We continued discussing Lesson 13 of the text of DCB22-Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra: “PART TWO-I “. . . saw that they (the five aggregates) were all empty. . .” at our July 20, 2024 ZOOM session. We finished the discussion of “Time” and compared the Hinayana view of emptiness to that of the Mahayana. CLICK for article that compares the goals, attainments, practices, and other aspects of the two views. We also began our study of the “Ten Illusory Things” and what they can teach us about emptiness. CLICK for selected comments from the discussion. A sample of the questions with quotes from the corresponding text follow:
What is the “Hinayana View” of emptiness?
“You are unrelentingly perishing. Do you understand? Thus, it is said that the time of arising is the time of perishing. There is no time when this process of arising and perishing ever pauses. There has never been a time when this process stopped. . . This principle is profound. There is no arising and also no perishing. Without either arising or perishing, all dharmas are nonexistent. From this, one can gradually awaken to the principle of emptiness. This is called the observation of emptiness through analysis according to the ‘Hinayana view.‘
“Using this truth to awaken, striving for awakening, you can reach the state of a Pratyeka-buddha or Arhat. This is the stage of insight of the Hinayana.“
Do you need to understand the Hinayana view to be able to understand the Mahayana?
“Without understanding the principles underlying the Hinayana view, how can one possibly speak about the Mahayana view? . . . What is the Mahayana view? It is the observation of emptiness of the entity itself. Observation of emptiness of the entity itself is the Mahayana view. The Hinayana view is the emptiness of personhood, or self. This view originates from the principles used to analyze emptiness and entails the realization of no-self. The Mahayana view is that self as it pertains to a person is empty and that self as it pertains to dharmas, or phenomena, is empty. Both are empty. This is the state of realization of severing attachment to both a self and dharmas.“
What is observation of emptiness of the entity itself?
“The truth as understood from the Mahayana perspective is that the essence of all dharmas is emptiness. There is no need to analyze. It is simply not necessary to do any analysis. Instead, the principle of the Dharma that everything is empty is used to do the observation. One knows that everything is impermanent. Through observing naturally based on the Dharma principle that everything is empty, one knows that everything is empty. Through the Mahayana perspective, one knows that the entities themselves are empty. You look and see that the entity itself is empty.”
Can we say that “nothing exists”?
“It is not utter emptiness where, in the end, nothing exists. That is not the meaning. It is the knowing that everything in and of itself is empty. . . From the entities being observed, you understand that all of the myriad existences are impermanent and empty. Everything arises, exists, decays, and vanishes. Therefore, one thoroughly understands the truth from observing the emptiness of the entity itself without the need to engage in detailed analysis.”
How does one observe the emptiness of entities themselves?
“One must first observe the principle that the five aggregates and all dharmas are empty and the truth of emptiness underlying the ten illusory things produced from conditions.“
What are the ten illusory things produced from conditions as spoken by Shakyamuni Buddha?
“You disciples already know about the five aggregates and all dharmas. There are form, feeling, conceptualization, action, and consciousness. The truth about the five aggregates and all dharmas is that they are empty, false, unreal, illusory, and created by the mind alone. So, now we also need to observe the truth of the emptiness of the ten illusory things produced from conditions. This truth of emptiness directly complements and enriches the truth about the five aggregates and all dharmas. The ten illusory things produced from conditions are: (1) illusions, (2) mirages, (3) dreams, (4) shadows or reflections, (5) mirage cities, (6) echoes, (7) the moon reflected in water, (8) floating bubbles, (9) sky-flowers, and (10) a fire-wheel made by revolving a flare.“
Are supernormal states that defy worldly understanding real or false?
“Besides flying into the sky, there is also concealing one’s body to become invisible and changing the great elements of earth, water, fire, and wind. . . Various conditioned phenomena are transformed in accordance with one’s mind. So, one’s mind transforms external objects. There are also strange sounds and peculiar fragrances. . . There is even turning fire into water and vice versa or going upward, downward, and in the four directions without any hindrance. One can rush down into the underground or soar up into the sky. One has complete freedom. One can pass through walls and so on, but doing so is very dangerous. . .
“This belongs to unusual phenomena, such as moving about in an unhindered manner or freely traversing thousands of miles in an instant. With this supernormal power of divine movement, a distance of thousands of miles can be freely crossed in one step. The cause or origin of such phenomena cannot be determined by logic or reason. That is, our logic, reason, and science cannot be used to conjecture about such phenomena, which are simply inexplicable. . . The truth underlying such phenomena certainly is not known to worldly people. Ordinary people are unable to understand such phenomena. However, all phenomena are unreal. They are all false, not real.“
What is meant here when it is said that something is “false”?
