Diamond Sutra Lecture

[Kaishin]

Hi All,

I've lately been studying the Diamond Sutra and came across an excellent series of video lectures:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 637795347#

I'm sorry if this has been posted before. I searched the forums but found no reference to it. The lecture is by Hyon Gak Sunim, an American monk who lives and teaches at the Seoul International Zen Center in South Korea. He is one of my favorite teachers, not only for his ability to communicate Buddhist texts to Western audiences, but also because of his engaging voice and often humorous delivery style.

Any way, it's quite long, but very interesting and revealing. I think he does a better job of explaining the first chapter's deep significance than Thich Nhat Hahn, whose book "The Diamond That Cuts Through Illusion" I am currently reading.

Cheers,
--
Matt

[jrh001]

Re: Diamond Sutra Lecture

Hi Matt,

Thanks for posting the link. I haven't seen these lectures.

gassho,

JohnH

[Jundo]

Re: Diamond Sutra Lecture

Thank you. I am listening to the first talk now.

I met this particular teacher a few years ago, and he is very talented, wise and quite funny. Ya gotta love the Dharma taught with a New Jersey accent too.

Gassho, J

[Myoku]

Re: Diamond Sutra Lecture

Yep, much recommended video's, straightforward, clear words,
easy to grasp, even when you are - like me - no native English speaker,
_()_
Peter

[Hogo]

Re: Diamond Sutra Lecture

Just finished part 1. Lighthearted and very Interesting lecture, thanks for sharing.
Gassho ~ Dave.

[chicanobudista]

Re: Diamond Sutra Lecture

Hi All,

I've lately been studying the Diamond Sutra and came across an excellent series of video lectures:

They been around for a while in the internet, but I always come back to them. I know he has made other presentations. Thanks for the reminders!

[Neika]

Re: Diamond Sutra Lecture

Yes, these are great. Thanks for the info.

[Seiryu]

Re: Diamond Sutra Lecture

These were the first Buddhist lectures I have ever seen when I first started looking into Buddhism. I was like "WOW, this is awesome!." I do want ti re-watch to see how much will strike me again.

[AlanLa]

Re: Diamond Sutra Lecture

"It's so simple it's stupid!"
Love it!

[Onshin]

Re: Diamond Sutra Lecture

Thanks Matt,
I an really enjoying these lectures

Gassho

Joe

[Rich]

Re: Diamond Sutra Lecture

Thanks for bringing these to my attention.

[jrh001]

Re: Diamond Sutra Lecture

"It's so simple it's stupid!"
Love it!

Having watched the first video, I noted his comments on babies/young children (sleep when they want, eat when they want) sounded somewhat "over-simplified". If only real-life babies were that simple! The point about the first chapter of the Diamond Sutra containing the whole sutra sounds over-simplified too but someone who's a monk and studied for years in a monastery must be right, right? I've read the sutra a few times and it seemed like there's much more to ponder in the following chapters.

I like entertaining speakers but am also a bit wary. Will view the other videos and re-read the book at the same time. Thanks again for the link (it's provided some relief after hitting that Keizan/Hixon brick wall!)

JohnH

[doogie]

Re: Diamond Sutra Lecture

I noticed the same thing. It felt like a monastic's abstract conceptualization of what children must be like without actually having spent much time around them. I was a bit more doubtful of everything he said afterward because of that.

[chicanobudista]

Re: Diamond Sutra Lecture

Of course, let's be mindful that he does say upfront that he is just a zen monk riffing on the Diamond Sutra, not speaking as a scholar, and probably will make many mistakes. So. Caveat Emptor! :wink:

[Kaishin]

Re: Diamond Sutra Lecture

Having watched the first video, I noted his comments on babies/young children (sleep when they want, eat when they want) sounded somewhat "over-simplified". If only real-life babies were that simple! The point about the first chapter of the Diamond Sutra containing the whole sutra sounds over-simplified too but someone who's a monk and studied for years in a monastery must be right, right? I've read the sutra a few times and it seemed like there's much more to ponder in the following chapters.

I like entertaining speakers but am also a bit wary. Will view the other videos and re-read the book at the same time. Thanks again for the link (it's provided some relief after hitting that Keizan/Hixon brick wall!)

JohnH

I take this to mean more that when they are hungry or sleepy, they don't make good-or-bad about. No "I shouldn't eat this, I'm too fat", or "I shouldn't sleep now, I'm so lazy."

No mental discrimination. Like the old definition of Zen: when hungry, eat. When tired, sleep.

He is big on hyperbole, though. I've noticed this in other talks too.

Cheers,
Matt