Sacred Text Reading Group
Date/Time
Date(s) - 04/17/2021
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

A weekly online sacred text reading group with Amy

Using a spiritual-practice approach, in each session we will explore a different brief scriptural text in depth. The aims of the sessions are educational (learning something about the texts and traditions), spiritual/moral (discovering what the texts ask of us), and community-building (getting to know each other better). Amy will have a version of the text available to share; “bring” your own if you like. All are welcome, as are your suggestions of future texts. About half our readings so far have been those suggested by group members.

Our text for Saturday, April 17 is our first one about a serial killer (!). It is from the Buddhist Middle-Length Discourses, number 86, Aṅgulimāla. Here’s Bhikkhu Bodhi’s translation of the passage:
Then the Blessed One performed such a feat of supernormal power that the bandit Aṅgulimāla, though walking as fast as he could, could not catch up with the Blessed One, who was walking at his normal pace. Then the bandit Aṅgulimāla thought: “It is wonderful, it is marvellous! Formerly, I could catch up even with a swift elephant and seize it; I could catch up even with a swift horse … with a swift chariot … with a swift deer and seize it; but now, though I am walking as fast as I can, I cannot catch up with this recluse who is walking at his normal pace!” He stopped and called out to the Blessed One: “Stop, recluse! Stop, recluse!”
“I have stopped, Aṅgulimāla, you stop too.”
On its own, this is a richly evocative metaphor. But to understand more of the context, you may wish to read the whole sutta: here is Thanissaro Bhikkhu’s translation: https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.086.than.html
and I. B. Horner’s translation, also of the complete sutta, is here: https://suttacentral.net/mn86/en/horner.

How to join:

  • Join this class from your Web browser: https://zoom.us/j/578882781
  • Join this class using the Zoom app: Meeting ID: 578 882 781
  • Join this class by phone: 669 900 9128 US (San Jose), Meeting ID: 578 882 781
  • Join this class by on-tap on mobile phones: +16699009128,,578882781# US (San Jose)
  • Phoning in, but not in the bay area?  Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/abL8clvIYT
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