I'd like to invite e-sangha members to come to an informal discussion in online chat of the Sigalovada Sutta, from the Digha Nikaya (number 31), containing the Buddha's advice to the layman Sigala. An English translation is available here. It will be from 10 P.M. Eastern time (7 Pacific, 8 Mountain, 9 Central, 3 A.M. GMT) Saturday Nov. 3 until whenever people feel like quitting.

Fig tree

Last week's discussion was enough of a success that I think we'll try again.

I'd like to invite e-sangha members to come to an informal discussion in online chat of the Brahmajala Sutta, from the Digha Nikaya (number 1). An English translation is available here. Where in the net are you caught? It will be from 10 P.M. Eastern time (7 Pacific, 8 Mountain, 9 Central, 3 A.M. GMT) Saturday Nov. 10 until whenever people feel like quitting. Last week it went a bit over 45 minutes.

Fig tree

Dear Figtree

What a great use of the chatroom facility! Sadly, the proposed time doesn't suit me. It coincides with 2PM Sunday afternoon (family time)! However, I wish you all the very best!

For other people who want to convert the time of the discussion to their local time:
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html
Kind regards

Ben

I'm sorry I missed the first discussion, and will try to make the second. I wonder if this thread might be pinned or even given it's own forum for Planned Chat-room Discussions in the News/Announcements section. If we were better organized for letting folks know of such events, perhaps we could turn chat into a more useful function. A lot of folks come to chat, see idle visiting going on and move off back to the forums looking for more serious discussion of dharma. We have these new rooms and it would be wonderful to really utilize them as intended. Perhaps we could encourage some venerables to come in and lead discussions if they found things organized to do so. And thank you fig tree for leading the way.

Sorry Figgy, that i missed the first one. Been so busy lately. I am going to try to be at this one. Thanks for doing this

Good idea fig tree...

For those members spread out around the world, please note that 3 AM GMT time is Sunday the 11th, not Saturday...

Apichatto Bhikkhu

I'd like to invite e-sangha members to come again to an informal discussion in online chat, this time of the Cetana Sutra, from the Anguttara Nikaya (11.2). An English translation is available at here, and there is on that page also a link to audio of a second translation of it. For comparison, you might like to look at the Upanisa sutta from the Samyutta Nikaya.

The discussion is planned for 10 P.M. Saturday Nov. 17 Eastern time (7 Pacific, 8 Mountain, 9 Central). Thanks to Ven. Apichatto for pointing out that this time of the week is on Sunday, Nov. 18 in most of the world, 3 A.M. GMT. It lasts until whenever people feel like quitting. Last week the discussion lasted about 50 minutes. Don't be embarrassed to come and go as you like. And thanks to Sattva for suggesting doing this.

Fig tree

E-sangha members are welcome to come to an informal discussion in online chat of the famous Kalama Sutra, from the Anguttara Nikaya (3.65). What's a skillful way to deal with doubts?

The discussion is planned again for 10 P.M. Saturday Nov. 24 Eastern time (7 Pacific, 8 Mountain, 9 Central), or 3 A.M. Nov. 25 GMT. Previous discussions have lasted around 45 minutes to an hour, but come for however much or little you decide to.

Fig Tree

Just to say I'm really enjoying these discussions, and would encourage folks to attend, or perhaps organize their own. It's possible to come to chat and actually discuss dharma.

Dear all

I'm glad the online Dhamma discussions are going well and I congratulate Fig Tree for his efforts, well-done!! For those of you are contemplating setting up a regular event, please either send myself and/or Dorje Shedrub a private message so that we can publicise it within the admin forum and give any support that you may need.
Kind regards

Ben

This week's discussion in online chat will be of the Samannaphala Sutra, from the Digha Nikaya (number 2), the Buddha's explanation to King Ajatasattu of the fruits of the holy life.

The discussions are at 10 P.M. on Saturday Eastern time (7 Pacific, 8 Mountain, 9 Central), which means on Sunday for nearly all of you not in the western hemisphere (3 A.M. Sunday GMT). Previous discussions have lasted from 40 minutes to an hour, but come for however much or little you want.

Fig Tree

The topic for this week's sutra discussion is the
Dhammacakkappavattana Sutra, from the Samyutta Nikaya (56.11), the Buddha's first sermon addressed to his ascetic friends.

The discussions are at 10 P.M. on Saturday Eastern time (7 Pacific, 8 Mountain, 9 Central), which means on Sunday for nearly all of you not in the western hemisphere (3 A.M. Sunday GMT). Previous discussions have lasted from 45 minutes to an hour, but come for however much or little you want.

Fig Tree

Dear Fig Tree,

This is, of course a really interesting Sutta.

I'm not sure if it would be considered "cheating" but I thought a few links might be helpful for participants wanted to see this Sutta in context.

There is a nice reading of this Sutta on this page:
SN 56.11: Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta — Setting in Motion the Wheel of Dhamma
http://www.suttareadings.net/audio/index.html
The repetitions make a lot more sense when you sit quietly listening, imagining you are one of the five monks.

