Lotus Underground

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Bhadramāyākāra-vyākarana Sutra The Prediction of the Magician Bhadra's Enlightenment Mahāratnakūṭa Sūtra (#21) Translated and recited by M.C. Owens Text version: https://snapdragon-fir-e8e.notion.site/21-Bhadram-y-k-ra-vy-karana-Sutra-The-Prediction-of-the-Magician-Bhadra-s-Enlightenment-b18dca2b224b403292fa6c156046e339

The Conduct and Vows of Samantabhadra Conclusion of the Avataṃsaka Sutra Translated from the Chinese by Dharmamitra (Kalavinka Press, 2022) Recited by M.C Owens www.lotusunderground.com

Turning the Dharma Wheel Saturday mornings, 9:00-10:30am (Pacific) September 21 – November 23, 2024 Tuition: $300 ​ All Classes are held live on Zoom with recordings of every class available to student's afterwards. A traditional way of learning Buddhism is called Anguttara, ‘adding one' – wherein the teachings of the Buddha are presented numerically in increasing order, such as the Three Poisons, the Four Noble Truths, and the Five Aggregations. This 10-week course uses a similar method of interlocking systems of ideas to explore fundamental Buddhist concepts and their interrelations. The ideas presented in each week's session increase in complexity and build on previous session topics, thus 'turning the Dharma wheel.' This course also introduces early Buddhist texts, modern interpretations of Buddhist practice, and the transcendent applicability of Buddhism.

Suguṇadeva Sutra ('Inconceivable State of Buddhahood') Ratnakuta Sutra collection #35 Translated from the Chinese version of Bodhiruci and recited by M.C. Owens, August 2024 Text version:https://lotus-underground.super.site/resources/library/sutras/ratna-pitaka/35-suguadevaputra-stra

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Samantamukha Sūtra ('Universal Gateway') Mahāratnakūṭa, sūtra #10 Translated and recited by M.C. Owens

THE ŚŪRAṄGAMA SUTRA: Being Indestructible A ten-week sutra study course Thursday evenings, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm (PT) April 18 – June 20, 2024 Tuition: $300 The Śūraṅgama Sutra is a mysterious sutra found in the Chinese and Tibetan Buddhist canons, and is a foundational text for the Zen and Vajrayana traditions, where it is used as a primer for beginners. Surprisingly, significant parts of this sutra were first translated in English in 1871, followed by a translation that appeared in Dwight Goddard's A Buddhist Bible in 1932, where it became influential among Jack Kerouac and the ‘beat spiritualists' of the post-war era. The sutra is a long dialogue between the Buddha and Ānanda on the nature of mind and consciousness, a format reminiscent of the ‘pointing-out' instructions of the Dzogchen tradition and the Zen practice of ‘directly pointing at the mind'. This ten-week course will explore the major chapters of this important text and provide an overview of the entire sutra and its history. ESCAPE FROM SAMSARA: Introduction to World-Systems A presentation on Buddhist Cosmology Saturday May 18, 2024 9:00am – 11:00pm (Pacific) This class by donation, suggested fee : $45 A cosmology is an understanding of where the world and the beings in it came from, what they are made of, and what happens to them when they decay. When studying Buddhism, it is helpful to be familiar with the basic tenets of traditional Indian cosmology, and some of the unique features of Buddhist cosmology that developed from them. This visual presentation uses art and iconography from a variety of traditions to create an immersive experience that explores several alternative views of creation, space and time, multiple heavenly and hellish realms, and the abodes of the gods, while laying out a Buddhist cosmological roadmap to liberation - from Samsara to Nirvana. LUSB 2024 SUMMER RETREAT I am in the planning stages of a multi-day, in-person sutra study retreat. The retreat will run approximately 2-3 days in length, and will most likely be held in Northern California, in mid -to -late August this Summer. I am trying to get a sense of how many people would be interested in attending so I can locate an appropriate location and lodging. The retreat would revolve around the reading and discussion of a particular sutra in structured sessions, with ‘monastery style' days, including communal vegan/vegetarian meals, silent meditation sessions, opportunities for physical practice, and time for solitary reflection. If you are interested and would like to hear more please register at LotusUnderground.com

