We continued our study of DCB35-Learning from Buddha on February 21, 2026 with the introductory section that included two photos of the Buddha Master and a related discourse explaining how and why He changed from an ancient old person to a beautiful young version of Himself. We also started Lesson Three: Cultivation, Assignment 3.
The following are brief summaries of our discussion on February 21, 2026 with links to the video of our ZOOM discussion of that class and a previous session 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. 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.
We started the discussion with background on H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III by the World Buddhism Association Headquarters and the two photos of His Holiness–one showing an aged winkled appearance and another, taken a day later, that showed Him as a beautiful young man. There was also a description of a demonstration given by Wangzha Shangzun that caused one side of a sixty year old man’s face to return to a youthful appearance. Everyone was then asked to offer their thoughts on why these events were included in the introduction to the sutra.
The rest of the discussion focused on Lesson Three-Cultivation. The following summarizes that discussion:
What is the main theme of this lesson?
“The main theme of this Dharma I am imparting today is that people who learn from Buddha cannot attain accomplishment if they learn Dharma but do not cultivate themselves.”
How important is this sutra and what did the Buddha Master require of His students concerning it?
It is very important, so much so that the Buddha Master said:
“Today, I will NOT be giving you a discourse on the teachings of the sutras. Rather, I will be imparting Dharma to all of you, imparting the Dharma of learning from Buddha. . . From now on, anyone who comes to receive a Dharma transmission or initiation from me must bring this book with them. I will not confer an initiation upon or transmit Dharma to anyone who has not studied this book. When you come to see me, someone will first interview you and check whether you have this book with you. If someone does not bring this book or did not study it seriously, I will not see him or her. . . If any disciple of mine who is a master does not have this book with him, then he is a charlatan who does not want to learn to be good. Any disciple who took refuge in him must leave him immediately!”
Is it easy or difficult to become accomplished in the Dharma?
“. . . as a living being—whether you are a human or a living being of another type—to cultivate yourself, become liberated, and attain accomplishment is an easy matter. It is also not an easy matter. Once you understand, it is not difficult. If you do not understand, it is difficult. Cultivating yourself, becoming liberated, and attaining accomplishment is really about how to leave this world of arising and ceasing, with its sufferings of birth, old age, sickness, and death, how to break away from the sufferings of samsara and enter eternal bliss and happiness.”
Who is a holy person and what do they need to become one?
“Actually, for a human to become a person who is not subject to death and rebirth, who has left the sufferings of birth, aging, sickness, and death, and who ultimately is free, blissful, eternally happy, in possession of great supernormal powers, and unhindered—that is, a person who is a holy one—two things are needed. Which two things? They are Cultivation and learning Dharma!”
What is a Buddha-land world of pure karma?
“A Buddha-land world, simply put, is a world of pure karma. What is meant by pure karma? It is where there is no dark karma, no avidya, no affliction, no mutual deception, no selfish fighting, and no killing, massacre, or horror. There is only benevolence, pure kindness, compassion, caring, and respect. There is no pain or suffering, only well-being and happiness.”
Are there many rigorously pure Buddha-lands?
“There are as many as ten trillion such worlds, which are called the rigorously pure Buddha-lands.”
Examples given are Amitabha Buddha’s “Western World of Ultimate Bliss” or “Sukhavati” and the “Eastern World of Lapis Lazuli” or “Vaiduryanirbhasa.”
Who may NOT enter these pure Buddha-lands?
“Since pure lands are all pure, how could a person with dark karma be permitted to enter? One who still has a mind of selfish thoughts, a mind of differentiation, hatred, greed, jealousy, presumptuousness, arrogance, or shamelessness, a mind that considers oneself always in the right, or a mind that deceives others is a type of person who simply is foolish and ignorant. That type of person is simply an ordinary person, one who is not qualified to be called a holy person.”
What MUST you do to be able to enter these pure Buddha-lands?
“Therefore, in addition to being patient under humiliation and adversity and cultivating yourselves, you must also practice the Ten Wholesome Courses of Action, practice the Four Limitless States of Mind, and arouse bodhicitta. Only then will you ultimately be able to truly and completely cleanse your own dark karma. It is exactly for this reason that Shakyamuni Buddha wanted everyone to practice the Six Paramitas in all of their myriad actions and perform deeds that accord with the path to enlightenment.”
Is it enough to illuminate your mind and see your original nature to enter these Buddha-lands?
“You cannot become a holy person just by saying that you have illuminated your mind and seen your original nature. To become a holy person, you must become a person of pure karma. Only when you have become a person of pure karma can you enter a pure land.”
There was also a discussion of the down-to-earth words used by the Buddha Master and his method of delivering this Dharma and how He used different ways to explain certain Buddhist principles. We were also told why one without pure karma could not enter a Buddha-land and the two words the Buddha Master says to anyone wanting to enter a pure land whose karma is still impure:
“Forget it!”
We will continue discussing DCB35-Learning from Buddha on February 21 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 will be given homework questions to discuss. You may also watch the videos of our discussions once you enroll in DCB35.
We will probably start G36-Dharma that Every Buddhist Must Follow after DCB35. If you want to join us for that course, you should acquire a copy of Dorje Pamu’s text as we will take turns discussing the various questions that have been prepared for the course like we did for P-10 and will also do for DCB35. You can purchase PaMu’s book directly from H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Cultural and Art Museum (170 E. School St. Covina CA 91723) and pay by credit card or PayPal. the cost is $36 plus shipping fee. They can ship to your address. Please contact Michelle Chang at (626) 281-6378, (973)337-7539. The museum hours are from Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 5:30.
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.
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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 recordings of the February 21, 2026 DCB35 class are 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 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.
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 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.
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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