We held our first debate for five of the students enrolled in D02-On Suffering course on Thursday, September 29, 2022. The Defenders presented their versions of the essence of this discourse and then answered questions posed first by the other Defenders and then by other students present. Several students from North Carolina and Florida could not attend the debate because of Hurricane Ian. The second debate will be scheduled for this course as well as for other courses when enough seminary students complete their required homework. .Buddhist Studies students are not required to participate in the debates, but may, space permitting.
All the presentations discussed the various types of suffering, but each presenter had a different perspective on the discourse, proving a principal that we cannot do ”group learning” because we each have unique karmic conditions that dictate how we hear or see and apply the teachings to our own life conditions. The concept that you needed to first be a human being—a good human being— before you could become a holy being was a common theme, as was it at today’s class discussion on preliminary Dharma practices.
Students who are completing courses D01-Supreme and Magnificent Dharma, D02.1-Good Fortune and Wisdom, D03-Impermanence, DCB12-What Is Cultivation?, and P10-The Great Dharma of Zen Practice all requested that debates be held on these courses. It was agreed that the time slot of 4:00 pm Pacific Time accommodated the widest range if students and would be used for future debates. Please let me know if you have other ideas.
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