On September 6, 2025 we continued our discussion of DCB26-“How to Realize Prajna.” You may still join that class (See instructions at bottom of this article) and do the following homework. Listening to the same material we discussed last year may be helpful. There is another article that has been reposted on the Buddha Master’s teachings about Dharma Protectors that relate to this discussion.
HOMEWORK-DCB26: Watch videos from April 27, 2024 and May 4, 2024. Those attending previous classes all have specific assignments from these questions, but all should be prepared to answer questions 44-52 during ZOOM Class. You may also submit your answers via course procedures.
The following are brief summaries of part of our discussion on September 6. 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. Please note that in this class we heard the understanding expressed by the various participants. To hear the actual quotes from the Buddha Master you need to listen to the classes held in 2024. Also please remember that we are still working with a preliminary and unauthorized translation of the Buddha Master’s teachings so they can only be used for reference.
What does the Chinese word “xiuxing” mean?
“The character 修 (xiu) means to correct, and the character 行 (xing) refers to our conduct. Thus, cultivation is correcting your conduct of an ordinary person such that it accords with the just and correct rules of conduct that Buddhas and Bodhisattvas established.”
The term has is usually translated as “cultivation” in English, but that does not per se include all the Chinese meaning.
Why and how should you beseech Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, Dharma-protecting deities, and Dharma protectors to protect you?
“From now on, all of you disciples should beseech Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, Dharma-protecting holy and non-holy beings, and Dharma protectors. All of you should make offerings to them and should practice Dharmas specifically related to them so that they will protect you.he Buddha Master also explained why the manifestation of dark karma was so troublesome.”
If you do not have a specific Dharma Protector Dharma, you may take the protector of your yidam and dedicate the heart mantra of your yidam to that Dharma Protector.
Why do we specifically need to make offerings to the Dharma Protectors?
“Therefore, our Dharma protectors are Dharma protectors in the ultimate sense. We practice Dharmas specifically related to them so as to carry out Buddhist undertakings, do good deeds, and contribute all of our abilities to living beings. We should contribute all of the abilities that we have. We do not want to keep our abilities without contributing them. We do not want to be selfish. We want to enter prajna. This is what we should do. If we practice in such a manner, our bad effects will be pushed to later time in the future. Because our negative karmic retribution has been pushed to a later time, we are able to induce empowerment bestowed by Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and protection bestowed by Dharma protectors. This is because Dharma protectors only protect good people, not bad people. They do not easily obey anyone.”
The Buddha Master also warned us to stay away from certain “Golden Beings” found on other non-Buddhist paths and showed us how the “Dharma of Baifa Mingmen Determination by Holy Selection Made in Totally Dark Confinement” is used to detrmine which Dharma you should learn based on your karma, or causality. He also provided an example of how Dharma Protectors help people. Our discussion also covered certain spirit beings found in the west and how we should interact with them.
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 September 27, 2025 ZOOM session at 9:00 am. There will be no classes on September 13 0r 20.
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 September 6, 2025 DCB26-Lesson 36D 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 information on LFBS class P10 or CLICK for Hesperia classes.
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.
September 6, 2025: Lesson 36D-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, (37-43) and (HERE) for recordings of the class.
August 30 2025: Lesson 36C-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, (28-36) and (HERE) for recordings of the class.
August 23 2025: Lesson 36B-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, (18-28) and (HERE) for recordings of the class.
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 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.
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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