We finished Lesson 26 today, focusing on “Qigong” and “Who Can Be Known as a Master of Esoteric Dharma?” The following are some of the questions addressed during this ZOOM session:
Who Can Be Known as a Master of Esoteric Dharma?
“A master of esoteric Dharma must have attained the state of proficiency in both exoteric and esoteric Buddhism and marvelous mastery of the five vidyas. Only then is one a true vajra master. These are the criteria one should meet.”
What does the Buddha Master say about qigong?
“I oppose qigong. It involves psychological illusionary phenomena that have conditioned beneficial effects. In the end, it is totally useless.”
What role does “qi” play in qigong results?
“Actually, the peaceful type of qigong has nothing to do with qi. Qi does play a role in the marital-art type of qigong. However, all types of qigong are impermanent. To put it bluntly, qigong is nothing more than the actions of ordinary people.”
What Dharmas should an esoteric master be proficient in before he or she is qualified to teach and guide disciples?
“However, those who learn esoteric Dharma should be proficient in both exoteric and esoteric Buddhism. They should understand the Treatise on the Middle Way, the Hetu-Vidya Treatise, the Treasury of Abhidharma with Commentary,the Prajna Treatise, and the Precepts and Disciplines Treatise. Only then can they truly be proficient in the theories of esoteric Buddhism and be qualified to teach and guide disciples.”
Does this knowledge make them a genuine great Holy Guru?
“With proficiencies in both exoteric and esoteric Buddhism, then none of the two aspects is absent. Only then can one be called proficient in both exoteric and esoteric Buddhism. Even if one is proficient in both exoteric and esoteric Buddhism, this is just a matter of theory. It does not indicate that such a master possesses Buddha Dharma. For example, someone may talk all day long about how tummo can raise and lower one’s body temperature through the three meridians and five chakras, how the secret chakra generates fire through a seed syllable, and what seed syllable bestows bodhi at the crown chakra so that an effect is generated through interaction. One’s account of such things may be extravagantly colorful. However, can that person raise his or her own body temperature? Such a person is difficult to find! How can you casually label someone as being a genuine great Holy Guru?”
Be sure and enroll in DCB24-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:
We will begin our discussion of Lesson 27-“The Five Vidyas” of LFBCS Course DCB24 at our March 1, 2025 ZOOM session at 9:00 am discussing the Heart Sutra.
If you have enrolled in C41(A) 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: DCB24-Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra: PART TWO–III and C41-Three Principal Stages & Path[;s of Buddhist Practice.
The recordings of the February 22, 2025 DCB24-Lesson 26 class is now available. All of the recordings and summary of ZOOM discussions for DCB21, DCB22, DCB23. 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.
“. . . no suffering, no accumulation, no cessation, and no path; no wisdom, also no attainment. With nothing to be attained, therefore, . . .”
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.
February 22, 2025: Lesson 26-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–III, Qigong (115-122) and (HERE) for recording of class.
February 8, 2025: Lesson 25B-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–III, Prajna Is Unequaled Dharma (93-114) and (HERE) for recording of class.
February 1, 2025: Lesson 25A-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–III, Prajna Is Unequaled Dharma (77-92) and (HERE) for recording of class.
February 1, 2025: Lesson 24B-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–III, No Wisdom, Also No Attainment (71-76) and (HERE) for recording of class.
January 25, 2025: Lesson 24A-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–III, No Wisdom, Also No Attainment (57-70) and (HERE) for recording of class.
January 18, 2025: Lesson 23B-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–III, Methods Used by Different Schools & Traditions (31-56) and (HERE) for recording of class.
January 11, 2025: Lesson 23A-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–III, Methods Used by Different Schools & Traditions (15-30) and (HERE) for recording of class.
January 4, 2025: Lesson 22–The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–III, “. . . no suffering, no accumulation, no cessation, and no path; . . .” (1-14) and (HERE) for recording of class.
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.
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