We discussed Lesson 2-“The Preliminaries to Taking the Path” today to better understand the importance of listening to and reading Dharma and how to do so in the correct way. We also heard the foundation teachings of “What Is Cultivation?” and the “Five Vidyas,” as well as the correct way to take a lama and what the “128 Evil and Erroneous Views” said about this. We ended the discussion on some preliminary thoughts about correct concentration or meditation including teachings on the “Shifting the Mind” practice from the Supreme and Unsurpassed Mahamudra of Liberation and Shakyamuni Buddha’s admonition on remembering kindness from the Verses of Drumsong.
Students enrolled in C41 at LFBCS may watch the video of this discussion. It is still possible to enroll in C41 and join the continuing discussions on this course. Next Saturday, May 13, from 9:00-11:00 am Pacific Daylight Time, we will discuss the Lesson 3-“The Initial Stage” which provides the the provisional goal of having high status and a good life. It is in this stage that you develop your concern for your next life. You not only become mindful of death and impermanence and the sufferings inherent in the lower realms, but you begin to understand causality and karma. This lesson is where you learn the “Four Laws of Karma,” the “Ten Wholesome Behaviors or Good Characteristics,” and the “Four Powers of Purification.” However, this is still concern for happiness in this and your next life. These are not Buddhist goals per se. Other religions also teach something like this. But this may be where you are at. We must all start here or be reminded of what we may have learned in a past life.
CLICK for article on Lesson 4 which will be discussed on May 20 and 27 (NEW).
C41-Three Principal Stages & Paths of Buddhist Practice
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.
May 6, 2023: Lesson 2-Preliminaries (14-28) 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.
CLICK for video “How Buddhism Came to the West.”
ARTICLE with more information and links including updated chart of course content. Lessons 5-7 are still under construction.
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