Feedback from Don Asper on Retreat on H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III’s Sutra Based on the Heart Sutra

As the Learning from Buddha College and Seminary (LRBCS) prepares to discuss and explore Imparting the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra, I thought it might be helpful to see how one of us reacted to being able to read this marvelous text. This is a repeat of an earlier, pre COVID post from October 6, 2019. The following is from Don Asper, from North Carolina:

“I recently participated in the March, 2019 retreat at The Holy Vajrasana Temple and Retreat Center, which is very ably directed and managed by Abbess Zhaxi Zhuoma Rinpoche. Rinpoche has always been especially helpful to English speaking disciples of H. H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. Zhaxi Zhuoma Rinpoche does whatever she can to help English speakers discover and appreciate H. H. Dorje Chang Buddha III’s discourses and publications, as well as keep English speakers informed about His Holiness’s activities and projects.

“The March retreat was particularly notable because Zhaxi Zhuoma Rinpoche began a series of readings of an unpublished draft English translation of His Holiness’s book “Imparting the Absolute Truth Through the Heart Sutra”, allowing us to explore approximately 150 pages of the full 750 page text. I found both the text and our group discussions absolutely fascinating and a “game-changer” in some respects. In addition to providing access to the unpublished text, Rinpoche facilitated open discussion of the text so that we could better understand it.

“I am not new to Buddhism. I took refuge in His Holiness’s lineage of the True Buddha Dharma about 10 years ago. But, I do not have easy access to H. H. Dorje Chang Buddha III’s English discourses and books. I do not live near other members of the True Buddha Dharma lineage and His Holiness’s discourses and books are often only available in Chinese. Consequently, I study Buddhism by finding quality English translations of classic Buddhist texts and by occasionally hearing discourses during retreats for English speakers. This provides me with information about scattered aspects of Buddhist thought and practice, but rarely gives me a sense of how those aspects fit together. Hence, I was surprised to discover the breadth and comprehensiveness of “Imparting the Absolute Truth Through the Heart Sutra” that Zhaxi Zhuoma Rinpoche is making available to the English-speaking public. I was also surprised by the clarity of the language. His Holiness makes a point of using simple and direct language throughout the book. He often repeats his statements using different words to re-assert and clarify what he has previously stated.

“The fraction of “Imparting the Absolute Truth Through the Heart Sutra” that we read and discussed during the retreat helped me in several ways:
– It clearly described and defined fundamental aspects of Buddhism, such as prajna, which I have previously found vague and unscientific.
– It has cleared up confusions and misunderstandings caused by reading translations of other Buddhist texts.
– I now have greater appreciation for the Chinese cultural aspects of Buddhism.
– It has shown me how the Heart Sutra is indeed at the heart of Mahayana practice and consolidates all of Buddhism. This is amazing considering the Heart Sutra’s brevity.

“I recommend Zhaxi Zhuoma Rinpoche’s series of retreats covering “Imparting the Absolute Truth Through the Heart Sutra” to all English speaking Buddhists and hope that the book will soon be published in English.”

CLICK for link to article by Gesang Suolang on why she follows the teachings of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.

CLICK for link to another article on earlier retreats held on Imparting the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra with many other related links.