We continued Lesson 4-The Intermediate Stage or Path of Renunciation today by discussing the remaining links 9-12 of the “Twelve Links of Dependent or Conditional Origination:” grasping, existence, birth, and aging & death.” We also discussed the two ways of contemplating the twelve links of conditional or dependent origination and the Mahayana perspective on this as stated in the Heart Sutra, “. . . there is . . . avidya. . . up to and including no aging and death.” The question was asked why we still need the three trainings expressed in the Initial Stage of precept observance, dhyana, and wisdom if this is so?
The Buddha Master said that “One should diligently cultivate precept observance, dhyana, and wisdom. To have dhyana, one must abide by the precepts. If one does not observe the precepts, if one does exert oneself in cultivating one’s conduct, the power of dhyana will not arise. This is because karmic forces will not abate. Without the power of dhyana, one cannot engender wisdom. Therefore, precept observance, dhyana, and wisdom are all linked from one to the next as one goes about learning and cultivating them. One relies on the precepts to remove karma and distance oneself far away from karma. Abiding by the precepts, one can naturally get rid of karma and also distance oneself far away from karma. Or one can temporarily separate oneself from karmic forces, pushing karmic forces far away. The brilliant wisdom of Buddha Dharma will then arise. The Buddhas and Bodhisattvas will help those who observe the precepts.” We need this help to be able to realize the wisdom or prajna necessary to leave samsara and become enlightened and holy beings.
We also discussed which links are created in past lives, which we create in our present life, and which will be created in future lifetimes. We ended with a discussion of the three spheres and the five realms and who exists in each one. Next Saturday, June 24 at 9:00 am PDT, we will continue our discussion with the question, “Why are Buddhist not interested in going to ‘heaven’?” We will also investigate the meaning of the verse in the Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra on the “Four Noble Truths” of Buddhism: “. . . no suffering, no accumulation (or origination), no cessation, and no path”.
CLICK for revised article on Lesson 4 which will be discussed on June 24 and maybe longer.
C41-Three Principal Stages & Paths of Buddhist Practice
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.
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.
CLICK for video “How Buddhism Came to the West.”
ARTICLE with more information and links including updated chart of course content. Lessons 5-7 are still under construction.
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