Lecture Series “Sixty Years of Transmission of the Lamp, Looking Toward a Century (3): The Prajñā Wisdom of Humanistic Buddhism — The Diamond Sutra”

Reported by Humanistic Society correspondent Pu Zhong, Austin

On April 26, Xiang Yun Temple held the third lecture in its “Sixty Years of Transmission of the Lamp, Looking Toward a Century” series. The event invited Lay Dharma Lecturer Chen Sen from the Dallas Lecture Hall to present a talk titled “The Prajñā Wisdom of Humanistic Buddhism — The Diamond Sutra,” attracting nearly 60 participants.

The lecturer explained that the Diamond Sutra centers on the wisdom of emptiness (śūnyatā) and compassion, which helps eliminate afflictions and ignorance. By dissolving the four notions of “self, person, sentient beings, and lifespan,” one can cultivate a mind free of discrimination and develop pure compassion.

Through the structure “it is… therefore it is not… thus it is called…,” he illustrated that all phenomena arise due to causes and conditions and are inherently empty of independent self-nature. From this understanding, one can realize the teaching “one should develop a mind that does not abide anywhere,” and thus practice the Bodhisattva path in daily life.

The lecturer also shared his original mnemonic for understanding the emptiness teachings of the Diamond Sutra, the “One-Two-Three-Four-Five-Six Verses”:

* One Truth: true suchness (ultimate nature)

* Two Relinquishments: letting go of attachment to self and dharma

* Three Minds: the past, present, and future minds are unobtainable

* Four Non-attachments: giving without form, saving beings without self, living without attachment, and practicing without attainment

* Five Contemplations: seeing form as not form, appearance as not appearance, mind as no-mind, dharmas as no-dharmas, emptiness as not emptiness

* Six Similes: all conditioned phenomena are like a dream, illusion, bubble, shadow, dew, and lightning

These teachings help practitioners grasp key principles of cultivation.

After the lunch meal, participants gathered at the tea room for tea and exchange, sharing experiences in Buddhist practice and propagation. The lecturer encouraged everyone to diligently observe and reflect, and to continue promoting Humanistic Buddhism.

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