Twenty years ago, the assumptions on the origins of Buddhism was shattered with the discovery of the 2000 year old Gandhari birch bark scrolls in Eastern Afghanistan. They comprise the oldest collection of Buddhist scriptures and commentaries dating as far back as 100 B.C.E.

These manuscripts are considered the Dead Sea Scrolls or Hag Hammadi library of Buddhism because they offer a look into the early formation of what would become present day Buddhism.

“Scholars found that Mahayana and (then) Hinayana, rather than evolving sequentially, developed simultaneously, in an intertwined fashion. The conclusion specialists have drawn is that there is no single, original canon. The Pali Canon of the Theravada tradition is no longer the gold standard of what the Buddha taught, with other texts considered later additions. Suddenly, some of what was long regarded as later departures from the true teachings (Pali Canon), now has been shown to be contemporaneous with Pali texts.”

This talk and Q & A will look into the false premises of the development of the Buddhist major schools: Mahayana, Theravada, and Vajrayana Buddhism.

Based on an article from Tricycle Magazine. Presented by Rev. Senpai G. Lewis-Bastías.

Sliding scale suggested donation $10 – $20

A short Introduction to Meditation Training session will be held before the gathering at 9:45 a.m.