Atlanta Buddhism Meetup Group for Beginners

Hello Dharma friend, the truth seeker,

Hope this message finds you well. If you feel overwhelmed with what's happening in the world and can't quite unplug from the news cycle, you might benefit from a stronger sense of purpose to it all. Why do things happen the way they do? My Dharma friend Kevin and I have decided to host a monthly meetup event (every 3rd Saturday of the month) on zoom to read and discuss the book You were born for a reason. The content of this book changed my life from a state of despair and powerlessness to a state of hope, wisdom, and empowerment. It is our hope to share our findings with you. This book You were born for a reason in its original form in Japanese with the title of Why Do We Live? has now become a million seller after its first publication in 2001. You were born for a reason is a translation of that and there might be some cultural gaps as we read it in English but that's where you and I, you and Kevin come in. By sharing our own examples, we breathe life into every word of this book and in the process find greater wisdom and hope than we ever knew. The following is from the introduction to the book:

"Today in countries around the world, people enjoy wealth and comfort
unheard of in centuries past. Medical and scientific advances mean that
we live longer and have greater ability to change and control our envi-
ronment to suit our needs. But have these advances brought greater hap-
piness? Modern society is plagued with ills such as violence in its many
forms, including tyranny, terrorism, murder, and suicide. Real answers
to these problems continue to elude us.
Our advances may have made us richer, but they have not done any-
thing to ensure our happiness or provide us with a sense of abiding
meaningfulness. In fact, modern life often seems only to bring more
acute feelings of isolation, loneliness, and emptiness.
Why is it that, although blessed with physical health and an abundant
lifestyle, we cannot find heart’s ease?
This question was addressed more than twenty-five hundred years
ago in India by Siddha ̄rtha Gautama (S ́a ̄kyamuni), the founder of Bud-
dhism. Born a prince, he excelled from boyhood in literary and military
arts; he wedded the loveliest young woman in the kingdom; he lacked
for nothing. Yet his heart was not cheered in the least. He passed the
days despondently, knowing that even though good health, treasure, sta-
tus, honor, family, and talent were his, he would one day lose them all:
no earthly happiness could prevail over old age, sickness, and death. Re-
alizing the nature of human existence, Siddha ̄rtha was unable to experi-
ence true ease or satisfaction."

Join us to learn more! The zoom password is 426646

This is the Amazon link to the book You were born for a reason. You don't need to have the book at the beginning as I will share my screen with you to get a feel for the book. You can also find the book used online at a reduced price:

https://www.amazon.com/You-Were-Born-Reason-Purpose/dp/0979047102

Hello Dharma friend, the truth seeker,

Hope this message finds you well. If you feel overwhelmed with what's happening in the world and can't quite unplug from the news cycle, you might benefit from a stronger sense of purpose to it all. Why do things happen the way they do? My Dharma friend Kevin and I have decided to host a monthly meetup event (every 3rd Saturday of the month) on zoom to read and discuss the book You were born for a reason. The content of this book changed my life from a state of despair and powerlessness to a state of hope, wisdom, and empowerment. It is our hope to share our findings with you. This book You were born for a reason in its original form in Japanese with the title of Why Do We Live? has now become a million seller after its first publication in 2001. You were born for a reason is a translation of that and there might be some cultural gaps as we read it in English but that's where you and I, you and Kevin come in. By sharing our own examples, we breathe life into every word of this book and in the process find greater wisdom and hope than we ever knew. The following is from the introduction to the book:

"Today in countries around the world, people enjoy wealth and comfort
unheard of in centuries past. Medical and scientific advances mean that
we live longer and have greater ability to change and control our envi-
ronment to suit our needs. But have these advances brought greater hap-
piness? Modern society is plagued with ills such as violence in its many
forms, including tyranny, terrorism, murder, and suicide. Real answers
to these problems continue to elude us.
Our advances may have made us richer, but they have not done any-
thing to ensure our happiness or provide us with a sense of abiding
meaningfulness. In fact, modern life often seems only to bring more
acute feelings of isolation, loneliness, and emptiness.
Why is it that, although blessed with physical health and an abundant
lifestyle, we cannot find heart’s ease?
This question was addressed more than twenty-five hundred years
ago in India by Siddha ̄rtha Gautama (S ́a ̄kyamuni), the founder of Bud-
dhism. Born a prince, he excelled from boyhood in literary and military
arts; he wedded the loveliest young woman in the kingdom; he lacked
for nothing. Yet his heart was not cheered in the least. He passed the
days despondently, knowing that even though good health, treasure, sta-
tus, honor, family, and talent were his, he would one day lose them all:
no earthly happiness could prevail over old age, sickness, and death. Re-
alizing the nature of human existence, Siddha ̄rtha was unable to experi-
ence true ease or satisfaction."

