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

Daughters of the Buddha:  Teachings by Ancient Indian Women by Bhikkhu Analayo

“Bhikkhu Analayo’s book is a brave attempt to introduce the inspiring qualities of spiritual daughters of the Buddha and make their voices heard by skillfully bringing together passages from early Buddhist scriptures. It is an acknowledgment of women’s remarkable contribution to the tradition despite some androcentric and misogynist tendencies found in early Buddhist thought. Bhikkhu Analayo makes a major contribution in furthering our understanding of early Buddhist nuns and female lay disciples by paying special attention to their spiritual journeys that were riddled with social prejudices and obstacles. The aspirations of women in ancient India and those of us in the present may not be the same, but the courage and struggle for liberation highlighted in their stories would no doubt provide a main source of inspiration to many struggling women in today’s world.”
-- Professor Hiroko Kawanami, author of The Culture of Giving in Myanmar

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:

• 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)