We just finished another 30-day retreat (August 5-September 5, 2022) devoted to studying Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra. Seventeen people participated and eight were able to complete reading the entire sutra during this period. Some of the others who participated had already read the entire sutra on other occasions. This time I was able to provide study questions for over half of the text. These questions will form the framework for homework for six separate courses on this sutra (DCB21-DCB26) at Learning from Buddha College and Seminary. To enable those who would like to continue discussing their experiences with this amazing sutra, we will be hosting forums to discuss the questions raised from the sutra on certain Saturday mornings at 9:00 am Pacific Time. As an experiment we will try opening these sessions to others who have not been able to come to Sanger and read the sutra, but are interested in knowing more about it. We cannot read this sacred text on the internet or share the text as it is still a preliminary translation and can only be considered for reference. CLICK for article with link to register for these forums and more information.
The retreat started on August 5 and ended on September 5. Below is a photo taken at the beginning. We started out meeting and reading the chapters together and discussing the text as we went, but as the month progressed, people broke off and studied more on their own, reading at their own pace, but still coming together to discuss what they learned and ask questions. Some need to hear the teaching and some need to see the text to best absorb the meaning of the Buddha’s words.
You may ask, “Why start with how to implement what the Heart Sutra offers before we investigate the Heart Sutra itself. Isn’t this putting the cart before the horse?” Fair question. We will need to study this again after we have read and better understand the Heart Sutra. However, we can also benefit from the practices and guidelines offered in this discourse now. We cannot afford to wait. We already have or at least know about most of the dharmas in this discourse, but have not had the opportunity to hear from the Buddha Master on how to properly practice them. This forum will explore the whole matter of causality and the various methods of continual practice. It is hoped that just hearing our discussion of this essential material will help us on the path and deepen our practice and commitment to the Dharma.
This group was very dedicated but they did take one day off for a picnic in the nearby Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. We were lucky this year that there were no fires there.
The forum this coming Saturday, September 17 at 9:00 am PT, will start with the last part of the text of the sutra with a discourse given on how to realize prajna. I will try and introduce the total text by providing my understanding of what the Buddha master’s goals were in publishing this text, providing an overview of what the sutra does–what dharma is imparted by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III–and for whom this sutra was spoken. It will hopefully give a working definition of “prajna” to start our discussion, but the detailed explanation will be questioned in later courses. This forum will cover background on the Prajna-Paramita Heart Sutra in society today and reasons that those who do frequently read or at least chant the sutra do not realize prajna. It also explores the steps we must follow to realize prajna. It helps prepare us or establishes the context for the actual dharma practices we can do, which will be discussed in later forums.
The first lesson of this course on how to realize prajna provides context and starts us on our cultivation by asking 52 questions. We may need a second session the following week to finish this part. I have reserved September 24 for another session, if needed. The second scheduled forum will be on October 1 and continue the matter of proper cultivation with a discussion of the preliminary practices we need to progress. CLICK for the complete schedule of these forums and plan to join us when you can.
“Heart Cloud” Photo above by Jeremy Bezanger.
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