I am from Yangzhou and work in Yangzhou now. I have just started to study Buddhism and recite the Ksitigarbha Sutra. There is no Buddhist atmosphere around me. I hope good friends can give me guidance

I am from Yangzhou and work in Yangzhou now. I have just started to study Buddhism and recite the Ksitigarbha Sutra. There is no Buddhist atmosphere around me. I hope good friends can give me guidance!

Namo Amitabha. First of all, I would like to express my appreciation for your willingness to learn Buddhism.

If you want guidance from a good teacher, it is actually not difficult. The ancestors of the past generations and the great sages from ancient times are all your good teachers. They left many writings to guide you. Mo Xue recommends some introductory books to you, I hope it will be helpful. The article may be a bit long, I hope you will read it patiently.

Before recommending the book, these words should be written in front:

In our era, Buddhism calls it the Age of Ending Dharma. This is an era when right knowledge and views are gradually disappearing, and wrong knowledge and wrong views are pervasive. In such an environment, learning how to choose a method is the first priority. Beginner brothers, because they have not yet established correct knowledge and views, have not read Buddhist scriptures in detail, and do not understand the precepts and teachings of Buddhism, it is difficult to distinguish right from wrong and good from evil. In this case, it would be terrible if you accidentally mistake wrong views for dharma. . . For example, we humans may be tall or short, fat or thin, and fruits may be sour, sweet or bitter. In Buddhism, there are also distinctions between good and evil, mortals and saints in this world. If you are exposed to some incorrect things when you first learn, and you have preconceived a wrong idea, it will be very difficult to abandon and correct it in the future. Therefore, you should first establish a correct understanding of Buddhism, know how to choose which dharma is true and which is evil, learn to distinguish right from wrong, and avoid going astray.

Nowadays, there are many books about Buddhism. When beginners read them, they feel that this one is good and that one makes sense. It happened that Zhang San recommended this master, and Li Si recommended that layman. . . In the end, there are still many choices. . . In this case, it is relatively safe only if you get closer to the classics, that is, read more original texts of Buddhist scriptures. Because what is said in the Buddhist scriptures are basically the original words of Sakyamuni Buddha. The Buddha is the one who speaks the truth, the one who speaks the truth, the one who speaks the truth, the one who does not lie, and the one who does not speak differently. The Buddha cannot deceive us. So first of all, read more classics and read more Buddhist scriptures. Those who teach the Dharma also rely on Buddhist words.

But there is a problem. The Buddhist scriptures are all in ancient texts and are difficult to understand. With some Buddhist terminology added, it is even harder to understand! . . Haha, there is no need to worry about this. In addition to reading more original texts of Buddhist scriptures and using Buddhist scriptures as rules for distinguishing good from evil, we should also read as many works as possible by the founders and ancient masters. Buddhism has been around for two or three thousand years. Even now, those who can be recognized as the founders of the sect must be saints who have mastered the sect, are proficient in Buddhist principles, and even achieved enlightenment. The writings they left behind are full of insights. Many patriarchs have annotated important Buddhist classics. During the process of reading the scriptures, it is much easier to understand while studying and referring to the simple explanations of the ancients. These patriarchs were eminent monks in Buddhism when they were still alive. Now, hundreds of thousands of years later, their treatises are still recognized by the public and spread widely. This shows that these treatises can stand the test of time. Therefore, your first step is to get close to the works of Patriarch Gude, first establish a correct view, and then slowly read the books of modern people. It’s not that today’s people are not worthy of being approached by beginners. There are many great sages today who are worthy of praise. But after all, there are good ones and bad ones. Good ones exist in opposition to bad ones. Nowadays, there are some “Demons” who are called “Buddhas”. They mix themselves with Buddhism, destroy Buddhism, make people misunderstand Buddhism, and create some "similar Buddhist teachings" for the sake of wealth, deception, and fame. . . One is better at speaking than the other, and one is more similar in acting than the other. How can a beginner tell the difference? . . . Therefore, we first look for a "demon mirror", follow the ancients, and use the words of the Buddha as the criterion, so that we will not easily deviate from the true Dharma and will not be confused. This is the most reliable!

The following books can be searched online. You choose slowly and read slowly~ (If you can't find anything you can't find, you can contact me via text message and I will give you the link)

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"Doubts in Learning Buddhism" and "Buddhism with Right Faith". . Just right for beginners. Because it is written in vernacular, it popularizes the basics of learning Buddhism, explains many uncommon terms, and answers beginners’ questions. The two books are written by the same author, Master Shengyan.

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"A Brief Explanation of the Four Pure and Clear Teachings of the Surangama Sutra". Master Xuanhua, the successor of the Weiyang Sect, told the story in vernacular.

This "Surangama Sutra" is a mirror for evil in Buddhism. All heretical evil methods have no escape under the principles of the Surangama Sutra.

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"A Brief Translation of the Buddha's Speech on Amitabha Sutra" is explained by Master Xuanhua, which is very easy to understand and interesting. He also talked about a lot of basic knowledge, which was very useful! Be sure to have the patience to read it. You can read this one first.

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The Thirteenth Ancestor of the Pure Land Sect---Master Yinguang:

"Introductory Reading of Master Yinguang's Wenchao"

"The Eighth Edition of Master Yinguang" Fourteen Questions" Eighty-Four Questions about Buddhist Study and Recitation Explained by Master Yin Guang

Most of the contents of the text are Master Yin Guang's letters in reply to the instructions given by devotees across the country. People who study Buddhism must read them. .

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Master Dao Chuo in "An Le Ji Bai Hua" reveals the benefits of chanting the Buddha's name to Buddhist practitioners

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"Things Are Like This" was written by Xu Qian, a Hanlin scholar in the Qing Dynasty. Good book, you can read it. Especially the part about killing.

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Buddhist general knowledge textbook (very good in-depth information on Buddhism, very detailed)

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Buddhist Questions and Answers (written by the late layman Zhao Puchu, president of the Buddhist Association)

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Introducing Buddhism to intellectuals (explanation of basic knowledge)

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A brief explanation of the forty-two chapters of the Buddha's teachings (lectured by Master Xuanhua, a collection of the Buddha's dialogues, in brief Most important)

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"Bamboo Window Essay" has vernacular references (the work of Master Renchi, the eighth ancestor of the Pure Land Sect, was translated into vernacular by later generations, this book must be read)

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Let’s introduce these first. You should pay more attention to the works of Master Lianchi, Master Ouyi, Master Shandao, Master Yinguang, Master Dixian, Master Tanxu, Master Yuanying, Master Xuanhua (he is a vernacular). Try to find their books to read. These are the ancestors, and their words are reliable!

Amitabha. I hope you will enter into Buddhism from now on, go deep into the scriptures, and become as wise as the ocean. Become a righteous and knowledgeable Buddhist.

Namo Amitabha.