Wednesday Reading Group

Start
25 Jan 2023
End
23 Apr 2025
Schedule
118 sessions
#1.
25 Jan 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EST)
#2.
01 Feb 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EST)
#3.
08 Feb 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EST)
#4.
15 Feb 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EST)
#5.
22 Feb 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EST)
#6.
01 Mar 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EST)
#7.
08 Mar 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EST)
#8.
15 Mar 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#9.
22 Mar 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#10.
29 Mar 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#11.
05 Apr 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#12.
12 Apr 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#13.
19 Apr 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#14.
26 Apr 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#15.
03 May 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#16.
10 May 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#17.
17 May 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#18.
24 May 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#19.
31 May 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#20.
07 Jun 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#21.
14 Jun 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#22.
21 Jun 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#23.
28 Jun 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#24.
05 Jul 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#25.
12 Jul 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#26.
19 Jul 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#27.
26 Jul 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#28.
02 Aug 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#29.
09 Aug 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#30.
16 Aug 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#31.
23 Aug 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#32.
30 Aug 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#33.
06 Sep 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#34.
13 Sep 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#35.
20 Sep 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#36.
27 Sep 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#37.
04 Oct 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#38.
11 Oct 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#39.
18 Oct 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#40.
25 Oct 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#41.
01 Nov 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#42.
08 Nov 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EST)
#43.
15 Nov 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EST)
#44.
22 Nov 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EST)
#45.
29 Nov 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EST)
#46.
06 Dec 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EST)
#47.
13 Dec 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EST)
#48.
20 Dec 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EST)
#49.
27 Dec 2023, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EST)
#50.
03 Jan 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EST)
#51.
10 Jan 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EST)
#52.
17 Jan 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EST)
#53.
24 Jan 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EST)
#54.
31 Jan 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EST)
#55.
07 Feb 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EST)
#56.
14 Feb 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EST)
#57.
21 Feb 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EST)
#58.
28 Feb 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EST)
#59.
06 Mar 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EST)
#60.
13 Mar 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#61.
20 Mar 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#62.
27 Mar 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#63.
03 Apr 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#64.
10 Apr 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#65.
17 Apr 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#66.
24 Apr 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#67.
01 May 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#68.
08 May 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#69.
15 May 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#70.
22 May 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#71.
29 May 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#72.
05 Jun 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#73.
12 Jun 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#74.
19 Jun 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#75.
26 Jun 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#76.
03 Jul 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#77.
10 Jul 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#78.
17 Jul 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#79.
24 Jul 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#80.
31 Jul 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#81.
07 Aug 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#82.
14 Aug 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#83.
21 Aug 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#84.
28 Aug 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#85.
04 Sep 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#86.
11 Sep 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#87.
18 Sep 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#88.
25 Sep 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#89.
02 Oct 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#90.
09 Oct 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#91.
16 Oct 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#92.
23 Oct 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#93.
30 Oct 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#94.
06 Nov 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EST)
#95.
13 Nov 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EST)
#96.
20 Nov 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EST)
#97.
27 Nov 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EST)
#98.
04 Dec 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EST)
#99.
11 Dec 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EST)
#100.
18 Dec 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EST)
#101.
25 Dec 2024, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EST)
#102.
01 Jan 2025, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EST)
#103.
08 Jan 2025, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EST)
#104.
15 Jan 2025, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EST)
#105.
22 Jan 2025, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EST)
#106.
29 Jan 2025, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EST)
#107.
05 Feb 2025, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EST)
#108.
12 Feb 2025, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EST)
#109.
19 Feb 2025, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EST)
#110.
26 Feb 2025, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EST)
#111.
05 Mar 2025, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EST)
#112.
12 Mar 2025, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#113.
19 Mar 2025, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#114.
26 Mar 2025, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#115.
02 Apr 2025, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#116.
09 Apr 2025, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#117.
16 Apr 2025, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
#118.
23 Apr 2025, 8:00 PM 9:30 PM (EDT)
Location
Zoom

Wednesday Reading Group

Weekly on Zoom from 8:00PM to 9:30PM

Click here to join. Alternatively go to https://zoom.us/, click the links to enter a meeting, and enter meeting ID 971-373-141 and password 879550.

After 30 minutes of meditation, the reading group discussion begins at 8:30. The purpose of the discussion is making the dharma relevant to the ordinary lives of the participants, so the focus of conversation tends to be practical rather than intellectual. It is far more important to bring sincerity and openness to the discussion than to have read the book!

The discussions are open to all and will benefit both beginning and seasoned practitioners. Feel free to join at any time during the meditation period or just for the discussion starting at 8:30pm.

Currently Reading

"Nagarjuna's Wisdom: A Practitioner's Guide to the Middle Way" by Barry Kerzin

Nagarjuna’s Fundamental Verses on the Middle Way, or as it’s known in Tibetan, Root Wisdom, is a definitive presentation of the doctrines of emptiness and dependent arising, and a foundational text of Mahayana Buddhism.

In this book, Barry Kerzin, personal physician to the Dalai Lama, presents this fundamental work in a digestible way, using a method favored by His Holiness: focusing on five key chapters, presented in a specific order.

First we explore the twelve links of dependent origination, in Nagarjuna’s chapter 26, to learn why and how we cycle through samsara.
Then we examine the self that cycles to discover that, in fact, there is no inherently existent self, based on Nagarjuna's chapter 18.
We then enter an analysis of the four noble truths, based on chapter 24, to understand how conventional reality is understood.
Next, an investigation of the Tathagata shows the reader that even emptiness is empty in chapter 22.
Finally, Nagarjuna re-emphasizes the pervasiveness of emptiness in his first chapter.

Thus, Dr. Kerzin walks us through Nagarjuna’s masterwork and lets the great teacher introduce us to Buddhist philosophy, step by step—deepening our understanding, enhancing the way we practice.

Reading Schedule for Current Book

The schedule below is approximate and updated every few weeks. Please contact Gareth Young if you would like an update on where we currently are. And please feel free to join anytime, regardless of whether you have read (or even own!) a copy of the current book. You will likely find you are not the only attendee who is not up to date with the book.

DATE	PAGES
Sept 6	Begin "Nagarjuna's Wisdom": Preface and Introduction
Sept13	"Nagarjuna's Wisdom" (Chapter 1)
Sept 20	"Nagarjuna's Wisdom" (Chapter 2)
Sept 27	"Nagarjuna's Wisdom" (Chapter 3)
Oct 4	"Nagarjuna's Wisdom" (Chapter 4)
Oct 11	"Nagarjuna's Wisdom" (Chapter 5)
Oct 18	Begin Joseph Goldstein: "One Dharma"

Upcoming Books

The group regularly engages in a democratic peer selection process to determine upcoming books. Selections range throughout the spectrum of Buddhist teaching and literature. Upcoming (in the order we anticipate reading) are:

One Dharma: Joseph Goldstein
Dhammapada: Transl. Gil Fronsdal
Karma: What it Is and Why it Matters: Traleg Kyabgon
With Each and Every Breath: Thanissaro
Receiving the Marrow: Teachings on Dogen by Soto Zen Women Priests: Various women Zen teachers, Ed: Eido Frances Carney