The Learning from Buddha College & Seminary website has been launched—at least in beta-test mode. Those of you who registered for or attended classes conducted over the past two years as part of the Lemonade Sangha or participated in other classes just before COVID hit have been given the opportunity to enroll as “AUDITING STUDENTS” and listen to recordings of preliminary translations of Dharma Discourses and read certain Dharma Texts by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. You can also see the outlines of other Dharma texts including classic commentaries, sutras, and suttas as well as biographies of holy beings; and help us test the software we are using to make a true virtual Dharma learning process possible.
We will start with videos from the classes that some of you already attended. I have started holding on-line courses again that will be used to add more material to the curriculum as well as recording more discourses. There are currently 14 such Dharma Discourses available. Other course facilitators are developing other classes that will be offered as well. An ambitious “CATALOG of COURSES” is included on the website to indicate the range of courses that we anticipate being able to offer over time. Some on the list (marked with an asterisk) are either not translated yet into English or not available for recording on-line. Several essential Dharma texts, sutras by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, are available as preliminary translations that can ONLY be read at the Holy Vajrasana Temple at the present time, but will also hopefully be available for public distribution soon and will form the foundation for other on-line courses.
I want to explain the three levels of participation that will be possible and the anticipated outcome from participating in these programs. Only the first, the free Auditing Student program is currently being tested. The other two paid memberships are under development. It is not anticipated that the website will be released until all three types of programs are available.
AUDITING STUDENT: This is for the student who wants to be able to read and study the Dharma, but does not have the time or inclination to do homework or participate in a structured class with assignments, quizzes, and the like. It does require you register and receive a free membership. Although the Dharma itself must always be free, we still need to know who will be participating in the program, so we can make sure the preliminary translations are replaced with better or even approved translations and the proper respect is always shown to the Holy scriptures. Anyone of good heart and who abides by the three pure and comprehensive precepts of avoiding evil, doing good, and helping all living beings may enroll. You do not need to be or become a Buddhist. Courses available to Auditing Students will have an (A) in their course ID and will not count as credit toward any of the degree or certificate programs. Completion of D01(A)-The Supreme & Magnificent Dharma is required before you can be enrolled in any of the other (A) courses.
BUDDHIST STUDIES STUDENTS: This option is a paid membership that includes all the courses available to the Auditing Student, but also includes other courses that do require homework. Most will use the Seven-Dharma System concept developed by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha. This option is also open to non-Buddhists with the same requirements of the above type. Completion of D01-The Supreme & Magnificent Dharma is required before you can be enrolled in any of these other courses. Sone courses also require completion of D35(A)-Buddhism for Beginners, The 128 Evil and Erroneous Views and DCB12-The Dharma of Cultivation.
XIUXING SEMINARY STUDENTS: The second paid membership program includes everything in the Buddhist Studies option plus several special courses that focus more on Dharma practice and what you need to become a “Xiuxing Master” or a Master of Cultivation.” Xiuxing is a Chinese term that is usually translated as “cultivation.” The Xiuxing Seminary student will also be required to make presentations on the principles and concepts contained in the various courses and his or her application or method of implementing those principles and concepts in their daily life and practice and be prepared to defend that presentation in a sort of on-line debate. The website has more on the idea of debate. This type of student does need to be or will become a Buddhist and have or is willing to start a serious Dharma practice. This program is for the person who wants to start his or her own Dharma Center or temple and actively bring people to the Dharma.
This program is designed to help you pass the World Buddhism Association sponsored tests—both the written and the holy tests. Students have asked if you will become a Dharma Master, or Rinpoche or Geshe or the like, but this program is not like that. We can introduce you to the teachings you need to advance on the path and help you develop your own Dharma resources, but your advancement and real learning will depend on your efforts and cultivation. Making the Dharma Discourses and Texts, even preliminary translations of them, available is what you need to progress and these courses will hopefully do that. Being a Xiuxing Master means you have studied and understand at least 72 credit hours of courses, but it does not mean that you are necessarily a Vajra Master or Rinpoche or have a certain level of realization or are qualified to teach. You need to have been recognized via the World Buddhism Association system to be a Vajra Master or Rinpoche. To be qualified to teach, you must be at the three-gold button level at the very least.
SCHEDULE: We are not attempting to keep any formal schedule. Some of the classes are much longer and more difficult than others. Students have different abilities and karmic affinity concerning mastering the dharma. You can proceed as fast or take as long as you need to complete any of the assignments.
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CLICK for article on the World Buddhism Association Exam and Evaluation Process.
CLICK for 2022 schedule of meditation and study retreats at the Holy Vajrasana Temple and Retreat Center.
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