Everyday Thoughts

Venerable Dr. Yifa

Dhamma Enrichment Camp 930am-500pm.18th June 2005.
Topic on : Prajnaparamita Sutra (better known as Diamond Sutra)
-Intro to Diamond Sutra, Non-Dualism & The Principle of Reality & The Real Meaning of Emptiness.

Venerable Dr.Yifa obtained her Law degree from the prestigious national universtity of Taiwan and later her MAA in Philosophy in the University of Hawaii.She later went on to obtain her Phd in Religious Studies in Yale University and am currently the professor of *Mcquire Uni?She has been ordained as a nun in Fo Guang Shan since she was in her early 20s and been nominated as one of the leading women in Taiwan.

How admirable.Not much of her titles,but more of her as a person.She has this-..just something about her that I definitely look up to.
I went for her talk a year before this on the topic of the Heart Sutra-by Avalokitesvera(wrong spelling?),better known as Kuan Yin Pusa.

Overload of information,I came home with a headache.
:) Maybe in due time,I'll get the concept of the Diamond sutra.
In summary,she tries to help us understand the major idea/structure and language of the sutra,in which,deals with lots of repetition.She began with explaining several important words-sunyata,paramita,the main idea of buddhism,why things change,madhyamika and then on towards vajracchedika(the diamond sutra)

What is the main idea of Buddhisam?
The core idea deals with patitasammupatda(wrong spelling),the interdependent origination,cause and effect,in which,is the universal truth.

Why things change?
Anatta-non self nature in which the Diamond sutra helps us to further understand anatta.Self should not be confused with 'I' factor but rather,Self should be defined as,something which is -unchangeable,independent and indivisible.Ppl suffer because of the idea/concept of self(i.e,definition above).,that things are permanent,rather,unchangeable.Non-self,on the other hand,should be approached as changeable,interdependent and divisible. (And,that is how we should look at life?)

After understanding the destruction of things as they are(anatta),we need to reconstruct and lead on with the provisional self.Meaning,even after we have understood anatta,non-self concept,we should still take things as they are.In which-is the middle path.This,is -what the Mahayanese approach on non-dualism.

It talks about reality and non reality.(non dualism).Not real does not mean do not exist.Not real means, temporary existence.In which,all conditioned things are like a bubble,dew,mirage, dream.It does not mean it does not exist,but rather,it's only temporary.

Then,move on to vajracchedika.The 2 kinds of illusion and ignorance-on person and illussion on the dharma(the teachings of the Buddha).
She then went on to explain the hindrances which is caused by our defilements/afflictions,our emotions and by our wrong views.Then,on towards the technical part of the sutra(several verses through the text) and ended the session with a thorough read through of the Diamond Sutra.

Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu!

posted by Songie @ 9:51 AM