Sabbāsava Sutta ('All the Taints') Majjhima Nikāya #2 Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli and Bhikkhu Bodhi Recited by M.C. Owens, February 2024

The Ground of Being: Vasubandhu's Trisvabhāva-nirdeśa, 6-week, course Thursdays, 7:00pm - 8:30pm (Pacific) January 25th – February 29, 2024 Tuition: $270 The concept of the Trisvabhāva (‘Three Natures') is considered the conclusion of, what might be called, Buddhist ontology, the study of ‘being.' In the earliest forms of Buddhism, all phenomena are momentary and, therefore, quite impermanent. In the more developed forms of Mahāyāna Buddhism, the concept of Emptiness negates there being any thing to be. In light of Emptiness, how is the perceived world to be understood? That is the essence of the ‘Ground of Being' and the Yogacara teaching on the Three Natures, wherein all phenomena are understood to be fabricated, dependently originated, and yet completely perfect. This six-week course is based on Vasubandhu's brief 4th Century treatise on the Three Natures, the Trisvabhāva-nirdeśa, and is part of the LUSB Dharma series on the ‘Mind-Only' teachings of Yogacara Buddhism. The Space of Time: Buddhist Chronology and Kairology from kṣaṇas to kalpas 9:00am – 12:00pm (Pacific) Saturday, February 10th, 2024 Tuition: $90 ‘How long is a minute?' Why do we use spatial terms like ‘long' and ‘short' to speak of Time? Long before Einstein and Hawkings, Buddhist thinkers such as Dōgen and Nāgārjuna had already noted the inextricable relationships between Space and Time. This presentation is an overview of these Buddhist conceptions of Time; from kṣaṇas, the ‘nano-seconds' used to measure the arising and passing away of mental states, to kalpas, the longest measurement of time, which is immeasurable. In this way, Time will be explored in terms of chronology, the elapsing or passage of Time, and in terms kairology, specific instances or moments of Time.

The Way to Brahmā - Tevijja Sutta ('The Three Knowledges') Dīgha Nikāya ("Collection of Long Discourses") #13 Translated by Maurice Walshe Recited by M.C. Owens

Vimalakīrti Nirdeśa Sūtra (Complete Recitation) Translated and recited by M.C. Owens, 2023

Vimalakīrti Nirdeśa Sūtra Chapter Fourteen: Entrustment Translated and recited by M.C. Owens November 20, 2023

Vimalakīrti Nirdeśa Sūtra Chapter Thirteen: Dharma Offerings Translated and recited by M.C. Owens October 20, 2023

Vimalakīrti Nirdeśa Sūtra Chapter Twelve: Seeing Akṣobhya Buddha Translated and recited by M.C. Owens September 27, 2023

