We continued our study of DCB35-Learning from Buddha on April 25, 2026 starting Lesson Four: Tantra-Main & Concluding Practices, Assignment 6.
We are almost finished with this course and have scheduled Dorje Pamu’s G36-Dharma that Every Buddhist Must Follow to start on May 23. You should complete the prerequisites of G02 and C01, enroll in this course, and register for the ZOOM link to join us in the Saturday morning group discussions.
The following are brief summaries of our discussion on April 25, 2026 with links to the video of our ZOOM discussion of that class and previous sessions below. The large bold blue quotes are from a preliminary translation of Learning from Buddha by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. Please note that in the video of this class we heard the understanding expressed by the various participants, which may or may not be correct. To understand the translation of all the actual quotes from the Buddha Master you need to read the text, which you can download from the curriculum section of DCB35 (Click “PREVIEW”). Also please remember that we are still working with a preliminary and unauthorized translation of the Buddha Master’s teachings so even these “quotes” can only be used for reference.
The discussion focused on Lesson Four-Tantra-Main & Concluding Practices.
After arousing bodhichitta, what is the first step in the main practice of Esoteric Buddhism?
“In the first step of the main practice, they must use the power of a mantra to expel their own beginning-less karmic forces, to drive them away! Therefore, they need to practice the Dharma of Contemplating Emptiness. That is why, in general, in the rituals of a Yidam Dharma, they will enter this step immediately. They will chant the Contemplating Emptiness Mantra. They use the power of the mantra to activate the inner energy of their mind and make use of the samadhi powers of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas to help drive away their hindrances.”
Will those who enter dhyana in their Dharma practice be harmed by anything in the world during their practice?
“Rest assured. Do not worry. All those who enter dhyana or a supernormal state in their [Esoteric] Dharma practice will not be harmed by anything in the world during that practice. Everything will be safe, sound, and auspicious. Your body and life will not experience the slightest mishap.”
When you have finished practicing the main practice, what must you NOT do?
“At this time, you must not get off your seat as you please. If you just extend your legs and step onto the ground, beware of contaminating the Yidam.”
What two things must you do before getting off of your practice seat?
“Therefore, be sure to first bid farewell to the Yidam. . . [and] you have to do the concluding practice. The concluding practice brings together all the merit. It gathers all the merit. You tell yourself, “Just like my Yidam, I do not want any bit of the merit from my Dharma practice. I give all the merit to other people and to all living beings!”
The Buddha Master also explained how certain Dharmas work and how they may be activated with examples. Although this lesson was essentially about how to correctly visualize and interact with your yidam and what you should and should NOT do, He also stressed the importance of your cultivation when off your cushion. The Buddha Master explained why giving of merit is both selfish and selfless, what happens to your merit, and why it is an essential part of any yidam practice. He also summarized what we learned from the other lessons in this sutra, including what Buddha Dharma is as well as what individual mantras, chanting verses and the names of Buddhas, visualizations, and mudras all are. He also gave specifics of what is involved in a certain esoteric practice and what the easiest Dharma is to practice. There was also a discussion of why we should release captive living beings and why that was the most important part of the Avalokiteshvara (Kuan Yin) Bodhisattva Great Compassion Empowerment Dharma.
We will continue discussing DCB35-Learning from Buddha on May 2 at 9:00-11:00 am Pacific Time. You can download a PDF of the text for DCB35 from the “preview” feature in the OVERVIEW of the “Curriculum” without enrolling in the course. If you want to join these Saturday discussions of the Dharma, you will need to both be enrolled in DCB35 and register for the ZOOM session to receive the link for the discussion. Everyone signing up who is enrolled in and attends the class may be given homework questions to discuss. You may also watch the videos of our discussions once you enroll in DCB35.
CLICK for a list of available classes in each of the programs: Auditing, Buddhist Studies, and Xiuxing Seminary. Those with membership in the Xiuxing Seminary Program who are only interested in their own serious practice may also elect to follow the Xiuxing Practice Program and take a seven or thirty-day Solitary Retreat.
