1. Title [E.g. Assignment - Due March 5]

2. Name (Country/Region)

3. Reflection/Question

Question:

I feel the compassion of the Bodhisattva Vajragahba, when he merely spoke the names of these ten bodhisattva bhumis. Because he doesn't want to scare the sentient beings or bodhisattvas who have not yet been able to bear the great teachings. When Professor Lancaster used the stories of Ven. Master Hsingyun to explain the sutra, I feel so lucky and blessed that we can meet Ven. Master Hsingyun in this life, who kept using simple stories to teach us the Dharma. But how about the others who might not have the chance to meet bodhisattva like Ven. Master Hsingyun or Professor Lancaster in this life or in the several lives? The audience with various merits and wisdom would have the courage or chance to explore right way during the silence. They could go the right way. But those with less merits might get losed or confused, when there is no one like bodhisattva to explain what stays in silence for them. Has the bodhisattva thought about those sentient beings with little merits, when he chose to be silent?

From this first session, Dr. Lancaster pointed out the auspicious significance in hearing the sutra and knowing the virtues of Venerable Master the Bodhisattva: (1) to be confident enough to join the assembly of irreversible heavenly sons of cosmos, (2) to give a description of 10-levels dreamlike experience soon after attaining nirvana, (3) to protect the indescribable aspiration to grow love, (4) to spark creative ideas, (5) to practice samadhi to gain special knowledge to share, (6) to model after the name and strength of a Bodhisattva.

What distinctions exist between the concept of samadhi within the Buddhist context and its counterpart in classical yoga philosophy, particularly as it pertains to samadhi as the Eighth Limb of Yoga?

During the lecture, I found Professor Lancaster’s statement, 'we all have the ability to illuminate something by our actions,' deeply inspiring and thought-provoking. Reflecting on Vajragarbha Bodhisattva’s silence as depicted in the sutra, I gained a deeper understanding of the profound impact of actions in shedding light on others or situations. While silence may outwardly appear as inaction, within the mind of the Bodhisattva, it is accompanied by understanding, care, and compassion. The silence of Bodhisattvas may carry various meanings, yet one constant remains: the unwavering concern for the well-being of others. This sentiment echoes Master Xingyun’s words, 'What else can I do for you?'—illustrating the selfless mindset of Bodhisattvas dedicated to the welfare of all sentient beings, transcending personal considerations.

As individuals inherently attached to our egos, embracing and embodying such altruism presents a formidable challenge. By engaging in the practice of Bodhisattva Way, we prepare ourselves to comprehend, accept, and internalize these teachings. Consequently, as we muster up sufficient courage and capability to truly accept the essence of the teaching, we will get closer to aligning our consciousness with that of Buddha and Bodhisattvas, advancing on the path towards full enlightenment.

Thank you Prof. Lancaster to share with us his wisdom in reading Dasabhumika Sutra.

During Refge taking ceremony, Grand Master Hsing Yun wants the audience to says "I am Buddha" to affirm there belief and faith in Buddhism. But they have doubts, how can I be a Buddha. Master explained, when you want to drink, you will think, now you are the Buddha, can a Buddha drink and get drank? when you lie, you will think, how can Buddha lie? ......

Master is a living bodhisattva that uses skillful means to teach and let sentient beings understand the profound teaching of Buddha.

My Question:

Why can't Nirvana be attained in heavenly palace?

is it because in heavenly palace is too peaceful with no challenges?

No. 1

Teachings which scares n worries people.

This reminded me of Master Hsing Yun. When I took my 5 precepts, at the end of the ceremony we are asked to shout out “ I am Buddha.” It was awkward to say it cos my thinking was Buddha is so pure and I am not. I think Master Hsing Yun is very brave, with just 3 words 我是佛 he opened the door to our hidden treasure that everyone of us possessed, without us feeling worried or afraid. Just like how the Buddha did in the Lotus sutra.

No. 2

If the difficult things in the sutra cause you to stay away from it. How prepared are you to receive this teaching.

My motto is even if I don't understand what the sutra is telling me, I will still read to the end,so long as I can get 1 point out of that sutra I am happy. At least I took the effort to make an affinity with that sutra. The next time I read it again, another point. I will go to the library, YouTube and find explanation in layman terms. It's like fixing a jigsaw puzzle!

If we choose to, we could live with lights wherever we are and be a light to others and ourselves. While we could ‘light up’ their hearts and minds in many ways, we must cultivate ourselves to strengthen our “power of lights”. We could advocate loving kindness and compassion through giving joy, hope confidence and convenience to others in our daily life; and practise equality and equanimity as a way to live with lights.

