On December 6, 2025 we continued our discussion of DCB26-“How to Realize Prajna.” We continued with Lesson 38 on the Preliminary Practices, including the Four Unlimited States of Mind.
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 videos from May 4, 11, & 25, and June 1 & 8, 2024. Those attending previous classes all have specific assignments from these questions, but all should be prepared to discuss questions 108-124 in Lesson 39 during ZOOM Class. You may also submit your answers via course procedures.
The following are brief summaries of our discussion on December 6 with links to previous classes below. 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, which may or may not be correct. 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.
What do people do when they have truly generated the Four Limitless States of Mind?
“If people have truly generated the Four Limitless States of Mind, then everything they do in their treatment of others should be like everything they do in their treatment of themselves. In all matters, they should treat others as if they were treating themselves. This is the reality state of the Four Limitless States of Mind. This is the conduct that a person who is beginning to learn and cultivate the practices of a Bodhisattva must have. Without such conduct, one will be unable to realize the state of a true Bodhisattva. As I just told you, you should realize the reality state. Disciples, I am not making a hollow call for you to do so. What cultivation can you engage in relying on hollow words alone? How could you be a holy person by relying on hollow words alone? When we realize the completion stage of the Four Limitless States of Mind, we are able to treat living beings and ourselves equally and truly apply the Four Limitless States of Mind with our three karmas in correspondence.”
What is the difference between the completion and generation stages?
“The difference between the completion stage and the generation stage is mainly in the naturalness with which one acts. People at the completion stage do not consider either merit or demerit. Once they have acted, they forget about it. They are naturally good people. Their actions spring forth naturally, without the slightest reluctance. They do not force themselves to act. Such people possess the four types of limitless mind states.”
What did the Buddha Master say about the state of oneness of generation and completion?
“This stage is called the ultimate truth. It is the four limitless states devoid of contamination and attachment. It is closely related to prajna.”
How do you treat other people in regard to the Four Limitless States of Mind?
A disciple sincerely reflected on how she had treated other people in regard to the Four Limitless States of Minds. She also quoted the Buddha Master, who said:
“Do not recklessly state things that you cannot do. For example, there is a Dharma that you have not practiced well, yet you want to use it to teach others. That is not good. You would be deceiving people. Do you understand? . . . Do not state one thing in your speech, think another thing in your thoughts, and do yet another thing in your actions. . . At this point, you should examine yourself to see whether you are following the teachings expounded by the Buddha as well as the guidance and discourses of your master of great holiness and virtue. You should regard this self-inspection as your task. . . ? Do I have a mind determined to leave samsara? . . . At this point, you, the practitioner, should think over and over again whether you have acted in this manner. This is what you should think over right now. . . ‘How have I been acting, after all?’. . . If your contemplation leads to repentance and correcting yourself, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas will promptly help you.”
The Buddha Master continued the discussion on how we would respond to seeing someone injured in a car accident discussed in the previous class. We also briefly discussed the Dharma to Pass through Barriers that we can use when we discover our hindrances and mistakes including completely eliminating the eight types of evil karma stemming from (1) saying one thing yet meaning something different; (2) killing, stealing, and sexual misconduct; (3) sowing discord and speaking harshly; (4) greed and stinginess; (5) anger, hatred, and jealousy; (6) arrogance and disrespect; (7) not having a firm faith; and (8) afflictions from attachment to self.
Although we mentioned this lesson, we will start with question #108 again and focus on the Dharma to Pass through Barriers at our next class. I urge you all to watch our discussion on this lesson last year at the June 1, 2024 ZOOM session. Many of the same students, who are taking this course again, asked and answered very good questions–especially about the matter of faith. This course does give us the key to solving our problems and enabling us to leave samsara and points out why we may not be able to achieve this goal.
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 the discussion of Lesson 39 on the “Dharma to Pass Through Barriers” and possibly the Six Paramitas and the matter of “correspondence.” at our December 13, 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.
LINKS TO DATE: DCB26-How to realize Prajna and C41-Three Principal Stages & Paths of Buddhist Practice.
The recordings of the December 6, 2025 DCB26-Lessons 38D and 39A classes are 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 also 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 on major concepts or principles contained in the title of Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra.
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.
December 6, 2025: Lesson 39A-The Dharma to Pass through Barriers, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra-How to Realize Prajna, (108-110) and (HERE) for recordings of the class.
December 6, 2025: Lesson 38D-The Preliminary Practices, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra-How to Realize Prajna, (103-107) and (HERE) for recordings of the class.
November 29, 2025: Lesson 38C–The Preliminary Practices, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra-How to Realize Prajna, (95-102) and (HERE) for recordings of the class.
November 29, 2025: Lesson 38B–The Preliminary Practices, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra-How to Realize Prajna, (90-94) and (HERE) for recordings of the class.
November 22, 2025: Lesson 38A–The Preliminary Practices, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra-How to Realize Prajna, (82-89) and (HERE) for recordings of the class.
November 22, 2025: Lesson 37C-Preliminary Practice Dharma, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra-How to Realize Prajna, (79B) and (80-81) and (HERE) for recordings of the class.
November 8, 2025: Lesson 37B–Preliminary Practice Dharma, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra-How to Realize Prajna, (67-79A) and (HERE) for recordings of the class.
November 1, 2025: Lesson 37A–Preliminary Practice Dharma, 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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