Wednesday Reading Group

(Zoom Only)

The Reading Group has been meeting for well over a decade and continues to bring forward and discuss books expressing an extremely wide range of Buddhist views and interests (intentionally texts representing diverse traditions, races, gender orientations, etc). The conversation is about making the dharma real in our lives. We meet on our regular Zoom link (click here) at 8:00 on Wednesday evenings and sit together for 30 minutes, after which our book discussion runs for an hour from 8:30 to 9:30.

Many join the group at 8:30 after the sitting period, and it is common for attendees to not have read (and even not to own!) the book we're reading, so please don't let this be a barrier to your own attendance. The book serves as a point of departure...and if the conversation interests you in the text, you can buy it and start to catch up before the next week's conversation.

The discussion is facilitated by one of the regular senior attendees, often Gareth, to help keep the conversation smooth and ensure that all are included and heard as they wish.

Currently Reading

"Receiving the Marrow" provides insightful commentaries on the great spiritual teachings of Dogen - the foundation of Soto Zen.

For the first time, contemporary American women Zen masters in the Soto tradition join together to reach within Dogen's mind to make his masterpieces accessible and practical for those seeking deeper realization and understanding.  A comment from the publishers:  "Our concern in publishing women's voices is so future Zen students may be able to trace the history and articulation of women teacher of this century."

 Some of us are also reading the fascicle that is referred to in each chapter along with the chapter. If you need info about how to access this please contact:  charlikv@gmail.com

Future Books

The group periodically undertakes a selection process of identifying future books of interest and submitting for a group vote to identify those of broad interest. Books currently selected and to be read and discussed by the group, in upcoming order, are:

• Stepping Out of Self-Deception: The Buddha's Liberating Teaching of No-Self by Rodney Smith (2010)
  
• Noble Truths, Noble Path: The Heart Essence of the Buddha's Original Teaching by Bhikkhu Bodhi (2023)
• Daughters of the Buddha: Teachings by Ancient Indian Women by Bhikkhu Analayo (2022)
• The Mind Illuminated: Integrating Buddhist Wisdom and Brain Science for Greater Mindfulness by Yates, Graves & Immergut (2017)
• Dipa Ma: The Life and Legacy of a Buddhist Master by Amy Schmidt (2005)
• Food for the Heart: The Collected Teachings of Ajahn Chah by Ajahn Chah (2002)
• Boundless Heart: The Buddha's Path of Kindness, Compassion, Joy, and Equanimity by Christina Feldman (2017)
• Casting Indra's Net: Fostering Spiritual Kinship and Community by Pamela Ayo Yetunde (2023)