We continued Lesson 21 of Learning from Buddha College and Seminary (LFBCS) course DCB23 with a discussion of the truth of emptiness as expressed from the Heart Sutra that says, “. . . no avidya and also no ending of avidya, up to and including no aging and death and also no ending of aging and death; . . .” We covered the last four of the twelve links of conditioned origination: 9-grasping, 10-existence, 11-birth, 12-aging and death.
9-What is “grasping” the condition for?
“. . . the condition of grasping leads to existence. Grasping is the action generated from craving-based differentiation. Grasping is the specific action taken after differentiation has arisen due to craving.”
As used here, existence is also translated as existing, being, becoming, the process of becoming, and a new becoming.
10-What is “existence” the condition for?
“The condition of existence gives rise to the condition of birth. That is, living beings have created all kinds of karma in their present lifetime. Living beings have already created some karmic forces in their current lifetime. It is certain that their karmic fruits induced and manifested in a future lifetime will be according to their karma. All undergo birth in accord with karma. . . Differentiation also does not exist in causality. Plant the cause, and the effect will arise. So, it is said to be very subtle, very detailed. This is the relationship of cause and effect.”
“The condition of existence will definitely produce the condition of birth. With birth, death is inevitable. Therefore, if you have something and grasp it, then there is the karma of action. As such, it is certain that this causal condition will arise. After this causal condition arises, its fruit will arise. After the condition of birth exists, the birth will lead to death. . . Do not marry yourself to birth and death. This is called ending and being liberated from birth and death.”
11-What is “birth” the condition for?
“With the condition of birth, there will be aging and death. Birth means to undergo birth. It is actually receiving life after having entered a womb. In accordance with the karma they have created since beginningless time and all of the karma they are currently creating, all living beings induce the retribution of undergoing birth. . . So, after there is the condition of birth, one naturally will age and die.”
12-What is “Aging and death” the condition for?
“The last of the twelve links in conditioned origination is aging and death. All sentient beings cannot break free of the bonds of impermanence. That is, all living beings are unable to escape from the ties of impermanence. That is definitive. Being subject to impermanence, sentient beings definitely will die, and insentient things definitely will perish. Deaths are happening through the myriad changes occurring each moment. . . Therefore, this body of yours will die the big death in the future only because of the accumulation of deaths that happened through the myriad changes that occurred each moment.”
What determines one’s reincarnation fate?
“Now, as to death, when we speak of the death of the current body, it is called the starting point leading to the next life; that is, to reincarnation. With a single thought, the embryo is planted, and the mind consciousness goes in first. One again goes on to reincarnate. Whether one will be a human being and what exactly one will be depends upon the effects induced by the causes planted. The circumstance will appear in accord with one’s karma. It depends upon the karmic fate of each individual.”
What does the Buddha Master want us to do”
“You should act according to the Buddha Dharma and understand the truths of prajna, the three kinds of prajna. In so doing, escape from this road. Do not take this road any longer. Make a firm determination, stand up, embark on prajna’s path of the reality of true emptiness, and attain the state of liberation.”
What are the two ways of contemplating the twelve links of conditional origination?
“One is called contemplating in forward order the process of transmigration, and one is called contemplating in reverse order the process of extinguishment. With contemplating in forward order the process of transmigration, one follows the sequential order of the twelve links to observe the falseness and degeneration of human life and engender a mental state aware of impermanence. Then, one naturally will learn Buddha Dharma with earnestness and be able to observe all the precepts. One will naturally become a good person. But one may also choose contemplating in reverse order the process of extinguishment. . . You deduce based on the reasoning of the forward or reverse contemplation. Once you understand such reasoning, you can understand prajna, the absolute truth of Buddha Dharma. Of course, you must practice in accord with Buddha Dharma. You still must learn Dharma. It is unacceptable not to learn Dharma.”
The Buddha Master also summarized the twelve links and discussed the two layers of causality and how these twelve links or dharmas act to produce the three types of karma that yield fruits or effects: past, present, and future. He also gave us the reasons we rely on the precepts, a lot more on karma and the twelve links, and a detailed description of the three spheres of samsara and who lives in each.
