YARD CLEANUP SATURDAY APRIL 9TH
Our social event this month will be to spring into action on Saturday the 29th at 9 am to tidy up the grounds around the sangha house at 248 D Street, Salida.  Bring appropriate clothing, hat, gloves etc. and join our community for this worthwhile endeavor.  It's a good time to catch up with your friends as we tend to our sweet bit of land.

LIBRARY IMPROVEMENTS
Jackie Mart and Chris O'Connor, both former librarians, have been working tirelessly to reorganize and update our beautiful library.

Come check out what's new in the Sangha Library!  What changes do you notice?  More changes to come: Life is Impermanence!

We're happy to announce the addition of book titles by Joanna Macy. Brian Lesage introduced her ideas at the Winter Retreat; her work and our meditations resonated with so many retreat attendees. Her books are found in the bookcase to your left, as you enter the library.

We thank Sangha members who recently donated to our library.  We always welcome your dharma book and magazine donations. Your generosity has built our library into a great resource!

The library is always open to you before and after Sunday and Tuesday sits.  You're welcome to browse and check out a book or sit and read a while.  Any questions?  Ask Chris O'Connor or Jackie Mart. If you would like to visit during a non-sit time, email Jackiemart759@gmail.com or Chris at tofutacos@yahoo.com.

YOUTH MINDFULNESS
The Youth Mindfulness Program that is part of the SIMC is planning on expanding opportunities for youth in the months and years to come. This may include classes, gatherings, book clubs, and other events. If you are engaged with youth and have ideas as to what would be beneficial for them, please reach out to Denise at deniseackert@yahoo.com and let her know your ideas! 
 
Interested in getting to know people in the Salida Insight
Mediation Community better?
You are invited to join a “Sangha Friends” group which will meet once a month at the sangha house. Its purpose is to foster friendships through conversations on topics of interest – somewhat like a book club.
Participants will receive a discussion piece at least a week before the meeting. It might be a Ted Talk, a Lion’s Roar article, or a recording/video of a talk by Brian or another teacher. The material for each meeting will take less than an hour to review.

(If you join, you’ll have an opportunity to share something you read or saw that  you’d love to talk about.)
The next meeting will be Wednesday May 10th, 6-7:30 pm.
To get on the email list and receive a link to the discussion piece, please email SalidaSanghaFriends@gmail.com
COME MEDITATE WITH US
 SUNDAYS @ 5pm 
Attend in person at the sangha house.  No zoom option for this sit.​ 
​On the First Sunday of each month, we are back to having teatime after the sit, unless the covid transmission level is requiring masking.

TUESDAYS @ 12pm
​30-minute meditation with a short period of community sharing. ​ You can attend in person at the sangha house or via zoom here. 
You can always learn more about us by following these links:
https://www.facebook.com/SalidaSangha
http://www.salidasangha.org/
 
Wishing you all a warm and beautiful spring!
With blessings,
Your SIMC board

Potluck and Social Time Saturday, March 18th, 5:00 pm
at the SIMC House, 248 D Street, Salida
Many sangha members have suggested that it would be very rewarding for all of us to get better acquainted with each other.  We are used to sitting together in wonderful communal silence but the life experiences and histories of our amazing members run both very wide and very deep and it would be great to share them.  So with that in mind, we invite you to join us for good food and excellent company this next Saturday evening.
At our recent retreat Brian offered this phrase for our consideration:  "The world is a very difficult place right now".  We thought we might use that as a springboard for our conversations.
COME ONE, COME ALL!
Spouses and anyone interested in SIMC are also welcome.
 
YOUR SANGHA LIBRARY
Step behind the beautiful, glass double doors in our Sangha house and you will find dozens of enticing book titles and the comfortable sitting area of our Sangha Library. Well-known authors like Jack Kornfield, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and Pema Chodron await you. Dive into shelf topics like “Early Buddhist Teachings”, “How to Meditate”, “Aging” and more. Browse magazines and take a look at our audio/visual collection.

