On November 1, 2025 we continued our discussion of DCB26-“How to Realize Prajna.” You may still join that class (See instructions at bottom of this article along with links to previous lessons.) and do the following homework. Listening to the same material we discussed last year may be helpful.
HOMEWORK-DCB26: Watch video 37.1 from May 4, 2024. Those attending previous classes all have specific assignments from these questions, but all should be prepared to answer questions 67-107 in Lesson 37 during ZOOM Class. You may also submit your answers via course procedures.
The following are brief summaries of part of our discussion on November 1 and previous classes. The large bold blue quotes are from a preliminary translation of Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. Please note that in this class we heard the understanding expressed by the various participants. To hear the actual quotes from the Buddha Master you need to listen to the classes held in 2024. Also please remember that we are still working with a preliminary and unauthorized translation of the Buddha Master’s teachings so they can only be used for reference.
How can you generate a state of mind that is cognizant of impermanence?
“To generate that state, you have to specifically practice contemplation. . . When your mind cognizant of impermanence arises, from your avidya you will suddenly generate strong, acute fear. You will be intensely frightened. You will be terrified all day long. Consequently, your mouth will always be in use doing Dharma practice, chanting mantras, chanting the name of a Buddha, and reciting rituals. Your mind will always be thinking about cultivation. You will willingly abide by the precepts. You will earnestly practice Dharma, see through worldly phenomena, stay far away from exerting effort that is outward-seeking, have nothing to do with non-Buddhist ways, and wholeheartedly walk toward enlightenment.”
How should we view strange, miraculous phenomena?
“Your intent in learning Buddha Dharma should not be to pursue strange, miraculous phenomena. I do not advocate having the intent of pursuing strange, miraculous phenomena. You should cultivate yourself in an earnest and down-to-earth manner.”
What is the source of this strange miraculous phenomena?
“. . . all strange, miraculous phenomena are nothing other than the principle that the myriad phenomena are produced by the mind. The mind produces all phenomena”
Can Buddha Dharma be separated from worldly affairs?
“. . . Buddha Dharma is to be applied in the world, and attaining enlightenment from Buddha Dharma cannot be separated from worldly affairs. . . The reason is that Buddha Dharma is the truth of awakening established on the causes of the conditioned arising and coming together of the six great elements in the world. . . Buddha Dharma applies to how we attend to matters and deal with people, how we conduct ourselves, how we live, work, and think, how we behave, and all of our other worldly actions.”
What should you use to check and examine your own conduct?
“That is, all of the things that you do in the world are related to cultivation. . . Cultivation is using all worldly experiences to temper and refine your inner character. . . Can you restrain your anger? Can you truly cut off attachment to self? Without experiencing adverse circumstances, how do you know whether you can?”
What advice did Chan Master Yongjia of the Chan school offer in practicing forbearance?
“If not for the slander from family and adversaries, how could one demonstrate the power of loving-kindness and patience that stems from non-birth?”
The Buddha Master also gave analogies, discussed qigong, the need to be a “good” person, and how even the physical form of holy ones differ from ordinary beings.
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 a discussion of Lesson 37-“Preliminary Practice Dharma” at our November 8, 2025 ZOOM session at 9:00 am.
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 November 1, 2025 DCB26-Lesson 37F 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 information on LFBS class P10 or CLICK for Hesperia classes.
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.
November 1, 2025: Lesson 37A-Preliminary Practices, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra-How to Realize Prajna, (53-66) and (HERE) for recordings of the class.
September 27, 2025: Lesson 36E–H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Imparts Buddha Dharma-Causality and the Rules and Methods of Continual Practice, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra-How to Realize Prajna, (44-46, 47-52) and (HERE) for recordings of the class.
September 6, 2025: Lesson 36D-H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Imparts Buddha Dharma-Causality and the Rules and Methods of Continual Practice, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra-How to Realize Prajna, (37-43) and (HERE) for recordings of the class.
August 30 2025: Lesson 36C-H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Imparts Buddha Dharma-Causality and the Rules and Methods of Continual Practice, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra-How to Realize Prajna, (28-36) and (HERE) for recordings of the class.
August 23 2025: Lesson 36B-H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Imparts Buddha Dharma-Causality and the Rules and Methods of Continual Practice, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra-How to Realize Prajna, (18-28) and (HERE) for recordings of the class.
August 9, 2025: Lesson 36A-H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Imparts Buddha Dharma-Causality and the Rules and Methods of Continual Practice, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra-How to Realize Prajna, (1-17) and (HERE) for recordings of the class.
CLICK for article on September 21, 2025 class held at Hesperia on Lessons 5 & 6: Three kinds of Prajna.
CLICK for article on August 17, 2025 class held at Hesperia on Lessons 3 & 4: Introduction to Prajna.
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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