We finished our study of DCB35-Learning from Buddha on May 23, 2026, by finishing Lesson Five: Self-Examination and Implementation, Assignment 7. This discussion included the questions below. Everyone attending summarized what they had learned from this course. We also discussed a talk given by Venerable Denma Tsemang II in 2022 to a group of masters seeking guidance on what to do after our Buddha Master, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha, left this world. His advice was very closely aligned with what we had been studying in DCB35-Learning from Buddha. In fact, he used that sutra as a source of where we should go for guidance on how to continue our Dharma practice and cultivation.
I also wanted to confess my err in trying to simplify the chapter headings for this course. I just encountered a news article about a class we held several years ago in Stockton on this text and with what I now know, I was struck with the beauty and correctness of the original titles the Buddha Master gave us for the lessons we had in Learning from Buddha. I knew there was poetry and mastery, but I had not fully appreciated how absolutely correct and brilliant the titles were. They captured in a few words the entire essence of this teaching. You need to deeply ponder and study this sutra as seventeen of us did to fully understand what we were being told. Thank you again, Buddha Master, for this incredible gift. May we take this to heart and implement all that you have imparted to us and may we find ways to share these teachings so that others may become accomplished.
We will start Dorje Pamu’s G36-Dharma that Every Buddhist Must Follow on May 30. You should complete the prerequisites of G02 and C01, enroll in this course, and register for the ZOOM link to join us in the Saturday morning group discussions.
The following are brief summaries of our discussion on May 23, 2026 with links to the video of our ZOOM discussion of that class and previous sessions below. The large bold blue quotes are from a preliminary translation of Learning from Buddha by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. Please note that in the video of this class we heard the understanding expressed by the various participants, which may or may not be correct. To understand the translation of all the actual quotes from the Buddha Master you need to read the text, which you can download from the curriculum section of DCB35 (Click “PREVIEW”). Also please remember that we are still working with a preliminary and unauthorized translation of the Buddha Master’s teachings so even these “quotes” can only be used for reference.
What is the most fundamental and the most important thing you learned to do from Learning from Buddha to become a Bodhisattva?
“Examine yourself at all times and on all occasions. At all times, reflect upon yourself. . . According to what I previously said about Cultivation, you should introspect three times a day. However, have you introspected? When did you introspect? What did you introspect about? You did not introspect, did you? Had you introspected, why would you still want to argue with each other? Can that be called cultivating yourself? What kind of a person is that? To put it bluntly, you do not even have basic ethics or morality. You are about the same as an ordinary crude person who lacks virtue. That is why I say that the Dharma that I imparted and the Cultivation that I explained were all spoken in vain. Have you actually done what I taught? How much of it have you done? How many of you have done what I taught, have put it into practice?”
What will happen to you if you do not put this Dharma into practice?
“However, you disciples must be sure to remember what I am about to say today. If I am just imparting Buddha Dharma to you, no matter how excellent that Dharma may be, if you do not put it into practice, it is as if you never learned it, as if you never heard it. You must put it into practice. Only then can it produce effects. If you do not, you will certainly revolve in samsara.”
When should you start?
“If you really want to become accomplished and liberated, you should start immediately. Take action right away. Act on it right here and now. Otherwise, no matter how many times you listen to this Dharma, it will be in vain. What kind of people are those who hear the Dharma but do not act on it, who are moved to tears for just a short while when hearing the Dharma but that is all, and who merely utter some pleasant words to deceive themselves? To put it bluntly, people like this are in fact idiots. They are actually “er bai wu’s.” They are harming themselves! Do you want to become accomplished and liberated? Are you still just fooling around? Are you still engaging in attachment? Why don’t you avail yourself of other people to establish your own path to enlightenment?”
What is meant by “the power of loving-kindness and patience that stems from no-birth”?
“If there were no slander and praise that create enemies and friends, how would you realize the power of loving-kindness and patience that stems from no-birth?
What is foremost unconditioned Dharmas imparted by the Buddha mentioned here?