It is easy to enter the library before or after a regular meditation sit or other Sangha events. For other times, make an appointment with Jackie Mart, co-manager of the library, by emailing her at  Jackiemart759@gmail.com and she will meet you there to open the door.
Checking out a book is as simple as signing your name to the clipboard sheet on the table to the right. Ours is a library developed with the love and generosity of our Sangha members. Many thanks to those who have donated recently.

Questions? Ask Jackie Mart when you see her or email her at Jackiemart759@gmail.com. (The other library co-manager will be returning to Salida soon).

Interested in getting to know people in the Salida Insight Mediation Community better?
 
You are invited to join a “Sangha Friends” group which will meet once a month at the sangha house. Its purpose is to foster friendships through conversations on topics of interest – somewhat like a book club.
Participants will receive a discussion piece at least a week before the meeting. It might be a Ted Talk, a Lion’s Roar article, or a recording/video of a talk by Brian or another teacher. The material for each meeting will take less than an hour to review.

(If you join, you’ll have an opportunity to share something you read or saw that  you’d love to talk about.)
The first meeting will be Wednesday, April 12 at 6pm.
The 2nd Wednesday of each month is when future meetings will be held.

To get on the email list and receive a link to the discussion piece, please email SalidaSanghaFriends@gmail.com by Monday, April 3.

For our sit schedules, calendar and other information about SIMC, visit our website http://www.salidasangha.org/ or our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/SalidaSangha

May the merit of our practices together be for the benefit of all beings everywhere.
With blessings and warm wishes,
Your SIMC board

ZOOM RETREAT THIS WEEKEND WITH BRIAN LESAGE
Due to the large amount of snow we just received here we are unable to hold the retreat this weekend at MeadowRock Ranch.  There is no way for us to get all of our gear in there and nowhere to park or to do walking meditation.  So if you did not register for the retreat and now wish to attend we can accept a few more people.  If you wish to get the Zoom link please email sangha@salidasangha.org and we will send the link to you as soon as it is available.  The link will automatically be sent to everyone who is already registered.
 
Freedom Through Seeing the Selfless Nature of Experience 
A 2-day Nonresidential Silent Vipassana Meditation Retreat 
February 18-19, 2023
Via Zoom
 
The Buddha’s teachings on Selflessness (Anatta) are some of the most profound and essential aspects of this path towards our freedom and awakening. This retreat will explore the many aspects of this teaching through the practice of continuous mindfulness meditation in silence throughout the day—in sitting and walking meditation. In the silence we can begin to move toward unpacking the delusion of a separate self which allows compassion and wisdom to arise in our lives. Experiential meditative approaches will be offered throughout the retreat and will be supported by optional discussion times.  This retreat is designed for beginners and experienced practitioners. 
 
2023 Calendar of Events
Save these dates
March 18th 5:00 pm, potluck and social time
April 29th 9:00 am, spring yard and sangha house cleanup with snacks provided
July 15th 7:30 am, mindful weeding at the sangha house
August 12th 9:00 am to noon, outdoor sitting and walking, location TBD
September 16th-17th, non-residential retreat with Brian Lesage
October 21st, 9:00 am, fall yard cleanup and potluck
December 3rd, 5:00 pm, All sangha annual meeting
December 31st, 5:00 pm New Years Eve meditation and fire ceremony
Please join us for these fun times together with our precious community!

Weekly Meditations
Sunday sits and discussions are from 5-6 pm at the sangha house, 248 D Street, Salida
Tuesday sits are at noon at the sangha house or via Zoom with this link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4871693695
There will not be a Sunday sit this week on the 19th because of the retreat.
 
Stay warm, be safe and well, be happy,
Your SIMC board

Freedom Through Seeing the Selfless Nature of Experience 
A 2-day Nonresidential Silent Vipassana Meditation Retreat 
February 18-19, 2023
MeadowRock Ranch
Nathrop, Colorado
 
The Buddha’s teachings on Selflessness (Anatta) are some of the most profound and essential aspects of this path towards our freedom and awakening. This retreat will explore the many aspects of this teaching through the practice of continuous mindfulness meditation in silence throughout the day—in sitting and walking meditation. In the silence we can begin to move toward unpacking the delusion of a separate self which allows compassion and wisdom to arise in our lives. Experiential meditative approaches will be offered throughout the retreat and will be supported by optional discussion times.  This retreat is designed for beginners and experienced practitioners. 
This retreat is full but if you wish to sign up for the wait list, please email sangha@salidasangha.org.
Individual Use Of The Sangha House

The SIMC board has attempted to find a way to have the house unlocked during the day.  But we have not been able to find a workable solution.  However we really would like to encourage use of the house by anyone wishing some quiet time to meditate or read!  If you wish to obtain the code for the entry door, please contact Paul Vosburgh at 505-350-0338.