From the first lecture, I gained the following three key insights:

1.Treasure the precious opportunity of being human and learning the teachings of Dharma.

Attaining a human birth is an exceedingly rare opportunity, as it is through this human experience that we can reach nirvana. Even irreversible Bodhisattvas must be reborn as humans to enter nirvana. Therefore, it is crucial for each of us to cherish this opportunity and our limited lifespan, by completely eradicating the afflictions of greed, hatred, ignorance, arrogance, and doubt. By doing so, we can aspire to be born into the realm of ultimate bliss.

2.Despite our imperfections, we have the power to illuminate through wholesome actions.

As a layperson, I acknowledge that I am far from attaining Buddhahood. However, Dr. Lancaster's lecture instilled in me a deeper faith and confidence by reminding us that we all possess the innate Bodhisattva power to some degree. Ven. Master Hsing Yun also taught us to declare, "I am a Buddha." With our own Bodhisattva power, following the example of Sakyamuni Buddha, we can overcome the limitations of our ego and become a beacon of light, illuminating the paths of others

3.Strive to be fully prepared as quickly as possible to benefit an increasing number of people.

To benefit others, wisdom is required, as Dr. Lancaster pointed out, which is cultivated through entering a trance state. Love, compassion, and prayer serve as effective means to access this state. Hence, we should wholeheartedly practice altruistic behavior and refrain from engaging in any evil deeds. These will serve as the most important guidelines for my daily lives.

CS Lam  (Malaysia/Johor Bahru)

            Thanks Professor Lancaster's willingness to create this Dharma platform for so many Bodhisattvas from different parts of the world to share their thoughts and queries together. Professor did mention that during the second week after Sakyamuni Buddha attained enlightenment, He taught the Avatamsaka Sutra. During that time Ananda was not yet the personal attendant of Buddha.

Q1: If not Ananda, who actually heard and recorded the Avatamsaka Sutra, as in normal practice the opening phrase "Thus have I heard" of any sutra must have come from Ananda.  

            It is believed that Nagarjuna retrieved the Avatamsaka Sutra from the Naga realm and it also contains the scripture of the Ten Bhumi. Now we have the stand alone Desabhumika Sutra which believed to be extracted from the Avatamsaka Sutra. It is also believed that the stand alone Desabhumika  Sutra was actually compiled into the Avatamsaka Sutra over the centuries.

Q2: Which is more reliable, Desabhumika  Sutra was extracted from or compiled into the Avatamsaka Sutra?

Reflections:  

1. Even though ordinary people like us are far from achieving the level of a 7th-stage Bodhisattva, marked by unwavering commitment and non-regression, we are still capable of receiving the teachings according to our own aptitude. As long as one harbours the desire to listen to the Dharma, they carry the karmic seeds necessary to be nourished by the pure water of the Dharma.

2. Vows, a pure mind, and strong faith are crucial shields on the path of spiritual cultivation. They help shatter doubts and allow our inner light to shine forth.

3. We all possess the ability to illuminate something through our actions, motivated by LOVE & COMPASSION. Actions indeed speak louder than words.

Thank you, Prof. Lancaster, for this thought-provoking session. Thank you, Venerable Miao Guang, for providing us with the opportunity to immerse in the sweet dew and Dharma joy.

The first session sparked the light of compassion in my heart and comprehended the meaning of bravery in life. Professor Lancaster mentions compassion exhaustion, which indicates people who help others can be fatigued from compassion. Professor Lancaster points out that we must not have exhaustion, and even just one person's help would be fantastic, which reminds me of the precious help from other sentient beings when I dealt with emergencies.

I'd like to be a person, who frequently feels energetic by being compassionate. I need to cultivate more wisdom along the way of learning the Dasabhumika Sutra, and thus, I can sustain compassion, love, and prayer more wisely.

The difficulty of me reading and trying to comprehend this sutra is equivalent to a kindergarten kid listening to someone describing the university.  It might seem too profound and distance now. But just like a child that will grow from kindergarten, primary school, secondary school and eventually to university, I see this as a preview of a future goal that I should set my mind to reach.

Prof. Lancaster mentioned on the palace of Mara really strike a chord with my current learning situation. Too many a times when I start reading Sutras or Dharma books, after a while, thoughts will arise that “the new episode of a drama is out, my phone will notify me that 抖音 had updated its contents, or that I had to wake up early tomorrow, so maybe I should take a rest” all distractions from my focus to study the Dharma. From this, I will remind myself to be more mindful and focus the next time such thoughts arise.

Joyfully looking forward to the next 6 classes with all the wonderful fifty-plus classmates that we share an affinity to be in the same classes.

