All the Villains: Evil, Karma, and Buddhist Restorative Justice (SF2G23)

Registration will close at 12:00 p.m. (US Pacific Time) prior to the fifth class on Thursday, June 29, 2023. A recording* will be available within 48 hours following each class.

All the Villains: Evil, Karma, and Restorative Justice in the Buddha’s Community

Description:
People under the grip of greed, hatred, and delusion do “evil” things. The Buddha himself had to contend with deeply wounded people causing terrible harm, including a famous serial killer, a patricidal king, and his own cousin trying to murder him. Their stories reveal a powerful and nuanced Buddhist approach to crime and justice that reinforces the core teaching that harmful action is born of ignorance, and can always be met with compassion and forgiveness.

We will read about Aṇgulimālā the serial killer, Ajatasattu the patricide, Devadatta the traitor, and a group of monks lost in factionalism and toxic politics. Evil in the Buddhist world is personified by Māra the deceiver, who the Buddha meets on the eve of his liberation. In these stories we see the workings of karma (kamma), and a vision of restorative justice where even the worst evil-doer can eventually be fully liberated.

While beginners are welcome, this class may be most engaging for practitioners with some experience in meditation and Buddhist teachings. With extensive supplementary material, this class aims to make the discourses of the Buddha an accessible, inspiring support for practice.

Please Note: Though the classes in the series will build on each other, attendance at all classes is not required.

Class dates are: June 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29, 2023; all classes are held on Thursdays from 01:00 p.m. – 03:00 p.m. US Pacific Time.

Online Only: We are offering this program online via Zoom for you to join us remotely.

Sliding Scale: $0–$108. Our sliding scale options for this program include financial support for our teachers. Please consider paying at the highest rate that you can afford: your generosity supports the teachers as well as Spirit Rock, staff, and your fellow practitioners.

*Recording Note: If you would like access to the recordings, you must register by the deadline above. You will have ~90 days from the original program date to view the recordings of this program.