Some background on the five monks who were at the first discourse:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.036x.than.html

His trip to teach the First Discourse is here:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.026.than.html


Second Discourse: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn...2.059.nymo.html
References to Kondañña: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/index-names.html#k

Metta
Mike

umm..what time will that be in Hong Kong? Still Sunday, right?

11 AM Sunday. Nice that it doesn't clash with lunch...

There are some on-line tools to figure this out, such as: http://www.timeanddate.com/

Metta
Mike

The topic for this week's sutra discussion is the
Mulapariyaya Sutra, from the Majjhima Nikaya (#1).

Discussions tend to last 45 minutes to an hour. The discussions are at 10 P.M. on Saturday, Eastern time, 3 A.M. GMT.

Fig Tree

P.S. Courtesy of timeanddate.com:

Honolulu Sat 5:00 P.M.
Anchorage Sat 6:00
Los Angeles Sat 7:00
Denver 8:00
Chicago 9:00
New York 10:00
Halifax 11:00
Santiago Midnight Sat/Sun
Brasilia Sun 1:00 A.M.
London 3:00
Paris 4:00
Athens 5:00
Moscow 6:00
Dubai 7:00
Karachi 8:00
Mumbai 8:30
Bankok 10:00
Singapore 11:00
Perth, Tokyo Sun 12:00 Noon
Brisbane 1:00 P.M.
Adelaide 1:30
Sydney 2:00
Auckland 4:00

Thanks fig tree...

This is a tough but interesting Sutta. Bhikkhu Bodhi has three lectures on it here:
http://www.bodhimonastery.net/courses/MN/MN_course.html
Lectures 110-112.

While listening to over three hours of lectures may not appeal to many, I particularly recommend the PDF
table: Mulapariyaya
at Lecture 110, which helps to clarify the structure.

Metta
Mike

This week's sutra for discussion is the Bhaddekaratta sutra.

Fig Tree

Excellent choice Fig Tree. Unfortunately I probably can't be there...

I'd encourage members to listen to a reading of the Sutta at: http://www.suttareadings.net/audio/index.html#mn.131
and, either before or after discussing it, listen to Ajahn Brahm's reading and discussion of one of the Suttas following it (MN 133), where Maha Kaccana explains the meaning from a slightly different point of view (sense bases rather than aggregates).

MN133 Maha Kaccana & A Single Excellent Night
http://www.bswa.org/audio/podcast/SuttaStudy.rss.php

Metta
Mike

Haha, I think I had a dream last night where someone was accusing fig tree of being arrogant, and I was trying to argue that he isn't... I think it's the first time I've dreamt about someone on e-Sangha (well, not really someone, but a name ).

If we're circlin' the wagons around Fig Tree, count me in. I could sing his praises here, but it'd be a pretty sappy read. I don't know if arguing with yourself is a healthy sign, but you took the right side of the issue. Don't know what it means to dream about folks you've met online either, except that the mind is a busy place and likely to draw from what's close at hand.

The next sutra for the Saturday/Sunday discussion is the Dvedhavitakka sutra, planned for the usual time.

Fig Tree

It's been suggested that over the course of 2008 we discuss the Dhammapada in online chat. In order to allow more time to find good translations, read and reflect on chapter 1, and so on, I propose starting with chapter 1 ("the twin verses") of the Dhammapada next week, and possibly alternating with other scriptures in following weeks.

For this Saturday/Sunday (10 P.M. Saturday Eastern Time, 3 A.M. Sunday GMT) I propose discussing the Anuruddha sutta (there is a translation here).

Fig Tree

As I mentioned last week, the text planned for this week's sutra discussion in online chat is the first section of the Dhammapada. There was a thread on e-sangha discussing translations, and the translation by Ven. Buddharakkhita, available here on BuddhaNet, near the top of the page, got good reviews. There is a translation edited by Ven. Pesala available here which includes stories from the commentary. The discussion is planned for the usual time on Saturday/Sunday.

Fig Tree

Dear Fig Tree, thanx for the links to those most excellent sites!
I would LOVE to take part in the online dharma discussions but the times are a tad prohibitive for us living here in eastern europe (or we could become dharma vampires).
What of the possibility of having a weekly thread on the proposed teachings? That would make it possible (or at least easier) for people (like myself) to take part.

What do other people think?

Maybe Dorje could arrange supplying transcripts of the chat. And or another thread on the subject in this subforum could continue the discussion. Perhaps with some networking, you could find enough people somewhat local to your time zone to hold chats on the topic as well. I'd like to see chat utilized for such things around the clock, serving the globe. There's certainly no reason not to organize talks on other subjects as well. The difficulty is getting folks awareness and involvement, but word of mouth and patience seem to be working. Wishing you well.

The sutra for this week's discussion is the Kevatta sutra, DN 11. (Ven . Thanissaro's translation is here.)

The idea of having discussions at other times sounds good to me, but probably the best thing would be just to get someone from another part of the world to volunteer to set them up. No special expertise was required; just find someone willing to do it.

