Meme: On Studying Dharma.

[icarus]

Meme borrowed from malmpudl... heck, I think I spelled that wrong.

1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open it to page 161.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the sentence in your journal along with these instructions.
5. Don't search around and look for the coolest book you can find. Do what's actually next to you.

Hah. Since I just finished my Lotus Sutra class and wrote 24 pages on the subject last week, guess what was nearby?

The fifth sentence on page 161:

"Being fully endowed with the four kinds of unobstructed
knowledge,

And knowing the keenness and dullness of the multitudes
faculties,

He constantly preached the pure Dharma."


So... a comment on that subject.

There is no need to practice or study more than one simple spiritual path. Once you find what works for you spiritually, you just run with what works best. So Ponlop Rinpoche asked, so why does one bother to study all sorts of teachings and texts and methods?

Not for yourself.

Because once you are in a position to teach, once you have some realization, you will be faced many different types of people. They will all be very different from one another. You need to know as many methods as possible so you can offer the full cornucopia and have what each person needs.

So to study is not to become cool and buff your image with lots of book-learnin'. It's the practice of compassion. You're not only preparing for this life. If you've taken the Bodhisattva vow, you've dedicated yourself beyond this life. Study now prepares for the future. Far in the future.

Comments

[lilyayl.livejournal.com]

Tried it. The closest book to hand was 'Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell' (softcover), which has an illustration on the 161st page.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Ha. Okay, that means you have to describe the illustration. *g*

Icarus

[electricandroid.livejournal.com]

you have noidea how much i need to hear about all of this right now. I'm doing the right thing, and it kills me, but it is the right thing to do. (yes cryptic |I know!) But things that make me think that being good as opposed to taking the easy path are very very required. Thank you.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

*blinks*

You're welcome.

Icarus