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Perfect Wisdom Talks

Prajñāpāramitā means "the Perfection of Wisdom" or "Transcendental Knowledge" in Mahāyāna. Prajñāpāramitā refers to a perfected way of seeing the nature of reality, as well as to a particular body of Mahāyāna scriptures (sūtras), known as the Prajñāpāramitā sutras, which includes such texts as the Heart Sutra and Diamond Sutra.
The word Prajñāpāramitā combines the Sanskrit words prajñā "wisdom" (or "knowledge") with pāramitā, "excellence," "perfection," "noble character quality," or "that which has gone beyond," "gone to the other side," "transcending." Prajñāpāramitā is a central concept in Mahāyāna Buddhism and is generally associated with ideas such as emptiness (śūnyatā), 'lack of svabhāva' (essence), the illusory (māyā) nature of things, how all phenomena are characterized by "non-arising" (anutpāda, i.e. unborn) and the madhyamaka thought of Nāgārjuna. Its practice and understanding are taken to be indispensable elements of the Bodhisattva path.
According to Edward Conze, the Prajñāpāramitā Sūtras are "a collection of about forty texts ... composed somewhere on the Indian subcontinent between approximately 100 BC and AD 600." Some Prajnāpāramitā sūtras are thought to be among the earliest Mahāyāna sūtras.
Title | Speaker | |
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The Whole Earth Is Medicine Manjushri, Blue Cliff Record, Heart Sutra, Hindrances, Perfect Wisdom, uchiyama,... |
Oct 17 2020 |
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Heart SutraSerial: BZ-02552 Sesshin Day 1
Perfect Wisdom, Heart Sutra, Samadhi, Duality, Avalokiteshvara, Non-duality,... |
Jun 07 2017 |
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Five Hindrances and Seven Factors of EnlightenmentSerial: BZ-02499 Class 4
Mindfulness, Equanimity, Cultivation, Concentration, Hindrances, Perfect Wisdom, Four... |
Sep 22 2016 |
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Moment By MomentSerial: BZ-02198 The Most Important Thing, One-Day Sitting Suzuki Roshi, Bodhisattva, Balance, Posture, Perfect Wisdom, Daily Life, Don't... |
Aug 14 2011 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Daitzu Jisho BuddhaSerial: BZ-02180 Zazen, Saturday Lecture Ordinary Mind, Gaining Idea, Perfect Wisdom, Bodhidharma, Intuition, resistance, Hate... |
May 28 2011 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Intimate Zen, Perfect WisdomSerial: BZ-02154 Other Perfect Wisdom, Heart Sutra, Dharma Transmission, Four Noble Truths, true dharma,... |
Jan 29 2011 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Hokyo Zammai Class Five Ranks, Perfect Wisdom, Precious Mirror, Doubt, Sixth Patriarch, Platform Sutra,... |
Jul 22 2010 6 |
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The Koan of a Bodhisattva Precepts, Vimalakirti, Perfect Wisdom, confusion, Bodhisattva Ceremony, Attachment,... |
Oct 03 2009 |
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NagarjunaSerial: BZ-01288 Lecture Aspects of Practice, Heart Sutra, Perfect Wisdom, Transmission, Priest, Teacher-and-... |
Nov 06 2004 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Diamond Sutra: “Save All Beings” Yet No Beings to SaveSerial: BZ-01247 Saturday Lecture Heart Sutra, Liberation, Perfect Wisdom, Buddha Nature, Attachment, Culture, Daily... |
Sep 18 2004 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Suzuki-rôshi Almost DrowningSerial: BZ-00175 From "Not Always So", Rohatsu Day 5 Suzuki Roshi, Attachment, Happiness, Teacher-and-Student, Perfect Wisdom, Bell,... |
Dec 06 2002 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Aspects of Practice: Prajna ParmitaSerial: BZ-00474A Class 4 of 4 Heart Sutra, Complete Perfect Enlightenment, Chanting, Hindrances, Aspects of... |
Oct 25 2001 4 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Lotus SutraSerial: BZ-00863 The fourth in a series of five classes on the Lotus Sutra taught by Ryuei Michael McCormick, a teacher in the Nichiren tradition, and sponsored by Maylie Scott. ... Lotus Sutra, Buddha Nature, Perfect Wisdom, Demons, Nirvana, Subject-and-Object, Evil... |
