On January 13 we almost finished our discussion of the third Mind-Essence practice from the Supreme and Unsurpassable Mahamudra of Liberation part of Lesson 5 of C41(A)-The Three Principal Stages and Paths of Buddhist Practice. We continued discussing the six paramitas and addressed questions #298-#312 covering the “paramis,” reviewing material covered in DCB21 from Expounding the Absolute Truth from the Heart Sutra. That part of the discussion explored what was meant by the “other shore” and just where that other shore can be found. We also asked a lot of questions about the seventh and eight consciousnesses (the manas and alaya) and realized that we didn’t have that many answers. We will take up these matters again in future lessons when we study the wisdom path that leads to the correct view of emptiness. However, we did take a detour and read the first part of the “ta” part of “paramita,” which is recorded separately below.
On January 20, we should be able to finish Lesson 5, summarizing the six paramitas and what character flaws or harmful obstruction each of the paramitas overcome (questions #313 and #314) and explore the four methods used to bring people to the Buddha Dharma (#315). We will close this lesson with a comparison of the methods offered by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III and Je Tsongkhapa in developing bodhichitta to become a Bodhisattva.
Picking up the last two paramis– concentration or meditation (“TA”) and wisdom (“PRAJNA”) in the next lesson–Lesson 6, we will revisit the parts of DCB21 that establish the foundation for understanding the various kinds of “Prajna” as well as the last two paramitas when we study Lesson 6 of C41(A) on the Wisdom Path of the Right View of Emptiness. Those of you enrolled in either the Buddhist Studies or the Xiuxing Seminary Programs may review the related discussion session held on DCB21 or you may attend the classes I will give at Hua Zang Si on January 27 and 28, 2024 in San Francisco. You really need to be able to understand the concepts and principles established in DCB21 where the Buddha Master explains all the terms in the title of The Prajna Parami-ta Heart Sutra to be able to fully understand the text of the sutra itself that we will study in Lesson 6 as DCB22-25.
C41-Three Principal Stages & Paths of Buddhist Practice
The recording of the January 13 class is now available. You must be enrolled in C41 in one of the membership programs at the LFBCS 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 LFBCS with your membership ID AND are enrolled in this class.
January 13, 2024: Lesson 6-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra and HERE for recording of class. This discussion should belong in the next lesson when we study “TA” or dhyana and will be revisited then, but our early discussion is recorded here. Please note that the numbering of the questions will not match anything.
January 13, 2024: Lesson 5J-The Great Stage–Method Path of Bodhichitta, SAUMOL (298-312) and HERE for recording of class.
January 6, 2024: Lesson 5I-The Great Stage–Method Path of Bodhichitta, (277-297) and HERE for recording of class.
December 30, 2023: Lesson 5H-The Great Stage–Method Path of Bodhichitta, SAUMOL & Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra (267-276) and HERE for recording of class.
December 16, 2023: Lesson 5G-The Great Stage–Method Path of Bodhichitta, SAUMOL (258-266) and HERE for recording of class.
December 9, 2023: Lesson 5F-The Great Stage–Method Path of Bodhichitta, SAUMOL (236-257) and HERE for recording of class.
December 2, 2023: Lesson 5E-The Great Stage–Method Path of Bodhichitta, SAUMOL (223-235) and HERE for recording of class.
November 18, 2023: Lesson 5D-The Great Stage–Method Path of Bodhichitta, SAUMOL (199-202 & 203-222) and HERE for recording of class.
November 4, 2023: Lesson 5C-The Great Stage–Method Path of Bodhichitta (189-198) and HERE for recording of class.
October 28, 2023: Lesson 5B-The Great Stage–Method Path of Bodhichitta (173-188) and HERE for recording of class.
September 23, 2023: Lesson 5A-The Great Stage–Method Path of Bodhichitta (155-172) and HERE for recording of class.
July 15, 2023: Lesson 4E-Intermediate Stage–The Path of Renunciation (142-154) and HERE for recording of class.
June 24, 2023: Lesson 4D-Intermediate Stage–The Path of Renunciation (110-141) and HERE for recording of class.
June 17, 2023: Lesson 4C-Intermediate Stage–The Path of Renunciation (90-109) and HERE for recording of class.
June 10, 2023: Lesson 4B-Intermediate Stage–The Path of Renunciation (84-89) and HERE for recording of class.
May 27, 2023: Lesson 4A-Intermediate Stage–The Path of Renunciation (63-83) and HERE for recording of class.
May 20, 2023: Lesson 3B -Initial Stage (60-62) and HERE for recording of class.
May 13, 2023: Lesson 3A -Initial Stage (39-59) and HERE for recording of class.
May 6, 2023: Lesson 2-Preliminaries (14-38) and HERE for recording of that class.
April 29, 2023: Lesson 1-Introduction to Three Principal Stages & Paths of Buddhist Practice (1-13) and HERE for recording of that class.
Description of C41-Three Principal Stages & Paths of Buddhist Practice at LFBCS.
CLICK for video “How Buddhism Came to the West.”
ARTICLE with more information and links on how to join course including updated chart of course content. Lessons 6 &7 are still under construction.
Add comment