We finished Lesson 16 of Learning from Buddha College & Seminary course DCB23 continuing our discussion of the truth of emptiness as expressed in the line from the Heart Sutra that says, “Form is emptiness; emptiness is form.” The Buddha Master provided many examples to explain this concept. A few of the questions we discussed follows:
What must ordinary people do to break away from suffering?
“If ordinary people want to break away from suffering, they must first understand that form does not differ from emptiness. Then they can in accordance with the Dharma eliminate their longing and desire for worldly afflictions. They also can become unattached to the impermanent and empty phenomena of glory, splendor, wealth, rank, sex, and property. If one understands this relationship between true emptiness and marvelous existence, one will naturally realize the state of enlightenment. However, the converse is that without such understanding, one is equal to an ordinary person.”
What is “stubborn only-emptiness”?
“I will now briefly explain to you disciples the notions of emptiness derived from the extreme of nihilism and the view of stubborn only-emptiness. The extreme of nihilism means the view of nihilism. Nihilism entails eradicating all conditioned dharmas in the world. Nihilists view all conditioned dharmas in the world as not being subject to cause and effect and not having an intrinsic nature. They completely eradicate from their minds all conditioned dharmas. With such eradication, there is nothing left. Since everything has been eradicated, they naturally descend into a type of emptiness. This type of emptiness is called dead emptiness. Dead emptiness is a type of stubborn only-emptiness state.”
What is the true goal of “Learning from Buddha”?
“The goal of learning from Buddha is to apply the wisdom of prajna to illuminate the state of reality and true-thusness and then, while remaining unattached in the midst of that state, generate marvelous utilization. Realizing the emptiness of the one entity, the oneness, one can greatly utilize the whole. That is, only after realizing the single characteristic of emptiness can one greatly utilize the whole, experiencing unlimited good fortune and happiness. When this occurs, this so-called great utilization means that there is not one thing you cannot do and not one thing you cannot utilize.”
What is the state that is the perfect, marvelous wisdom of intrinsic-reality prajna?
“This is far from easy to comprehend. Suppose that one has realized the state that is the perfect, marvelous wisdom of intrinsic-reality prajna. Having realized such state, this is the perfect, marvelous wisdom of intrinsic-reality prajna. It should be said that only the state of equal enlightenment or marvelous enlightenment or the state of a Buddha can be called perfect. Or we can say that the state of Buddha is supremely perfect. After realizing such a state of prajna, form and emptiness are each other, are equal, and are a single thusness. That is, form is emptiness and emptiness is form. They are naturally and perfectly interfused and non-dual. Then, one engages in saving all living beings yet knows there are actually no living beings to save. At that time, one naturally enters into the state of being able to save all living beings.
Because there was considerable discussion on the meaning of the term “MARVELOUS EXISTENCE“, a PDF file listing the 54 references to that term by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III provided in Learning from Buddha College & Seminary (LFBCS) courses DCB21, DCB22, and DCB23 are included in Lesson 16. Those enrolled in DCB23 can CLICK to download that file. An additional 24 references will be added in future classes.
Next:
We will start Lesson 17 of DCB23 at our September 21, 2024 ZOOM session at 9:00 am discussing the the next part of the Heart Sutra, which says “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” using questions #86-#132.
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 September 14 DCB23-Lesson 16B 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; . . .”
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, “. . . Sariputra, Form Does Not Differ from Emptiness; Emptiness Does Not Differ from Form.” (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, “. . . Sariputra, Form Does Not Differ from Emptiness; Emptiness Does Not Differ from Form.” (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, “. . . Sariputra, Form Does Not Differ from Emptiness; Emptiness Does Not Differ from 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.” (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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