Skype Sharing on Lankavatara Sutra by Thusness
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Time & Date: not confirmed. Early January.Originally posted by Thusness:Maybe just a simple sharing of how Lankavatara Sutra can help and serve as a guide for an individual like myself in understanding more about our nature. I think this would be beneficial. Do inform me of the date.
Whoever is interested may PM me or post your Skype details here
P.s Please tell me which day would be the best -- I will try my best to choose a time to suit as many people as possible.
All are welcome!
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What is Lankavatara Sutra about?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lankavatara_Sutra
I'm sure the sharing would be very interesting and beneficial to Buddhist practitioners and look forward to the Skype session
The Lankavatara Sutra is one of the most important sutras (sacred texts) of Mahayana Buddhism. According to tradition, these are the actual words of the Buddha as he entered Sri Lanka (formerly called Ceylon). This sutra figured prominently in the development of Chinese, Tibetan and Japanese Buddhism. It is the cornerstone of Chinese Chan and its Japanese version, Zen, and was translated from Sanskrit into Japanese and English by the foremost exponent of Zen, Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki.
The most important doctrine issuing from the Lanka is that of the primacy of consciousness, often called simply "Mind Only", meaning that consciousness is the only reality. The sutra asserts that all the objects of the world, and the names and forms of experience, are merely manifestations of the mind. It is the erroneous concept of subject/object that ties us to the wheel of rebirth.
The Lanka also suggests another important Mahayana doctrine, developed in later Buddhism, and that is the three bodies of Buddhahood, in effect the three levels of enlightened reality:
* transcendental dimension ( = Sanskrit dharmakaya) - the ultimate level of enlightenment, which is beyond names and forms
* celestial dimension, (= Sanskrit sambhogakaya) - expression of the symbolic and archetypal dimension of Buddhahood, to which only the spiritually developed have access
* terrestrial or transformational dimension, ( = Sanskrit nirmanakaya) - The dimension of Buddhahood to which the unenlightened have access, and where the phenomena of the world exist.
Skype, a free online software for audio conferencing, can be downloaded from: http://www.skype.com/ -
Wah...Originally posted by An Eternal Now:Time & Date: not confirmed. Early January.
Whoever is interested may PM me or post your Skype details here
P.s Please tell me which day would be the best -- I will try my best to choose a time to suit as many people as possible.
All are welcome!
It is also good. Force me to look into it.
I have always wanted to spend more time into this sutra but just couldn't do it. Jan 6 2007, you should be back by then. Safe and Happy Trip. -
hope the link is of help:
http://www.budaedu.org/ghosa/C003/
commentries/talks:
[T0AAT]
[T0690]
[T0735]
[T0924]
[T0926]
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Excellent!
Does anybody know what is Lanka Sutra in Chinese? Thank you.
AEN, hav a good trip! Old thusness, welcome back! -
In Chinese, it is called 'Leng4 Jia1 Jing1'.Originally posted by _wanderer_:Excellent!
Does anybody know what is Lanka Sutra in Chinese? Thank you.
AEN, hav a good trip! Old thusness, welcome back!
Thanks
Yup and I have just sent an e-mail to inform about this.. that e-mail would include more information about the sutra. I think you should have just received it -
ThanksOriginally posted by Thusness:Wah...
It is also good. Force me to look into it.
I have always wanted to spend more time into this sutra but just couldn't do it. Jan 6 2007, you should be back by then. Safe and Happy Trip. Jan 6 2007 I would be in my dharma center from 7.30 to 10 p.m.. but before that I would be free. I wonder what time would be suitable for everyone.. will people be free in the late afternoon? -
I have sent this e-mail to a number of people, and if you think someone you know might be interested to hear, please forward this to them as well:
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Hi all,
Thusness (John), an experienced practitioner/meditator with deep insights and clarity is willing to share on how Lankavatara Sutra can help and serve as a guide for an individual like himself in understanding more about our true nature. He takes Lankavatara Sutra as one of his main sutra guide.
Lankavatara Sutra is a very important doctrinal text that is the basis of the viewpoints of the Yogacara school. The sutra was also foundational in establishing the central tenets of Mahayana Buddhism, and especially Zen. Prior to the growing attention on the Diamond Sutra after 6th Patriarch Hui Neng, Lankvatara Sutra served as the prominent Sutra in the Ch'an (Zen) tradition.
The Lankavatara Sutra also belongs to what is known as the 'Third Turning of the Wheel of the Dharma'. To the first turning, it ascribes the Agamas of the Shravakas, to the second turning the lower Mahayana sutras including the Prajna-paramita Sutras, and finally sutras like Lankavatara, which primarily teach the doctrine of vijnapti-matra or 'representation-only', associated with the Yogacara school, are deemed to comprise the third turning.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lankavatara_Sutra
However, as John has said, what is taught in Lankavatara Sutra can be mapped to meditative experiences. It is not meant to be philosophical. It would certainly be a rare opportunity to hear from someone experienced to share about this sutra.