Join us to learn more! The zoom password is 426646

This is the Amazon link to the book You were born for a reason. You don't need to have the book at the beginning as I will share my screen with you to get a feel for the book. You can also find the book used online at a reduced price:

https://www.amazon.com/You-Were-Born-Reason-Purpose/dp/0979047102

Hi our Friends,
Either me or a good Dharma friend is going to share the teachings with people new to Buddhism. Once our life is transformed through the Dharma, we can't keep it to ourselves. Hopefully other Dharma friends will volunteer to share their wisdom too!
Join us and study together! We will have Q&As at the end of the presentation too!
The password for zoom is 426646.
The first 20 minutes I'd like to get to know who is joining our zoom session so please have your camera on. After that, we will record our presentation and Q&A and upload to YouTube. Thank you for your understanding.
If you're interested in learning Buddhism but have a schedule conflict, please email Bita at bitadharma22@gmail.com

Our classes are free for the first 3 sessions. After 3 sessions, if you see value in joining, please consider offering a contribution.
Our classes & sangha are sustained completely by the dana gratitude contributions of people like you!
Dana gratitude donations for our classes are gratefully accepted on Venmo @Bita-Enayati If you don't have Venmo, please email me at bitadharma22@gmail.com
so you can offer your contribution through PayPal or Zelle
Suggested donation for the event is $5 - $20.
Once you finish this basic course, if you'd like to be part of our sangha (community of like-minded friends who are contributing, sustaining members), you're welcome to join our advanced course and have access to other classes as well.
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Below is the self-introduction of one of our presenters:
My name is Pam and I am from Nepal. I have been listening to Buddhist teachings, reading books about Buddhism from the sources of what ever was available in my country, I used to listen to Buddhist monks, gurus. In the beginning of 2020 my husband met one sensei through facebook who was teaching Buddhism online so from there we started listening to Buddhism.
We listened in daily basis, we had at least one hour session every day where we learned much more than what we had just learned within my country. Listening to dharma has motivated me in many ways specifically if I could share then it would be being a better person every day.
No matter what the world throws at you, no matter how people treat you , no matter what you go through but you make sure that you become a better person. And listening to dharma /Buddhism has really helped me a lot, understanding life, relationships and more.
It is just the beginning I feel there’s much more to go, so the best thing is you listen to dharma and feel more deep. Be kind have compassion.
And one more best thing you can do is sharing it. So that many people can benefit in many ways.
Before I was just growing by age but after listening to dharma I am sincerely grown up now, I have learned how to communicate, apologize, be truthful and accept accountability of my deeds / karma without blaming someone else. I'll be happy if I can share that with you too.

Hello our Dharma friends!

Buddhism is often compared to a great tree. The Law of Cause and Effect (Karma) is its trunk and its root. If the root is severed, the tree withers; if the trunk is cut, the tree falls. Because this law is the very foundation of the path, we are returning to the basics to ensure our "roots" are strong.

Whether you are a complete newcomer or a long-time practitioner, this series is designed to deepen your understanding by mastering the art of sharing.
Why Join This Series?
They say "to teach is to learn twice." Much like math, you truly understand a concept only when you can explain it to someone else. By learning how to share the Law of Karma, you aren't just helping others—you are listening to the Dharma with your own ears and testing your own heart.
What to Expect:

• Back to Basics: We will strip away the complexity and explore the Law of Cause and Effect from a fresh, beginner-friendly perspective.
• Interactive Learning: This isn't just a lecture. We will guide you to become more confident in articulating these profound truths.
• Deepen Your Practice: For regulars, this "deep dive into the basics" will clarify nuances that are often missed in advanced discussions.
• Community: A supportive environment where we learn, listen, and grow together.

Series Schedule:
This is a 5-part serial workshop. While each session stands on its own, we highly recommend attending all five to get the full "root-to-leaf" experience!
"When you share the Dharma, you are also listening to your own voice and learning together."
Welcome to the gateway to Buddhism 101 for all! Our Karma Lab meeting is a friendly get-together of like-minded people to learn about karma in Buddhism.
Our weekly “intro to Buddhism” meetup group is open to all! No experience in Buddhism is necessary.

We have a good mix of regulars and newbies each meeting.
The first 20 minutes I'd like to get to know who is joining our zoom session so please have your camera on. To ensure a smooth entrance to my zoom room, your camera must be on when you come in.

Our classes are free for the first 3 sessions . After 3 sessions, if you see value in joining, please consider offering a contribution.
Our classes & sangha are sustained by the dana gratitude contributions of people like you!
Dana gratitude donations for our classes are gratefully accepted on Venmo @Bita-Enayati If you don't have Venmo, please email me at bitadharma22@gmail.com
so you can offer your contribution through PayPal or Zelle
Suggested donation for the event is $5 - $20.

Last but not least– the Zoom passcode is 426646.
We’re looking forward to meeting you!