Buddhism: Diamond Sutra and Zen Meditation

Offered By: HKU Space via FutureLearn

Course Description

Overview

Explore the meaning of ‘prajñā-pāramitā’ in relation to attaining buddhahood

How can we resolve afflictions?

The Diamond Sutra is one of the most historically important texts in Buddhism. On this course, you will explore the meaning of ‘prajñā-pāramitā’ from the Diamond Sutra. You will learn why and how the zen school uses the teachings of the Diamond Sutra to attain buddhahood.

You will also consider the four stages of buddhahood and what is meant by the ‘adornment of the pure land’.

This course is designed for anyone with an interest in Buddhism, religion, Zen meditation or physical science.

Syllabus

Course introduction

Course introduction
Some key concepts of The Diamond Sutra

To attain Buddhahood in ‘day-to-day’ experiences

Introduction
Section One: The Reason for the Dharma Assembly
Section Two: The Well-manifested Makes a Request
Section Three: The Orthodox Truth of The Great Vehicle
Section Four: Marvelous Conduct without Attachment

The Unconditioned Phenomena are the heart of attaining Buddhahood

Introduction
Section Five: Genuine Discernment of Suchness
Section Six: True Faith is Rare
Section Seven: Nothing Attained and Nothing Spoken
Section Eight: All Things Comply with Dharma

Four stages of Buddhahood and Adornment of the Pure Land

Introduction
Section Nine: The One Form is No Form
Section Ten: Adornment of the Pure Land

From a person who ‘receives and holds four-lined verses’, to a buddha who ‘expounds the four-lined verses for to others’

Introduction
Section Eleven: The Supremacy of Unconditioned Blessings
Section Twelve: Venerating the True Teaching

The Unconditioned Phenomena is “The Vájra-cchedikā Prajñā-pāramitā”

Introduction
Section Thirteen: Receiving and Holding the Dharma of Suchness

Taught by

Norris Lau