Dharma Drink: the hangout for Buddhists (& like minded)

Dear Dharma Drink Friends,

Our next book club will be The Long Discourses of the Buddha, Dīgha Nikāya.

Please read or skim through the Introduction as it may contain helpful background on the history or culture as well as Buddhist terminologies, definitions, and cosmology. You can also skim the Sutta Summaries for your reference. For our discussions, we will cover the following chapters:

Read Chapters
- DN 15 Mahānidāna Sutta – The Great Discourse on Causation (on dependent origination)
- DN 18 Janavasabha_Sutta – With Janavasabha (on rebirth and Dhamma propagation)

Discussion Preparation:
Please prepare 5 or more points of interests or questions per chapter.

NOTE - each book discussion is independent of others, so you can join any meeting without having attended previous ones.

Per SuttaCentral.net: "The Dīgha Nikāya is the first of the four main divisions in the Sutta Piṭaka of the Pali Canon (tipiṭaka)....
It is distinguished from the other nikāyas by its more developed and elaborate literary forms. Outgrowing the bare and direct style of most of the early texts, here the extra length offers space for narratives and doctrinal expositions to find a fuller expression..."

Per WisdomExperience.org: “These suttas reveal the gentleness, compassion, power, and penetrating wisdom of the Buddha. Included are teachings on mindfulness (Mahāsatipaṭṭhāna Sutta); on morality, concentration, and wisdom (Subha Sutta); on dependent origination (Mahānidrāna Sutta); on the roots and causes of wrong views (Brahmajāla Sutta); and a long description of the Buddha’s last days and passing away (Mahāparinibbāna Sutta); along with a wealth of practical advice and insight for all those travelling along the spiritual path.”

The translation we plan to use is translated by Maurice Walshe:

Dear Dharma Drink Friends,

We're planning to embark on another Dharma book reading, the Nirvana Sutra (The Mahayana Mahaparinirvana Sutra).

This sutra elaborates on Buddha-nature and serves as a doctrinal confirmation for the many Mahayana lineages. We plan on reading the first half of the sutra, from chapter 1-26. My understanding is that the first half covers the foundation and systematic exposition. The second half, chapters 27-32, consists of elaborations through bodhisattva dialogues. We'll make a decision later if or when to read the 2nd half.

Read Chapters
- Ch 1 - Intro
- Ch 2 - On Cunda
(- Ch 3 - On Grief)

Discussion Preparation:
Please prepare 5 or more points of interests or questions per chapter.

Per BDK America: "One of the most influential Buddhist texts in East Asia, the Mahāyāna Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra, or Nirvana Sutra, takes the occasion of Śākyamuni Buddha’s last sermon to present a thoroughly Mahāyāna message in which buddhas are mythically eternal yet a constant presence in our temporal world..."

Per Amazon's Dr Tony Page and Kosho Yamamoto book description: "This sutra is the study of what can be called "Nirvana Sutra Buddhism" or "Tathagatagarbha Buddhism". It is a very positive, balanced, faith-promoting and spiritually affirmative manifestation of Buddhism, which recognizes the hidden reality of the unconditioned, egoless Buddha-Self in all beings..."