What Buddhist scriptures should a new convert to Buddhism read?

Take precepts as a teacher

How should we learn Buddhism? This is the question we hear most often. Many friends who study Buddhism have no idea how to start after reading the Tripitaka classics. Facing the sects of Zen, Purity, Consciousness Only, etc., I am at a loss as to what to do. Buddhism is as vast as a vast ocean. How can we find a correct direction and a fast path here so that we can obtain the infinite benefits of Buddhism in this life? In fact, Sakyamuni Buddha has already pointed out the rules for us. Tripitaka Buddhism is not without traces. The principles of how to study Buddhism are very simple.

A question often asked by friends who study Buddhism is what method should I learn? Should I recite Buddha's name? Or should I recite the mantra? Should I practice Zen? Or should I practice Samatha and Vipassana? Many people are wandering in such hesitation. There are many more arguments. Some people say that we need to go deep into one subject, while others say that we need to learn from many sources. Some people say that we need to study systematically, while others say that this is too time-consuming and chanting the Buddha's name is enough. Amid these complicated remarks, we don’t know how to learn or practice. Some people even after years and months still don’t feel it, don’t benefit from it, and don’t feel how happy it is to learn Buddhism. Why is this?

The reason is that we did not study according to the Buddha's teachings. The complexity mentioned above has blocked our eyes and lost our way. These contents are actually just minutiae, and there is no need for us to bother with these issues. Because these are methods of practice, not principles of practice. Just like when we want to achieve a goal, the map in our hands guides us in the direction. This is the principle and purpose. So we take a boat or a car, this is the method. If we focus too much on the differences in methods but ignore the direction we want to travel, then of course we will not reach our destination.

The principle is actually very simple. The Surangama Sutra says: You have often heard that I, Vinaya, expounded the meaning of practicing the Three Destinations. The so-called taking heart is the precept. Because of precepts, concentration arises. Because of determination, wisdom comes. This is called the Three-No-Leakage Learning. Precepts, concentration, and wisdom are the principles and the direction for us to study Buddhism. Precepts generate concentration, and concentration leads to wisdom. This is the purpose of our study of Buddhism. Controlling one's mind not to commit bad deeds and to pursue good deeds is the precepts. The achievement of the precepts will give birth to meditation, and from meditation, wisdom will arise.

As long as we practice according to this principle, we will achieve success and benefit. If you want to seek blessings in this life, if you want to be reborn in the Pure Land, if you want to achieve meditation, if you want to argue, it will be fine. There is no problem, you can get it. But if we do not practice according to this principle, the results will be very limited and may even have side effects.

The "Buddha's Legacy Sutra" says: After my death, you should respect and cherish the Parati wood fork, just like darkness meets light, and a poor man finds a treasure. You should know that this is your master. If I Living in this world is no different. In later generations, we will summarize this sentence as "taking precepts as a teacher." The World Honored One said: After I leave, you should respect the precepts, just like the dark night encounters the light, like the poor person receiving the treasure. You should know that the precepts are your great teachers, just as I taught them in this life.

Why does the Lord teach us this? Because this is the mistake we are going to make! We all have our own goals in studying Buddhism, whether it is happiness or wisdom, or specifically we have various wishes. But how are these goals achieved? How to achieve it? Rely on discipline. To take heart as a warning. The first step in learning Buddhism is to learn this. Which method you use depends on your personal destiny, and there is absolutely no fixed pattern. Chanting Buddha? Reciting a mantra? Read that classic? These are all methods, and they cannot summarize the meaning of "taking the mind as a precept", because in today's society we ordinary people, even monks, rarely have the opportunity to recite Buddha's name and recite mantras 24 hours a day. Not to mention meditating every day. These are all ways to help. Taking the mind as a precept requires us to correct ourselves to a normal state, maintain ourselves well, and stay away from bad karma and pain. This is the foundation and cornerstone of our study of Buddhism. Without this, no matter what method is used, it is impossible to achieve anything. It is difficult to obtain even a small amount of blessings from human and heaven.

Buddhist friends must pay attention to this. The first step in learning Buddhism is not to figure out how to gain concentration or how to gain supernatural powers. Because blessings and wisdom are all produced by precepts.

It is often seen that some fellow practitioners set their goals on "being single-minded", on rebirth, and on realizing any wishes as soon as they learn Buddhism. But what is precepts, I don’t know, what are good and bad karma? have no idea. Dare to say anything and do anything. It's useless no matter how long you study like this. Why? Blessings come from good deeds. If we don’t practice good deeds, how can we get blessings and realize our wishes? Being single-minded is concentration. How does concentration come from? It is concentration that arises from precepts. If the bad karma of the body, speech and mind continues, trying to gain one's mind is simply a matter of hope.

On the contrary, as long as we take the step of taking heart as a warning well, then everything will be easy. No special method is needed, it will come naturally. People who are free from greed, anger, jealousy, and wrong views are naturally in concentration. No matter what method we use, we can easily benefit and achieve success.