“The saying, ‘Among the highest unconditioned Dharmas imparted by the Buddha, patience under humiliation and adversity is the foremost Dharma (佛說無為最，忍辱第一道)’ is specifically directed at you yourself. It does not mean that you are supposed to stand on the sideline feeling unmoved when you see Shakyamuni Buddha or Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva being slandered. That would be no different from the behavior of demons. Nonetheless, as far as your own cultivation is concerned, patience under humiliation and adversity is the highest Dharma.”
We also discussed how we must cultivate ourselves and expel our own dark karma and plant merit every day and just what is an “er bai wu.” We also considered what to do if we see harm directed at Buddhas and Bodhisattvas’ and what happens when you try to “win” an argument, especially with a Dharma brother or sister.
We will start discussing G36-Dharma that Every Buddhist Must Follow on May 30 at 9:00-11:00 am Pacific Time. If you want to join these Saturday discussions of the Dharma, you will need to both be enrolled in G36 and register for the ZOOM session to receive the link for the discussion. Everyone signing up who is enrolled in and attends the class may be given homework questions to discuss. You may also watch the videos of our discussions once you enroll in G36
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 their own serious practice may also elect to follow the Xiuxing Practice Program and take a seven or thirty-day Solitary Retreat.
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You will need to enroll in DCB35 to be able to watch the video recordings of the classes, download study materials, or study the related questions and register with ZOOM to receive a link to attend the classes.
LINKS TO DATE: C41-Three Principal Stages & Paths of Buddhist Practice including DCB35, DCB21-26, P10 and other related Learning from Buddha Seminary Classes
The recording of the May 23, 2026 DCB35 class is now available. All of the recordings and summary of ZOOM discussions for DCB21, DCB22, DCB23, DCB24, DCB25, and DCB26-Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra are also 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. The next Hesperia class will be held on May 17, starting at 10:00 am.
May 23, 2026: DCB35-Learning from Buddha, Self-Examination & Implementation-Lesson 5C (Questions (179-191) and (HERE) for recording of the class.
May 9, 2026: DCB35-Learning from Buddha, Self-Examination & Implementation-Lesson 5B (Questions (167-178) and (HERE) for recording of the class.
May 2, 2026: DCB35-Learning from Buddha, Tantra-Main & Concluding Practices-Lesson 4D (Questions (152-158) and (HERE) for recording of the class and DCB35-Learning from Buddha, Self-Examination & Implementation-Lesson 5A (Questions (159-166) and (HERE) for recording of the class.
April 25, 2026: DCB35-Learning from Buddha, Tantra-Introduction-Lesson 4C (Questions (115-151) and (HERE) for recording of the class.
March 21, 2026: DCB35-Learning from Buddha, Tantra-Introduction-Lesson 4B (Questions 90-114) and (HERE) for recording of the class.
March 14, 2026: DCB35-Learning from Buddha, Tantra-Introduction-Lesson 4A (Questions 73-89) and (HERE) for recording of the class.
March 7, 2026: DCB35-Learning from Buddha, Cultivation-Lesson 3C (Questions 56-72) and (HERE) for recording of the class.
February 28, 2026: DCB35-Learning from Buddha, Cultivation-Lesson 3B (Questions 41-55) and (HERE) for recording of the class.
February 21, 2026: DCB35-Learning from Buddha, Cultivation-Lesson 3A (Questions 27-40) and (HERE) for recording of the class.
February 21, 2026: DCB35-Learning from Buddha, Introduction-Lesson 2B (Questions 22-26) and (HERE) for recording of the class.
February 14, 2026: DCB35-Learning from Buddha, Introduction-Lesson 1 (Questions 1-5) and Lesson 2A (Questions 6-21), and (HERE) for recording of the class.
CLICK for article on last class held on DCB26-How to Realize Prajna on January 24, 2026 and links to videos of all 15 ZOOM class discussions held on DCB26 from August 9, 2025 to January 24, 2026.
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.
CLICK for article on April 5, 2026 class held at Hesperia on Lessons 7 & 8: Three Kinds of Prajna-Intrinsic Reality Prajna.
CLICK for article on September 21, 2025 class held at Hesperia on Lessons 5 & 6: Three kinds of Prajna-Language Prajna & Contemplative-Illumination 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.
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