2nd Meeting of the Dharma Study Circle

"The discussion in the last group led me to think that a piece of the Avatamsaka Sutra might be fitting and inspiring. The chapter, Appearance of the Buddha, gives a taste of the Sutra and a glimpse into the true nature of reality discovered by the Buddha upon his enlightenment. It's lofty, mind-blowing reading." Wynn Seishin

The group intends to read and discuss 3 pages of the Sutra this Thursday, June 9, 5:30pm to 6:30pm. If you are planning to participate, email windhorse@windhorsezen.org and we will return an attachment of a copy of the text.

"The Avatamsaka is really the consummation of Buddhist thought, Buddhist sentiment and Buddhist experience. To my mind, no religious literature in the world can ever approach the grandeur of conception, the depth of feeling and the gigantic scale of composition attained by this Sutra. Here not only deeply speculative minds find satisfaction, but humble spirits and heavily oppressed hearts, too, will have their burdens lightened. Abstract truths are so concretely, so symbolically represented here that one will finally come to a realization of the truth that even in a particle of dust the whole universe is seen reflected - not this visible universe only, but a vast system of universes, conceivable by the highest minds only." D.T.Suzuki.

We use the council circle format. We read a section of the sutra aloud together and then go around and share what has inspired us. After going around once, we can read the same section again or, if we are ready, move on to read the next section together. It is so important to avoid conceptualizing. This isn’t to discuss, explain, criticize, compare, judge, or paraphrase the sutra. It is about what inspires us – that’s what we want to look at. It’s fine not to understand it. If something inspires us, that’s what we present to the group. We are trying to let the text inspire us – no one need teach it – it teaches itself.

Check out our upcoming schedule by clicking the Calendar Tab above.

Check out the cool Facebook widget on the bottom right.