We started our discussion of C41-Three Principal Stages and Paths of Buddhist Practice: Lesson 3 this morning, but were unable to finish the questions on the “Ten Wholesome Behaviors” and “Purification-The Four Opponent Powers,” which we will cover next Saturday, May 20. We did discuss “Impermanence,” “Suffering,” and “Karma”—all important concepts in Buddhism. Students enrolled in C41 at LFBCS may watch the video of this discussion as linked below.
It is still possible to enroll in C41 and join the continuing discussions on this course. Next Saturday, from 9:00-11:00 am Pacific Daylight Time, we will finish our discussion of this Lesson and begin our study of the first of the three paths of practice, that of Renunciation where we have the goal of escaping samsara and seeking nirvana. This is the path of Individual Liberation or the Theravada form of Buddhism. If you can, enroll in DCB21 and watch the video on Lessons 6A and 6B on “Parmi “ and “Ta” to hear the ZOOM discussion on the states of nirvana and study the related questions (#296-#305, #336-#337) asked from Imparting the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra. I will try and have another discussion on nirvana when we get to Lesson 6 on the “Correct View of Emptiness.”
This lesson stresses again the three higher trainings of precept observance or morality, dhyana or mind concentration (meditation) or ta, and wisdom or prajna. If you have time and have not yet read or heard H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha’s writings on prajna and concentration or dhyana (ta), you should try and study lessons 4 & 5 from DCB21 for “Prajna” which are available in eight zoom sessions and lessons 6A & 6B for “Ta” in two zoom sesssions or in text form at the Holy Vajrasana Temple.
I added one more discourse by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III to Lesson 4: D12(A)-Cutting Off the Twenty Dharmas Relating to Ordinary Feelings because it has been mentioned in our discussions and it and the related “Eight Worldly Winds” are relevant to this intermediate stage where we stop the misconception of self and start to compare the Hinayana and Mahayana teachings. We will be discussing the questions from DCB23-Lessons 20 and 21 and DCB24-Lessons 22 & 23 during this part of this course which will include not only the ‘Twelve Links of Dependent or Conditional Origination,” but also the “Thirty-Seven Factors of Enlightenment” that include the “Four Noble Truths” that form the foundation of the Hinayana Tradition. This course will take at least two zoom session to cover.
CLICK for revised article on Lesson 4 which will be discussed on May 20 and 27 and maybe longer.
C41-Three Principal Stages & Paths of Buddhist Practice
You must be enrolled in C41 in one of the membership programs at the LFBCS to access the course materials, questions covered (in parenthesis), and/or the class recordings.
May 13, 2023: Lesson 3A -Initial Stage (39-59) and HERE for recording of class.
May 6, 2023: Lesson 2-Preliminaries (14-38) and HERE for recording of that class.
April 29, 2023: Lesson 1-Introduction to Three Principal Stages & Paths of Buddhist Practice (1-13) and HERE for recording of that class.
Description of C41-Three Principal Stages & Paths of Buddhist Practice.
CLICK for video “How Buddhism Came to the West.”
ARTICLE with more information and links including updated chart of course content. Lessons 5-7 are still under construction.
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