Buddhist scripture

[Twilight Hue]

Right now I enjoy reading the Lankavatara Sutra. I also ordered the Heart Sutra, the Platform Sutra and the Diamond Sutra (all Zen scriptures I believe).

I also have a copy of Nagarjuna's Mulamadhyamakakarika. that contains a lot of logic not an easy read by far but I would recommend it anyway

Reading works by Dogen is good too. His works smooth out over time as insight develops. So I hear....:0)

 

[DanielR]

Reading works by Dogen is good too. His works smooth out over time as insight develops. So I hear....:0)

Dogen sounds great, but it's sooo much to read omg, the Shobogenzo is huge isn't it .

May I ask you as a Zennie what you think about the Lankavatara sutra? Is it essential for Zen??

Or could I only focus on the Platform Sutra, the Heart Sutra and the Diamond Sutra? And then also maybe the Shobogenzo, Linji and the Gateless gate??

Thank you

 

[Twilight Hue]

Dogen sounds great, but it's sooo much to read omg, the Shobogenzo is huge isn't it .

May I ask you as a Zennie what you think about the Lankavatara sutra? Is it essential for Zen??

Or could I only focus on the Platform Sutra, the Heart Sutra and the Diamond Sutra? And then also maybe the Shobogenzo, Linji and the Gateless gate??

Thank you

Well, all that you have mentioned is excellent and useful material, and certainly recommend. Especially the latter mentions of the Shobengenzo and the Gateless Gate, which essentially is a collection of koan's. I'd also recommend The Blue Cliff Records as well. Those three are likely the best "foundational" texts in the Zen Tradition. I love reading through them again and again.

When it comes down to it, there really isn't anything written in particular that can be regarded as being essential towards a Buddhist practice, as Buddhism itself is regarded as "empty". . You will find however that certain sutras and discourses will resonate much more than others, and some not so much, and some not at all. That's the beauty of the dharma. One I personally resonate most with is the Heart Sutra of which is the most pertinent one with my personal practice and my overall views.

For you, it might be something different.

I happen to like Dogen because his writings are foundational with Soto and Rinzai Zen. Don't expect to understand Dogen for quite awhile though if you decide to peruse through the Shobengenzo for a spell ! *Grin*

My advice?

Just learning sitting meditation at the onset is sufficient enough for insight.

In fact, a lot of Zen teachers discourage reading anything at all until you have first sat in meditation for awhile. I suppose this is recommended so your mind is givin ample time to become more receptive, by which the various sutras and discourses will consequently make more "sense" rather than reading such material beforehand, and not completely understanding it because there was no experiences yet that arise from sitting giving things new perspective.

This helps avoid preconceived notions and ideas that can arise that might make things initially a bit more difficult to navigate and understand because of that.

Honestly as a confession, I myself went ahead and "cheated". I read as much as I could first. ..then sat afterwards...I kind of understand now. He he.

Best of wishes.

 

[DanielR]

Well, all that you have mentioned is excellent and useful material, and certainly recommend. Especially the latter mentions of the Shobengenzo and the Gateless Gate, which essentially is a collection of koan's. I'd also recommend The Blue Cliff Records as well. Those three are likely the best "foundational" texts in the Zen Tradition. I love reading through them again and again.

When it comes down to it, there really isn't anything written in particular that can be regarded as being essential towards a Buddhist practice, as Buddhism itself is regarded as "empty". . You will find however that certain sutras and discourses will resonate much more than others, and some not so much, and some not at all. That's the beauty of the dharma. One I personally resonate most with is the Heart Sutra of which is the most pertinent one with my personal practice and my overall views.

For you, it might be something different.

I happen to like Dogen because his writings are foundational with Soto and Rinzai Zen. Don't expect to understand Dogen for quite awhile though if you decide to peruse through the Shobengenzo for a spell ! *Grin*

My advice?

Just learning sitting meditation at the onset is sufficient enough for insight.

In fact, a lot of Zen teachers discourage reading anything at all until you have first sat in meditation for awhile. I suppose this is recommended so your mind is givin ample time to become more receptive, by which the various sutras and discourses will consequently make more "sense" rather than reading such material beforehand, and not completely understanding it because there was no experiences yet that arise from sitting giving things new perspective.

This helps avoid preconceived notions and ideas that can arise that might make things initially a bit more difficult to navigate and understand because of that.

Honestly as a confession, I myself went ahead and "cheated". I read as much as I could first. ..then sat afterwards...I kind of understand now. He he.

Best of wishes.

Thank you for the great advice!!

I'll try to combine both sitting and reading lol. I'm always kind of excited to read what's in the books haha.

I hope I won't become lazy again with 'just sitting', I give up very easily unfortunately.

 

[Tonstad39]

One other curious thing that I remember from my first meditation service, we prayed before we got started (the instructor had us grasp universal truth). What (or who) are we praying to Or for during these services? Why do Buddhists prey

 

[Twilight Hue]

One other curious thing that I remember from my first meditation service, we prayed before we got started (the instructor had us grasp universal truth). What (or who) are we praying to Or for during these services? Why do Buddhists prey

Sounds like your confusing prayer with veneration rutual and prostrations made in a formal setting.

Not sure what particular school here. There's no prayer in the conventional sense if the term. It might actually be a form of Hinduism or something else gussied up in Buddhist drag.

 

[Tonstad39]

Sounds like your confusing prayer with veneration rutual and prostrations made in a formal setting.

Not sure what particular school here. There's no prayer in the conventional sense if the term. It might actually be a form of Hinduism or something else gussied up in Buddhist drag.

it is Vajrayana with practices based in Tibetan folk belief.