitting and dharma talk. There is no fee.

DENNIS WARREN is SIM’s Founding Teacher and has been teaching mindfulness, meditation and contemplative practices since 1998. He recently completed his 11th year as a Volunteer Clinical Professor in Mindfulness in the Division of Pain Medicine at the UC Davis School of Medicine and Medical Center. He is certified as a Mindfulness Teacher, Professional Level (CMT-P), by the International Mindfulness Teachers Association. He is a graduate of the professional trainings in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression. He also is a graduate of the Spirit Rock Medication Center’s Dharma leaders training program. You can learn more about Dennis’ background and activities at https://www.denniswarren.net/ .
Dennis has been participating in residential meditation retreats, and has maintained a daily meditation practice, in the Theravadan Buddhist tradition for over 30 years. 2018 was his 20th year of teaching Insight Meditation and mindfulness practices in residential, retreat, educational, medical, corporate and community settings. In 2007 and 2014, Dennis led month long pilgrimages and moving retreats in Thailand, India and Nepal. A third is being planned for late 2021.

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. If you wish to make a donation, click here.

At the bottom of this page, you may enter the number of people planning to attend and select the button “Confirm RSVP“.

Remote Meeting Zoom