The Dharma Reading Café
Friday 20 March 7pm – 9pm
Join us for an evening of discussion and comment on this insightful introduction to one of Japan's most admired haiku poets. In this book, Donegan and Ishibashi give us the most extensive collection of Chiyo-ni's poems available in English along side the Japanese and romanized text of each poem.
How To Join
Meeting ID: 885 0411 7347
Passcode: 278906
Use a PC or Mac
For most modern web browsers, you do not need to download anything. For a better experience you can, before the start time, download the Zoom Desktop Client for Windows, Mac, or Linux. You do not need to create an account or sign in.
A few minutes before we're due to start, click here to join.
Use a Mobile or Tablet
Before the start time, download the Zoom Mobile App using one of the links below. You do not need to create an account or sign in.
A few minutes before we're due to start, click here to join.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Quarterly Dharma Reading Café?
An informal online meet-up for anyone who likes to read, open to all friends of the Colchester Buddhist Centre, wherever you might be. It is a café, rather than a club, because it is run on a drop-in basis, and each session sees a different grouping of people in attendance, according to individual interests.
What is our overarching purpose?
To explore how poetry, literature and non-fiction can play a part in bringing us closer to the 'three jewels' – the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. An opportunity to cultivate community (Sangha), by being together with like-minded farers in the Dharma, and sharing our thoughts on the wider Buddhist traditions in which Triratna is situated.
What can I expect from the evening?
We begin with a ten-minute period of meditation, intended to foster kindness and receptivity toward each other, and the capacity for deep listening. This is followed by brief individual check-ins, commenting on how the book has stimulated us Dharmically. After a ten-minute comfort break, the floor is opened to further discussion.
What have we already read together?
Past events have brought us together in discussions of the poetry of Saigyo, Snyder and others; novels by Hesse, Ozeki and Vuong; biographies of the first ordained woman, a brother of the Dalai Lama, and a Buddhist death-row inmate; and books exploring Dharmic intersections with indigeneity, shamanism, ecology, and vegetarianism.
Do I need to be a Buddhist?
Not necessarily. Everyone who has read the book is welcome. But you’d probably want to have some interest in what is called Buddhism, enough curiosity about the ‘three jewels’ to sustain your enthusiasm for the books that we discuss, and a healthy dose of positive emotion to ensure that the evening is enjoyable for all.
Do I have to book a place?
No, you can just click on the link and show up, with a cup of tea in one hand and the book in the other. Having said that, it might be helpful to let the organiser know you are coming, just so that we have a sense of numbers. You can do this by texting 07722129133 or emailing contact@colchesterbuddhistcentre.com.
How much does the event cost?
There is no fee, as obtaining a copy of the book is already an expense, and showing up to support the reading café is an act of dana in itself. However, donations are always welcome.
The Team
