H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III has given specific instructions on how to listen to His discourses and why this is important if one is to learn the correct Buddha-dharma so as to attain the compassion and wisdom to become enlightened in this lifetime.[1] However, it has been very difficult for non-Chinese speaking students to hear these discourses. The inability to use the Buddha Master’s teachings on-line or even have them for in person classes was the main reason we ended the Xuanfa Five Vidyas University (XFVU), which had tried to implement the Buddha Master’s Seven Dharma System for listening to the Dharma Discourses. Both the Chinese and English-speaking students who were able to participate in these classes we held at Sanger stated that they benefited from these sessions. Now more of these teachings are available in English and we are able to read preliminary translations on the internet and even record them for Learning from Buddha College and Seminary (LFBCS) classes. With the advent of COVID we formed the Lemonade Sangha to make lemonade out of our confinement and be able to focus on our meditation and practice. The response was very good, and many expressed their joy to be able to meet, even if on-line, and when we were able to read even preliminary translations of the Buddha Master’s Dharma Discourses, it was wonderful. That was still not enough, for even when we read them twice, students needed to study them more to be able to take advantage of the Seven Dharma System. Now that they can be recorded for LFBCS use and the student has unlimited access to that discourse while enrolled in a class using that discourse, we will again attempt to implement the Buddha’s system for learning. For more background on this system go to D01-The Supreme and Magnificent Dharma for Zhaxi Zhuoma’s notes on H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha’s discourse on “It Will Be Fruitless If One Does Not Listen to Discourses in Accordance with the Dharma Expounded in This Discourse” that contains the Seven Dharms System concept.
The student listens to a single Dharma Discourse or several short Dharma Discourses either given in Chinese by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III with English translation, a published English translation, or to a reading of a preliminary translation, prepares a summary paper on the essence of each of these discourses and prepares at least three questions for each discourse to ask other students attending the class during a Group Debate; and participate in the Group Debate(s) during the class. The advantage of group debate is explained on a previous page. It is anticipated that these classes will primarily be done on-line.
Those questions must be submitted to the Facilitator for that class in time for the facilitator to prepare for the debate for the student to be admitted to the debate. Auditing students will not be allowed to participate in these debates, but Buddhist Studies Students may be admitted as long as there is space available, and both types of students may be able to observe. That will be the Facilitator’s decision. Students should also maintain a journal for several weeks on how they applied the Buddhist principles learned in this class to their dharma practice and/or their cultivation and practice of bodhichitta as well as prepare two final class papers including a revised summary for each discourse and of the lessons learned from applying the principles contained in the discourses and a second paper that could be given as a discourse on the Buddhist principles contained in these discourses to others or used in public debate with other students. This format is based on the Seven Dharma System given by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. There will probably also be a final exam. It is hopeful that we will be able to develop a sort of virtual “P08-Grand Debate” several times a year for those who participate in the more specific debates that are part of a given course. Xiuxing Seminary students would be required to do this at least once to be able to graduate.
[1] The discourse that explains this, “It Will Be Fruitless If One Does Not Listen to Discourses in Accordance with the Dharma Expounded in This Discourse,” is not available yet in English, but a summary is included in the required course “D01-Buddhism for Beginners, Listening to the Supreme & Magnificent Dharma.”