We continued our discussion of Lesson 26 today, focusing again on “Qigong” and “Who Can Be Known as a Master of Esoteric Dharma?” We also started a discussion on Lesson 27 on the “Five Vidyas.” An article about a 2020 course on the Five Vidyas is reposted today to provide more background and links to other articles on the Five Vidyas. There is another reposting from 2020 on H.H. Dharma King Penor Rinpoche with links to an interview I held with the Dharma King in the summer of 2008 when the Dharma King told me and the other students on the Book Tour why the Buddha Master needed to demonstrate his mastery of the Five Vidyas. The following are some of the questions addressed during this ZOOM session:
What is the law of causality and what is always true about it?
“If we cannot even put an end to speaking falsely, if the only thing we know is how to make totally exaggerated and impetuous statements, if every time we open our mouths we say that our master is proficient in both exoteric and esoteric Buddhism or a so-and-so greatly virtuous [one] fully possesses the five vidyas, with every word being untrue, how could we even consider one day becoming enlightened? . . . Whenever you deceive others, you plant the fruit of deceiving yourself. What result will you get from deceiving others? Think about this, disciples. If you want to attain accomplishment, if you want to become liberated, you must not deceive others even slightly. Disciples, the law of causality never errs. A cause planted will yield a corresponding effect. This is an eternally invariant law of the universe.”
How is the status of a Holy Guru determined?
“There are so-called holy ones who are praised for their proficiency in both exoteric and esoteric Buddhism and their marvelous mastery of the five vidyas. However, their status as a holy one does not stand until an accurate determination by holy selection is made. . . A Holy Guru is even higher than a greatly virtuous one. However, to determine by selection that one is indeed a Holy Guru requires that person to undergo a test.”
What four things must Buddhist disciples do to be able to cultivate themselves?
“Therefore, Buddhist disciples should always be earnest on all occasions. They should establish themselves as role models. Through their own actions, they should become a model for living beings to emulate. They should truly achieve the goal of enlightening oneself and others. To establish yourself as a model, you first have to seek truth from facts and remove selfishness such that you have no personal, selfish considerations. This is most basic. Only then can you gradually talk about how to cultivate yourself.”
What does it mean to be proficient in the Five Vidyas?
“You must understand that there are five requirements. Being proficient in one vidya cannot be called being proficient in two vidyas. Likewise, being proficient in two vidyas cannot be called being proficient in three vidyas. One must be completely and perfectly proficient in all five vidyas without any deficiency. That means one’s abilities in that particular field must be at the same level or even higher than the abilities of worldly experts.”
What is the prerequisite for being called one who is proficient in exoteric Buddhism?
“One must be proficient in the teachings of the sutras, vinaya, and treatises that make up the Tripitaka. Under this prerequisite, one must have some understanding of and awakening to the supreme truth expounded by the Buddha, which is prajna. At the very least, one must have awakened to the reality of the absolute truth of prajna. This is a must. In addition to the prerequisite of being well versed in the sutras, vinaya, and treatises that compose the Tripitaka, one must also have true realization of the reality state of prajna. Putting aside the question of whether that realization is deep or shallow, one nevertheless must have such realization. One must have realized or awakened to the truth of emptiness.”
What are the three divisions of great initiation?
“Initiations are classified into outer-tantric initiations and inner-tantric initiations. There are also secret-tantric initiations, which are inner-tantric initiations in the ultimate sense. There are these three divisions of great initiations.”
The Buddha Master discussed other things that a person needs to be considered proficient in both exoteric and esoteric Buddhism.
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 continue our discussion of Lesson 27-“The Five Vidyas” of LFBCS Course DCB24 at our March 8, 2025 ZOOM session at 9:00 am.
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.
March 1, 2025: Lesson 26 & Lesson 27A-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 that part of the class and The Five Vidyas (123-127) and (HERE) for recording of that part of the class. The part of the discussion relating to Lesson 26-Qigong is a repeat of the material covered the previous week, but with 22 additional questions.
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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