Online via Zoom

November 14th and 21st, 10 am – 12 noon (Pacific Time)

At the time of the Buddha, Angulimala was a mass murderer who is said to have killed 999 people. An encounter with the Buddha changed the course of his life and resulted in one of the most extraordinary transformations in the Buddhist tradition. The suttas and commentaries give a detailed picture both of his descent into violence and his awakening out of it.

This class may be of particular interest to those who feel angry, confused, or despairing about the present state of the world.

The story is rich with themes that speak to us now: conflict and divisiveness, how views and misinformation shape our choices, the ripple effects of our actions on others, the value of ethics, and the possibility of true transformation. During this two-part class, we will explore these themes through the lens of Buddhist understanding.

• Session 1 (Nov 14): Angulimala’s early life and his descent into violence — how ignorance, delusion, and circumstance can lead someone toward harm.
• Session 2 (Nov 21): The encounter with the Buddha and its aftermath — the possibility of transformation, and what it asks of us.

About the Instructor:
Andrea Fella is a co-guiding teacher at the Insight Meditation Center and the Insight Retreat Center. She has been practicing Insight Meditation since 1996, and teaching Insight Meditation since 2003. She is particularly drawn to intensive retreat practice, and has done a number of long retreats, both in the United States and in Burma. During one long practice period in Burma, she ordained as a nun with Sayadaw U Janaka. Andrea is especially drawn to the wisdom teachings of the Buddha. Her teachings emphasize clarity and practicality. Andrea teaches residential retreats for IRC and other retreat centers around the country.