Schedule of Events

Shih Heng Shou

At the Buddhist Lecture Hall, 125 Waverly Place, 4th floor, San Francisco, we each vigorously cultivate and study the principles of the Buddhadharma. Each day we regularly sit in meditation, chant mantras, and recite, study, and explain Sutras. For the convenience of those interested in participating, here is the schedule:

Monday ~ Friday (Daily Schedule)

Saturday and Sunday

On Saturday and Sunday afternoons, translation sessions and Chinese lessons are replaced by additional Sutra lectures at 12:30 PM. Otherwise, the schedule is the same as above.

Sutra Lectures:
Interested visitors and cultivators are welcome to attend all Sutra lectures at the Buddhist Lecture Hall. Thirteen Dharma Masters, Upasakas, and Upasikas turn the great Dharma Wheel in a cycle of fifteen lectures, which open and clarify the meaning of the original Sutra texts. Each lecturer has recourse to the commentary of Tripitaka Master Hsuan Hua as well as to personal cultivation experience in preparation of lecture material. In the interest of the spreading of clear understanding of the orthodox Dharma, confused explanation is scrupulously avoided. Sutras currently being explained at the Buddhist Lecture Hall are:

• The Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra
• The Shurangama Sutra
• The Sutra of Origianl Vows of Earth Treasury Bodhisattva
• The Sixth Patriarch's Dharma Jewel Platform Sutra
• Avatamsaka Sutra, Chapter 81: "The Practice and Vows of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva"
• The Great Compassion Heart Dharani Sutra

The 81 chapters of The Avatamsaka Sutra will be lectured in their entirety in the near future. This will be the first time this Sutra has been lectured in America.

Sutra Translation: With the formation of ‘The Buddhist Text Translation Society’ in early January, there began regular translation sessions of Buddhist Sutras into English. Using Chinese texts, supplemented by the transcribed oral commentary of Tripitaka Master Hsuan Hua, we have begun to translate:

• The Sixth Patriarch's Dharma Jewel Platform Sutra
• The Buddha Speaks of Amitabha Sutra
• The Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra
• The Shurangama Sutra

In translating Sutras and commentary, the policy is to work as a group, providing appropriate checks and balances, thus avoiding the problems inherent in individually–interpreted uncertified translation. We feel that personal cultivation is an essential factor in translation in order to faithfully preserve the principles, which are threaded together in the sutras spoken by the Buddha. Bearing this in mind, we subject all products of ‘The Buddhist Text Translation Society’ to careful scrutiny in three stages:

1. Rough translation from the Chinese Sutra texts.
2. Polish and correction of English grammar and style.
3. Certification, through recourse to the original text by Sangha members and Upasakas fluent in Chinese and English.

Additionally, we have made it a matter of policy not to undertake translation of Buddhist scriptures until we have heard thorough and orthodox explanations by experienced Dharma Masters of flawless credibility. To fall short of these principles in translation would so doubt be an unpardonable transgression against those people of future generations who will rely upon the accuracy of our work in their daily cultivation.

We already have in the form of tape-recorded transcripts and typed notes, explanation and commentary the following sutras:

• The Shurangama Sutra
• The Sutra of Original Vows of Earth Treasury Bodhisattva
• The Sixth Patriarch's Dharma Jewel Platform Sutra
• The Great Compassion Heart Dharani Sutra
• The Prajna Paramita Diamond Sutra
• The Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra
• The Buddha Speaks of Amitabha Sutra
• The "Universal Door" Chapter of The Lotus Sutra
• The "Conduct and Vows of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva", Chapter 81 of The Avatamsaka Sutra

In Addition we have heard, over a period of fifteen months, the explanation of six of the twenty–eight chapters of The Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra. Explanation continues on Sunday afternoons and evenings, and Monday evenings. Upon completion of the explanation of The Lotus Sutra, there will follow, after relocation to a more adequate temple site, the unfolding of the meaning of The Great, Directionally Expansive Buddha's Garland of Flowers Sutra, otherwise known as The Avatamsaka Sutra.

Our primary purpose in all activities is to make clear to each and all the limitless light of the Buddhadharma. Sincerely interested visitors are welcome to attend all lectures, recitations, and meditation.

Although a considerable number of Americans have requested to leave home and enter the Sangha, Master Hsuan Hua has so far accepted only three men and two women as Bhiksus and Bhiksunis. These five have taken the complete precepts, 250 for the men and 348 for the women.

More than thirty Americans have taken the "ten heavy" and "forty–eight light" Bodhisattva precepts, and disciples who have taken the five precepts number more than one hundred.

A great many people have taken refuge and become disciples of the Master since his arrival in San Francisco.

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