We finished Lesson 25 today, focusing on “Prajna Is Unequaled Dharma” and exploring why this is so, Phowa Dharma, and other matters related to esoteric Buddhism. The following are some of the questions addressed during this ZOOM session:
How should we view esoteric Buddhism, especially Tibetan esoteric Buddhism?
“Now, we had better return to the matter of esoteric Buddhism. Actually, those people who I previously mentioned think that practitioners of the esoteric school only chant mantras, or they think that the esoteric Dharma is not correct. Both of these views are wrong. True esoteric Buddhism is a higher-level practice that is established on the foundation of exoteric Buddhism. I am speaking of true esoteric Buddhism. Of course, some of the native religion of Tibet has been mixed into Tibetan esoteric Buddhism. In short, esoteric Buddhism is established upon the foundation of exoteric Buddhism. One must first understand exoteric Buddhism and then establish the foundation at a higher level based on this foundation.”
What qualities must a vajra master of esoteric Buddhism possess?
“Vajra masters of esoteric Buddhism must fully possess the five vidyas. . . Vajra masters at even higher levels must have marvelous mastery of the five vidyas. This requires true, actual, achievements that are seen, that are revealed openly, one by one, as verification. It is not a matter of just uselessly repeating from memory several terms relating to the five vidyas. . . They must be proficient in both exoteric Buddhism and esoteric Buddhism, fully possess the five vidyas or, at an even higher level, have marvelous mastery of the five vidyas. . . It is not the case that one who only chants mantras can be called a master of esoteric Buddhism.”
What are the requirements of learning Dharma in western esoteric Buddhism?
“The first thing is to learn the five major treatises. Listen attentively. Those five treatises are the Hetu-Vidya Treatise, the Treatise on the Middle Way, the Treasury of Abhidharma with Commentary, the Prajna Treatise, and the Precepts and Disciplines Treatise. One repeatedly reads these five treatises to establish familiarity in the mind, to fuse and forge such learning into one’s mind. One ponders and analyses these treatises through the differentiation of mind consciousness and the illumination of prajna wisdom. . . Then, people gather at a site to debate. Only after one’s debate performance is unhindered can one learn the esoteric preliminary practices. . . Only after passing that stage can one become a trainee of esoteric Buddhism, be transmitted Dharma, learn mantras, learn hand mudras, and learn cultivated powers associated with the three mystic things: the body, speech, and mind. These are generally the rules of western esoteric Buddhism. . . Moreover, the process is not simple. One must also practice the four preliminary practices. The four preliminary practices have very deep meaning and are not at all easy to complete. It takes about ten years to completely finish them.”
Is there an alternative to practicing the Four Preliminary Practices?
“[Yes, if you] have encountered a great master who can confer inner-tantric initiations. In such case, you are lucky, for you are excused from practicing the four preliminary practices and can practice other Dharmas. Perhaps you will practice a Dharma that day by day leads to accomplishment or other Dharma that removes hindrances. That is a different kind of situation.”
Describe the Phowa Dharma as practiced in Tibet.
“Thus, it goes without saying what the learning of true practitioners of esoteric Buddhism is. Their learning is profound. Based on this, one can understand that the efficacy of the phowa Dharma of esoteric Buddhism that enables the deceased to ascend to the Pure Land is very great. . . . Why does the crown have to be opened? It enables one’s consciousness to fly out from there when that Dharma is practiced. . . In general, the crown must be opened within seven days. . . However, whether the consciousness can be raised to the Pure Land is uncertain because that is closely related to the disciple’s cultivation and power of dhyana.”
Are there other ways one’s crown can be opened?
“. . . there is a holy person whose crown-opening ability is simply astounding. It is not that I want to praise that holy person. That holy person is able to open the crown in an instant. Moreover, he can cause the person to emit blue smoke from the skull. That is not ordinary blue smoke. Once the crown is opened, blue smoke directly emanates upward over the top of the head, like rolling clouds. Right after that, bright rays of light are emitted. This is the state attained. Of course, that is not the phowa Dharma. Rather, it is Vajra Dhyana or the Nirvana Path-Fruit Dharma.”
Should we rely on the phowa Dharma to become accomplished and attain Buddhahood?
” At this point, you disciples should note that we do not rely on the phowa Dharma to become accomplished and attain Buddhahood. Ultimately, we should universally save living beings. We should cultivate prajna to illuminate and see the state of the truth of reality that is true emptiness. This is the Buddha Dharma that we should learn. We should not be one who flinches in the face of difficulty. Rather, we should use our presence in this world to do some more good deeds for living beings. We should do all that we can in this regard. Under the presupposition that we do not violate the law and create trouble for ourselves, we should go about taking care of all of our own matters, learn Buddha Dharma, realize accomplishment, realize the fruits, and realize true prajna.”
If at the end of your life you have not solved the matter of birth and death, what should you do?
“If at the time your life is about to end you cannot solve the matter of birth and death, then you can rely upon the power of phowa Dharma to handle your consciousness. . . Of course, whether you can learn even higher Dharma depends upon your own karmic conditions.”
The Buddha Master also gave many examples of events that those present had witnessed to prove the truth of these teachings. He also compared the Xianliang Great Perfection and other Dharmas included in the Supreme and Unsurpassable Mahamudra of Liberation (SAUMOL) to the Great Perfection Dharma and other Dharmas of esoteric Buddhism.
Be sure and enroll in DCB24-Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra: Part TWO-III, 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, which was discussed before starting DCB24 last Saturday. CLICK for video of that discussion and revised maps of this roadmap to C41(A). DCB24 is one of the Learning from Buddha College & Seminary (LFBCS) 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:
We will begin our discussion of Lesson 26-Qigong of LFBCS Course DCB24 at our February 15, 2025 ZOOM session at 9:00 am discussing the Heart Sutra.
If you have enrolled in C41(A) or DCB24 or DCB23 or DCB22 or DCB21 or DCB26) 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: DCB24-Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra: PART TWO–III and C41-Three Principal Stages & Path[;s of Buddhist Practice.
The recordings of the February 1, 2025 DCB24-Lesson 24B and Lesson 25A class are now available. All of the recordings and summary of ZOOM discussions for DCB21, DCB22, DCB23. and DCB26-Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra are now available along with the questions for DCB25. You must be enrolled in each of these classes in one of the full 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 identification number AND are enrolled in this class.
“. . . no suffering, no accumulation, no cessation, and no path; no wisdom, also no attainment. With nothing to be attained, therefore, . . .”
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 LFBCS classes and how to register for the ZOOM discussions.
February 8, 2025: Lesson 25B-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–III, Prajna Is Unequaled Dharma (93-114) and (HERE) for recording of class.
February 1, 2025: Lesson 25A-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–III, Prajna Is Unequaled Dharma (77-92) and (HERE) for recording of class.
February 1, 2025: Lesson 24B-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–III, No Wisdom, Also No Attainment (71-76) and (HERE) for recording of class.
January 25, 2025: Lesson 24A-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–III, No Wisdom, Also No Attainment (57-70) and (HERE) for recording of class.
January 18, 2025: Lesson 23B-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–III, Methods Used by Different Schools & Traditions (31-56) and (HERE) for recording of class.
January 11, 2025: Lesson 23A-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–III, Methods Used by Different Schools & Traditions (15-30) and (HERE) for recording of class.
January 4, 2025: Lesson 22–The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–III, “. . . no suffering, no accumulation, no cessation, and no path; . . .” (1-14) and (HERE) for recording of class.
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 last class held on DCB26 and links to videos of all 8 ZOOM class discussions held on DCB26 held from April 20, 2024 to June 22, 2024.
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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