Our current choice is "Ishmael" by Daniel Quinn. We have discussed it at two sessions so far, and we have at least 1 or 2 more left. We will need to be laying out a plan for the coming year, so book suggestions are welcome. Also, we should re-consider the meeting time/place/structure and make sure everyone is satisfied with it.
We should probably plan on having a book schedule to put in the saddlebag soon - and then in the early fall (maybe Sunday after labor day) have someone make an announcement at both services welcoming new members to the book club.
We are planning to meet this week, August 9th at 6:30.
Here are some of my favorite quotes from my Buddhism quote emails in the last few weeks:
When you see a truck bearing down on you, by all means jump out of the way. But spend some time in meditation, too. Learning to deal with discomfort is the only way you'll be ready to handle the truck you didn't see.
- Bhante Henepola Gunaratana, "Mindfulness in Plain English"
So much fear and desire come from that commitment to 'I am'--to being somebody. Eventually they take us to anxiety and despair; life seems much more difficult and painful than it really is. But when we just observe life for what it is, then it's all right: the delights, the beauty, the pleasures are just that.
- Ajahn Sumedho, "Seeing the Way"
Friday, August 7, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
New Book and Today's Sunday School
Book Club
Last week we kicked off the discussion of "When Jesus Came to Harvard: Making Moral Choices Today", which so far has been a very engaging, well-written book. Today we plan to get as far as we can through Section 1 (chapters 4-10), and we will be meeting again next week. We will need to determine the schedule we plan on keeping for April, as 4/12 is Easter, and they are moving "Second Sunday" to the third Sunday of the month. Stay tuned for updates.
The following is an excerpt from the book, from the chapter entitled "Exiles from Eden":
"A careful reading suggest that their fatal mistake was their refusal to be content with being human, and therefore mortal. Mere paradise, crammed with all that fresh air and ripe fruit, even having each other as loving partners, was not good enough for them. They wanted to shake loose from aging, death, and the other inconvenient liabilities of earthliness. They longed for unlimited possibilities. They craved, as the serpent so succinctly whispered, "to be like God".
Sunday School
Today we covered a Faithlink that described the current state of the U.S. occupation of Afghanistan, and how our Christian faith and Biblical tradition can shed light on that situation. At least, that's what I think they discussed... I was a substitute assistant in the 1st-3rd classroom, which really, if you are going to substitute anywhere, those are the angels you want to help.
While I often find the Bible excepts chosen for beliefnet's Daily Bible reading to be quite odd (why pick that, why stop at that verse when the next few help clarify what seems kind of extreme in the passage they picked, etc.), today's I found particularly troubling in light of the theme of the Faithlink, and I would've been interested to see people's take on it:
Galatians 4:21-5:1
The Allegory of Hagar and Sarah
(Gen 21.8—21; Isa 54.1)
The Allegory of Hagar and Sarah
(Gen 21.8—21; Isa 54.1)
Tell me, you who desire to be subject to the law, will you not listen to the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and the other by a free woman. One, the child of the slave, was born according to the flesh; the other, the child of the free woman, was born through the promise. Now this is an allegory: these women are two covenants. One woman, in fact, is Hagar, from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabiag and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the other woman corresponds to the Jerusalem above; she is free, and she is our mother. For it is written,
“Rejoice, you childless one, you who bear no children,
burst into song and shout, you who endure no birth pangs;
for the children of the desolate woman are more numerous
than the children of the one who is married.”
Now you, my friends, are children of the promise, like Isaac. But just as at that time the child who was born according to the flesh persecuted the child who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also. But what does the scripture say? “Drive out the slave and her child; for the child of the slave will not share the inheritance with the child of the free woman.” So then, friends, we are children, not of the slave but of the free woman. For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
Last week we kicked off the discussion of "When Jesus Came to Harvard: Making Moral Choices Today", which so far has been a very engaging, well-written book. Today we plan to get as far as we can through Section 1 (chapters 4-10), and we will be meeting again next week. We will need to determine the schedule we plan on keeping for April, as 4/12 is Easter, and they are moving "Second Sunday" to the third Sunday of the month. Stay tuned for updates.
The following is an excerpt from the book, from the chapter entitled "Exiles from Eden":
"A careful reading suggest that their fatal mistake was their refusal to be content with being human, and therefore mortal. Mere paradise, crammed with all that fresh air and ripe fruit, even having each other as loving partners, was not good enough for them. They wanted to shake loose from aging, death, and the other inconvenient liabilities of earthliness. They longed for unlimited possibilities. They craved, as the serpent so succinctly whispered, "to be like God".
Sunday School
Today we covered a Faithlink that described the current state of the U.S. occupation of Afghanistan, and how our Christian faith and Biblical tradition can shed light on that situation. At least, that's what I think they discussed... I was a substitute assistant in the 1st-3rd classroom, which really, if you are going to substitute anywhere, those are the angels you want to help.
While I often find the Bible excepts chosen for beliefnet's Daily Bible reading to be quite odd (why pick that, why stop at that verse when the next few help clarify what seems kind of extreme in the passage they picked, etc.), today's I found particularly troubling in light of the theme of the Faithlink, and I would've been interested to see people's take on it:
Galatians 4:21-5:1
The Allegory of Hagar and Sarah
(Gen 21.8—21; Isa 54.1)
The Allegory of Hagar and Sarah
(Gen 21.8—21; Isa 54.1)
Tell me, you who desire to be subject to the law, will you not listen to the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and the other by a free woman. One, the child of the slave, was born according to the flesh; the other, the child of the free woman, was born through the promise. Now this is an allegory: these women are two covenants. One woman, in fact, is Hagar, from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabiag and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the other woman corresponds to the Jerusalem above; she is free, and she is our mother. For it is written,
“Rejoice, you childless one, you who bear no children,
burst into song and shout, you who endure no birth pangs;
for the children of the desolate woman are more numerous
than the children of the one who is married.”