“However, these are illusions! We ourselves, as humans, are illusions. Human beings are not real. Thus, this same principle that applies to human beings also applies to supernormal phenomena. There is no difference. All are unreal. Do not regard such supernormal phenomena as intrinsic nature or prajna.”
Are human beings real?
“We ourselves, as humans, are illusions. Human beings are not real. Thus, this same principle that applies to human beings also applies to supernormal phenomena. There is no difference. All are unreal. Do not regard such supernormal phenomena as intrinsic nature or prajna. . . All phenomena are unreal. . . Using illusion as metaphor illustrates to living beings that all conditioned dharmas are empty rather than solid or firm. . . That is, all illusory phenomena are false. They are unreal. . . referring to something as false does not mean that there is no such thing. . . I am not saying that you do not exist here or that your existence here is a deception. Do not try to understand this through worldly ways. . . You are bound by the five aggregates, are led and deluded by illusions, and then regard these false things as real.“
Next:
We will continue DCB22 at our July 27, 2024 ZOOM session starting at 9:00 am discussing Lesson 13 “Time, the Ten Illusory Things, and the Eighteen Kinds of Emptiness.”
TO DATE: DCB22-Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra: PART TWO–I and C41-Three Principal Stages & Paths of Buddhist Practice
The recordings of the July 20 DCB22 class are now available. You must be enrolled in DCB22 in one of the 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. Please note that Lessons 6A and 6B are part of Course C41.
“Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, when practicing deeply the prajna-paramita, illuminated the five aggregates, saw that they are all empty, and crossed beyond all suffering and adversity.”
July 20, 2024: Lesson 13B-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–I, “Time”, (242-260) and (HERE) for recording of class.
July 13, 2024: Lesson 13A-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–I, “Time”, (240-241) and (HERE) for recording of class.
July 13, 2024: Lesson 12-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–I, “. . . saw that they are all empty. . .”, (220-239) and (HERE) for recording of class.
July 6, 2024: Lesson 11D-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–I, “Four Great Elements, Death, & Dreaming”, (202-219) and (HERE) for recording of class.
July 6, 2024: Lesson 11C–The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–I, “Becoming a Good Person”, (193-201) and (HERE) for recording of class.
June 29, 2024: Lesson 11B-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–I, “Dual-Use/Two-body Dharma”, (181-192) and (HERE) for recording of class.
April 20, 2024: Lesson 11A.2-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–I, “Consciousness”, (171-180) and (HERE) for recording of class.
March 30, 2024: Lesson 11A.1-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–I, “Consciousness”, (155-170) and (HERE) for recording of class.
March 23, 2024: Lesson 10B-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–I, “Five Aggregates”, (144-154) and (HERE) for recording of class.
March 16, 2024: Lesson 10A-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–I, “Five Aggregates”, (114-143) and (HERE) for recording of class.
March 16, 2024: Lesson B.2-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–I, “Two Levels”, (108-113) and (HERE) for recording of class.
March 9, 2024: Lesson B.1-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–I, “Two Levels”, (87-107) and (HERE) for recording of class.
March 9, 2024: Lesson 9A.3-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–I, “Practicing Deeply”, (78-86) and (HERE) for recording of class.
February 24, 2024: Lesson 9A.2-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–I, “Practicing Deeply”, (59-77) and (HERE) for recording of class.
February 17, 2024: Lesson 9A.1-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–I, “Practicing Deeply”, (51-58) and (HERE) for recording of class.
February 17, 2024: Lesson 8C-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–I, “Bodhisattva”, (37-50) and (HERE) for recording of class.
February 17, 2024: Lesson 8B–The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–I, “Avalokiteshvara”, (31-36) and (HERE) for recording of class.
February 10, 2024: Lesson 8A-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–I, “Avalokiteshvara”, (1-30) and (HERE) for recording of class.
February 3, 2024: Lesson 6B-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra-Prajna(Wisdom) & Dhyana(Ta), (355-369) and HERE for recording of class.
January 20, 2024: Lesson 6A–The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra-Prajna & Dhyana(Ta), (317-354) and HERE for recording of class.
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 8 ZOOM discussions.
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 2022 to April 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 2024 to June 2024.
CLICK for Background information on Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra and why it is such an important text.
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