Syllabus

Becoming an oasis in a world on fire - Weaving the Paramitas into the Tapestry of our Lives

Converging Streams Zen Community (Maha Sangha)

Syllabus

Facilitated by Becky, Jessica, Josh, Ryan, Shelley, and Trudy

JUNE 21st 2025 – JANUARY 3rd 2026

“What do I need to do to express, develop, and sustain compassion? And the answer is, practice the six practices: generosity, morality, patience, energy, meditation, and wisdom. That’s the way to develop compassion.”

—Norman Fischer

Reading Materials

Suggested Texts (please consider purchasing one or more of these texts for personal study. Note: the Fischer book can also be found in audiobook format):

• Deep Hope: Zen Guidance for Staying Steadfast When the World Seems Hopeless by Diane Eshin Rizzetto 

• Entering the Mind of Buddha: Zen and the Six Heroic Practices of Bodhisattvas by Tenshin Reb Anderson

• The Six Perfections: Buddhism and the Cultivation of Character by Dale Wright

• The World Could Be Otherwise: Imagination and the Bodhisattva Path by Norman Fischer

Other resources for learning, reflection, and engagement will be shared throughout the course of study.

Schedule & Suggested Readings

All class sessions are 10 AM-12 PM Central Standard Time on the third Saturday of each month for June, July, August, September, and November, the second Saturday of the month in October and December, and the first Saturday of the month in January.  

Session 1:        Introduction to the Paramitas - Embodying Compassion in the World

 JUN 21st

Suggested Reading:

Anderson - Introduction (p.1-13)

Fischer -  Chapter 1 - Imagination (p. 1-25)

Rizzetto - Introduction (p. ix-xiv), Chapter 1 (p.1-15)

Wright - Introduction (p. 3-17)

Session 2: Generosity (Dāna-pāramitā)

 JUL 19th

Suggested Reading:

Anderson - The Perfection of Giving (p. 15-29)

Fischer - Chapter 2 (p. 27-54)

Rizzetto - Chapter 2 (p. 16-40)

Wright - Chapter 1 (p. 18-54)

Session 3:  Ethical Conduct (Sīla-pāramitā)

 AUG 16th

Suggested Reading:

Anderson - The Perfection of Ethics (p. 31-51)

Fischer - Chapter 3 (p. 55-82)

Rizzetto - Chapter 3 (p. 41-76)

Wright - Chapter 2 (p. 55-93)

Session 4: Patience (Kṣānti-pāramitā)

 SEP 20th

Suggested Reading:

Anderson - The Perfection of Patience (p. 53-70)

Fischer - Chapter 4 (p. 83-112)

Rizzetto - Chapter 4 (p. 77-88)

Wright - Chapter 3 (p. 94-136)

Session 5:  Diligence (Vīrya-pāramitā)

 OCT 11th

Suggested Reading:

Anderson - The Perfection of Enthusiasm (p. 71-82)

Fischer - Chapter 5 (p. 113-139)

Rizzetto - Chapter 5 (p. 89-102)

Wright - Chapter 4 (p. 137-172)

Session 6:  Meditative Concentration (Dhyāna-pāramitā)

 NOV 15th

Suggested Reading:

Anderson - The Perfection of Concentration (p. 83-97)

Fischer - Chapter 6 (p. 141-170)

Rizzetto - Chapter 6 (p. 103-123)

Wright - Chapter 5 (p. 173-217)

Session 7:  Wisdom (Prajñā-pāramitā)                       

 DEC 13th

Suggested Reading:

Anderson - The Perfection of Wisdom (p. 99-118)

Fischer - Chapter 7 (p. 171-199)

Rizzetto - Chapter 7 (p. 124-136)

Wright - Chapter 6 (p. 218-265)

Session 8:  Embodying the Paramitas in Everyday Life                     

 JAN 3rd

Suggested Reading:

Anderson - Epilogue (p. 119)

Rizzetto - Conclusion (p. 137-147)

  Wright - Conclusion (p. 266-276)