Welcome to another semester of the Lotus Underground School of Buddhism (LUSB). This Fall I will be offering three courses: an advanced sutra study course on one of my favorite sutras from the Ratnakūṭa (‘Heap of Jewels') called the Universal Gateway to the Inconceivable. I will be holding a four-part meditation workshop on the Foundations of Mindfulness called Acts of Remembrance. And, there will be an opportunity for you or someone you know to take my Turning the Dharma Wheel course, the first part of the LUSB Introduction to Buddhism. All courses are held on-line via Zoom with the recordings available to participants afterwards. TURNING THE DHARMA WHEEL: Introduction to Buddhism Sunday mornings, 9:00 - 10:30am (Pacific), 10 week course October 1 – December 3, 2023 Tuition: $300 A traditional way of learning Buddhism is called Anguttara, ‘adding one' – wherein the teachings of the Buddha are presented numerically in increasing order, such as the Three Poisons, the Four Noble Truths, and the Five Aggregates. This 10-week course uses a similar method of interlocking systems to explore fundamental Buddhist concepts and their interrelations. The ideas presented in each week's session increase in complexity and build on previous session topics, thus 'turning the Dharma wheel.' This course also provides an introduction to Buddhist texts, modern interpretations, and the transcendent applicability of Buddhism. This is the first course in a three-part series that make up the LUSB Introduction to Buddhism. Advanced Sutra Study Course: The Universal Gateway to the Inconceivable Thursday evenings, 6:00pm - 7:30pm (Pacific), 6 week course October 5 – November 9, 2023 Tuition: $200 The Universal Gateway is a deceptively brief sutra that is as complex as the better known Heart Sutra. This sutra is a series of short poems recited by the Buddha that describe entry into different samādhis (‘meditative absorptions') by observing various characteristics of reality, such as sights, sounds, scents, flavors, etc., to the very characteristics of being and non-being. The poems weave together multiple elements of Mahāyana Buddhism: cosmology, samādhi, as well as the teaching of Emptiness, which is the underlying theme of the poems. The course is a deep dive into this contemplative and beautiful sutra full of big ideas, presented as a thousand-petalled lotus flower made of the seven treasures. Meditation Workshop: Acts of Remembering Tuesday evenings, 6:00pm - 7:30pm (Pacific), 4 week course November 7 - 28 Tuition: $125 Smṛti is one of the earliest terms used in Buddhism for meditation. In the modern world it is commonly translated as ‘mindfulness', however it is helpful to know that the word smṛti indicates something like ‘remembering' or ‘recalling', and is traditionally contrasted with the more receptive act of śruti, ‘hearing'. There are many ways to understand how the act of remembrance relates to Buddhist meditation and other aspects of psycho-physical practice. This meditation workshop presents the traditional satipaṭṭhāna system of Buddhism, a four-step practice that gets progressively deeper as the object of focus, or mindful awareness, shifts from mindfulness of the body to bodily sensations, followed by mindfulness of mind-states themselves, and finally mindfulness of the very principles (dharmas) governing the construction of mind-states. Broken into four evenings, each session will include a guided meditation, periods of silent sitting, in addition to analytical discussion of these foundational ideas, and their numerous sub-categories.

Vimalakīrti Nirdeśa Sūtra Chapter Eleven: Practices of the Bodhisattva Translated and recited by M.C. Owens September 5, 2023

Vimalakīrti Nirdeśa Sūtra Chapter Ten: Accumulation of Fragrances Buddha Translated and recited by M.C. Owens August 15, 2023

Vimalakīrti Nirdeśa Sūtra Chapter Nine: The Dharma Door of Nonduality Translated and recited by M.C. Owens July 21, 2023

Vimalakīrti Nirdeśa Sūtra Chapter Eight: The Way of the Buddha Translated and recited by M.C. Owens June 30, 2023

THE TEN STAGES: An Introduction to the Bodhisattva Path Thursdays, 6:00 - 7:30pm (Pacific) June 29 - August 31, 2023 Tuition: $300 The Ten Stages (bhūmi) describe the process of awakening (or ‘enlightenment'), from the initial determination to do so all the way to the attainment of Buddhahood. This ten-step rubric is the foundation of the Bodhisattva Path and it comes from an early Mahāyāna sutra simply known as the Ten Stages Sutra, in which each stage is associated with different practices, teachings, and contemplation exercises. This course is a ten-week exploration of each Stage of the Path. We will read portions of the Ten Stages Sutra, explore commentaries of The Stages, and consider its relevance to our lives today. EMPTINESS: The Wisdom of Nāgārjuna Sundays, 9:00am - 10:30am (PT) July 9 - August 26, 2023 Tuition: $250 Śūnyatā, translated most often as 'emptiness,' is possibly the most difficult Buddhist concept to understand. In early Buddhist writings, the term is often synonymous with the concept of ‘no-self' (anattā), or it is described as a meditative experience completely devoid of sensory perception. In Mahāyāna Buddhism, however, śūnyatā is more closely associated with the teaching of dependent-origination (pratītyasamutpāda) and is interpreted as the lack of inherent nature (svabhāva) of any individuated phenomena, self or otherwise. The primary teacher of Emptiness in this sense, and its broader implications, is undoubtedly the Indian Buddhist philosopher Nāgārjuna. This course is a line-by-line reading of Nāgārjuna's commentarial poem the Śūnyatāsaptatikārikā ('Seventy Verses on Emptiness'). For more information or to register go to www.LotusUnderground.com

