Formed in 1999, we are a diverse group—younger and older, male and female, gay, bisexual, and straight; long time students of the Buddha Dharma and newcomers. Many, but not all, are members of the South Church. We meet to practice meditation, to chant, to study the Way of the Buddha, and enjoy each other’s company, support and inspiration. You’re welcome to join us. There is no need or expectation to participate in practices that you do not understand. Your questions are welcome.

We do not follow a particular Buddhist tradition (such as Tibetan, Zen, Theravada) but try to learn from many traditions, Sutras, and modern teachers (including Thich Nhat Hanh, the late Chogyam Trungpa, and Pema Chodron.

Who was the Buddha?

The historical Buddha was born Siddhartha Gautama and lived from about 536 to 483 BCE. Born to wealth and privilege, as a young man he became profoundly dissatisfied with his life and the meaning offered by the conventional and unconventional wisdom of his day. He separated himself from family, friends, and society and spent six years in severe yogic practices that brought him little satisfaction. Eventually, he rejected these life-threatening practices and sought a middle way.

In deep meditation and resolve he experienced a profound understanding of himself and the human condition. This experience was akin to waking up. Later, when asked if he was a teacher, a man, or a god, he would answer that he was awake. It is form the word for awakening that the name Buddha is derived.

Following his enlightenment, the Buddha wandered and taught for 45 years in what is now India and Nepal. These teachings, originally oral and later written, constitute the source of Buddha Dharma, a means of detaching from suffering while remaining compassionately involved in and with the world. For 2500 years these teaching have spread throughout the world, taking somewhat different interpretations, forms, and emphases in different cultures and eras.

Now Buddhism awakens in the West, and as Westerners, we try to understand the Buddhist teachings and practices informed by their Eastern origins but distinct from these cultures and traditions. We seek teaching true to the Buddha and valued in 2500 years of development. We seek teachings that speak to our personal and social needs and conditions while remaining true to the best of our western traditions.

How do Buddhist teachings relate to Unitarian Universalism?

For more information, contact James Funston or Bruce Deveau. You can also subscribe to the UU Buddhist Fellowship Discussion List.