8,000 Verses Prajnaparamita Sutra and HIs Holiness Dalai Lama Earlier this month His Holiness gave Teachings on 8,000 Verses Prajnaparamita Sutra at the Beacon Theater at the request of Rato Kyongla Rinpoche when His Holiness visited New York City at invitation of Tibet Center and Gere Foundation. His Holiness was already requested to give Teachings on the Heart Sutra, the Sutra of Mindful of Three Jewels, the Wisdom Chapter of Shantidevas Guide to Bodhisattva Practice, and an Initiation during his three days stay. At the eleventh hour Kyongla Rinpoche made the request of this Teaching. This was the second time Rinpoche requested for this Sutra Teaching, so His Holiness had decided to begin it during this visit itself. That gave His Holiness lots of homework... he had time, I do not. While sharing these small details with the audience, His Holiness looked towards Rinpoche said half jokingly in English, This is not fair! His Holiness said that Drom Tonpa give special significance to this Sutra. At the start of building temples this Sutra is brought and read. His Holiness himself gave special importance to the Sutra as well. On March 17, 1959, before departing Lhasa from Norbu Lingka at 10:30pm Lhasa time, His Holiness went to present Khatags to the Dharma Protectors, and sat to read 8,000 Verses Prajnaparamita Sutra from the beginning. And at the line where the Buddha inspired his great disciples to generate great compassionate bodhicitta (Tibetan, ... khyod spobs par byos shig/) His Holiness stopped and took leave. One whole session His Holiness devoted to the 8,000 Verses, and said that He will finish it in future. His Holiness gave whole 8,000 Verses at the Main Hall of Drepung, South India, in the early 80s. Monks from all three great Seats and others have gathered in Mundgod Tibetan Settlement to receive the Teachings. If I remember it correctly His Holiness gave this Sutra together with Doduspa (Sanskrit name?). His Holiness applied the eight chapters (?) of this shorter Prajnaparamita in verses to over thirty chapters (?) of the longer Prajnaparamita in prose. 8,000 Verses and Doduspa are among Nine Mother Prajnaparamitas. These Nine explains Prajnaparamita through eight Facts (dngos po) and seventy Meanings. (Obviously the Heart Sutra is not among the Nine.) Unfortunately I do not remember even less of the Drepung Teaching though I listened with joyous faith, awe, and attention. I am sorry.
Posted on: Thu, 31 Oct 2013 20:09:20 +0000
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