Our dear Jane passed peacefully at her home on Thursday, May 30th surrounded by her amazing, beautiful family who helped Jane dance her way through the transition from life to death.  Jane used her practice to the fullest extent as she navigated her journey with cancer.  Each day she became more joyful and free. This picture was taken on Memorial Day at her home.  Those who know Jane, know she loved parades, so she and those around her had a parade that day. Jane served on our Sangha Board with deep joy and boundless generosity.

There will be a celebration of life (and of course dancing) for our Beloved Jane on Sunday, August 4 from 2-4pm at the Salida Steamplant. ​

Upcoming Events

The Five Precepts and Buddhist Morality
3rd Sunday of the month,  4:00pm begins June 16th
Come delight in simple, virtuous conduct!  A fellow sangha member will host a monthly recitation of ‘The Five Mindfulness Trainings’ as explained by Thich Nhat Hanh.  These are not commandments, rather an exploration in training the mind and heart.
Mindfulness is but a single thread in our rich tradition.  From the time of the Buddha, five precepts have informed and supported the beautiful tapestry that we call meditation.  The early Buddhist term, sila, refers to good character, nature, or habit.  Traditionally, these five virtues serve as prerequisite for lay people to receive instruction in the sitting practice.  They wrap the sangha in a cloth of harmony, provide protection, and ready us to sense the fragrance of enlightenment.
Summer Yard Day
Please join us on June 29th for a summer yard clean-up and weed-up! We will gather from 8:30am to 10:30am to avoid the heat.  Some snacks and drinks will be provided.  Please bring a hat, gloves, sunscreen, maybe a weed digging implement and your energy and enthusiasm.  This is a great opportunity to offer love to our Earth!
Non-Residential Retreat - August 24-25, 2019
The August non-residential retreat with Brian Lesage will be August 24-25 at MeadowRock in Nathrop.  The retreat is FULL with a small waitlist.  If you still want to come, please get on the waitlist to ensure we can let you know when a spot opens up! Here is the link: https://www.regonline.com/registration/login.aspx?eventID=2562947&MethodId=0&EventsessionId=
 
Insight Dialogue Retreat - Nov 2-3, 2019
Nicola Redfern will once again be offering an Insight Dialogue retreat at the sangha house on November 2-3, 2019.  Registration will open in the fall.  You can learn more about her here:
https://metta.org/teachers/9001/nicola-redfern/
Upcoming Classes
Exploring Annata or No-Self
taught by Denise Ackert
During this 6 week course, we will delve deeply into Annata, which lies at the heart of Buddhist teachings. Understanding and embodying "non-selfing" leads us beyond conflict to true happiness and ease. 
Tuesdays, Sept 3-Oct 8, 10:30-11:45am
To register: please go to: www.deniseackert.com
Classes offered by suggested donation. No one will be turned away due to inability to pay.

Introduction to Meditation
taught by Denise Ackert 
In this course, we will learn sitting, walking and other meditation practices to help us be more mindful in everyday life. Each class will include instruction, meditation practice and time for Q & A. 

Tuesdays, Sept 3-Oct 8, 5:15pm - 6:45pm
or
Wednesdays, Sept 4-Oct 9, 12-1:15pm
To register: please go to: www.deniseackert.com
Classes offered by suggested donation. No one will be turned away due to inability to pay.
Awakening Joy
taught by Cindy Fisk Sasso
 Mondays, Sept 9-Nov 11, 6:00-7:30 pm 
or
Thursdays, Sept 12-Nov 14, 10:00-11:30 am
 To register, please call 970-406-0433
or go to www.cindysasso.com
Classes offered by suggested donation. No one will be turned away due to inability to pay.

Survey: Residential or Non-Residential Residency  
The Sangha Board believes that, when important decisions are to be made, the deciding voice should be that of the whole Sangha. By completing this brief survey on a Sangha Retreat in 2021 or 2022, you can help us make arrangements that best meet the needs of a majority of Sangha members. There are two options before us: a residential retreat or a non-residential residency.  Please click here to answer the simple survey questions:
Take Survey
 
Regardless of the option we choose, there will be an opportunity to share gifts of Dana with the teachers, who otherwise receive no compensation.
 
