Author: BHS

SMG New Book Study Announcement (Aug 3, 2024)

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Dear EDG Community,
We are excited to announce our next book study, where we will delve into “The Experience of Samadhi: An In-depth Exploration of Buddhist Meditation” by Richard Shankman. “In this clear and accessible exploration, Dharma teacher and longtime meditator Richard Shankman unravels the mix of differing, sometimes conflicting, views and traditional teachings on how samadhi (concentration) is understood and taught.” – Penguin Random House.

“The Experience of Samadhi provides a wonderfully broad overview of the role of concentration in Buddhist meditation as well as in-depth exploration of meditative experience. This book is a valuable and inspiring resource.”—Joseph Goldstein

The book study will commence on Saturday, August 3. We kindly request that each participant purchase a copy before our first meeting. SMG’s virtual meetings take place every Saturday, starting at 10 AM. We begin with a 30-minute gently guided Vipassana meditation, followed by an engaging and interactive hour-long discussion on our reading material.

We look forward to embarking on this journey together and invite you to explore the in-depth guide of “The Experience of Samadhi.”

Kind regards,
SMG (EDG’s Satellite Meditation Group)

** Please reach out to Rick with any questions you might have at vsmg.mgr@gmail.com

Bhante Rāhula’s EDG Dhamma Talks

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We are very excited to announce that Bhante Rāhula from Mexico will be giving talks at EDG on 5/26/2024 and 6/23/2024. This will be Bhante’s first time sharing his teaching at EDG and we look forward to his presentations. Bhante is an expert in Abhidhamma, a skilled speaker, and an educator.

In these initial talks with EDG, Bhante would like to share and explore practical ways to apply the Dhamma in our daily lives.

Introducing Bhante Rāhula

Bhante Rāhula, born in Mexico, has spent the last 22 years in Asia in various periods, where he has practiced and studied the Dhamma.

He was ordained in Myanmar by Sayadaw Dr. Nandamālābhivaṃsa, who is his preceptor. Since 2004 he has received meditation guidance from Sayadaw U Tejaniya. For 6 years, Bhante studied Suttas and Abhidhamma with Sayadaw Dr. Ukkamsacara in Macau. In 2019, he completed a course on Buddhist scriptures from Harvard University.

He underwent monastic Vinaya training for 2 years in Sasanarakkha Buddhist Sanctuary in Malaysia under the guidance of Ven. Ariyadhammika, where he also led retreats and Dhamma activities for the local community.

For the last 7 years, Bhante has offered continuous weekly courses on the anatomy of the mind (applied Abhidhamma) in English and Spanish, followed online by students in more than 15 countries.

In the beginning of 2023, Bhante conducted a Dhamma tour in South America, leading retreats and talks in Uruguay, Colombia and Ecuador.

Currently, Bhante is constructing the Mexican Buddhist Center (Paññābhūmi) to introduce and propagate the Buddha’s teaching in South America. He is also actively involved in diverse programs to aid parts of the society in overcoming drug addiction and alcoholism, as well as supporting educational campaigns for children and teens to prevent such problem in this region.

Below are a few pictures from retreats and events led by Bhante Rāhula:

Mexican Buddhist Center (Paññābhūmi)
Mexican Buddhist Center (Paññābhūmi)
Talks for children
Talks to 2,000 parents of drug addicts
Talk to relieve stress and develop the Brahmavihārā for doctors
Retreat in South America

Here are a few Dhamma talks by Bhante Rāhula:

Buddha’s Birthday Celebration

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We will not have an EDG meeting on May 19th.

At this time, English Dharma Group is joining the Grand Hall ceremony for Buddha’s Birthday Celebration.  The Talk will be in Chinese.  But, there will be headsets available for English translation.

The EDG meetings, and Zoom, will resume on May 26th.

Weekly Nikaya Reading Class

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Presently, we are on the Anguttara Nikaya translated by Bhikkhu Bodhi of Nikaya series. We meet at 7:00PM to 8:30PM central time every Sunday via Zoom. Whoever is interested, please contact nikaya.mgr@gmail.com. Mr James Chao, the founder and leader of the Nikaya Reading Class, ordered some copies of Anguttara Nikaya for participants of the reading class from EDG. Each copy of the Anguttara Nikaya will be sold at a special rate of $20/copy as a donation to Jade Buddha Temple and as an invitation to the reading class. It is a wonderful opportunity to bring you closer to the Buddha’s teachings. FYI. You can also purchase the Anguttara Nikaya on Amazon. For those who are interested, please reach out to EDG for purchase.

Weekly (Sunday) Dharma Talks

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Every Sunday, the Jade Buddha Temple (Kwan Yin Hall), has weekly Dharma talks. Some of the talks are given in person (at Kwan Yin Hall) and others are given/seen remotely via Zoom (seen via projector in Kwan Yin Hall).

Check our calendar to find out who will be delivering the Dharma talk and if the talk will be in person (at the Kwan Yin Hall of Jade Buddha Temple) or remotely via Zoom (seen via projector in Kwan Yin Hall). Please join us every Sunday and participate in these Dharma talks.

Timelines (Central Time):

10:00 AM – 10:30AM: Guided meditation
10:30 AM – 11:30AM: Dharma talk
11:30AM: Vegetarian lunch

Also, you can sign up for the weekly newsletter to receive information about these weekly Dharma talks.