Single-mindedly chanting a sutra without wandering thoughts, distractions, or doubt -- this is cultivating meditative concentration.  From start to finish, enunciating clearly every word without mistake or omission -- this is cultivating wisdom: fundamental wisdom.  Thus, chanting a sutra is cultivating simultaneously the precepts, meditative concentration, and wisdom.  If one thinks about the meaning of the sutra while chanting it, it will ruin the cultivation of precept observation, meditative concentration, and wisdom [the Three Learnings].  This is treating the sutra as a worldly book.

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My teacher Living Buddha Zhangjia said: "Buddhism does not emphasize forms or rituals, but rather true substance."  If we pay attention only to the formality and fail to profoundly comprehend the essence of the sutra's teaching, we will not progress any further than just being zealous about our faith and thus be easily manipulated by those with bad intentions.

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Chanting the sutra is cultivating the precepts, cultivating meditative concentration, and cultivating wisdom.  When chanting a sutra one simply reads the words, without thinking of their meaning.  Chanting sincerely this way is cultivating the precepts, meditative concentration, and wisdom.

The sutras are to be recited daily but not for the benefit of the Buddha.  We recite them as another reminder of how to cultivate our mind and how to properly interact with others and circumstances.  For example, our daily conduct is an expression of the Infinite Life Sutra when we emulate the qualities found within it.

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Sutras flow from the pure and quiet mind of the Buddha.  When we develop a mind as pure and quiet, we will understand all we read in a sutra.  The reason why a 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.

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The sutras help us to understand the true reality of life and the universe so that we will know the proper way to think and behave as well as the appropriate cultivation method to use.  Only when we truly accord with the teachings of the sutra, will we benefit.

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If we chant or read indifferently without applying the principles, then all our efforts will be futile.  Only when we become aware of the purpose and method of chanting the sutra can we actually achieve any results.  Today, people simply recite absentmindedly , like small children who sing a song with the right words to the right tune, but without understanding the meaning.  Only when we become aware of the purpose and method of chanting the sutra can we actually achieve any results.

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If the Buddha's teachings are not integrated into our minds, and our minds are still dictated by our afflictions and habits, what is the use of chanting the sutras?

Only our verbal karma is good; whereas our minds and behavior still remain unimproved.  So while our chanting does plant a seed in our Alaya consciousness, the seed is dormant for now.  But even though the benefit is small and not immediate, it is better to chant a sutra than not to chant at all.

Whether you chant with a focused mind or with a wandering mind, you will plant a seed in your Alaya consciousness.  If you chant with a focused mind and with sincerity, the vitality of the seed will be strong.  If you chant with a wandering mind or with reluctance, the vitality of the seed will be weak.

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What is the first step in our learning Buddhism?  Start by reciting one sutra.  Do we need to understand it?  No.  For when we have not ended afflictions, our understanding will be erroneous.  Then why do we recite only this sutra?  But reciting the sutra, the Three Learnings of self-discipline, deep concentration and wisdom are accomplished together.

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Mr. Li Bingnan always told his students that when they listened to lectures, they needed to concentrate on understanding the principles in the sutra and not the words themselves.  These principles are the laws governing the Buddha's teachings as well as worldly teachings.  One, who thoroughly understands the principles of one sutra, can then use them to master all sutras.  To benefit, the student must conscientiously and wholeheartedly follow the methods taught by the teacher without being distracted by anything new or different.

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Next, let's learn in depth about the Principles of Pure Land Buddhism now.

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