On February 3, 2024 we finished our discussion of Learning from Buddha College and Seminary Lesson 6 of C41(A)-The Three Principal Stages and Paths of Buddhist Practice that was part of the Buddha Master’s commentary from Part One of Imparting the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra. Next week we will leave C41(A) and continue to study the Wisdom Path of the Great Stage by studying the actual text of the Heart Sutra in LFBCS courses DCB22 through DCB25.
How to Cultivate to Realize Liberation
We again considered how we should cultivate ourselves with a heart of humility and understand that there are many levels of dealing with our karmic hindrances so that we must be modest and cautious. The Buddha Master repeated the warning that we must “Understand that karmic hindrances are originally empty. Those who have not yet understood this must first repay their karmic debts from previous lives.” We were told that “. . .if you want to realize the liberation state of intrinsic-reality prajna, dhyana and wisdom must be pursued equally. That is, the two aspects of dhyana and wisdom must be equal. Neither of the two can be lacking in the slightest. Even the tiniest deficiency in one of them is unacceptable. Thus, the word dhyana (“ta”) in the sutra title is no less important than prajna.”
Summary of Meaning of Prajna Parami-Ta
In summary for our exploration of the most profound insight into the title of the Heart Sutra, we learned that “Once we clearly realize that prajna serves as our guide, once we know that prajna acts as our guide, “ta” (dhyana) must be used to open up and develop it. Dhyana is then used to open up and develop prajna. Only in this way can we remove obstacles and achieve perfect clarity. Put together, the six characters for prajna-paramita mean relying on supreme wisdom to thoroughly illuminate the power of dhyana, using right dhyana to produce the wisdom of prajna, and, with equality of dhyana and wisdom, reaching the ultimate other shore.That is, in the interaction of dhyana and wisdom, it is imperative that neither be lacking. Each complements and brings out the best in the other. That is the meaning of those several characters when put together.”
Which of the Buddhist Schools or Sects Hold the Most Correct Dharma?
We also discussed which of the schools hold the highest, most correct dharma looking at the principles and concepts held in the Middle Way, Other Emptiness, and Consciousness-Only Schools. We also considered what our attitude should be toward the different schools.
Those of you enrolled in either the Buddhist Studies or the Xiuxing Seminary Programs may review the related discussion sessions held on DCB21. You really need to be able to understand the concepts and principles established in DCB21 where the Buddha Master explains all the terms in the title of The Prajna Parami-ta Heart Sutra to be able to fully understand the text of the sutra itself that we will study in DCB22-25 starting next week. You should review the Buddha Master’s teachings on “prajna” in course DCB21-Lessons 3, 4, & 5 taught early last year. You should review those zoom sessions recordings to gain an understanding of the three types of prajna. You should also make sure you understand “parami” and “ta” or “dhyana” In either DCB21-Lessons 6A & 6B or C41(A)-Lesson 6A and Lesson 6B.
C41-Three Principal Stages & Paths of Buddhist Practice
The recording of the February 3 class is now available. You must be enrolled in C41 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 ID AND are enrolled in this class.
February 3, 2024: Lesson 6B-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Imparting the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra-Prajna & 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, Imparting the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra-Prajna & Dhyana(Ta), (317-354) and HERE for recording of class.
January 20, 2024: Lesson 5K-The Great Stage–Method Path of Bodhichitta (313-316) and HERE for recording of class.
January 13, 2024: Lesson 6–The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Imparting the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra and HERE for recording of class. This discussion should belong in the next lesson when we study “TA” or dhyana and will be revisited then, but our early discussion is recorded here. Please note that the numbering of the questions will not match anything and that the audio of this recording will be incorporated into Lesson 6A above.
January 13, 2024: Lesson 5J-The Great Stage–Method Path of Bodhichitta, Paramitas (298-312) and HERE for recording of class.
January 6, 2024: Lesson 5I-The Great Stage–Method Path of Bodhichitta, (277-297) and HERE for recording of class.
December 30, 2023: Lesson 5H-The Great Stage–Method Path of Bodhichitta, SAUMOL & Imparting the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra (267-276) and HERE for recording of class.
December 16, 2023: Lesson 5G-The Great Stage–Method Path of Bodhichitta, SAUMOL (258-266) and HERE for recording of class.
December 9, 2023: Lesson 5F-The Great Stage–Method Path of Bodhichitta, SAUMOL (236-257) and HERE for recording of class.
December 2, 2023: Lesson 5E-The Great Stage–Method Path of Bodhichitta, SAUMOL (223-235) and HERE for recording of class.
November 18, 2023: Lesson 5D-The Great Stage–Method Path of Bodhichitta, SAUMOL (199-202 & 203-222) and HERE for recording of class.
November 4, 2023: Lesson 5C-The Great Stage–Method Path of Bodhichitta (189-198) and HERE for recording of class.
October 28, 2023: Lesson 5B-The Great Stage–Method Path of Bodhichitta (173-188) and HERE for recording of class.
September 23, 2023: Lesson 5A-The Great Stage–Method Path of Bodhichitta (155-172) and HERE for recording of class.
July 15, 2023: Lesson 4E-Intermediate Stage–The Path of Renunciation (142-154) and HERE for recording of class.
June 24, 2023: Lesson 4D-Intermediate Stage–The Path of Renunciation (110-141) and HERE for recording of class.
June 17, 2023: Lesson 4C-Intermediate Stage–The Path of Renunciation (90-109) and HERE for recording of class.
June 10, 2023: Lesson 4B-Intermediate Stage–The Path of Renunciation (84-89) and HERE for recording of class.
May 27, 2023: Lesson 4A-Intermediate Stage–The Path of Renunciation (63-83) and HERE for recording of class.
May 20, 2023: Lesson 3B -Initial Stage (60-62) and HERE for recording of class.
May 13, 2023: Lesson 3A -Initial Stage (39-59) and HERE for recording of class.
May 6, 2023: Lesson 2-Preliminaries (14-38) and HERE for recording of that class.
April 29, 2023: Lesson 1-Introduction to Three Principal Stages & Paths of Buddhist Practice (1-13) and HERE for recording of that class.
Description of C41-Three Principal Stages & Paths of Buddhist Practice at LFBCS.
CLICK for video “How Buddhism Came to the West.”
ARTICLE with more information and links on how to join course including updated chart of course content. Lessons 6 &7 are still under construction.
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