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You will need to enroll in DCB35 to be able to watch the video recordings of the classes, download study materials, or study the related questions and register with ZOOM to receive a link to attend the classes.
LINKS TO DATE: C41-Three Principal Stages & Paths of Buddhist Practice including DCB35, DCB21-26, P10 and other related Learning from Buddha Seminary Classes
The recording of the April 25, 2026 DCB35 class is now available. All of the recordings and summary of ZOOM discussions for DCB21, DCB22, DCB23, DCB24, DCB25, and DCB26-Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra are also available. You must be enrolled in each of these classes in one of the full membership programs at the LFBS 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 LFBS with your membership identification number AND are enrolled in this class. CLICK for information on LFBS class P10 or CLICK for Hesperia classes on major concepts or principles contained in the title of Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra.
April 25, 2026: DCB35-Learning from Buddha, Tantra-Introduction-Lesson 4C (Questions (115-151) and (HERE) for recording of the class.
March 21, 2026: DCB35-Learning from Buddha, Tantra-Introduction-Lesson 4B (Questions 90-114) and (HERE) for recording of the class.
March 14, 2026: DCB35-Learning from Buddha, Tantra-Introduction-Lesson 4A (Questions 73-89) and (HERE) for recording of the class.
March 7, 2026: DCB35-Learning from Buddha, Cultivation-Lesson 3C (Questions 56-72) and (HERE) for recording of the class.
February 28, 2026: DCB35-Learning from Buddha, Cultivation-Lesson 3B (Questions 41-55) and (HERE) for recording of the class.
February 21, 2026: DCB35-Learning from Buddha, Cultivation-Lesson 3A (Questions 27-40) and (HERE) for recording of the class.
February 21, 2026: DCB35-Learning from Buddha, Introduction-Lesson 2B (Questions 22-26) and (HERE) for recording of the class.
February 14, 2026: DCB35-Learning from Buddha, Introduction-Lesson 1 (Questions 1-5) and Lesson 2A (Questions 6-21), and (HERE) for recording of the class.
CLICK for article on last class held on DCB26-How to Realize Prajna on January 24, 2026 and links to videos of all 15 ZOOM class discussions held on DCB26 from August 9, 2025 to January 24, 2026.
CLICK for article on last class held on DCB26 in 2024 and links to videos of all 8 ZOOM class discussions held on DCB26 held from April 20, 2024 to June 22, 2024.
CLICK for article on the last class held on DCB25 and links to all 15 ZOOM class discussions on DCB25 held from April 5, 2025 to August 2, 2025.
CLICK for article on the last class held on DCB24 and links to all 13 ZOOM class discussions on DCB24 held from January 4, 2025 to March 29, 2025.
January 4, 2025: Roadmap to C41(A)–Three Principal Stages & Paths of Buddhist Practice. Video of class discussion.
CLICK for article on the last class held on DCB23 and links to all 13 ZOOM class discussions on DCB23 held from August 24, 2024 to November 16, 2024,
CLICK for article on the last class held on DCB22 and links to videos of all 21 ZOOM class discussions on DCB22 held from February 10, 2024 to April 20, 2024 and from June 29, 2024 to August 3, 2024.
CLICK for article on the last class held on DCB21 and links to videos of all 18 ZOOM class discussions on DCB21 held from November 21, 2022 to April 1, 2023. Note: not all of the forwards, notes, and introductions are complete.
CLICK for Background information on Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra and why it is such an important text.
CLICK for information on S01-Supreme and Unsurpassable Mahamudra of Liberation (SAUMOL) Seminar.
CLICK for article on April 5, 2026 class held at Hesperia on Lessons 7 & 8: Three Kinds of Prajna-Intrinsic Reality Prajna.
CLICK for article on September 21, 2025 class held at Hesperia on Lessons 5 & 6: Three kinds of Prajna-Language Prajna & Contemplative-Illumination Prajna.
CLICK for article on August 17, 2025 class held at Hesperia on Lessons 3 & 4: Introduction to Prajna.
CLICK for article on July 20, 2025 class held at Hesperia on Lessons 1 & 2: Background and Introduction to the Heart Sutra and H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III’s Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra.
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