What we’re about
This book club will pick a Buddhist-themed book to discuss each month. If you're interested in discussing practical applications of Buddhist ideas, this is the group for you! You don't need to have any background in Buddhism to participate.
If you'd like to learn more about Pragmatic Buddhism, see: https://pragmaticbuddhism.org/
We want our community to be inclusive. We believe Buddhist teachings should be accessible to everyone, they choose to identify as a Buddhist or not and regardless of their race, sexuality, gender, age, ability status, or class.
Our approach to Buddhism is pragmatic, emphasizing those aspects of the practice that relate to directly lived experience. Our teaching is agnostic when it comes to metaphysical questions, like “what happens after you die?” or “is there a god?”. We don't know! But we know how to act like a good human in this moment.
We are rooted in the Zen and Chan branches of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition, which emphasize direct experience of meditation as the best way to understand and reduce suffering. We were originally founded as the Dragon Flower Sangha by Ryugen Fisher.
Common questions and answers:
Do I need to know anything about Buddhism beforehand?
Not at all! The discussion is designed to be open to all. Pragmatic Buddhism is a path that's accessible to everyone.
Do I need to have read the book before the meeting?
Well, ideally, yes. But even if you haven't read the book, please join us for discussion!
Where can I find the books?
We recommend Left Bank Books - you can search for and order the book online here: https://www.left-bank.com/
