Saga Dawa Sūtra Resounding

As we enter the lunar month of Saga Dawa – the month in which Buddhists around the world celebrate the birth, enlightenment, and passing of the historical Buddha, Shakyamuni – 84000 is taking a figurative page from its sūtras!

In honour of the Buddha Shakyamuni’s vast literary heritage, we encourage our supporters to host their own ‘Sūtra Resounding,’ and delve into a much-quoted teaching, The King of Samādhis Sūtra, on the nature of emptiness given by the Buddha in response to a series of questions put forth by a young layman, Candraprabha.

When: 29th May, 2018 (Vesak)
Time: Whenever you feel the inspiration to read aloud!
Where: Your home, shrine room, study, or centre
How: Sign up here! https://bit.ly/2k0KqVn
Text: The King of Samādhis Sūtra http://read.84000.co/translation/UT22084-055-001.html

Perhaps Candraprabha’s questions will help articulate some our own explorations on samādhi, and echo our curiosities on such aspects of it as conduct, motivation, and the understanding of emptiness.

Join us on May 29th to read aloud the words of the Buddha and celebrate the wisdom of one of the largest collection of philosophical writings ever compiled!

*A ‘Resounding’ is the term that 84000 uses to express an activity that emulates the traditional monastic practice of reading aloud the entire Kangyur. In the monastic practice, each participant of a group selects a sūtra or section of a sūtra and reads it aloud – until the entire Kangyur has been collectively read aloud. The 84000 version of this practice is the activity of collectively reading aloud translated sūtra(s) or sections of a sūtra that have been published in the 84000 Reading Room. The idea is to have as much of the sūtra(s) as possible read aloud by any number of people in the given amount of time. Reading the words of the Buddha aloud is said to benefit oneself and all those who can hear them.

We encourage all participants to document their resoundings with photos and videos – of their texts, of their shrines, of their resounding groups – and share them with 84000 through a forthcoming platform.


Posted: 7 May 2018