We will start listening to Imparting the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra, a book by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III based on a series of very famous discourses given in China in the 1990s, using the text, meaning, and principles of the Heart Sutra. It clearly explains the relationships between mind, Buddha, and living beings. It tells everyone what the absolute truth of Buddha-dharma and liberation is. Several years ago His Holiness told a number of western disciples that this is the only book you need to read to understand emptiness and become enlightened.
The book is still not ready for publication in English although its publication was released in 2014 with great excitement and publicity in Chinese. In March 2014, the Buddhas even manifested a three-color nectar to empower the ink paste and stamping seals used to bestow blessings on the first-publishing memorial edition of the book. CLICK for more on this event and CLICK here for a video of the Grand Dharma Assembly held in Hong Kong when the book was first released.
I was able to study the preliminary translation and now have permission to read this translation to those who attend various retreats at the Holy Vajrasana Temple. With over 700 pages*, it will take some time. The first series of classes will be held December 6-15. We have tentatively scheduled other week long retreats at the temple during January and February. You may come to all or part of these sessions. Given the difficulty in accurately translating such a gargantuan work, I do not believe it will be available to the general public any time soon. If you are serious about becoming accomplished, you need to understand these teachings. Even in its still unofficial and incomplete translation, it is the most complete, comprehensive, and helpful commentary available on the Heart Sutra.
CLICK for tentative schedule for December retreat and related events.
* NOTE: the first draft was over 700 pages, but the most recent translation is now over 1,200 pages and is in larger type to help those of us with old eyes.
What an amazing opportunity! I am very excited to be coming to this retreat in December.