Next meeting: 31 May 2024

Time: 11am – 12pm

Each month, our Book Group facilitator will choose a book from the Library’s collection of free e-resources. You download the e-book, and read and reflect on it over the month. Then on the last Friday of the month, meet up online via Zoom to exchange ideas and opinions with others who’ve read the book, and expand your understanding of Buddhism.

Theme for the May meeting: Faith and Confidence

Faith and Confidence

Faith (saddha) is one of the five Buddhist spiritual faculties.

The discussion for this month is about how we develop faith, how it strengthens our practice and the fulfilment we gain from our faith and confidence in the dharma.

May is the month of Vesak, celebrating the awakening of the Buddha and 45 years later his passing into total nirvana. This dhamma talk reminds us of the inspiration of the Buddha and his teaching.

Readings:

‘Vol III Dhamma talks’ – Bhikkhu Thanissaro – ‘Faith in the Buddha’s Awakening’ pages 150 -153.

This talk reminds us that doubt is normal, and by investigating doubt and not identifying with it we can develop faith and confidence in the dharma.

“Forest Path: A collection of talks essays and accounts from the community at Wat Pah Nanachat”  ‘Doubt and other Demons’– pages 23 – 26

Kalama Sutta AN 3:66 translated by Bhikkhu Thanissaro gives an understanding of the importance of inquiry in the development of faith. Available on the internet: https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/AN/AN3_66.html

Facilitator: Patricia Austin.

Patricia has been a Buddhist practitioner for over 20 years.  Her meditation training is in the Burmese Theravada tradition. Buddhism is integral to her daily life. Patricia was a clinical psychologist and is now retired. She previously worked in HIV/AIDS services and carried out research into the mental health of detained asylum seekers. For 19 years she worked at St. Vincent’s Hospital in palliative care providing psychological therapy to the bereaved. Patricia lives on the NSW Central Coast with her husband.

Please be sure to register each month so we can email you the Zoom link before the meeting.

All Sessions are by Donation (Dana) to the Buddhist Library. All donations to the Buddhist Library of $2 and over are tax deductible.

Dana is the traditional practice of generosity, the extending of one’s goodwill, which is fundamental to Buddhism and other spiritual traditions. The dana you give is shared between the Library and Teacher. It helps to maintain the Library and allows more teachings on the Dhamma so that others may benefit in the future. It is up to each person to determine the amount of dana they’d like to offer. We understand that this is a difficult time financially for many and people will give what they can. An appropriate dana can’t be prescribed but requires sensitivity to its intent and to the individual’s own situation, as well as awareness of the cost of organising events and supporting teachers who spread the Dhamma.