Weekly Sits
Please join us for group meditation on Sundays from 5-6 pm.  And Tuesdays at noon.  The Tuesday sit can be joined by Zoom using this link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4871693695

Other SIMC Resources
Our Caring Committee offers non-financial aid such as meals, transportation and other help to any one experiencing health or other challenges.  Contact Kym Mellsop at 719-20703077.

The Website offers lots of information and guidance. http://www.salidasangha.org/

We also have a wonderful Facebook Page with frequent wise and inspiring posts from Carla.  https://www.facebook.com/SalidaSangha

Finally, we are always grateful for your support through donations or volunteerism!  You can make a onetime donation or monthly pledge through our website or clicking the button below.  If you wish to volunteer with our sangha, please email sangha@salidasangha.org.
 
Wishing you a mindful New Year!
Your SIMC board

There are still a few spaces left in the February Retreat.
You will find the button to register below.
 
Freedom through Seeing the Selfless Nature of Experience 
A 2-day Nonresidential Silent Vipassana Meditation Retreat 
February 18-19, 2023
MeadowRock Ranch
Nathrop, Colorado
 
The Buddha’s teachings on Selflessness (Anatta) are some of the most profound and essential aspects of this path towards our freedom and awakening. This retreat will explore the many aspects of this teaching through the practice of continuous mindfulness meditation in silence throughout the day—in sitting and walking meditation. In the silence we can begin to move toward unpacking the delusion of a separate self which allows compassion and wisdom to arise in our lives. Experiential meditative approaches will be offered throughout the retreat and will be supported by optional discussion times.  This retreat is designed for beginners and experienced practitioners. 

This retreat is offered through The Salida Insight Meditation Community. Please register early as the retreats tend to fill up quickly.  This is a dana based retreat.  There is no registration fee but donations to Brian and the Sangha are gratefully accepted during the retreat to cover expenses.  Brian receives no other compensation.  Also note that this is President's Day weekend.  Our last retreat was over Labor Day weekend and unfortunately we had a lot of last minute cancellations and no shows.  We sincerely hope to avoid that this time.
Register Now

Denise Ackert's Year Long Class
A Year-Long Course: Connecting with Freedom
In this year-long online course, we will deepen our practice on the path of freedom, by learning useful tools to reduce suffering and increase our capacity to be of benefit, moment by moment. The course includes a twice monthly LIVE online class, small group practices, weekly readings and reflections, and individual sessions.

 
Details and donation information below and in registration link.  If you have questions after reading the course information, please register for our LIVE informational meeting - also using the link below.
Connecting to Freedom Informational Meeting
Wednesday, December 21st, 2022, 8-9am
REGISTER HERE
 
DETAILS ABOUT CONNECTING TO FREEDOM COURSE
LIVE Course Classes: 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each Month, 7-8:30am,
however, the first class is WEDNESDAY, January 18th, 2023
(subject to change based on group needs)

Year End Donations
Many thanks to all our members who have recently made donations!  It's not to late to make a tax deductible year end gift to SIMC.  You may donate through our website or with the pledge letter found below.
Donate Through Our Website
Open Pledge Form

SIMC Library at the Sangha House
We extend our deep gratitude to Deb Tannenbaum for her years of reorganizing and tending the library.  Many thanks to Jackie Mart and Chris O'Connor have graciously volunteered to take over those duties.
 
Our Beautiful New Sign
Here is the happy crew after Phil installed the sign designed by Mike Fisher.
Wishing you a joyful New Year!!!
Your SIMC board