Contemplating the introduction to the Dasabhumika Sutra, I am impressed by its depth and complexity. Nevertheless, I aspire to extract wisdom from it.

The Dasabhumika sutra delves into the journey towards becoming a bodhisattva and the pursuit of ultimate, complete enlightenment. If the Destiney and our destination is to be attaining the highest complete enlightenment. The Drama is a GPS to guide us to the goal.

It reminds me the concepts found in the “Vimalakirti Sutra” of non-gain, non-loss, non-turbidity, non-distress, non-action, non-arising, non-birth, non-extinction, non-fear, non-worry, non-joy, and non-aversion. These concepts suggest that the boundaries of past, future, and present are transcended. The sutra emphasizes that all speech, discrimination, and displays, along with every word and letter, fall short of fully conveying the truth. Silence, too, can be a form of <文字般若：maybe prajna in words?> from which wisdom gleaned through observation and contemplation guides the correct path toward bodhisattvahood and eventual Buddhahood. In recognizing the significance of prajna, one's mind achieves instant order and clarity, reflecting the true essence of the Dharma.

The ten stages of a bodhisattva's cultivation detailed in the sutra fill me with awe and remind me of the extensive journey ahead. I am prompted to reflect: Can I also cultivate compassion and bodhicitta to gain a deeper understanding of the sutra and learn from Ven. Master Hsing Yun, Dr Lancaster and all other venerables/shi jie/shi xiong ?

My question:

• What’s the stage where there was no turning back?

  
  

• What dose <no turning back> mean? And what’s the reason causes so called ”turning back”, back to where?

  
  

• (as in chinese:什么是阿耨多罗三藐三菩提不退转？什么是不退转以及什么或哪些情况下会退转，退转去哪里？)

  
  

I was deeply impressed by the Buddha 's wisdom,especilly when the Buddha was teaching.He knows exatly how to teach the students according to the students' level.He knows what to teach according to the students' accetance,he also knows the reflections of the students'.

In a sentence ,he knows to teaches with light.

Light is a wondful things,cos lights gives people confidence and hope.when teaching with light,the students will be joyful;speaking with light,the listeners will feel you have the common feelings with the listeners.

And at the same I recalled the moment when venerable Miao guang answering the questions the quetions raised by our classmate in Beijing last time,though I cannot remember the every words , the feeling when hearing her reply to our classmates was jus like a light shining in my heart.Words are so illuming and warming.

I also believe that if we can follow the behavior and the thoughts of our Master Hsing Yun,especilally his compassion and wisdom; I have the faith that we can be a light someday.

This is my first time to attend an online English Buddhist class. Actually My English is not good enough to fully understand it, but I am still proud to finish to the whole course and remembered this sentence (in general):Don’t exhaust yourself,illuminate yourself.This means a lot to me,I‘m the person willing to share everything,but also get tired often.This opinion reminds me get strong first,and I will keep going learning,thanks a lot.🙏

The bodhisattvas in the audience for Buddha's expounding this sutra, have reached level 7 of the 10 bhumis. They also want to reach Nirvana. Bodhisattva Vajragarbha kept silence after he spoke the names of Ten Bhumis. Because with great compassion, he doesn't want to scare the sentient beings with less understanding.

Ven. Master Hsingyun, who is a true bodhisattva, has used many stories to preach the Dharma, which could help the listeners to keep the memory of the stories related to Dharma as much as possible. All the Foguangshan careers done by Ven. Master Hsingyun is like the illuminating light during Buhhda's teaching. We should keep living always with compassion to the others and to the world.

The first session on the Daśabhūmika Sutra explores its complex teachings, illustrating its role within the Huayen School and its placement—second week after the Buddha's enlightenment. It delves into the unique aspect of the sutra being delivered by the bodhisattva Vajragarbha in the Buddha's presence, signifying the essence of transmission by those with direct self-experience.

The session underscores the setting of the teaching (in the heavenly palace) and the audiences at the scene (irreversible bodhisattvas with at least level 7 of the 10 bhumis), highlighting the universal quest for enlightenment beyond the human realm.

Key themes include the pivotal role of entering Samadhi in accessing profound insights, a bodhisattva's journey through ten bhumis towards enlightenment, and a proper silence out of compassion and care to avoid the worry and suffering that might bring to the lower levels of those bodhisattvas to-be.

This session also calls for love, compassion and prayer in daily life through the scene of Buddha illuminating the lights, mentioned in the text and the real-life examples of Ven. Master Hsing Yun, shared by Prof. Lancaster, encourages learners' reflections on personal spiritual growth as well as increases their faith in connecting to the Dharma.

So, are you ready to receive the teachings? How will you illuminate yourself to benefit both yourself and others without being disturbed by compassion fatigue?  

