Friday night, January 18th, we begin discussion of
The Vimalakirti Sutra.
This classic Mahayana Buddhist text reveals the significant
role played by lay practitioners in Buddhism. It makes it
clear that lay practitioners can reach levels of spiritual
attainment equal to those of monastic practitioners. This
is an especially relevent teaching in today's secular
society.
Vimalakirti was a contemporary of the historical Buddha, a
lay scholar, but also a business man. Never-the-less, his
understanding of emptiness (nondualism) was profound and
his commentaries elegant. Despite its thought-provoking
subject matter, The Virmalakirti Sutra is pithy and often
humorous as it recounts Vimalakirti's explanations.
(NOTE: we will be using Burton Watson's English version.
This is a translation of a Chinese version that was
translated from the original Sanskrit in 406 C.E. by
scholar-monk Kumarajiva. The Sanskrit original has since
been lost.)
Discussion begins at 8 pm. Tea is served at 9:30 pm. (Zazen
- zen meditation - is at 7:30 pm for those wishing to
meditate before the discussion.)