We continued DCB25 with lesson 29 using “…Bodhisattvas rely on prajna-paramita, and thus their minds have no hindrance. Because there is no hindrance, they have no fear“ from the Heart Sutra. The following are some of the questions addressed during this ZOOM session:
Do Bodhisattvas Ever Have Fear?
Yes, in the beginning.
“Beginning Bodhisattvas have fear. . . They are even frightened out of their wits when someone prostrates or kowtows to them. Do you understand? That is because they fear their karmic reward of good fortune will thereby be reduced. They understand the principle of karmic retribution. They are afraid. Do you understand? This is a fear of beginning Bodhisattvas. It is said in Buddhist sutras that beginning Bodhisattvas have five fears.”
Although it was not mentioned here, the Buddha Master at other times explained that the fear of having someone prostrate to them comes from that person having greater realization than them. If you allow someone to prostrate to you who is of higher realization, you can loose your merit.
What are the five types of fears held by Bodhisattvas?
“The first is the fear of having no livelihood. . . The second is the fear of a bad reputation. . . The third is the fear of death. . . The fourth is the fear of descending into one of the bad or lower realms. . . The fifth fear is the fear of speaking to an assembly in which there are those of mighty virtue.”
What do ordinary living beings fear most?
“What living beings fear most is death. They fear death most of all. Death results from greed-based attachment and from hindrances. From greed-based attachment and from hindrances, death is derived. Moreover, hindrances arise from greed-based attachment to the notion that body and mind, fame and gain, property and belongings, and human feelings truly exist. Because of greed-based attachment and hindrances, the body and mind are greedily attached to property and belongings, one’s own fame, gain, and status, and all kinds of human feelings. Such causal conduct based upon the notion that all objects or states truly exist naturally produces the fruits of karma.”
How do living beings eliminate this fear?
“When we realize the prajna wisdom that there is nothing to attain or obtain, we know that all the phenomena I just mentioned that living beings greedily crave are unattainable and unobtainable. We then have no fear at all of birth, death, and the afflictions. They do not exist in reality. They illusorily exist. Additionally, with the actual utilization of cultivated power, we eventually realize genuine intrinsic-reality prajna. Naturally, they do not exist within the fundamental truth, within the absolute truth.”
The Buddha Master also explained the five fears held by beginning bodhisattvas in great depth.
Be sure and enroll in DCB25-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:
The next class in DCB25 will continue with our discussion of Lesson 30- “Having forever left inverted dream-thinking, they dwell in ultimate nirvana.” of LFBCS Course DCB25 at our April 26, 2025 ZOOM session at 9:00 am.
If you have enrolled in C41(A) or DCB25 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: DCB25-Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra: PART TWO–IV and C41-Three Principal Stages & Paths of Buddhist Practice.
The recordings of the April 19, 2025 DCB25-Lesson 29C 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 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.
“Having forever left inverted dream-thinking, they dwell in ultimate nirvana.”
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.
April 19, 2025: Lesson 29C-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–IV, “. . . Bodhisattvas rely on prajna-paramita, and thus their minds have no hindrance.” (18-24) and (HERE) for recording of the class.
April 12, 2025: Lesson 29B–The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–IV, “. . . Bodhisattvas rely on prajna-paramita, and thus their minds have no hindrance.” (13-19) and (HERE) for recording of the class.
April 5, 2025: Lesson 29A-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–IV, “. . . Bodhisattvas rely on prajna-paramita, and thus their minds have no hindrance.” (1-12) and (HERE) for recording of the class.
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 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.
Add comment