We started our 2026 series of Hesperia classes on April 5 at 19099 Lemon Street, covering Lessons Seven & Eight on “Three Kinds of Prajna” discussing the third–Intrinsic-reality prajna. The following are brief summaries of part of our discussion that contain definitions we will need in our study of prajna. The large bold blue quotes are from a preliminary translation of Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.
Our next class on “The Three Kinds of Prajna” will be held on May 17, from 10:00 am -3:00 pm. Other classes are scheduled for June 7, July 12, August 23, September 20, and October 25, 2026. CLICK to see schedule.
What Is Meant by “Prajna Reality”?
“The state of samsara into which one falls is called a frightening state. Thus, not falling into the frightening states of the two extremes, what one enters is prajna reality. This is exactly what is called the state of seeing all forms or characteristics as non-forms or non-characteristics. At such time, one sees all phenomena yet is not attached to any. This state is exactly a state of realization. At this point, one naturally illuminates the five aggregates and sees that they are all empty.Naturally, one illuminates and sees the five aggregates—form, feeling, conceptualization, action, and consciousness—as being false. In this way, one sees the Tathagatas. One naturally sees the Tathagatas.”
What is lengji-yixi-dawa?
“In short, the five aggregates are inherently empty. They are not truly existing. Therefore, you should not be attached to them. This is living in wise insight (the Tibetan term is called lengji-yixi-dawa). After illuminating the five aggregates as being empty, one naturally sees the true state of the Tathagatas. The true state of the Tathagatas is also your own state. It is called living in wise insight. The term for this in the esoteric school is lengjiyixidawa.
Can the dharmakaya be transmitted to you from an outside source?
[No.] “The truth of the real dharmakaya appears. Therefore, you yourself realize it, you yourself awaken to it. That is, everyone has an original nature. It is something that you yourself realize and awaken to. It does not need to be adjusted or practiced. Your master simply leads you to it. Then you can see it. It is definitely not conferred upon you externally. This dharmakaya is not transmitted to you from outside.”
How can you accomplish liberation through practicing the Great Perfection Dharma? Provide an example.
“One can indeed accomplish liberation through the Great Perfection; however, through the Dharma of the Great Perfection one accomplishes liberation in the intermediate state of existence between death and rebirth [the bardo]. . . An example of this is the liberation accomplished by Patriarch Tsongkhapa. He visualized and practiced the Kalachakra Vajra, the Great Perfection, and other Dharmas. He later transformed into rainbow light and accomplished liberation in that intermediate state.”
What is meant by the term Great Perfection?
“Actually, the meaning of Great Perfection is that you inherently possess it. It is not something you get in exchange for something else. You have had it to begin with. It is just that karmic obstacles have blocked it. Through practicing the Dharma, karmic obstacles will naturally fall away, and you will enter the Great Perfection. Thus, we inherently possess the Great Perfection.”
What is intrinsic-reality prajna and do all living beings have it?
“All living beings have the perfectly marvelous and perfectly bright true-mind Buddha-nature (the intrinsic-reality prajna), which is no different from what all Buddhas realized. However, if living beings are to illuminate their mind and see their original nature, they must use the power of contemplative-illumination prajna to illuminate the five aggregates and see that they are all empty.That is, although living beings have Buddha-nature, they nonetheless must apply their contemplative-illumination prajna to illuminate the five aggregates and see that they are all empty. Otherwise, hindrances from myriad karmic forces will manifest from the five aggregates. In the end, they will completely cover the bright intrinsic nature of living beings. If you do not illuminate the five aggregates and see that they are all empty, the five aggregates will induce many karmic forces and karmic hindrances. These things that have been induced all day long will completely cover your original appearance that is your intrinsic nature, or the dharmakaya of the Tathagatas.”
What is the meaning of “being deluded” and “awakening”?
“Being deluded refers to not knowing that you originally have intrinsic-reality prajna that is no different from that of Buddhas.You do not know that you inherently possess the same intrinsic-reality prajna as Buddhas possess. Awakening refers to understanding that your intrinsic nature is the same as that of Buddhas. Upon awakening, you penetratingly see. You understand that your original nature is no different from that of Buddhas. There is no need to quest outward for it”.
How did the Buddha Master summarize the teachings in this lesson?
“What I mean is that each of you disciples present here has an original nature. Each of you has the state in which your prior thoughts have already gone and your future thoughts have not yet arisen, yet you have not stopped breathing, have not died, and are not in a coma. Such a state can appear on its own at any given time. It has never left you. It also cannot leave you. It is just that without a holy master to guide you to it, you will not know it. However, those with clear awareness know it.”
Can we become enlightened by just hearing and learning the Buddha Master’s teachings?
[NO] “The awakening I am referring to here is for you to realize. It is not a matter of just hearing your master utter some hollow theories. You yourself must realize that awakening. How great do you think your master’s powers are? It is not possible for me to cause you to suddenly achieve meteoric success. I can only explain principles to you. It is up to you to realize and awaken to such principles.”
What must you depend upon to receive the Dharmas you need to accomplish liberation?
“I tell you in no uncertain terms that we have special Buddha Dharma that you can practice and through which you can accomplish liberation as quickly as possible. However, it will depend upon your own faith and confidence, how you exert yourself, and how you cultivate yourself in accord with the Dharma so that you can receive guidance and transmissions from me, your master. It is not that there are no methods, but those methods are truly not easy to come by. . . Thus, there are plenty of methods within Buddha Dharma. There are numerous methods.
The Buddha Master also explained why He was so critical of qigong. He also talked about several esoteric Dharmas like the Mahamudra of Brightness, the Ganges River Mahamudra, rangtong-yixi-dawa or zuobaqinbosiye (which translates as Great Perfection or Dzogchen), and acquiring the “rainbow body” and “shrinking the body” when leaving this world. We were also encouraged to learn from other eminent monastics and people of great virtue but to be careful to hold correct understanding and correct view. He provided several examples of why we need to cultivate ourselves–learn correct behavior and then reflect and monitor our actual behavior so as to progress. Another discussion covered how and when we need to rely on a master–the role a master plays in your evolution. He also helped us understand the difference between an insane and an enlightened person.
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 serious practice and not opening a Dharma Center may also elect to follow the Xiuxing Practice Program and take a seven or thirty-day Solitary Retreat.
Next:
The next class in Hesperia will continue our discussion of Intrinsic-Reality Prajna at our May 17, 2026 meeting at 10:00 am.
All of the recordings and summary of ZOOM discussions for DCB21, DCB22, DCB23, DCB24, and DCB26-Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra are now 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 article on the entire text of Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra.
CLICK for article with instructions on how to enroll in LFBS classes and how to register for the ZOOM discussions.
CLICK for article on September 21, 2025 class held at Hesperia on Lessons 5 & 6: Three Kinds of Prajna.
CLICK for article on August 17, 2025 class held at Hesperia on Lessons 3 & 4: Introduction to Prajna from Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra.
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.
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.
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