About The Programme
This course discusses the contents of Volume 1 to first half of Volume 3 of the Śūraṅgama Sūtra compiled in the Taisho Tripitaka T0945, Vol.19. It is a discourse given by the Buddha explaining on the characteristics of the illusory mind versus the true mind, including the true nature and phenomena of the 5 skandha, 6 indriya, 12 āyatana, 18 dhātu and the first two mahābhūta manifested in the universe. This Sūtra was well-known in the Chinese Mahāyāna history from the Tang dynasty until recent era and was cited by many great Chinese patriarchs in various treatises, which doctrine was adopted by eight of the Mahāyāna schools in China and is a very useful reference of manual for meditation.
At the end of the course, students are expected to be able to recognize the differences between an illusory mind and the true mind, as well as, to logically comprehend, what 5 skandha, 6 indriya, 12 āyatana, 18 dhātu, the earth and fire mahābhūta are, in terms of their attributes and original nature.
Upon completion of the course, despite having the ability to recognize the characteristics of illusory mind, true mind, skandha, indriya, āyatana, dhātu, and two mahābhūta; students should be able to identify, analyze and critique some of their mental factors arise in daily life and from meditational experiences for future śamatha and vipaśyanā developments.
Programme Structure
- Prologue & Overview of the Sutra
- Location of the Mind (7 False Locations)
- Characteristics of Illusory Mind
- Characteristics of Seeing Awareness (Mind, Unmovable, Not Perish, Not Lost)
- Characteristics of Seeing Awareness (Not Returnable, Not Intermingled, No Obstruction)
- Characteristics of Seeing Awareness (Not Separable from Objects, Beyond Logics, Apart from Itself)
- Two Types of Distorted Seeing Awarenesses
- Mid-term Examination
- Seeing Awareness is beyond tetralemma.
- The Nature of 5 Skandhas is Tathāgata Matrix.
- The 5 Layers of Turbidity
- The 6 indriya & 12 āyatana are Tathāgata Matrix.
- The 12 āyatana & 18 dhātu are Tathāgata Matrix.
- The earth & fire mahābhūta are Tathāgata Matrix.
- Final Examination
Entry Requirements
None
Assessment
- Attendance: 15%
- Mid-term Examination: 30%
- Final Assignment: 15%
- Final Examination: 40%
Award of Certificate
- Achieved 75% attendance.
- Upon successful completion of the course and passing the final examination.
- Fulfilling all the requirements for the award of the certificate.
- SSC01 Certificate will be eligible for admission into SSC02.
Text Books
- The Śūraṅgama Sūtra, Buddhist Text Translation Society (2009).
- Bhikṣu Hong Bok, Brief Knowledge on Shurangama Sutra, 2020, ISBN: 978-981-14-0862-5
Intake
March 2023
Duration
10 Lessons
3 hours/lesson
Class Schedule
Tuesday – Friday
6:30-9:30 pm
(MYT)
Teaching Method
Lectures, classroom discussions, assignments or case studies
(Via Online Zoom)
Programme Medium
English
Lecturer
Bhikṣu Hong Bok @ Vajirananda