Next:
We will hopefully finish our discussion of the twelve links of conditioned origination and LFBCS Course DCB23 at our November 16, 2024 ZOOM session at 9:00 am discussing the Heart Sutra, starting with question #268.
The class is still open to anyone who wants to join. If you have enrolled in C41 or DCB22 (or DCB21 or DCB26) you may continue to use the same ZOOM link to attend the Saturday morning discussions. You will need to enroll in DCB23 to be able to watch the video recordings of the classes, download study materials, or study the related questions.
TO DATE: DCB23-Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra: PART TWO–II and C41-Three Principal Stages & Paths of Buddhist Practice
The recording of the November 9, 2024 DCB23-Lesson 21A class is now available. You must be enrolled in DCB23 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.
“Sariputra, Form Does Not Differ from Emptiness; Emptiness Does Not Differ from Form. Form is Emptiness; Emptiness Is Form. The same is true of feeling, conceptualization, action, and consciousness. Sariputra, emptiness is the characteristic of all dharmas. They do not arise or perish, are not defiled or pure, do not increase or decrease. Therefore, in emptiness there is no form, no feeling, conceptualization, action, or consciousness; no eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, or mind; no forms, sounds, smells, tastes, touches, or objects of mind; no realm of eyes, up to and including no realm of mind consciousness; no avidya and also no ending of avidya, up to and including no aging and death and also no ending of aging and death; . . .”
November 9, 2024: Lesson 20B-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–II, “. . . . No avidya and also no ending of avidya, up to and Including no aging and death and also no ending of aging and death; . . . ” (243-270) and (HERE) for recording of class.
November 2, 2024: Lesson 20B-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–II, “. . . . No avidya and also no ending of avidya, up to and Including no aging and death and also no ending of aging and death; . . . ” (235-242) and (HERE) for recording of class.
October 26, 2024: Lesson 20A-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–II, “. . . . No avidya and also no ending of avidya, up to and Including no aging and death and also no ending of aging and death; . . . ” (220-235) and (HERE) for recording of class.
October 26, 2024: Lesson 19B-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–II, “. . . no forms, sounds, smells, tastes, touches, or objects of mind; no realm of eyes, up to and including no realm of mind consciousness; . . . ” (215-219) and (HERE) for recording of class.
October 19, 2024: Lesson 19A-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–II, “. . . no forms, sounds, smells, tastes, touches, or objects of mind; no realm of eyes, up to and including no realm of mind consciousness; . . . ” (177-191 192-214) and (HERE) for recording of class.
October 12, 2024: Lesson 18B-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–II, “. . . no eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, or mind; . . . ” (155-176) and (HERE) for recording of class.
October 5, 2024: Lesson 18A-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–II, “Therefore, in emptiness there is no form, no feeling, conceptualization, action or consciousness; . . .” (133-154) and (HERE) for recording of class.
September 28, 2024: Lesson 17B-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–II, “The same is true of feeling, conceptualization, action, and consciousness. Sariputra, emptiness is the characteristic of all dharmas. They do not arise or perish, are not defiled or pure, do not increase or decrease.” (122-132) and (HERE) for recording of class.
September 21, 2024: Lesson 17A-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–II, “The same is true of feeling, conceptualization, action, and consciousness. Sariputra, emptiness is the characteristic of all dharmas. They do not arise or perish, are not defiled or pure, do not increase or decrease.” (86-89 and 90-121) and (HERE) for recording of class.
September 14, 2024: Lesson 16B-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–II, “Form is Emptiness; Emptiness Is Form.” Second-Phase Principles” (71-85) and (HERE) for recording of class.
September 7, 2024: Lesson 16A-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–II, “Form is Emptiness; Emptiness Is Form.” Second-Phase Principles (49-70) and (HERE) for recording of class.
August 31, 2024: Lesson 15B–The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–II, “Form is Emptiness; Emptiness Is Form.” (34-48) and (HERE) for recording of class.
August 24, 2024: Lesson 15A-The Great Stage–Wisdom Path of the right view of emptiness, Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Text of the Heart Sutra–II, “Sariputra, Form Does Not Differ from Emptiness; Emptiness Does Not Differ from Form. Form is Emptiness; Emptiness Is Form.” (1-33) 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 DCB22 and links to videos of all 21 ZOOM class discussions on DCB22 held from February 10, 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 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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