A sister in Dharma encourage me not to give up even though it is tough as knowledge learnt will always be in us.

Really need to work hard as beginners and to dream to get to 7th stage.

Thank you Professor Lancaster and Venerable Miao Guang for the session.

Reflection:

This is one of the first sutra that I have come across where Buddha is not the one who is teaching. The place is also set at a place which is not on this realm but another realm where the Gods and Bodhisattvas reside. It is interesting to also find out that Bodhisattvas whom have almost reached their final stage of enlightenment would have to return to the human realm to reach nirvana state, a complete state of enlightenment. I have always thought that most Bodhisattvas, make vows that would take a miracle to happen which is why they are bounded and do not reach the state of attaining complete enlightenment by choice.

In one of the example given "There are times as a teacher, I realize that my pupils know more than I know." I realize that sometimes we recognize lesser of our knowledge and abilities than how other people can recognize it. But other people knowing our abilities may not always tell us.

In another example on compassion exhaustion, I believe it is a problem where all volunteers face at one point of their volunteering life where burnout is rampant or we say“兼职，煎职，再煎就煎燶了”. However, we should always remind ourselves being compassion is not just about taking up as much volunteering work as possible, being compassion to yourself and being compassion on an everyday basis is also important practice for one.

Out of context:

The Dasabhumika as I googled it, was one of the texts that were found in the Dun Huang Mogao Grottoes.

It is my first time to hear  Dharmamitra Sutra, and asked a Master what is it? And she said “ 十地经”. So it is about the  10 Bhumis on the path to enlightenment.

Alas I am not even in the first stage nor 0 stage of the Bhumi. And how long will it take to reach the 7^th stage, how many kalpas, how many rebirth do I have to go thru? Its overwhelming. And  one has to become a human  to attain the final enlightenment.

Be that as it may, one has to start somewhere, and it is now.

I am very grateful and touched by the compassion on Professor Lancaster and Ven Miao Guang in initiating this class for us to have a deeper understanding and guidance on the sutra.

May we gain wisdom and together we walk  the path to  enlightenment, to liberate oneself and other  beings.

I pray to Buddha, please bless Professor Lancaster, Ven Miao Guang, to all who made this possible and to all my classmates to be healthy and safe.

Question:

We chant Amitabha to  go to Western Pureland;  but to attain nirvana , one has  to be in the human realm,  so Western Pureland is  not the ultimate bliss? Or it depends on what vow do you take?

Vajragarbha emerged from his meditative state but remained reluctant to explain the teachings, knowing how profound and difficult to comprehend they would be. However, the bodhisattva Liberation Moon insisted that Vajragarbha share what he had learned. Many other bodhisattvas joined in requesting the teaching as well.

Seeing the assembled bodhisattvas' sincere aspirations to benefit all beings, the Buddha emitted a brilliant light from between his eyebrows, encouraging Vajragarbha to teach. All the buddhas presented also emitted light from their bodies, praising Vajragarbha and requesting him to expound on the ten grounds, or levels of the bodhisattva path.

Though still hesitant due to the teaching's profundity, Vajragarbha honored the buddhas' request and began his discourse, setting forth the names of the ten grounds but not yet explaining their meanings. This caused the congregation to wonder why no further details were given. Vajragarbha then prepared to fully elucidate the path of the bodhisattva.

This Sutra is not easy, it is very deep, I may not even understand it at the end of week 7.

Our understanding and wisdom are vary, it depends very much on our effort, our cultivation and our faith.

I’m totally agree with “we underteach children” and also with this : “the more I taught, the more I realize they know more than they know”.

My daughter, when she’s 8 yrs, told me in a very layman words : “God created human, all are same, just that because of their different faces, different skin color, different country, they differentiate themselves”.

Realization, practice and great compassion, definitely is not easy way, how long it take for one, no one knows.

Thank you 🙏

Question: Shakyamuni Buddha enlightened us that when we enter Samati we would be protected from Mara. However in 楞严经 there are the 五十阴魔 one could encounter during the path of the boddhisava. I always thought that some of the 五十阴魔 one could encounter during meditation/trance/慧观 (although I never really dived into the studies of 五十阴魔). I wonder if there were any explanations in 楞严经 or other texts which specify the rationality behind the "safety" of Samati?

Reflection:

It was the first time to join this type of Study Class and thanks for letting me to register.

Reading the text is difficult to understand. However when Dr Lancaster giving example it makes easier to understand just like Venerable Master Hsing Yun who always gave simple examples or stories that made us easier to understand. For example the three Good Deeds.

I agree to take first step and follow the path to learn more in order to shine up myself as well as shine up others.