Apr 22 1999 4 of 5 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Working with Forms and Precepts Precepts, Evil, Practice Period, Bodhisattva Vow, Attachment, Diversity, Lineage,... |
Apr 25 1998 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Avoiding Idle TalkSerial: BZ-00346A Saturday Lecture Right Speech, Discrimination, Silence, Eight Aspects, Nirvana, Perfect Wisdom,... |
Nov 22 1997 Berkeley Zen Center |
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May 8th, 1997, Serial No. 01455 Precepts, Buddha Nature, Perfect Wisdom, Sangha, Buddha Mind, Birth-and-Death,... |
May 08 1997 |
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PreceptsSerial: BZ-00672 Class 1 of 6 Precepts, Buddha Nature, Buddha Mind, Sangha, Perfect Wisdom, Evil, Mahayana, Birth-... |
May 08 1997 1 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Meal ChantSerial: BZ-00810A Saturday Lecture Chanting, Nirvana, Perfect Wisdom, Lotus Sutra, Offering, Buddha Nature, Precepts,... |
Feb 18 1996 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Blue Cliff Record Case #1 Mindfulness, Four Foundations, Bodhidharma, Perfect Wisdom, Practice Period, Mahayana... |
Mar 11 1995 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Perfection of WisdomSerial: BZ-00232 Class 5 of 5 Intimacy, Perfect Wisdom, Impermanence, Nirvana, Don't Know Mind, Chanting,... |
Apr 21 1994 5 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Perfection of WisdomSerial: BZ-00231 Class 4 of 5 American, Bodhidharma, Blue Cliff Record, Interdependence, Happiness, Mahayana,... |
Apr 14 1994 4 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Perfection of WisdomSerial: BZ-00230 Class 3 of 5 Perfect Wisdom, Six Realms, Evil, Nirvana, Constancy, Right Effort, Lotus Sutra,... |
Apr 07 1994 3 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Perfection of WisdomSerial: BZ-00229 Class 2 of 5 Perfect Wisdom, Dragons, Nirvana, Heart Sutra, Vimalakirti, Precepts, Anger, Right... |
Mar 31 1994 2 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Perfection of WisdomSerial: BZ-00228 Class 1 of 5 Perfect Wisdom, Heart Sutra, Four Noble Truths, Birth-and-Death, Lotus Sutra,... |
Mar 24 1994 1 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Zazen Practice: Intention; Getting to Zendo and Seeing RealitySerial: BZ-00965A Lecture Family Practice, Posture, Precepts, Perfect Wisdom, Daily Life, Sangha, Anger,... |
Mar 05 1994 Berkeley Zen Center |
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A Reworking of the Prajna Paramita Sutra in 8000 LinesSerial: BZ-00666A Lecture Perfect Wisdom, Buddha Nature, Heart Sutra, Buddha Mind, Subject-and-Object,... |
May 17 1993 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Day Off ClassSerial: BZ-01484 Class 5 of 6 Precepts, Buddha Ancestors, Transmission, Silent Illumination, Buddha Nature, Current... |
Nov 14 1992 5 |
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Early Zen: Sixth Patriarch, Sudden and Gradual EnlightenmentSerial: BZ-00603 Class 4 of 6 Platform Sutra, Branching Streams, Four Noble Truths, Perfect Wisdom, Sixth Patriarch... |
Mar 26 1992 4 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Lotus Sutra; FormsSerial: BZ-00678A Lecture Lotus Sutra, Complete Perfect Enlightenment, Perfect Wisdom, Bodhisattva Vow, Dragons... |
Mar 21 1992 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Early Zen: Heart Sutra, Rise of MahayanaSerial: BZ-00650 Class 1 of 6 Perfect Wisdom, Mahayana, Heart Sutra, Lotus Sutra, Nirvana, Continuous Practice,... |
Mar 05 1992 1 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Heart SutraSerial: BZ-00494A Lecture Heart Sutra, Chanting, Doubt, Hindrances, Complete Perfect Enlightenment, Posture,... |
Oct 13 1990 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Dogen's Fukanzazengi and Practice RealizationSerial: BZ-00043A Saturday Lecture Duality, Perfect Wisdom, Dragons, Doubt, Sixth Patriarch, Absolute-and-Relative,... |
Oct 23 1982 Berkeley Zen Center |