We held our Hesperia class on August 17 at 19099 Lemon Street, covering Lessons Three & Four on an “Introduction to Prajna” discussing the translation itself, anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, scattered or worldly intelligence, great questioning, Buddha nature, samadhi, manas and alaya consciousness, sentient beings, and dhyana. 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 Types of Prajna” will be held on September 21 from 10:00 am -3:00 pm.
What are the five types of terms that Dharma Master Xuanzang would not translate and why not?
“Dharma Master Xuanzang laid down the rule of not translating five types of terms. That is because to translate such terms would still not make their original meaning clear and instead would increase the reader’s hindrances due to differentiation. . . The five types of terms that Dharma Master Xuanzang would not translate are: 1. Esoteric dharanis (incantations)—Those dharanis or mantras cannot be translated. Even if they were translated, they would be baseless words. That is because they were produced from the heart-seals of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. 2. Terms with multiple meanings. . . 3. Terms having no equivalence in this place. . . 4. Terms not translated to follow the custom since ancient times. . . 5. Prajna.”
What is anuttara-samyak-sambodhi?
“Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi is unsurpassed correct, equal-minded, perfect enlightenment, unsurpassed wisdom that truly realizes of the equality of things and is aware of all truths.”
Why was “prajna” not translated?
“Because prajna is so magnificent, so solemn, and is the apex of loftiness, it also cannot be translated. If it were translated, it would become a worldly term, devolve into something mundane, and degenerate into a general expression stemming from the relative mind consciousness of an ordinary person. . . It would be a grave mistake to translate prajna as worldly cleverness or intelligence. There are also those who translate it as wisdom. This is not its definitive meaning. . . It is extremely frivolous and does not distinguish between evil and good. What people of the world call intelligence, craftiness, and wisdom are all lumped together. Therefore, prajna absolutely cannot be translated as wisdom.”
What is meant by scattered intelligence?
“It is worldly cleverness that is devoid of dhyana powers or any real cultivated power.”
What is the short-coming of “scattered intelligence”?
You cannot end the cycle of birth and death by just using “scattered intelligence.”
How can we generate “scattered intelligence”?
By asking the question ‘why?’ like great scientists.
What is meant by “the truth that great questioning causes great awakening, small questioning causes small awakening, and no questioning causes no awakening”?
“If we do not try to awaken when we encounter problems, if we do not question and thus do not awaken, then we will fall into a dhyana that is like stagnant water.”
Since “prajna” cannot be translated, what can we call it, to better understand its meaning?
“Marvelous, supreme, or pure wisdom. . . the absolute truth that is beyond this world. Such truth is the universal principle that contains the holy meaning of no-defilements Dharma, . . . no-outflow Dharma, the absolute truth that is beyond this world, all causes relating to a worldly ordinary person, all causes relating to rebirth in the six realms of reincarnation have been completely extinguished of defilements. The state of non-arising and non-perishing has been totally realized.”
What are the two aspects of prajna we need to understand?
1-Prajna wisdom and 2-the reality state:
“[Prana wisdom] has the true cognitive ability to identify what is real and false, right and wrong, good and evil, and internal and external fundamental nature. Prajna wisdom gives rise to the function of illuminating the original appearance of human life and everything in the universe. The original appearance referred to here is the reality state. The light of prajna wisdom illuminates everything without making any distinctions and without knowingly doing so. Like the illumination of sunlight, its usefulness is limitless, but it does not know it is illuminating.”
Why do you learn Buddha Dharma?
“No matter what Buddha Dharma one learns, one does so in order to thoroughly awaken to one’s original appearance.”
What is a sentient being?
“Sentient beings mean beings with life, feelings, and consciousness.”
What is meant by “dhyana”?
“However, after seeing and awakening, have you succeeded? No. You still need dhyana. You still have to imperturbably abide in this state. Only if you can imperturbably abide in it are you in dhyana. This dhyana is called the dhyana of samadhi. If you can, in a state of brightness, be a body that pervades all of space and the entire dharma realm, yet not be attached to it, then you have attained what is called “samadhi of limitless and profound brightness.” This is the dhyana that the World-Honored Shakyamuni Buddha entered when He was practicing. However, this is very difficult to attain. It would be remarkable if you were even able to stay in a dhyana of no awareness. All states of dhyana require putting forth effort.”
What is your original appearance?
“Through supreme, marvelous wisdom, you penetratingly see your own dharma-nature of true emptiness, your own original appearance. This dharma-nature of true emptiness, which is your original appearance, is the same original appearance of everything in the universe. There is no difference.”
The Buddha Master also explained Buddha Nature and the nature of impermanence, samadhi, dhyana, and the form of formlessness in more detail. He gave mention of the manas and alaya consciousness. He also discussed what is called “initial breakthrough”, the difference between ordinary living beings and Buddhas, and other important concepts to help us understand that “prajna” means and how to realize it. He did this by using analogies and examples. If you want to understand and benefit from the teachings contained in the Heart Sutra, you need to thoroughly understand these lessons.
Be sure and enroll in DCB26-Realizing Prajna, if you want to join our long term study of the Heart Sutra or the broader study of C41(A)-the Three Principle Stages & Paths of Buddhist Practice. There is an expanded article on C41(A) that explains its scope and content. CLICK for video of that discussion and revised maps of this roadmap to C41(A). DCB26 is one of the Learning from Buddha Seminary (LFBS) courses that are included in C41(A). There is also another article that discusses G03(A) and G03 Evolution of Buddhism, two additional courses that are also part of C41(A).
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 on DCB26 will continue our discussion of Lesson 36-“Causality & the Methods of Continual Practice” at our August 23, 2025 ZOOM session at 9:00 am.
If you have enrolled in C41(A) DCB26 or DCB25 or DCB24 or DCB23 or DCB22 or DCB21, you may continue to use the same ZOOM link to attend the Saturday morning discussions. However, you will need to enroll in the appropriate course to be able to watch the video recordings of the classes, download study materials, or study the related questions.
TO DATE: DCB26-How to realize Prajna and C41-Three Principal Stages & Paths of Buddhist Practice.
The recordings of the August 9, 2025 DCB26-Lesson 36A class is now available. 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.
August 9, 2025: Lesson 36A-H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Imparts Buddha Dharma-Causality and the Rules and Methods of Continual Practice, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra-How to Realize Prajna, (1-17) and (HERE) for recordings of the class.
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 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 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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