Special Topics
Buddhist Sutras and Scriptures

Scriptures record various contents from the Buddha's teaching. The benefits of reciting them also vary from sutra to sutra. In Chan Buddhism, the most popular and widespread sutras include the Heart Sutra, the Chapter on the Universal Gate of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva in the Lotus Sutra, the Sutra on Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's Fundamental Vows, Dharaṇi of the Bodhisattva With a Thousand Hands and Eyes Who Regards the Worldʼs Sounds with Great Compassion, the Diamond Sutra, the Shorter Sukhavativyuha Sutra, the Samantabhadra Meditation Sutra, as well as the Great Compassion Dharani.

The Sutra on Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's Fundamental Vows is dubbed the Sutra of Filial Piety among Buddhist scriptures. It records the Buddha's Dharma talk to his mother after she was reborn in the Trayastrimsa (Heaven of the Thirty-three Gods). To glorify the occasion, countless Buddhas and Bodhisattvas gathered together in the assembly to praise Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's great vow: "Not until all the hells are empty will I become a Buddha. Not until all beings are saved will I attain Bodhi. Not until the hells are emptied will I become a Buddha."

The Diamond Sutra, which elaborates on the Buddhist idea of "emptiness" and non-attachment to forms, urges people to let go of clinging. One passage—"All conditioned phenomena are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, shadows, like dewdrops and a lightning flash: Contemplate them thus"—has especially inspired many.

When you recite sutras at home, hold the bottom of the sutra with the thumb and index finger of both hands on its cover, while supporting its back cover with the other fingers. Hold the sutra up to the eyebrow level as you bow to the Buddha.a Then, put the sutra on a book standb, make three prostrations to the Buddha, and start the recitation. You can use a paperweight to keep the sutra's pages from blowing in the windc. After the recitation, you can transfer the merit to sentient beings in all realms of existence, as well as to your family members, friends, or yourself, as a blessing.

On the other hand, when you are not at home, you can also recite sutras on the way to work or during your break time at work. It is not convenient to recite sutras outside your home, so rituals such as bows and prostrations to the Buddha, etc, can be done by visualization while you hold the Sutra with the joined palms in front of the chest. Then, open the sutrad and start reciting in a whisper. When you put the Sutra in your bag, keep it away from something that may stain it.
Demonstration
Reciting sutras at home:
1. Before the recitation, hold the bottom of the sutra with the thumb and index finger of both hands on the cover, with the other fingers supporting the back cover. Hold it at the eyebrow level as you bow to the Buddhaa.
2. After putting the sutra on the bookstandb, make three prostrations to the Buddha. Then, open the sutrad and start the recitation.
3. To keep the sutra pages from blowing, you can use a paperweight to keep the sutra steadyc.
2. After putting the sutra on the bookstandb, make three prostrations to the Buddha. Then, open the sutrad and start the recitation.
3. To keep the sutra pages from blowing, you can use a paperweight to keep the sutra steadyc.
Reciting sutras in an outside setting:
1. Rituals such as bowing and prostrating can be replaced by visualization while you hold the sutra with palms joined at chest level.
2. Read the sutra in a natural tempo and recite it softly or silently.
(Demonstrated by Ven. Guo Zeng of Dharma Drum Mountain)
Resource: Issue 294 of Life Magazine, Dharma Drum Publishing Corporation
Text: 林鍾妏 (Lin Chung-wen)
Translation: Hsiao Chen-an
Editing: Chang Chia-Cheng (張家誠), Keith Brown
Translation: Hsiao Chen-an
Editing: Chang Chia-Cheng (張家誠), Keith Brown
Extended Reading: