On February 24, 2024 we continued our study of DCB22- Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra-I by exploring how the methods of the various sects or schools of Buddhism work and what it means to practice in the “Dharma-Ending Age” we now live in.
What Is Meant by the Dharma-Ending Age?
The Buddha Master explained that although we are living in the Dharma-ending age, “the ending of Dharma does not mean the time of Mara or Mara being in charge. That is not what it means. It means that with respect to Dharma, this is the age of its ending. Dharma goes through the ages of great Dharma, semblance Dharma, and ending Dharma. In other words, the status of the Dharma will soon change.” He further told us that there is a qualitative difference between our Dharma-ending ages and other ages in regards to what is needed to generate supernormal powers. WE must not only illuminate our minds and see our original nature, but we we “still must go one step further by learning and cultivating perfectly clear inner-realization and powers of dhyana and wisdom.“
How Do the Methods Used by Various Sects of Buddhism Compare?
The Buddha Master also told us that we cannot say that Tibetan esoteric Buddhism is great or that Chan/Zen or the Pure Land sects are not so great. What He did say was that “In actuality, they are all the same. Whatever suits the spiritual capacities of the audience being taught is great. Therefore, I do not belong to any particular sect. I only affirm Buddhism. All sects are good. They are all equal.” We also learned how the Chan/Zen school, the Pure Land school, and the Huayen school enabled their followers to realize the nature of emptiness. They all had specific methods to enable us to let go of our attachments to the six sense bases, the objects of the six sense bases, and the five aggregates so as to naturally become “imperturbably tranquil.” When this happens then the nature of emptiness would appear before us. The differences in practice between two famous Chinese Buddhist institutions–the Gaomin Monastery and the Jinshan Temple was discussed along with what is required to be able to become accomplished at the Gaomin Monastery.
Is Buddha Dharma Scientific?
We were told that “Buddha Dharma is scientific. It is the absolute truth commonly applicable to each of us, each of you disciples, and the universe. It is uniform to all.”
What are Samatha and Vipashyana?
We were also taught how to practice samatha and vipashyana and how they work and why actual “practice is essential.” Understanding theories is not enough! A preparatory practice for samatha and vipasyana was described where you visualize a ball with light on it. “Real dhyana is when after you are able to visualize that light, your dhyana is immovable, the light naturally disappears, and the object of dhyana and cognition perfectly interfuse. Then, there is utterly no object. At that time, there is also no cognition. The object and cognition become non-dualistic. At that time, after getting off of your meditation seat, if you were asked about it, you would say that your experience was the state where the entire dharmakaya was like space. Practicing visualization is just a preparatory practice that guides you onto the path, nothing more.”
Next:
We will continue this discussion at our March 9 ZOOM session starting at 9:00 am exploring more deeply how Avalokiteshvara observed her intrinsic nature to become enlightened; what it means to “practice deeply prajna-paramita”; and more. There will be no class on March 2.
“Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, when practicing deeply the prajna-paramita, illuminated the five aggregates, saw that they are all empty, and crossed beyond all suffering and adversity.”
DCB22-Expounding the Absolute Truth through the text of the Heart Sutra–I and C41-Three Principal Stages & Paths of Buddhist Practice
The recording of the February 17 class is now available. You must be enrolled in DCB22 in one of the membership programs at the LFBCS 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 LFBCS with your membership Identification number AND are enrolled in this class. Please note that Lessons 6A and 6B are part of Course C41.
February 24, 2024: Lesson 9B-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–I, “Practicing Deeply”, (59-77) and (HERE) for recording of class.
February 17, 2024: Lesson 9A-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–I, “Practicing Deeply”, (51-58) and (HERE) for recording of class.
February 17, 2024: Lesson 8C-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–I, “Bodhisattva”, (37-50) and (HERE) for recording of class.
February 17, 2024: Lesson 8B–The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–I, “Avalokiteshvara”, (31-36) and (HERE) for recording of class.
February 10, 2024: Lesson 8A-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–I, “Avalokiteshvara”, (1-30) and (HERE) for recording of class.
February 3, 2024: Lesson 6B-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra-Prajna(Wisdom) & Dhyana(Ta), (355-369) and HERE for recording of class.
January 20, 2024: Lesson 6A–The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra-Prajna & Dhyana(Ta), (317-354) and HERE for recording of class.
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 LFBCS classes and how to register for the ZOOM discussions.
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