Take the Pure Land of Rebirth as an example. Everyone hopes very much. It is explained clearly in the "Analysis of Infinite Life Sutra". If you want to die independently, you must at least be of middle grade. So what are the minimum conditions for a mid-range product? Discipline achievement. Without this condition, it will be useless no matter how many times you recite the Buddha's name, and you will not be completely sure. Everything is unknown. The rationale behind this will be explained in detail in the Ten Good Deeds later.

Learning Buddhism is a very simple and very happy thing. We must grasp the principle of "taking precepts as teachers". As long as we implement it, we will be on the way to learning Buddhism. It doesn’t mean that we practice Buddhism or that we are disciples of Buddha just because we recite Buddha’s name or kowtow.

The "Mahayana Mahayana Collection Ksitigarbha Ten Wheels Sutra" says: If you do not truly hope to achieve Buddhahood through these ten good deeds and paths. And unreality goes down to guarding a good path of karma. Even at the end of his life he proclaimed himself. I am a true Mahayana practitioner. I seek supreme enlightenment. You should know that this is how you complement Tegara. This is extremely deceitful and a big lie. In front of the World Honored One, the Buddhas of the ten directions. There is no shame in deceiving the world. Talking about empty views can deceive fools. When the body breaks down, life will eventually fall into the lower realms. The main idea is: If you do not truly practice evil, practice good deeds, or even truly guard a good path, and when you are dying, you claim that you are a Mahayana practitioner and seek supreme Bodhi, such a person is extremely deceitful. Commit big lies. I have no shame before the Buddhas of the ten directions and deceived the world. Say goodbye to evil views. Destined to fall into a lower realm.

This means that our taking the mind as a precept is the most critical step in our study of Buddhism. It is the fundamental issue related to whether we can achieve success, and it is the standard for judging whether we are qualified Buddhist disciples.

Without "taking the precepts as a teacher", focusing on the minutiae of learning Buddhism will naturally lead to confusion and confusion. It can even lead to the serious side effects mentioned above. How do we judge whether we have made progress in studying Buddhism? Then see if you have avoided killing, stealing, and committing adultery. Do you still talk bad words, lies, flattery, and double-talk? Do you still have greed, anger, arrogance, jealousy, and wrong views in your heart? These are the standards. Everyone can understand this standard. Everyone can know.

How to learn Buddhism? That is to learn not to kill, not to steal, not to commit sexual misconduct, not to lie, not to be divisive, not to be harsh, not to be frivolous, not to steal, not to be angry, not to be arrogant or jealous, and not to have wrong views. This standard is not only measured by ourselves, but also by others. Whether we practice Buddhism or not, others can easily know. They may not know this standard, but they know the changes in you.

If a 'teacher' tells you that you don't have to learn any precepts or do any good deeds to become a Buddha, you can do whatever you want, or even practice evil, then you must distinguish clearly. Stay away from such people. Stay away from such bad friends.

Without taking the mind as a precept, we would not be able to achieve samadhi, nor would we have wisdom. If we do, it is just a little cleverness, and little cleverness is the most likely to cause trouble. "The Sutra of Remaining Teachings" says: The fear of the heart is worse than that of poisonous snakes, evil beasts, resentful thieves, or the escape of fire. It is not enough to describe it. For example, there is a person holding a honey container in his hand, moving around frivolously, but looking at the honey, he does not see a deep pit. For example, a wild elephant has no hook, and an ape has a tree and leaps and bounds, which cannot be restrained. When you are in a hurry, don't let it go. Those who indulge in this attitude will lose their good deeds. In one place, nothing can be done. That is to say: Our hearts are very terrible, and even poisonous snakes and beasts, robbers and enemies, and disasters of water and fire cannot compare to its terribleness.

It's like someone playing with a honeypot but not seeing a deep pit on the road; like a crazy elephant losing its restraints and an agile ape entering the woods, unable to stop tossing and leaping. We must control our hearts in time and don't let ourselves go. Indulging our hearts will destroy people's good deeds. If you can focus on one thing, there is nothing you can't do.

What is the effect of our studying Buddhism? In fact, this is where you can control your mind and not lose your good deeds. Without this foundation, it is impossible for us to have any correct views. Even if we can understand and understand the Buddhist scriptures, it is only superficial. It has no effect in real life, and you cannot feel the real benefits of learning Buddhism. This is the reason why we modern people who study Buddhism have read a lot of classics, worshiped a lot of masters, and understood a lot of principles. However, after years and decades, we still have no confidence and no confidence. The study of Buddhism does not follow the principle of concentration arising from precepts, and wisdom arising from concentration. Always looking for quick results and taking shortcuts. The result is that we take too many shortcuts and stay in the same place.

Sakyamuni Buddha in the classics called this principle of "concentration due to precepts, and wisdom due to concentration" to be the "Three Non-defects", a perfect Buddhist dharma without flaws or defects. Learning Buddhism is achieved through the steps of precepts, concentration, and wisdom. In our era, we should practice Buddhism in a down-to-earth manner and in accordance with this principle. Only in this way can we obtain the real benefits of Buddhism and gain peace and happiness.

Reposted from Ksitigarbha Forum