Lotus SoCal: English-speaking temple group

Chinese Mahayana Buddhist Calendar

Lotus SoCal is a group of Westerners and English speakers interested in Mahayana Buddhism at Hsi Lai Temple. Recent events included a discussion group on "Applying Buddhist Teachings to Our Daily Lives" (Sunday, 9/27 from 1:00-2:30 pm) in the Assembly Hall. Topic: How would Buddhists view the Kentucky clerk who wouldn't grant marriage licenses to gay couples? Starts with 15 minutes of meditation followed by discussion. Free. Everyone welcome. Note: Please send in your discussion topics. We will select them on a first come, first served basis.

There was a more exciting event "Eight Precepts Retreat" this past weekend 9/26-9/27. Activities culminated that night with the Lotus SoCal "Mid-Autumn Festival" also known as the Harvest Moon Festival. Now in its third year, it is titled "Evening Under the Moon" to view the blood moon tetrad, supermoon, and lunar eclipse.

There is also a new Thursday Group: Meditation, Study, and Discussion, which starts Thursday, October 1, 2015 from 7:30-9:00 pm in the Assembly Hall. It will meet the first and third Thursday of each month. It is lead by Ven. Zhi Xing. It starts with 30-40 minutes of meditation followed by reading and discussion of Ven. Master Hsing Yun's book Hear Me Out: A Message From a Humble Monk. To sign up, contact Terry at: turk11@att.net. Free.

• English Hsi Lai Temple website: hsilai.org/en/index.php
• Calendar at Hsi Lai Temple: hsilai.org/en/eAbt/eAbtCal.php
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