The evening started with a Dharma discussion, which means a teaching of Buddha. There were four group participants, one assistant, and one leader. Each person was handed a piece of paper with an ancient spell to ward off danger, it was titled “Sho Sai Myo Kichijo Dharani”. The group chanted it three times together and then sat in silence with the words. The chant is so ancient there is no interpretation. After sitting with the chant for a few moments, the leader asked the group to respond to the chant by expressing feelings, thoughts, and or questions. I did not chant but I did participate in the discussion by saying how I was feeling about the chant and relating it to past mediation experiences. The next part of the evening
