We completed Lesson 31 of DCB25 using The Different Levels of Nirvana from the Heart Sutra as our text. The following are some of the questions addressed during this ZOOM session relating to the different levels of nirvana and how you attain them.
What are the three different levels of nirvana?
“There are numerous differences among the levels of nirvana. That is, there are very many types of accomplishment relating to nirvana. There are the classifications of ‘nirvana with remaining reliance,’ ‘nirvana without remaining reliance,’ and ‘the great nirvana of no abiding.’ “
What is meant by nirvana with remaining reliance?
“Nirvana with remaining reliance is when one has illuminated one’s mind, seen one’s original nature, and cut off the afflictions of cyclic birth and death. However, the body that one received as karmic retribution, which was created from one’s delusion-based karma since beginningless time, still experiences karmic retribution that is in the form of illusionary existence. That is, the body and the specific consciousness the body brings with it in which the seeds of retribution mature, still remain. One has to rely upon the body. Thus, it is called nirvana with remaining reliance.”
What is a “Body of Nirvana”?
“However, the body that I am talking about is devoid of self or personhood and has broken away from its body of the four great elements. It is a body of nirvana without remaining reliance. It is a body that is equal to the universe. It is a body without shape or form, a body with the characteristic of having nothing to attain. This is what I want you to personally experience, but you must abide in actual cultivated powers to experience it.”
What is the second step, abiding in nirvana without remaining reliance?
“The second step, abiding in nirvana without remaining reliance, relates to this false combination that is our body, which undergoes arising, existing, decaying, and vanishing. I am referring to this mass of flesh we currently have; this body that must be fed and clothed; this body that has various attachments, such as saving face; this body whose eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind come into contact with the six sense objects—forms, sounds, smells, tastes, touches, and objects of mind; this body that is a false appearance of the five aggregates. The true realization of this step is to die in a state of emptiness and tranquility, letting the body naturally exhaust the karmic forces of causality and retribution.”
What, then, is the great nirvana of no abiding and how does one attain it?
“The great nirvana of no abiding is the further practice that is based upon nirvana without remaining reliance. Thus, the great nirvana of no abiding refers to a nirvana of no attaining or grasping in which Buddhas and Bodhisattvas take applying bodhicitta to save of living beings as their duty but are actually not attached to that duty and in which They abide in neither the cycle of birth and death nor nirvana. . . To reach the great nirvana of no abiding, one must have thoroughly realized the prajna of emptiness being marvelous existence, truly recognized the state of supreme prajna, and not only realized the emptiness of attachment to self, but also the emptiness of attachment to phenomena. When saving living beings in the six realms of samsara, one must not be attached to any state of merit relating to saving living beings. Only then can one enter the great nirvana of no abiding.”
The Buddha Master also talked about how you can find your Buddha Nature, the Dharmas in the Supreme and Unsurpassable Mahamudra of Liberation, how to enter the state of dhyana, the difference between plain and pure dharmakaya, the meaning of awakening, the “Bardo Body,” what happens at death, karmic retribution, and much more. He provided many examples to explain these principles in detail.
Be sure and enroll in DCB25-Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra: Part TWO-III, if you want to join our long term study of the Heart Sutra or the broader study of C41(A)-the Three Principle Stages & Paths of Buddhist Practice. There is an expanded article on C41(A) that explains its scope and content, which was discussed before starting DCB24 last Saturday. CLICK for video of that discussion and revised maps of this roadmap to C41(A). DCB24 is one of the Learning from Buddha Seminary (LFBS) courses that are included in C41(A). There is also another article that discusses G03(A) and G03 Evolution of Buddhism, two additional courses that are also part of C41(A).
CLICK for a list of available classes in each of the programs: Auditing, Buddhist Studies, and Xiuxing Seminary. Those with membership in the Xiuxing Seminary Program who are only interested in serious practice and not opening a Dharma Center may also elect to follow the Xiuxing Practice Program and take a seven or thirty-day Solitary Retreat.
Next:
The next class in DCB25 will continue with our discussion of Lesson 31- “All Buddhas of the three times rely on prajna-paramita and thereby attain anuttara-samyak-sambhodi.” at our May 10, 2025 ZOOM session at 9:00 am.
If you have enrolled in C41(A) or DCB25 or DCB24 or DCB23 or DCB22 or DCB21 or DCB26, you may continue to use the same ZOOM link to attend the Saturday morning discussions. However, you will need to enroll in the appropriate course to be able to watch the video recordings of the classes, download study materials, or study the related questions.
TO DATE: DCB25-Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra: PART TWO–IV and C41-Three Principal Stages & Paths of Buddhist Practice.
The recordings of the May 3, 2025 DCB25-Lesson 31 class is now available. All of the recordings and summary of ZOOM discussions for DCB21, DCB22, DCB23, DCB24, and DCB26-Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra are now available along with the questions for DCB25. You must be enrolled in each of these classes in one of the full membership programs at the LFBS to access the course materials, questions covered (in parenthesis), and/or the class recordings. Please note that these links will only work if you are logged into LFBS with your membership identification number AND are enrolled in this class.
“Having forever left inverted dream-thinking, they dwell in ultimate nirvana. All Buddhas of the three times rely on prajna-paramita and thereby attain anuttara-samyak-sambhodi.”
CLICK for article on the entire text of Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra.
CLICK for article with instructions on how to enroll in LFBS classes and how to register for the ZOOM discussions.
May 3, 2025: Lesson 31-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–IV, The Different Levels of Nirvana (24-68) and (HERE) for recording of the class.
April 26, 2025: Lesson 30–The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–IV, “Having forever left inverted dream-thinking, they dwell in ultimate nirvana.” (25-43 ) and (HERE) for recording of the class.
April 19, 2025: Lesson 29C–The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–IV, “. . . Bodhisattvas rely on prajna-paramita, and thus their minds have no hindrance.” (18-24) and (HERE) for recording of the class.
April 12, 2025: Lesson 29B–The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–IV, “. . . Bodhisattvas rely on prajna-paramita, and thus their minds have no hindrance.” (13-19) and (HERE) for recording of the class.
April 5, 2025: Lesson 29A-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–IV, “. . . Bodhisattvas rely on prajna-paramita, and thus their minds have no hindrance.” (1-12) and (HERE) for recording of the class.
CLICK for article on the last class held on DCB24 and links to all 13 ZOOM class discussions on DCB24 held from January 4, 2025 to March 29, 2025,
January 4, 2025: Roadmap to C41(A)–Three Principal Stages & Paths of Buddhist Practice. Video of class discussion.
CLICK for article on the last class held on DCB23 and links to all 13 ZOOM class discussions on DCB23 held from August 24, 2024 to November 16, 2024,
CLICK for article on the last class held on DCB22 and links to videos of all 21 ZOOM class discussions on DCB22 held from February 10, 2024 to April 20, 2024 and from June 29, 2024 to August 3, 2024.
CLICK for article on the last class held on DCB21 and links to videos of all 18 ZOOM class discussions on DCB21 held from November 21, 2022 to April 1, 2023. Note: not all of the forwards, notes, and introductions are complete.
CLICK for article on last class held on DCB26 and links to videos of all 8 ZOOM class discussions held on DCB26 held from April 20, 2024 to June 22, 2024.
CLICK for Background information on Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra and why it is such an important text.
CLICK for information on S01-Supreme and Unsurpassable Mahamudra of Liberation (SAUMOL) Seminar.
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