Fig Tree

I like ol charlies idea, as an inerim soultion, of transcribing the discussion and continuing the discussion as a sub forum. If that is possible (and not too much hassle) and in the meantime I will try to drum up support for a locally (time) based dharma discussion group.

I believe that it would be more valuable to discuss the same topic as you so that the issue will be analysed "in depth" and anyway when it comes to discussions, the more involved the merrier, or deeper, or at least approached from more angles the discussion will be!

The second of our discussions of the Dhammapada (on chapter 2, naturally) is planned for this Saturday/Sunday at the usual time: 10 P.M. Eastern time Saturday, which is 3 A.M. Sunday GMT.

Fig Tree

For this week, we have a bit of Zen: The Bloodstream Sermon.

Fig Tree

The plan for the next three weeks is to discuss the following scriptures:

Feb. 9/10 Chapter 3 of the Dhammapada
Feb. 16/17 The Karaniya Metta Sutta
Feb. 23/24 Chapter 4 of the Dhammapada

The time is as usual, 10 P.M. Eastern Time, 3 A.M. GMT.

Fig Tree

This is just a reminder that plans are still on for discussing chapter 4 of the Dhammapada ("Flowers") this weekend.

Fig Tree

For this weekend, Mar. 1/2, the proposed scripture for discussion is MN 26, the Ariyapariyesana Sutta ("The noble search"). A talk by Bhikkhu Bodhi on this sutra is available at the Bodhi monastery site. For next weekend, Mar. 8/9, it's back to the Dhammapada with chapter 5 ("The Fool").

Fig Tree

Just a reminder that we plan to discuss chapter 5 of the Dhammapada ("the fool") on Mar. 8/9.

Fig Tree

The sutra next scheduled for discussion is the Maha-dukkhakkhandha sutta (the "great mass of suffering sutra"), for Mar. 15/16. It is to be at 10 P.M. Saturday Eastern Time as usual. Please note however that because of daylight-saving time, where our clocks are set forward by one hour, 10 P.M. is one hour earlier than it was last week. If you'd like to take part in the discussion, but you didn't also just switch to daylight-saving time, be sure to take this into account.

Chapter 6 of the Dhammapada ("The Wise") is scheduled for Mar. 22/23.

Fig Tree

Edit: P.S. The Bodhi monastery site has a talk by Bhikkhu Bodhi on this sutra.

Just a reminder that a discussion of chapter 6 of the Dhammapada ("The Wise") is planned for Mar. 22/23 at the usual time.

Fig Tree

For Saturday, the Mahasaropama Sutra (the heartwood), MN 29. For next Saturday, chapter 7 of the Dhammapada ("the Arahant").

Fig Tree

And here we are. It's for tomorrow, or rather later today for most of you.

Fig Tree
"Calm in mind, speech, and action, and released through right understanding, such a person is fully at peace."

For the coming weekend, the Akkosa sutra ("the insult"), SN 7.2.

Fig Tree

For Saturday (10 P.M. Eastern Daylight time), chapter 8 of the Dhammapada ("thousands").

Fig Tree

P.S. And for those of you in Asia, just think what a lovely accompaniment this would make for your Sunday brunch.

All are welcome to come discuss the Canki Sutra (MN 95) this Saturday/Sunday.

Fig Tree

For Saturday (10 P.M. Eastern Daylight time), chapter 9 of the Dhammapada ("Evil").

Fig Tree

I think it's time to take a break from the online dharma discussions. They've all been enjoyable to me, and I've been pleased at the insights all the people who've come have had to offer. Lately, though, there have been several weeks when only one or two other people have been there. Some of the previously regular participants are currently unable to come for various reasons. It may only be a coincidence, but it also seems like more people show up when the weather across North America is not quite as nice. I also have thought it would be nice to have Saturday evenings free now and then.

Certainly if anybody else wants to try to organize a discussion, they are welcome. No credentials are necessary. It might be worth trying again sometime in the future. The Dhammapada discussions we've had have been collectively especially good, and I hope we can pick them up sometime, perhaps when more people are cooped up indoors again.

Fig Tree

[EDIT] P.S. Keep studying!

i will be hosting an event tomorow for deatails plese have a look at the topic in live chat events titeled genrel discussion of mayahyna and varayanas

Diamond Sutra Discussion on June 19th at 8:00PM

We will try to get through as much as we can, but I expect I will have to split it into different sections if that does not work out.

Heart Sutra Discussion June 23rd 8:00PM EST
Four people minimum to start.

Sutra Discussion on Friday July 4th at 7pm, four people minimum, sutra chosen by popular demand

Lets have a Platform Sutra Discussion tonight 8/08 at 8:00 PM EST

Lets try this again at 8:00 PM EST, August 10th. Please ask about the discussion, otherwise I will assume you are not there for it specifically and it will not go down.

Discussion of the Madhyamakavatara Tuesday August 19th 2008 (tonight) at 7:30PM EST