Reading Group Questions

1. Which character was your favorite at the beginning of the novel?
2. Which character was your favorite at the end of the novel?
3. If your favorite character changed, why? Can you relate to the predicaments to your favorite character? To what extent do they remind you of yourself or someone you know?
4. Do you believe one person hurting another is like a hand curling into a fist and smashing the foot?
5. Do you believe each one of us has a Dharma in Life?
6. If you believe that we each have a Dharma -a duty, a purpose, a path- will that change how you live the rest of your Life? What do you think your Dharma could be?
7. Do you believe Joseph is right, that God wouldn't mind if we spent a little less time telling him how great he is and a little more time helping each other?
8. Do you believe forgiveness is a path to healing?
9. Could you forgive someone who had brought you so much pain?
10. Could you find the strength to ask for forgiveness from someone you may have caused such pain to?
11. Do you believe in reincarnation? If so, why? If not, why not?
12. Do you believe that supernatural forces and/or spirits impact, influence, or otherwise guide the course of our lives? If so, why? If not, why not? If you do believe this to be true, do you believe that they can be the cause of unpleasant, even painful, experiences that are nevertheless for our own benefit/good?
13. Do you believe that some people, like Joseph's parents, come into this lifetime with the purpose of being of service to others? Even if that means sacrificing their own lives?
14. Do you believe that supernatural forces and/or spirits impact, influence, or otherwise guide the course of our lives? If you do believe this to be true, do you believe that they can be the cause of unpleasant, even painful, experiences that are nevertheless for our own benefit/good?