During the sixth ZOOM discussion of LFBS course P10 on November 4, we continued reading from a very early translation of Dorje Pamu’s The Dharma of Concentration, Contemplation, and Visualization (DCCV) and discussed the sixth stage of Sthiti or Mential Abiding: The Tranquil Abode of the “Pacified Mind”. The following table summarizes the “Nine stages of Sthiti or Mental Abiding:
We also discussed the various aspects of the obstacle of “Laziness” and other obstacles as expressed in the Yogachara tradition and included in Kamalashila’s Stages of Meditation (Bhavanakrama) as summarized below:
On Tuesday November 11 at 6:00 pm Pacific Time, we will continue with Lesson Seven of our study of concentration (Samatha) and contemplation (Vipashyana) in Pamu’s DCCV as background material to help us better understand the zen meditation methods provided by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III in the Great Dharma of Zen Meditation. This class will continue to study the “Nine Stages of Sthiti or Mental Abiding” that happen while we progress in our meditations and may proceed to how PaMu indicates we can intensify our efforts at concentration using the Six Forces and Four Mental Engagements. We will also continue studying the Five Obstacles and their Antidotes from the Yogachara tradition.
HOMEWORK P10-The Great Dharma of Zen Practice, Lessons Two & Three: We deferred discussing the rest of Lesson Two on zen mantras and Lesson Three on the actual zen practices until after we finish the background material on concentration and contemplation provided by Dorje PaMu in her book The Dharma of Concentration, Contemplation, and Visualization. Because of the nature of the translation, these sessions are not being recorded.
November 4, 2025: P10-Lesson Six- Shamatha/Concentration- Stages of Sthiti-6 and Five Obstacles and their Antidotes.
September 23, 2025: P10-Lesson Five- Shamatha/Concentration– Methods & Stages of Sthiti-1 to 5.
September 9, 2025: P10-Lesson Four- Shamatha/Concentration- What Is Concentration-2?, Prerequisites, and Methods.
September 2, 2025: P10-Lesson Three- Shamatha/Concentration-What Is Concentration-1?
August 26, 2025: P10-Lesson Two-Examples of Zen Practice, Video of ZOOM discussion (Questions 10-16).
August 19, 2025: P10-Lesson One-Background & Introduction, Video of ZOOM discussion (Questions 1-9).
CLICK for introduction and actual text used for The Great Dharma of Zen course-P10.
CLICK to enroll in P10 at LFBS.
CLICK to register for ZOOM.
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