The Lankavatara Sutra is one of the most important sutras (sacred texts) of Mahayana Buddhism. According to tradition, these are the actual words of the Buddha as he entered Sri Lanka (formerly called Ceylon). This sutra figured prominently in the development of Chinese, Tibetan and Japanese Buddhism. It is the cornerstone of Chinese Chan and its Japanese version, Zen, and was translated from Sanskrit into Japanese and English by the foremost exponent of Zen, Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki.
The most important doctrine issuing from the Lanka is that of the primacy of consciousness, often called simply "Mind Only", meaning that consciousness is the only reality. The sutra asserts that all the objects of the world, and the names and forms of experience, are merely manifestations of the mind. It is the erroneous concept of subject/object that ties us to the wheel of rebirth.
The Lanka also suggests another important Mahayana doctrine, developed in later Buddhism, and that is the three bodies of Buddhahood, in effect the three levels of enlightened reality:
* transcendental dimension ( = Sanskrit dharmakaya) - the ultimate level of enlightenment, which is beyond names and forms
* celestial dimension, (= Sanskrit sambhogakaya) - expression of the symbolic and archetypal dimension of Buddhahood, to which only the spiritually developed have access
* terrestrial or transformational dimension, ( = Sanskrit nirmanakaya) - The dimension of Buddhahood to which the unenlightened have access, and where the phenomena of the world exist.
As this is an online Skype discussion, one can also raise questions pertaining to the teachings of Lankavatara Sutra and its practises, and we can discuss about it online.
It's a bit early but I thought making an early announcement to you all will allow more time for people to plan their schedule ahead.
I will be leaving for China between 24/12/06 to 2/1/07 so if there are any queries you can ask them in the forum and others can reply or I will reply when I am back.
Hope you can join, more info including time and date can be found at http://buddhism.sgforums.com/?action=thread_display&thread_id=226722
And to all: if there is any friend who might be interested pls help me forward this to them as well.
Regards,
An Eternal Now -
Young one,Originally posted by _wanderer_:Excellent!
Does anybody know what is Lanka Sutra in Chinese? Thank you.
AEN, hav a good trip! Old thusness, welcome back!
Welcome back too!
You have entered a new phase in life. It will take a while to get use to it.
Regards, -
Originally posted by An Eternal Now:
kok ur head...I am not that well verse in Lankavatara Sutra leh.
I have sent this e-mail to a number of people, and if you think someone you know might be interested to hear, please forward this to them as well:
----------------------------------------------------
Hi all,
Thusness (John), an experienced practitioner/meditator with deep insights and clarity is willing to share on how Lankavatara Sutra can help and serve as a guide for an individual like himself in understanding more about our true nature. He takes Lankavatara Sutra as one of his main sutra guide.
Lankavatara Sutra is a very important doctrinal text that is the basis of the viewpoints of the Yogacara school. The sutra was also foundational in establishing the central tenets of Mahayana Buddhism, and especially Zen. Prior to the growing attention on the Diamond Sutra after 6th Patriarch Hui Neng, Lankvatara Sutra served as the prominent Sutra in the Ch'an (Zen) tradition.
The Lankavatara Sutra also belongs to what is known as the 'Third Turning of the Wheel of the Dharma'. To the first turning, it ascribes the Agamas of the Shravakas, to the second turning the lower Mahayana sutras including the Prajna-paramita Sutras, and finally sutras like Lankavatara, which primarily teach the doctrine of vijnapti-matra or 'representation-only', associated with the Yogacara school, are deemed to comprise the third turning.
However, as John has said, [b]what is taught in Lankavatara Sutra can be mapped to meditative experiences. It is not meant to be philosophical. It would certainly be a rare opportunity to hear from someone experienced to share about this sutra.
As this is an online Skype discussion, one can also raise questions pertaining to the teachings of Lankavatara Sutra and its practises, and we can discuss about it online.
It's a bit early but I thought making an early announcement to you all will allow more time for people to plan their schedule ahead.
I will be leaving for China between 24/12/06 to 2/1/07 so if there are any queries you can ask them in the forum and others can reply or I will reply when I am back.
Hope you can join, more info including time and date can be found at http://buddhism.sgforums.com/?action=thread_display&thread_id=226722
And to all: if there is any friend who might be interested pls help me forward this to them as well.
Regards,
An Eternal Now[/b]
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OopsOriginally posted by Thusness:kok ur head...I am not that well verse in Lankavatara Sutra leh.
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AEN, thanks for the email invitation. i'll be away, not joining you all in skype.
some other time then. -
Ok thenOriginally posted by paperflower:AEN, thanks for the email invitation. i'll be away, not joining you all in skype.
some other time then. -
Bump. Remember guys, don't forget the date This saturday.
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Today, 5 p.m.
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Update: Thusness has requested me to not distribute the recording as the discussion is spoken based on the conditions/level of understanding of us at the moment.
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The session is really interesting
Thanks for the sharing, Thusness. -
next skype session on lankavatara episode on thursday till feb
stay tuned every thursday
9pm -
That'll be interestingOriginally posted by bohiruci:next skype session on lankavatara episode on thursday till feb
stay tuned every thursday
9pm Thanks.. -
Interesting commentaries..
Encourage me to read up more on the sutra that i had seldom done so..
and remind me the importance of meditating!.. arrghh ..
thanx..
im still half-way through the 2 hour skype discussion though..
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