Shining Light on Scripture

• When:           Wednesday Mornings
• Time:             11:00 am – 1:00 pm
• Where:          The Gathering Place, 3613 Bechelli Lane, Redding, CA  96002
• Zoom link:    https://us02web.zoom.us/j/931097698?pwd=YzdSdnlsNGxmR0FPY0xCUTdRdldTdz09
• Facilitated by Chris Johnson, RScP

Join Chris Johnson, RScP on Wednesdays from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm for a fun and enlightening study of the Sacred Scriptures of the World. We began with the Hebrew Scriptures – or Old Testament, looking at each story and character through the lens of mythology and symbolism; within its historical and cultural context; and according to its literary genre and qualities. Then we considered how these stories shaped the teachings of the Rabbi Yeshua of Nazareth and the formation of the early Christian Church, before exploring the non-canonical Gospels of Thomas and Mary Magdalene. And now, for something completely different…

For now we are leaving the Judeo-Christian Scriptures behind, as we study

The Dhammapada

Recommended Reading

The Dhammapada, translated by Eknath Easwaran

A brief synopsis from bookseller.org (supporting local independent bookstores):

Easwaran’s best-selling translation of this classic Buddhist text The Dhammapada is reliable, readable, and profound.

Dhammapada means “the path of dharma,” the path of harmony and righteousness that anyone can follow to reach the highest good. The Dhammapada is a collection of verses, gathered probably from direct disciples who wanted to preserve what they had heard from the Buddha himself.

Easwaran’s comprehensive introduction to the Dhammapada gives an overview of the Buddha’s teachings that is penetrating, and clear – accessible for readers new to Buddhism, but also with fresh insights and practical applications for readers familiar with this text. His translation is based on the original Pali. Chapter introductions, notes and a Sanskrit glossary place individual verses into the context of the broader Buddhist canon.

Easwaran is a master storyteller, and the introduction includes many stories that make moving, memorable reading, bringing young Siddhartha and his heroic spiritual quest vividly to life. This faithful interpretation brings us closer to the compassionate heart of the Buddha.

This is a drop-in book study group – come whenever you like.

We meet at the Gathering Place, 3613 Bechelli Lane, Redding, CA, and online at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/931097698?pwd=YzdSdnlsNGxmR0FPY0xCUTdRdldTdz09

Donations graciously accepted.

Bible Study Resources

• The Beginner’s Guide to the Bible by Jeffrey Kranz
• The Bible Project: a website with free Bible study resources and terrific videos
• Five Gospel Parallels: Shows parallel passages from the four canonical gospels and the Gospel of Thomas (from the University of Toronto
• Metaphysical Bible Dictionary: Provides metaphysical meanings for names of people and places in the Bible (from TruthUnity)
• The Gnostic Society Library: a treasure trove of non-canonical Christian gospels and apocrypha, including the Nag Hammadi Library, Hermetic Literature, and more
• King James Version of the Bible with Strong’s Concordance: Contains links to the original Hebrew and Greek words for a more in-depth exploration of other possible translations (from godrules.net)
• King James Version of the Bible with Apocrypha: Includes the Apocrypha, which are books contained in the Catholic Bible, but not the Protestant Bible (from the University of Michigan)
• Revised Standard Version of the Bible with Apocrypha: Includes more Apocryphal books in a more modern translation (from the University of Michigan)
• Early Christian Writings: Includes the canonical New Testament books as well as non-canonical gospels, such as those of Thomas, Philip, Mary Magdalene, etc., plus lots of writings that were circulated among the first and second century Christ Followers.