Sangha Night … On Zoom … Wednesdays 6:45pm – 8:30pm
Starting October 22, our Wednesday Sangha night series will use a slightly different format as we look at Buddhist tales related to core Dharma teachings. Some of these five tales may be familiar to you, while others may be new.
The book, which our class will be based upon, was written by a Triratna teacher, Vessantara. This book, Tales of Freedom, is published by Windhorse Books and is available from Windhorse or Amazon. It is NOT required for class, but it might be a good addition to your Dharma library. It skillfully links parts of the stories to the freedom to be enjoyed through self-transformation.
Vessantara says that many books have been written about the Buddha’s teaching in rational terms. However, he writes that ‘Buddhism is a path of self-transformation in which both the head and heart have to be deeply engaged. Thus, it has always spoken to the imagination and the emotion as well as the intellect. In fact, the best Buddhist teaching does both. That is the wonder of a story.’
Our sessions will begin with a brief reporting in, followed by meditation. After a short break, each week a leader will tell us one of the stories. Then we will break out into discussion groups for your reactions – lessons learned, interpretations, questions.
Stories to be covered:
- Kisa Gotami – Chapter 2, A Quest in the House of the Dead
- King Ajatasattu – Chapter 3, Venturing into the Forest
- A Plot to Discredit the Buddhas – Chapter 4, Beyond Bargaining
- Riding the Copper Horse – Chapter 5, Exchange is No Robbery
- Naropa, Teacher of Marpa – Chapter 6, Do You Understand the Words or the Meaning?
Even if you are familiar with these tales, I’ll bet you will come away thinking “I never thought about it that way!’
Feel free to come as you are, in your pajamas, if you wish. Settle in with a cup of tea on a cool autumn evening for an evening with your dharma mates!
For our Wednesday series, there is no need attend all sessions or to purchase a book.
All are welcome! Please join us.
For more info, contact Narottama at bnarottama@gmail.com.
Sessions are offered on a donation basis. All funds support the non-profit Nagaloka Buddhist Center. For those who are able, the suggested donation is $10-$5 per session. Donation options include PayPal or Venmo.
Nagaloka drop-in events are described here. Also see our chanting handout
