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Five Time Periods of Shakyamuni Buddha’s Teaching

Photo of Vulture Peak (Gridhrakūta) in Rajgir, India.
Vulture Peak (Gridhrakūta) in Rajgir, India.

At our class discussion on August 24, 2024, we discussed the second and third sentences from the Prajna-Paramita Heart Sutra: Sariputra, form does not differ from emptiness; emptiness does not differ from form. Form is emptiness; emptiness is form.” Several questions and various opinions were expressed concerning various Hinayana and Mahayana teachings on the matter. They included how and what Shakyamuni Buddha taught concerning this. There were differing opinions on what H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha said about Shakyamuni’s different teachings and why He taught as He did. We did cover this in an earlier course on Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra along with the basis used by the Buddha Master in expounding this sutra. I am including questions #363-#369 and the answers given in the preliminary translation we have of Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra–the Title from Lesson 6D-“Sutra”. I am including this to provide background material for our continuing class on the Heart Sutra along with reposting the video I did on the “Evolution of Buddhism” which shows a graphic depiction over time of the different sects and traditions, time periods, and major patriarchs and matriarchs involved.

What are the five time periods of Shakyamuni Buddha’s teaching?

Why did He teach the Hinayana?

So, what did He teach the Hinayana students?

Why did He teach in this manner?

How does the “Chapter of the Conjured City” in the Lotus Sutra explain the contradictions in the teachings of the Hinayana and the Mahayana?

How long did Shakyamuni Buddha teach and how many of those years were devoted to teaching Prajna?

What authority did the Buddha Master use in explaining the Heart Sutra?

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Thus Have I Seen (and Heard) on zhaxizhuoma.org is a blog offered by Zhaxi Zhuoma for English-speaking followers and those interested in the teachings and activities of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. Read more about this blog

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Most of the quotes from H.H Dorje Chang Buddha III posted on this blog are from unapproved translations and may contain errors. Likewise the contents of this blog have not been reviewed or approved by the Buddha and should be considered as reference material and not Buddha-dharma.

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