Opening to What IS - "May" It Be
- Apr 27
- 4 min read
“May things be as they are, and may we meet them with awareness.”
- Inspired by Buddhist teachings
As May arrives in full bloom, we are invited to meet each moment just as it is -with openness, curiosity, and care. In the midst of growth and change, practice offers us a steady refuge, a place to pause, to listen deeply, and to reconnect with ourselves. May this month’s offerings at SIMC support you in cultivating presence and gently opening to all that is unfolding.
With care,
The SIMC Board - Carla, Paul, Kym, Denise
Denise Ackert’s Teacher Authorization Ceremony!
May 21, 2026, from 1-2pm
The Scout Hut at 220 W Sackett in Salida
As we shared at our Annual Meeting, Denise has completed her training, and a meaningful ceremony is now being prepared to formally recognize and honor her journey. This marks an important and heartfelt moment for Denise and truly for our Salida Insight Meditation Community.
We warmly invite you to join us for a Teacher Authorization Ceremony recognizing, honoring, and celebrating Denise Ackert as a fully authorized teacher within the contemporary Insight Meditation tradition, rooted in the Theravāda lineage. This meaningful milestone reflects not only her four years of dedicated teacher training, but also more than 30 years of committed practice and a deep fulfillment of extensive training requirements.
Denise will be a lineage holder in our tradition and authorized to teach at all levels and in a wide range of settings, and we look forward to celebrating this meaningful moment with our sangha and the wider community Denise has touched here in Salida and beyond. Two of her mentors, Susie Harrington and Brian Lesage (via Zoom) will offer the ceremony.
We ask that you arrive at least five minutes early so we ensure a timely start.
Light refreshments will be served and we want to know how many people to expect so we are kindly asking everyone to please sign up with the below RSVP Registration button.
Please note that our Thursday noon meditation on May 21st will be canceled.
Brian and Robin’s May Retreat is upon us
Brian and his wife Robin will be co-teaching our May weekend retreat this year! This will be the first time we’ve had an SIMC retreat co-taught in this way, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to learn from two thoughtful and skilled teachers.
The Still Point of Practice
with Brian Lesage and Robin Craig
Saturday, May 30th - 9:00am - 4:00pm
Sunday, May 31st - 9:00am - 3:30pm
T.S. Eliot writes of “the still point of the turning world.” In the midst of change, speed, uncertainty, and the many movements of mind and heart, practice can help us discover something that does not depend on the world becoming less turbulent. It can reveal a stillness that is not separate from life, but found right in the midst of it.
This weekend retreat will explore the deepening of mindfulness and collectedness as a way of coming into wise relationship with experience. As the Buddha taught, when mindfulness becomes steady and continuous, the heart and mind can begin to settle. From that settling, we can see more clearly the changing nature of experience, the ways we get entangled in reactivity, and the possibility of greater freedom.
Teachings and practices that support both calm and insight will be offered, helping participants cultivate a grounded presence amid the turning conditions of life. Through meditation, silence, and careful attention, we will explore how the still point is not a place we escape to, but a way of inhabiting our lives with more balance, intimacy, and ease.
Held in silence, the retreat will include meditation instruction and Dharma talks. Suitable for both beginning and experienced meditators, this weekend offers a chance to step out of the usual momentum of daily life and to deepen in presence, clarity, and heart.
See Brian's Bio here.
See Robin's Bio here.
Please note: Registration closes on Thursday, May 28th at 11:00 AM. Be sure to sign up before this date to reserve your space.
There is a $25 non-refundable registration fee which helps SIMC offset some of the cost of hosting a retreat. We wish to make this retreat accessible to all. If the $25 registration fee poses any hardship for you, please reach out to us as soon as possible at Sangha@salidasangha.orgfor scholarship resources and registration.
Potluck Gathering to Meet Robin
Brian and Robin have generously offered their time on Friday evening for a meet-and-greet. This is a lovely opportunity to share a potluck meal together and get to know Robin.
Please join us at Poncha Town Hall on Friday, May 29th from 6:00–7:30pm.
Please bring a favorite vegetarian dish to share.
All are welcome, even if you’re not attending the retreat.
Join us in Celebrating Vesak
Family Mindfulness Night in May
Working together for a new roof for the Sangha
What a beautiful reflection of gratitude and generosity in action! As you can see above, we are nearly there. Roof replacement is expected to begin in June or July, depending on the roofer’s schedule. Please help us reach our goal so we can complete this important project.
You can donate using the PayPal button below. We also welcome cash and checks-please make a note of ROOF on checks. If offering cash, please put in an envelope marked ROOF or attach a note so your dāna goes to the roof fund. You can drop it in our Dāna Box at the sangha house or mail it to:
SIMC
PO Box 1420
Salida, CO 81201
Please use the below pledge form button if making a pledge to provide payments past the June 30th date.
Mindful May Mornings are back
Please note that for Mindful May, our regular Friday morning meditation from 7:00–8:00 AM will not be offered.
Library News
Is that a Sangha library book on your bedside table??
You've been meaning to read it, but now it's been a while. Maybe even longer than a month. Other Sangha members may be wanting to read it too. We thank you for returning it soon!
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