Mindful Recovery
This is a reminder that the Mindful Recovery group is now meeting at the sangha house at 7:00 pm on Wednesdays.
 
With warmest springtime regards,
         Your Sangha Board

Exploring the Dharma Together
A Weekend of Insight Dialogue with Nicola Redfern
November 2 and 3, 2019, 10am - 5pm
Sangha House, 248 D Street, Salida,CO 81201
Registration for the weekend is $50 plus dana
Please bring your own lunch.
Registration will open September 1, 2019
 
Insight Dialogue is an interpersonal meditation practice that brings together meditative awareness, the wisdom teachings of the Buddha, and the power of relationship. It has the same traditional roots as silent meditation: developing mindfulness, compassion and insight, while investigating present moment experience.
 During our weekend together, we will explore the six meditation guidelines that form the core of Insight Dialogue practice. These guidelines help establish and sustain the meditative qualities of mind while contemplating the Dharma together. We will engage in silent and guided meditation, with the majority of time spent engaging in meditative dialogue practice in dyads.
Nicola Redfern is an Insight Dialogue teacher with an extensive background in both Zen and Vipassana meditation. She has been trained to teach Insight Dialogue by founding teacher Gregory Kramer. With a strong belief that awakening is not simply a solo endeavor, she’s particularly interested in getting meditation off the cushion and fully integrated into life, work, and relationships. Nic has also taught Nonviolent Communication, and offers courses on unlearning racism.
For more info on Insight Dialogue visit metta.org

The Power of Stillness & PresenceSaturday, August 24, 2019 9:00 AM - Sunday, August 25, 2019 4:00 PM  (Mountain Time)
 
Meadowrock Ranch 
18555 CR 271 
Nathrop, CO

A ​2-day ​Non-residential ​Vipassana ​Meditation ​Retreat

At ​the ​still ​point ​of ​the ​turning ​world...Neither ​from ​nor ​towards; ​at ​the ​still ​point, ​there ​the ​dance ​is... ​–T.S. ​Eliot

This ​will ​be ​an ​opportunity ​to ​practice ​continuous ​mindfulness ​meditation ​in ​silence ​throughout ​the ​day—in ​sitting ​and ​walking ​meditation. ​In ​the ​silence ​we ​are ​freed ​from ​much ​of ​the ​daily ​barrage ​of ​stimulus ​that ​draws ​our ​attention ​outward, ​letting ​us ​delve ​deeply ​inward. ​Being ​aware ​of ​our ​experience ​from ​a ​place ​of ​stillness ​and ​equanimity ​allows ​us ​to ​see ​more ​clearly, ​and ​as ​insight ​deepens, ​compassion ​and ​wisdom ​can ​arise. ​This ​retreat ​is ​designed ​for ​beginners ​and ​experienced ​practitioners.

COST: ​​​ ​​​No ​​​Cost ​​​Retreat ​​​- ​​​Donations ​​​to ​​​the ​​​teacher ​​​and ​​​Sangha ​​​are ​​​gratefully ​​​accepted. ​​​Retreatants ​​​will ​​​have ​​​the ​​​opportunity ​​​to ​​​offer ​​​dana ​​​(donations) ​​​to ​​​the ​​​teacher ​​​and ​​​to ​​the ​​Sangha ​​​at ​​​retreat’s ​​​end. ​​The ​​​teacher ​​​will ​​​receive ​​​no ​​​other ​​​financial ​​​compensation.

Here is the link to the registration page:
https://www.regonline.com/registration/login.aspx?eventID=2562947&MethodId=0&EventsessionId=

Space ​​​is ​​​limited, ​​​so ​​​please ​​​register ​​​early. ​​​ ​​​
​If ​​​you ​​​have ​​​questions, ​​​please email the Salida Sangha