Repeating the Words of the Buddha: Phakchok Rinpoche Teaches on the Perfection of Wisdom

For centuries, students of the Mahāyāna path have studied the Prajñāpāramitā, or Perfection of Wisdom sūtras under the guidance of a teacher, reading the Buddha's words aloud, pausing over difficult passages, and asking what these teachings mean for their own lives. A new series in this spirit, Repeating the Words of the Buddha, hosted by Samye Institute, began on Vesak Day 2026 and continues on the first Saturday of each month throughout the year. In each session, Phakchok Rinpoche teaches The Transcendent State of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines chapter by chapter, working directly from 84000's English translation.

Session One

Offered on Vesak Day, May 31, 2026, this opening session introduces the series and the first chapter of the sūtra. Phakchok Rinpoche emphasizes the role of the Buddha's blessings in receiving and understanding these teachings, and explains how the meditation of the Prajñāpāramitā, free of clinging and attachment, unfolds gradually through study, contemplation, and practice.

Session Two

In this session, Phakchok Rinpoche revisits chapter one and continues into chapter two, where Indra, king of the gods, questions the elder Subhūti on how to learn and practice the Perfection of Wisdom. Phakchok Rinpoche maps out the gradual progression of the Mahāyāna path and reflects on one of the sūtra's central and most challenging teachings: that nothing is bound, and there is nothing to be liberated.

Session Three

This session turns to chapters three and four, which describe the benefits of hearing, reading, contemplating, and meditating on the Perfection of Wisdom. Phakchok Rinpoche notes that appreciating these benefits is itself part of the path, giving us the inspiration to practice.

Continue with Samye Institute

New sessions take place on the first Saturday of each month for the remainder of 2026. Upcoming events can be found on the Samye Mandala website www.samyemandala.org, and recordings from each session are open for everyone to watch on the Samye Institute Teaching Library www.samyeinstitute.org/teachings.