Vimalakīrti Nirdeśa Sūtra Chapter Seven: Observing Sentient Beings Translated and recited by M.C. Owens June 9, 2023

Vimalakīrti Nirdeśa Sūtra Chapter Six: The Inconceivable Translated and recited by M.C. Owens May 19, 2023

Vimalakīrti Nirdeśa Sūtra Chapter Five: Mañjuśrī Inquires About Illness Translated and recited by M.C. Owens May 5, 2023

Vimalakīrti Nirdeśa Sūtra Chapter Four: The Bodhisattvas Translated and recited by M.C. Owens April 14, 2023

Vimalakīrti Nirdeśa Sūtra Chapter Three: The Disciples Translated and recited by M.C. Owens March 31, 2023

Vimalakīrti Nirdeśa Sūtra Chapter Two: Expedient Means Translated and recited by M.C. Owens March 8, 2023

The Irreversible Wheel: The Eight Schools of Buddhism Saturdays, 9:00am - 10:30am March 25 - May 13, 2023 Tuition: $250 Way of the Vajra: Introduction to Tantric Buddhism Sundays, 9:00am - 10:30am April 2 - May 21, 2023 Tuition: $250 Mother of Buddhas: The Perfection of Wisdom Sutra Thursdays, 6:00pm - 7:30pm April 6 - May 25, 2023 Tuition: $250

Vimalakīrti Nirdeśa Sūtra Chapter One: Buddha Lands Translated and recited by M.C. Owens February 17, 2023

Śrīmālādevī Siṃhanāda Sūtra (The Lion's Roar of Queen Śrīmālā) Sutra recitation by M.C. Owens 1-25-2023

- - - - - LUSB WINTER CLASSES - - - - - THE WHEEL OF BECOMING 6-week introductory course on Dependent-Origination Saturdays, 9:00am – 10:30am PT January 21 – February 25, 2023 Tuition: $180 TATHATĀ: The Meaning of True Suchness 8-week intermediate course on the Awakening of Faith in the Mahāyāna Sundays, 9:00am – 10:30am PST January 22 – March 12, 2023 Tuition: $250 REVEALING THE SECRET  An 8-week advanced study of the Saṃdhinirmocana Sūtra Thursdays, 6:00pm — 7:30pm (PST) January 12 — March 2, 2023 Tuition: $250 For more information or to register go to: LotusUnderground.com

Gaṅgottara Upāsikā Sutra (The Laywoman Gaṅgottara) Recitation by M.C. Owens 12-20-2022 From the Mahāratnakūṭa collection, sutra #31

Sumatidārikā Paripṛcchā Sūtra ('Questions of Sumati') From the Ratnakuta Sutra collection, #30 Sutra recitation by M.C. Owens November 8, 2022 Translated from Taishō Tripiṭaka volume 12, number 336

Vipallasa Sutta ('Inversion') Anguttara Nikaya 4.49 Introduction and sutra recitation by M.C. Owens

LUSB - FALL SEMESTER CLASSES TURNING THE DHARMA WHEEL 10-week course on essential Buddhist teachings Saturdays, 9:00am – 10:30am PT October 1 – December 10, 2022 A traditional way of learning Buddhism is called Anguttara, ‘adding one' – wherein the teachings of the Buddha are presented numerically in increasing order, such as the Three Poisons, the Four Noble Truths, and then the Five Aggregations. This 10-week course uses a similar method of interlocking systems to explore fundamental Buddhist concepts and their interrelations. The ideas presented in each week's session grow in complexity and systematically build on previous session topics, thus ‘turning the wheel of Truth,' or Dharma. This is the first of a three-part Buddhist Studies Program, designed to introduce basic Buddhist practices, philosophy, and history. Even if you are already familiar with these teachings, the intention of this course is to present them in a new way. EIGHT SCHOOLS OF BUDDHISM 8-part series on the History of Buddhism Tuesdays, 9:00am – 10:30am PT September 20 – November 8, 2022 The ‘Eight Schools' is a traditional Buddhist classification system from medieval China and Japan that categorizes different Buddhist practices and communities that arose in India during the first thousand years of Buddhist history, from approximately 400 BC to 600 AD. This course uses a similar classification system to present the origins and foundational teachings of eight major trends in Buddhism found in the world today, which are essentially remnants of the schools from this medieval system. This course is the third part of the LUSB Buddhist Studies Program, designed to show how the essential teachings and deeper philosophies presented in the first two courses have been put in to practice throughout history. ADVANCED STUDY: MIND-ONLY BUDDHISM 8-week advanced course on Yogacara Buddhism Thursdays, 5:30pm – 7:00pm PT September 15 – November 3, 2022 One of the oldest philosophical questions concerns the relationship between ‘mind' and ‘matter' - the mental world of ideas and thought, and the physical world experienced by our senses. Are mind and consciousness simply emergent results of the physical world, or is ‘the physical world' merely an idea entertained by a conscious mind? This course is an introduction to the ‘mind-only' teaching of Yogacara Buddhism, an idealistic school of Buddhism that arose around the the 4th-century AD in the Gandharan region of what is today Afghanistan. This school has come to represent the so-called ‘Third Turning' (or phase) of the teachings of the Buddha, in which the concept of Emptiness (indicative of the ‘Second Turning'), is taken to the logical conclusion that the ‘physical world' is merely a conscious construction, similar to, but not the same as, a dream. The focus of this course will be understanding the Yogacara model of eight consciousnesses, which includes the so-called ‘Storehouse Consciousness' or ālaya-vijñāna. This course in available to participants who have already taken the Turning the Dharma Wheel course and the Wheel of Becoming course on Dependent-Origination. If you have not taken the LUSB introductory courses but would still like to attend, please let me know as there is always room for exceptions.

Vajra Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra Translation and sutra recitation by M.C. Owens August 3, 2022

Nakulapita Sutta ('To Nakulapita') Samyutta Nikaya 22(1) Sutra recitation by M.C. Owens , July 1, 2022

LIGHTNING-LIKE AWARENESS An 8-week course on the Vajra Sutra Saturdays, July 9 - August 27 9:00-10:15 AM (Pacific Time) Tuition: $200 All Classes are held live on Zoom with recordings of every class available for participants afterwards (for lifetime access.) DESCRIPTION: The Vajracchedikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra, ‘The Sutra That Cuts Like Lightning', is more commonly known as the Diamond Sutra, and is one of the most influential Mahayana Buddhist sutras. It is among the oldest known discourses on developing enlightened awareness and the 'perfection of wisdom'. This course is a line-by-line reading and study of the Vajra Sutra, enabling a deep understanding of its meanings, and its significance within the broader context of Buddhism. We will trace the text's possible origins, and reflect on its contemporary use and related practices. ​

Saṅgārava Sutta ('To Saṅgārava') Samyutta Nikaya 46.55(5) Sutra Recitation by M.C. Owens 6-1-2022

WHEEL OF BECOMING - 6 week course in Dependent Origination w/ M.C. Owens May 17 - June 21, 2022 Tuesdays, 9:00am - 10:15am PACIFIC Tuition: $150 For more information go to - www.LotusUnderground.com DESCRIPTION: Pratītyasamutpāda ('Dependent Origination') is a Buddhist term for the principle that all phenomena arise and exist only in dependence upon other phenomena and, therefore, have no inherent self-nature. To understand this fundamental concept, this six-week course uses the traditional 12-Link 'Chain of Causation' structure to demonstrate the ‘self'-perpetuating, cyclical nature of existence.

