P10-The Great Dharma of Zen Practice

The Great Dharma of Zen Practice is a teaching transmitted by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III in 2013 to help you develop your mind—to acquire transcendental wisdom or prajna. This translation of a discourse originally intended for Western students provides background on the origin of zen practice, as well as instructions on how to do the meditation practice and instructions on how to remove obstacles to practice. It includes the meaning and history of zen with stories about the Gaomin Monastery in China and the Sixth Patriarch of the Zen School in China, Patriarch Huineng.

Unlike other zen practice manuals, this dharma also introduces three mantras that will help you be able to meditate.  As the mantras need to be transmitted by a vajra master who has the authority to transmit them, they are not included in this course although you can receive benefit from practicing it without them and there is an alternative mantra provided. Also included is an extensive Q&A discussion via ZOOM after the reading of the discourse on August 8, 2021 as part of the Lemonade Sangha classes held at the Holy Vajrasana Temple and Retreat Center along with other recorded ZOOM sessions discussing this class.

Supplemental and optional materials have been added from other sources to provide additional background on the practice of zen and related matters. 

The image above is a painting by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III of Bodhidharma, an Indian monk from the 5th to 6th centuries, who brought the teachings that became known as Chan to China. Chan is the transliterated word for the Indian “dhyana,” (or “jhana”) which became “Zen” when it went to Japan.

Click on the “CURRICULUM” tab to review this course.  If you have not registered for a membership, please click on “Membership” on the top menu bar to select your membership and enroll in this course. You are also required to complete the application form provided in course “G02-Spiritual Autobiography” prior to being admitted to either the BUDDHIST STUDIES or the XIUXING SEMINARY PROGRAMS. CLICK for detailed User Guides under the “STUDENT MANUAL” in the website’s top menu bar for more information. However, because the Dharma itself should always be free, the actual PDF of the sutra is available to anyone. Guests to the site and Auditing students in the free membership program may also click the public preview button to download sutra and related announcement from the Office of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.

 Prior to viewing this course, you are required to listen to the caveats provided in “PRELIMINARY STEPS” of Section 1 of the curriculum, which is a requirement for all preliminary translations of the Buddha Master’s teachings and complete “D01(A)-The Supreme and magnificent Dharma.” 

No other prerequisites required except G02-Spiritual Biography, which is required before enrolling in any courses in either the Buddhist Studies or Seminary programs.