A Season to Grow: Summer Offerings at SIMC

Day-Long Nature Retreat

With Denise Ackert

Sponsored by Sky Mind Retreats

Sunday, June 22nd - 9:00am to 3:30pm

Location will be sent out to participants

In this Daylong Nature Retreat, held on a beautiful private property 20 minutes from Salida, we will practice in silence and allow nature to teach us truths that allow more connection, ease, gentleness and care in our lives. When we rest in our own nature and come into wise relationship with life, more joy emerges. In this retreat there will be a dharma talk, sitting and walking meditation, mindful lunch, and a Q & A period.

In the spirit of generosity, Denise offers this retreat freely. You have the opportunity to offer a donation (Dana) to support her in continuing to share these teachings.

Register Here

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Five-Week Foundations of Buddhism Class

Register Here

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SIMC's Second Quarterly Death Cafe is this Month

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Root and Blossom Here!

Weekly Meditations

Sundays - 5:00-6:00pm

Tuesdays - 12:00-12:45pm

Thursdays - 12:00-12:30pm

Sangha Friends

Second Wednesday of the month at 6:00pm 

Its purpose is to foster friendships through conversations on topics of interest, somewhat like a book club.  Please email Sangha@SalidaSangha.org at least a day prior to receive the reading/video to prepare for the discussion. Check our SIMC website for more information.

Mindful Recovery

Wednesdays - 7:00pm via Zoom

A community of people who are using the practices of mindfulness, compassion, forgiveness, renunciation and generosity to transform the pain and suffering that addictions of all kinds have caused in our lives and the lives of our loved ones. Mettings are held via Zoom.  Please email Denny for the Zoom Link.

Recovery Dharma

Thursdays - 5:00-6:00pm

In person at the SIMC House - 248 D St

A peer-led movement and community that is unified by our trust in the potential of each of us to recover and find freedom from the suffering of addiction. Recovery Dharma is founded on, and inspired by traditional Buddhist teachings, often referred to as the Dharma, which can offer a powerful approach to healing from addiction and living a life of true freedom. 

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Dharma Seedlings - Wise Intention

Last month, we explored Wise View, the first factor of the Eightfold Path. This month, we turn to Wise Intention, the second factor.While Wise View offers a perspective for understanding the causes of suffering and the path to its cessation, Wise Intention provides a guiding direction for our practice, ultimately leading us to complete freedom from suffering. Intention precedes all action and thus serves as the basis for the next three action-based factors of Wise Speech, Wise Action, and Wise Livelihood. 

Wise intention aligns us with wholesome actions and consists of three main aspects: the intentions of renunciation, good will, and harmlessness. The intention of renunciation involves the commitment to refrain from following habitual ways of pushing away unpleasant experiences and grasping at pleasant experiences. Instead, we practice pausing—recognizing what is present, sensing what arises in the heart and mind, and gently inquiring: 'What is truly beneficial in this moment?' and 'What will lead away from suffering and toward greater peace—both now and in the long term?'

The second aspect of Wise Intention is the cultivation of a heart of good-will – a sincere wish for the well-being and happiness of all beings, ourselves included. This intention shifts us out of self-centeredness into a relational perspective, recognizing the basic goodness in all and their potential for ease and peace.

Finally, the third aspect is the intention of harmlessness. Rooted in compassion, this intention wishes for all beings to be free of suffering in relation to the changing conditions of life. We support this wish through cultivating a strong commitment to do no harm to other beings. This is a practice of a lifetime, so we meet ourselves gently in the process and begin again, over and over. 

If you would like to further study the Eightfold Path in detail, we have The Noble Eightfold Path by Bhikkhu Bodhi in our Sangha library. Also, a new book is on the way, Steps to Liberation: The Eightfold Path by Gil Fronsdal.

We are very grateful to Denise Ackert for these Dharma Seedlings.

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“Meditation is like planting a seed. You prepare the soil, plant the seed, and then let nature take its course. You can't force the plant to grow, but with the right conditions, it will flourish.”

~ Thanissaro Bhikkhu

With warmth and care, 

The SIMC Board - Paul, Kym, Denise, Carla