We continued our discussion on Lesson 27 on the “Five Vidyas.” An article about a 2020 course on the Five Vidyas is reposted last week 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. At our class today the Buddha Master told us that for every vidya, one must surpass ordinary people in the same field and how you could excel in each of the Five Vidyas. He also explained just what is included in each of the Five Vidyas–the sound, craftsmanship, healing, causality, and inner realization vidyas. The following are some of the questions addressed during this ZOOM session:
What is the fifth vidya to practitioners of yoga and its relationship to the Mind Wind and Bright Points Dharma?
“To practitioners of yoga, the inner realization vidya can be said to be the total absence of any difference between the universe inside of one’s body and the universe outside of one’s body, which is the very reason underlying the Mind Wind and Bright Points Dharma.”
What is “marvelous existence”?
“The fundamental nature of all things truly exists, but any entity is itself empty. Emptiness is also not emptiness, for it manifests as marvelous existence. Marvelous existence is not existence, for it is illusorily manifests and vanishes. If one can truly realize such truth and apply it in one’s practice, then naturally one can, skillfully and with facility, internally utilize the spirit and vital energy to attain the unification of emptiness and bliss and externally manifest holy powers to change states in accordance with one’s mind. One must be able to evoke a response from three continents of the universe and attain non-abiding, with no arising and no perishing. That is what is called proficiency in the inner realization vidya.”
What does claiming realization that one has not yet realized, and claiming attainment that one has not yet attained mean?
“That is a sin of limitless magnitude. That is, one who has not actually realized supra-mundane cultivated powers may not claim to have realized the inner realization vidya. One may not make false claims in this aspect.”
Can the emergence of supernormal powers be regarded as meeting the standard of the inner realization vidya?
“According to the criteria set forth in the “Root Master Oceanic Mind Essence,” which is the first mind essence in The Supreme and Unsurpassable Mahamudra of Liberation, even the emergence of supernormal powers cannot be regarded as meeting the standard of the inner realization vidya.”
What must Greatly Virtuous Ones have to be called one who fully possesses the five viyas?
“That is, all of the five criteria are indispensable. Not even one can be left out! No matter which one it is, if any is left out, if one vidya is missing, then there is one vidya less. Missing one vidya is called four vidyas. In such case, that is called proficiency in four vidyas. Missing two vidyas is called proficiency in three vidyas. By continuing along this line of reasoning, we can discern whether one is genuine or fake. . . Greatly virtuous ones must be proficient in both exoteric and esoteric Buddhism and must fully possess the five vidyas. However, they are not required to have marvelous mastery of the five vidyas. At the very least, they must be on the same level as experts. Only then can they be called one who fully possess the five vidyas.”
We will continue our discussion of Lesson 27-“The Five Vidyas” of LFBCS Course DCB24 at our March 15, 2025 ZOOM session at 9:00 am. Remember we will be on daylight saving time.
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 8, 2025: Lesson 27B-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–III, 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.
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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