Why Reciting a Sutra?
Accomplishing self-discipline, deep concentration, and wisdom concurrently
What is the first step in learning Buddhism?
Start by reciting one sutra.
Are we supposed to understand the sutra text?
No, not while you focus on reciting the sutra. And, when we have not ended afflictions, our understanding will be erroneous.
Then why do we practice reciting the sutra?
By reciting the sutra, the Three Learnings of self-discipline, deep concentration and wisdom are accomplished concurrently.
Self-discipline
Self-discipline requires that we “Do nothing that is bad. Do all that is good”. Reciting a sutra can prevent us from generating wandering thoughts so we will be prevented from doing anything that is bad.
Sutras are words that flow from the Buddha’s true nature. Nothing can surpass these words in virtue. Therefore, reciting a sutra is doing all that is good and results in the perfection of self-discipline so there is no need to practice the precepts one-by-one.
Deep concentration
When reciting a sutra, we must focus. By focusing, we cultivate concentration. Clearly enunciating every word correctly without any omission is the practice of wisdom. Therefore reciting the sutra properly is to practice the Three Learnings at the same time.
Any attempt to analyze the sutra while reciting is in fact treating the sutra as a worldly book. This will result in none of the Three Learnings being accomplished and is not true cultivation.
Never belittle the practice of sutra recitation, as it is the fundamental base of cultivation. Reciting for one hour accomplishes one hour of cultivation, reciting for two hours accomplishes two hours of cultivation and so forth. Needless to say, the longer the better.
Wisdom
Many fellow practitioners in Taiwan and Dallas (Pure Land Centers) are reciting the Infinite Life Sutra ten times a day. So far, some may have chanted the sutra over two thousand times, thus they are very familiar with the text and only need thirty to forty-five minutes to finish one sutra. Reciting ten times thus means five or six hours of practicing self-discipline, deep concentration, and wisdom. With so many hours devoted to cultivation, we will naturally develop a serene mind in just a few years’ time.
Sutras flow from the pure and quiet mind of the Buddha. When we have developed a mind as pure and quiet, we will understand all we read (wisdom) in the sutra. The reason why the sutra is so hard to understand now is that our minds are filled with wandering thoughts. How can this mind be in harmony with one that is pure and quiet? This is why we do not understand the Buddha’s words. So, if we want to learn from a good teacher, we need to trust and believe that their methods are proper and correct.
Just chose one sutra without being distracted by any other. If we chose to follow the Pure Land School, we recite and study the Infinite Life Sutra. If we choose to follow the T’ian Tai School we recite and study the Lotus Sutra. If we choose to follow the Flower Adornment School we recite and study the Flower Adornment Sutra. When choosing a school, one should follow its principles and delve deeply into the sutra for five years. In other words, sever all afflictions and try to develop a pure and quiet heart. This is the first step in learning Buddhism.
Frankly speaking, five years of learning and cultivation were enough for a practitioner to attain a pure mind in the past, because their minds were not as polluted as ours now are. In the past, children would remain innocent until around ten years of age. Then they would begin to be aware of differences between right and wrong, self and others. They would begin to develop such characteristics as greed, anger, ignorance, and arrogance.
However, look at today’s children. They start showing greed, anger, ignorance, and arrogance when they are only a few years old! Where do they learn these things? From mass media. They are exposed to mass media and the Internet every day. They naturally become polluted. They do not have the happy innocent childhood their parents had. How unfortunate they are!
True happiness is to remain innocent as long as possible in childhood and to not be aware of any of the suffering in the world. All the children knew was how to play. Once we lose our childhood’s innocence, we are no longer happy. For then, we have to be constantly aware of others. So, it’s fair to say modern people are less fortunate than their predecessors are.
Beyond the Three Learnings
Once we have developed a pure and quiet mind and have attained wisdom, then we can begin to broaden our knowledge. We can see, hear, and learn of anything that we are interested in, for then we have already attained wisdom and will not be affected by our surroundings.
Since we have self-control, the more we see and hear the wiser we will become and the greater our strength from deep concentration will be.
How are deep concentration and wisdom increased? Remaining unmoved by surroundings will enhance deep concentration. Developing a clear and understanding mind will enhance wisdom. Then we can learn from other schools to further enhance our deep concentration and wisdom.
First, we practice self-discipline, concentration and wisdom to attain our original wisdom. Then, we can learn extensively to perfect our acquired wisdom. This is the way of learning from ancient times.
The Buddha once taught us in the Great Prajna Sutra, “Innocent intuitive wisdom knows all”. So, we must cultivate “innocence” first. The five-year method of practicing self-discipline results in our “staying innocent” of the happenings in the world. When we are again in contact with the world, we will be aware of “knowing all”. This is the proper sequence and method to learn and practice Buddhism.
All schools of the Mahayana Buddhism adopted this framework of learning and teaching, and followed the practice of the Three Conditions, the Six Principles of Harmony, the Three Learnings, the Six Paramitas, and the Ten Great Vows.
Continuing education
There was, also, another advanced method of teaching and learning in Buddhism — continuing education for teachers. It was not until recently that this method again came back into use.
When he was in this world, the Buddha had many students. Some stayed with him because they had not finished their study and thus had not yet become independent. But others had reached some achievement. The latter were Bodhisattvas, who were responsible for spreading Buddhism. They went to different locations, set up dharma places and taught on behalf of the Buddha. Then they would return to where the Buddha currently was for a three months summer retreat for continuing education.
Such arrangement is similar to today’s summer vacation when the students are out of school but the teachers cannot rest for they need to receive further training. So, the Bodhisattvas went back to be with the Buddha for a summer retreat. They listened to his teaching and thus were able to increase their concentration, wisdom, and virtues. They also discussed difficulties they had encountered in their teaching and tried to find solutions. They learned from each other in seeking self-improvement.
Dharma centers and Buddhist societies can conduct summer and winter retreats of Buddha-name recitation, Zen meditation, and seminars as such for short-term training. This is very effective and people are able to accept this idea of short-term continuing education. If we directly tell them that such education is for severing afflictions; cultivating self-discipline, deep concentration and wisdom, and transcending the cycle of birth and death, probably only a few people would be interested to come or accept this concept.
Today, people took their concept of Buddhist education differently from those in the past. They want to learn more at the beginning of their study, not knowing that their modern method of learning more will limit their accomplishment; whereas following the traditional method in practicing Buddhism can result in infinite benefits.
Many people, in the past, have benefited from this traditional method, achieved in their cultivation and attained Buddhahood. However, the modern methods, at best, can only help us obtain a doctorate of Buddhism, fame, and wealth. Frankly, it will not be easy for us to sever afflictions or transcend the cycle of birth and death.
We should, therefore, choose our way of learning wisely and practice the correct way very carefully.
Resources:
The above article is an excerpt from the book, “Buddhism: The Awakening of Compassion and Wisdom” which is strictly for free distribution (PDF).
Benefits of Mindful Chanting of the Buddha
Samples of chanting music of Amitabha Mindful collection
