We will be starting weekly discussions on P10-The Great Dharma of Zen Practice next week on Tuesday evening–August 19 at 6:00 pm Pacific Time. You will need to BOTH enroll in P10 at Learning from Buddha Seminary and register with ZOOM for the related link to attend the discussions.
Our next class in Hesperia will be held at 19099 Lemon Street on August 17, starting at 10:00 am and continuing until 3:00 pm. It will cover Lessons Three & Four on an “Introduction to Prajna” including anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, scattered or worldly intelligence, great questioning, Buddha nature, samadhi, manas and alaya consciousness, sentient beings, dhyana, and more.
Since the Buddha Master was quite clear in His instructions to study and practice the discourse that followed the main text of Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra, we are again studying DCB26-“How to Realize Prajna.” We started our discussion on this discourse again on August 9, 2025. There will be no class on DCB26 on August 16, but will continue on August 23.
The DCB26-How to Realize Prajna related discussion on August 9 included the following:
What is the essence of the 84,000 Dharma methods imparted by Shakyamuni Buddha?
“To put it explicitly, they are nothing other than two words: cause and effect.“
How do we solve the matter of cause and effect?
“Solving the matter of cause and effect is nothing other than two words: cultivating yourself.”
How did all the Buddhas in the ten directions naturally attain liberation and accomplishment?
“Relying on cultivation in one’s Dharma practice, one will naturally attain liberation and accomplishment. This was also the way of all Buddhas in the ten directions.”
What is the goal of cultivation and how do we achieve that goal?
“Thus, we should be especially clear about what is meant by cultivation. Cultivation is to change the order of the maturing of causes and effects. The goal of cultivation is to actually transform causality. You decide which should mature earlier and which should be made to mature later. You have to transform causality.”
What are some of the specific methods or teachings that Shakyamuni Buddha gave us that are specifically for cultivation?
“Of course, since everything is a matter of realizing fruits or effects in accord with causes, the Buddha therefore specially established in His teachings [1-]the mind determined to leave samsara, [2-]the Four Limitless States of Mind, [3-]bodhicitta, and [4-]various kinds of precepts and rules. There are many kinds of different precepts and rules. In addition, there are methods specifically for cultivation, such as [5-]the myriad practices subsumed in the Six Paramitas, and so on. These cultivation methods, these methods specifically for cultivation, all specifically play the role of planting causes and bearing fruits or effects. They will plant causes that bear fruits. This is the role they play. ”
Since the Buddha is so compassionate and wants to liberate living beings, why doesn’t He just use his great supernormal powers and convey living beings to the World of Ultimate Bliss?
“He cannot convey you there that way. He is unable to transport you there. That is because learning from Buddha is a matter of the relationship between cause and effect. Only through your own efforts can you attain realization, attain awakening, and reach that destination. The Dharma expounded by the Buddha is like a revelation. It opens the gates to the Dharma and presents the absolute truth. After you see its principles, you yourself penetrate into the truth, awaken, and transform causality. Only then can the Buddha convey you there. Do you understand?”
What would happen if you attain the Nirvana Crown Opening, exited your body and were able to fly to the heavens?
“Even if you attained the Nirvana Crown Opening, exited your body, and flew off to become a celestial, when you arrived at heaven, you would still need to encounter the opportunity to learn from Buddha. You would need to realize prajna and enter into the absolute truth of liberation. Otherwise, you would still have not ended the cycle of birth and death.”
We also discussed the role that the Heart Sutra has played in Buddhism and the impact it has had on those who read or chanted it and why. The Buddha Master shared stories and examples to help explain His teachings as well as the concept of “interfused dual application”. He also said that if we wanted to go deeper, we should practice according to The Supreme and Unsurpassable Mahamudra of Liberation. In this session we heard the methods listed in general terms, the specific details will be explained in future sessions. We also heard why other religions do not offer better solutions and why we may not be able to realize prajna even after learning its principles.
Be sure and enroll in DCB26-Realizing Prajna, 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. CLICK for video of that discussion and revised maps of this roadmap to C41(A). DCB26 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 on DCB26 will continue our discussion of Lesson 36-“Causality & the Methods of Continual Practice” at our August 23, 2025 ZOOM session at 9:00 am. There will be no ZOOM class on August 16.
If you have enrolled in C41(A) DCB26 or DCB25 or DCB24 or DCB23 or DCB22 or DCB21, 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: DCB26-How to realize Prajna and C41-Three Principal Stages & Paths of Buddhist Practice.
The recordings of the August 9, 2025 DCB26-Lesson 36A 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. 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.
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.
CLICK for article on July 20, 2025 class held at Hesperia on Lessons 1 & 2: Background and Introduction to the Heart Sutra and H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III’s Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra.
CLICK for article on last class held on DCB26 in 2024 and links to videos of all 8 ZOOM class discussions held on DCB26 held from April 20, 2024 to June 22, 2024.
CLICK for article on the last class held on DCB25 and links to all 15 ZOOM class discussions on DCB25 held from April 5, 2025 to August 2, 2025,
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 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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