Mula Sutta ('The Roots') Anguttara Nikaya #69(9) Sutra Recitation by M.C. Owens 5-1-2022

THE HEART SUTRA An 8-week in depth study with M.C. Owens New Class Starting April 23rd, 2022 Saturdays: 9am - 10:15am (PDT) April 23rd - June 11th, 2022 Tuition: $200 Class will live on Zoom with recordings of each class available for participants afterwards. The Heart Sutra is by far the most popular sutra in the Buddhist world today, chanted aloud by Buddhists daily, regardless of sectarian affiliation. In addition to being the most ubiquitous sutra, it is also one of the smallest - consisting of a mere 25 lines of Sanskrit, or 260 characters in the standard Chinese version. This course is an in-depth, word-by-word study of the Heart Sutra focused on understanding its underlying teaching of ‘Emptiness', the philosophical foundation of Mahayana Buddhism. The course will also present the contested origins of the sutra and its various interpretations by different schools of Buddhism.

Sāmaññaphala Sutta ('Fruits of the Homeless Life') Dīgha Nikāya #2 Sutra Recitation by M.C. Owens 3-31-2022

Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta ('Turning the Dharma Wheel') Sutra recitation and discussion by M.C. Owens Recorded March 1, 2022 From the Connected Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Samyutta Nikaya by Bhikkhu Bodhi Sutta 45.11

TURNING THE DHARMA WHEEL w/ MC Owens Tuesdays, March 8th - May 10th 9am - 10:15am (PT) Tuition: $220 Classes are live on zoom, with recordings of each class available to participants. Course Description: A traditional way of learning Buddhism is called Anguttara, ‘adding one' – wherein the teachings of the Buddha are presented numerically in increasing order, such as the Three Poisons, the Four Noble Truths, and the Five Aggregations. This 10-week course uses a similar method of interlocking systems to explore fundamental Buddhist concepts and their interrelation. The ideas presented in each week's session grow in complexity and systematically build on previous session topics, thus ‘turning the wheel of Truth,' or Dharma.

Bhayabherava Sutta ('Fear & Dread') Majjhima Nikaya #4 (The Middle-length Discourses) Read by M.C Owens 1-24-2022

The Noble Eightfold Path - Part Eight Right Concentration - Sammā-samādhi Sutra recitation and discussion by M.C. Owens

The Noble Eightfold Path - Part Seven Right Mindfulness - Sammā-sati Sutra discussion by M.C. Owens

The Noble Eightfold Path - Part Six Right Effort - Sammā-vāyāma Brahmana Sutta ('To Unnabha, the Brahmin)SN 51.15 Sutra discussion by M.C. Owens

TURNING THE DHARMA WHEEL A 10-week course in Buddhism w/ M.C. Owens Saturdays, 9:00am - 10:15am (PST) October 16 – December 18, 2021 Tuition: $221 Course Description: A traditional way of learning Buddhism is called Anguttara, ‘adding one' – wherein the teachings of the Buddha are presented numerically in increasing order, such as the Three Poisons, the Four Noble Truths, and the Five Aggregations. This 10-week course uses a similar method of interlocking systems to explore fundamental Buddhist concepts and their interrelation. The ideas presented in each week's session grow in complexity and systematically build on previous session topics, thus ‘turning the wheel of Truth,' or Dharma. This course also provides a grounding in early texts, modern interpretations, and the transcendent applicability of these Buddhist basics. Classes will be held via Zoom and recordings of each class will be available for participants afterwards. M.C. Owens is a Buddhist teacher and translator who uses a sutra-based curriculum that draws from a variety of traditions. His unique teaching style incorporates contemplation, critical analysis, humor, and storytelling. To register for this course or for more information contact: mcowens@lotusunderground.com

he Noble Eightfold Path - Part Four Right Livelihood - Samyag-ājīva Sutra discussion by M.C. Owens