Diamond Sutra (Ch.16)

Purgation of Bad Karma

Furthermore, Subhuti, if there are good men or women who recite, remember, comprehend, and follow this sutra, but are belittled by others, it is because of their previous evil karma, which would have caused them to be reborn in the realms of suffering. But now, by enduring the disparagement of others, this previous bad karma is eradicated, and they will eventually attain unsurpassed complete enlightenment.

Some points from last week's Diamond Sutra class (Ch.16: Purgation of Bad Karma):

• When a person tries to be virtuous and cultivates diligently, and something bad happens to him/her, view it as a good thing, because it is the result of reduced bad karma, which otherwise would be more serious.

• You choose your own reality. When something happens to you, an ordinary person views it as being good or bad; a wise person always sees it as a chance to grow spiritually. In this sense, good or bad is empty. Something bad can lead to something good.

Some points from the Diamond Sutra Study Class tonight (Ch. 16 also):

• What is the difference between detachment and indifference? (Think about it)

• Emptiness of the self is not a denial of your existence, but to see that you are not who you think you are. To empty oneself is to free oneself and to open oneself to infinite possibilities.

• Before we understand prajna paramita, good karma are just good karma--temporary, relative, dualistic. So its merits are impermanent and limited. After we understand prajna paramita, good karma has infinite, inconceivable merit.