Now you, my friends, are children of the promise, like Isaac. But just as at that time the child who was born according to the flesh persecuted the child who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also. But what does the scripture say? “Drive out the slave and her child; for the child of the slave will not share the inheritance with the child of the free woman.” So then, friends, we are children, not of the slave but of the free woman. For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Buddhist Quote of the Day
Suffering chastens us and makes us remember. We are like the child who tries to pick up fire and is unlikely to do it again, once she has seen the consequences. With material things, seeing is easy; but when it comes to picking up the fires of greed, aversion, and delusion, most of us aren’t even aware we’re holding fires at all. On the contrary, we misguidedly believe them to be lovable and desirable, and so we are never chastened. We never learn our lesson.
-Buddhadhasa Bhikku, "Heartwood of the Bodhi Tree"
We are scheduled to meet this Sunday (2/15) at 6:30p.m. for more discussion of Living Buddha, Living Christ.
-Buddhadhasa Bhikku, "Heartwood of the Bodhi Tree"
We are scheduled to meet this Sunday (2/15) at 6:30p.m. for more discussion of Living Buddha, Living Christ.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Enjoying "Living Buddha, Living Christ"
The group met again this last Sunday, and we delved a little further into our current selection. Most have reached around p. 60-80 or so. We probably have another two weeks left for discussion, depending on interest. Next week we will be taking another break for the Second Sunday performance, so we'll pick up again on the 15th of February.
Yesterday we enjoyed a chicken gumbo soup brought by Betty, and potato soup, pineapple/black bean salad, and chocolate bars brought by Virginia. I managed to bake some bread yesterday for the first time in about 3 months, and it turned out o.k.
I ate the leftovers of the pineapple/black bean salad for lunch today, and I will say that I really want to get that recipe. It's a refreshing lunch. Maybe we can post it here?
Yesterday we enjoyed a chicken gumbo soup brought by Betty, and potato soup, pineapple/black bean salad, and chocolate bars brought by Virginia. I managed to bake some bread yesterday for the first time in about 3 months, and it turned out o.k.
I ate the leftovers of the pineapple/black bean salad for lunch today, and I will say that I really want to get that recipe. It's a refreshing lunch. Maybe we can post it here?
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Warming Up for January 18th - Start of Living Buddha, Living Christ
We will begin our next book, "Living Buddha, Living Christ" by Thich Nhat Hanh on Sunday, January 18th. With my week of work travel last week, I got a jump start on this book -- and just in time. The meditation/breathing techniques discussed in the 2nd chapter really helped me through some stressful situations.
Here's a quote from Buddhist email this morning. I read it to David and he said, "Wow, that correlates pretty well with Christianity." Anyway, I'll post good quotes as I come across them (from either tradition).
"If you cling to an idea as the inalterable truth, then when the truth does come in person and knock at your door, you will not be able to open the door and accept it."-Udana Sutta
Here's a quote from Buddhist email this morning. I read it to David and he said, "Wow, that correlates pretty well with Christianity." Anyway, I'll post good quotes as I come across them (from either tradition).
"If you cling to an idea as the inalterable truth, then when the truth does come in person and knock at your door, you will not be able to open the door and accept it."-Udana Sutta
Monday, December 29, 2008
Potential Plans for Book Club
As I mentioned in the last post, our next meeting will be Sunday, January 4th. I have finally neared the conclusion of the Borg book (I know almost all of you, if not all, are already finished). Given that the chapter on Paul differs little (in my opinion) from what we learned in the "What Paul Meant" book, do we want to move on to the "Living Buddha, Living Christ" book for the 11th? I think it might be nice to regroup and finish off this current book on the 4th and then move on.
If you don't want to post your comment here, you can email me at my yahoo account.
If you don't want to post your comment here, you can email me at my yahoo account.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Current Book and Next Up
We are still reading and discussing "Reading the Bible Again for the First Time". It looks like we will need to take some time off for the holidays -- does January 4th sound like a good re-start up date? We should be heading into the discussion on the New Testament interpretations on that date.
Next up is "Living Buddha, Living Christ" by Thich Nhat Hanh. I read a great quote from him today in my Daily Buddhist wisdom email, so I am very much looking forward to the book:
"I like to walk alone on country paths, rice plants and wild grasses on both sides, putting each foot down on the earth in mindfulness, knowing that I walk on the wondrous earth. In such moments, existence is a miraculous and mysterious reality.
People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don't even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child--our own two eyes. All is a miracle."
-Thich Nhat Hanh, "Miracle of Mindfulness"
Next up is "Living Buddha, Living Christ" by Thich Nhat Hanh. I read a great quote from him today in my Daily Buddhist wisdom email, so I am very much looking forward to the book:
"I like to walk alone on country paths, rice plants and wild grasses on both sides, putting each foot down on the earth in mindfulness, knowing that I walk on the wondrous earth. In such moments, existence is a miraculous and mysterious reality.
People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don't even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child--our own two eyes. All is a miracle."
-Thich Nhat Hanh, "Miracle of Mindfulness"
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