Next meeting: 27 September 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 September meeting: Inspiration

There are many aspects of the dhamma that are inspirational and can help us live a wholesome and harmonious life.  Not the least of these inspirations are the examples set by the Buddha’s disciples who were in four classes, monks, nuns, laymen and laywomen.

The sangha that the Buddha developed may seem remote both in time and culture.  But the stories of the lives of his disciples can resonate with us in in the present day.

Reading

Our readings come from the most comprehensive collection of stories about the first disciples, “Great Disciples of the Buddha Their Lives, Their Works, Their Legacy” by Nyanaponika Thera & Hellmuth Hecker. This is available as an e-book through the Buddhist Library catalogue here. (If you are unable to access the book at this link, go to the Buddhist Library catalogue search function and type in the name of the book).

In this book each disciple is written about at length so only one selection has been chosen for discussion, the story of a nun. ‘Kisagotami The mother with the dead Child’ tells how the Buddha helps a woman face the death of a beloved child and her subsequent spiritual path and freedom from her attachments.   Pages 266 – 271

The Introduction gives a good understanding of the compilation of these stories and their relevance to our knowledge of the dhamma, our practice and our aspirations. Pages xiii to xxxii

You may like to browse through this book and read a little about the monks. For example, Ananda was instrumental in nuns being accepted into the sangha and memorised all the Buddha’s teachings. Sariputta, a chief disciple was known for his great care for others and his calm and peaceful nature.

Discussion points:

(a) What other aspects of the dhamma and Buddhism do you find inspirational?
(b) How do you maintain your interest and involvement in Buddhism?

As we all have different personalities and approaches to Buddhism we will have different answers to these questions. I look forward to an enjoyable discussion.

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.