The Buddha taught dharma to help sentient beings escape suffering and find happiness. People who learn Buddhism also seek to escape suffering and find happiness. What should one learn in Buddhism? How can one practice to achieve the same enlightened state as the Buddha? This article will specifically introduce the purposes of learning Buddhism, the benefits of learning Buddhism, and feasible methods for beginners to enter Buddhism. It also recommends three suitable introductory Buddhist classics for beginners to help understand the profound mysteries of Buddhism.
What Is the Purpose of Learning Buddhism? What Does Learning Buddhism Mean?
Many people think that the purpose of learning Buddhism is to “transcend the cycle of birth and death.” However, Grandmaster JinBodhi believes that the primary purpose of learning Buddhism is to lead a good life in the present and, afterward, attain enlightenment and liberation. Regardless of one’s status or wealth, human life cannot exceed 30,000 days, and most of that time is spent experiencing various illnesses, troubles, and suffering. If you want to live a healthy life, free from stress and mental suffering, you need to learn the wisdom of Buddhism to effectively liberate yourself from illness and suffering. The purposes of learning Buddhism can be summarized in the following four points:
Purpose of Learning Buddhism 1: Reduce Mental Suffering and Increase Happiness
Buddhism teaches that the essence of life is suffering. Everyone must face birth, aging, illness, and death, as well as the mental suffering and torment caused by various emotions and stress. However, learning Buddhism allows individuals to identify the root causes of all suffering and provides methods and wisdom to eliminate mental suffering. This leads to an increase in overall happiness, providing true liberation and well-being.
Purpose of Learning Buddhism 2: Accumulate Merits and Virtue for a Better Life
Buddhism promotes doing good deeds and offers many simple and effective ways to accumulate merit and virtue. Through learning Buddhism, one can understand how to perform acts of kindness and accumulate good karma, leading to a more auspicious and harmonious life. Additionally, with the blessings of the buddhas, one can resolve problems that seem insurmountable, such as issues related to childbirth, exams, job searches, and health, thus fulfilling their aspirations.
Purpose of Learning Buddhism 3: Cultivate Compassion and Elevate Spiritual Realms
Learning Buddhism is about studying the compassion of the Buddha, understanding the suffering and needs of sentient beings, and cultivating one’s own compassion by helping others. This gradual development of a compassionate and altruistic nature elevates one’s spiritual realms from the “small self” to the “greater self.”
Purpose of Learning Buddhism 4: Understand the Truth of Life and Achieve Enlightenment
Buddhism teaches that everyone has the Buddha nature, and all sentient beings can become buddhas. Attaining enlightenment and becoming a buddha is the most sacred aspiration in the heart of every Buddhist practitioner. Learning Buddhism is a process of self-discovery, understanding the world, and comprehending the laws of Nature. Through this journey, by continuously cultivating compassion, developing wisdom, enhancing concentration, transcending the ego, one gradually reaches a state of enlightenment and fulfillment.
Further Reading: “One of the Purposes of Learning Buddhism” and “Another Purpose of Learning Buddhism”
What are the Benefits of Learning Buddhism? Four Benefits to Fulfill Your Life
By studying Buddhist teachings and understanding the nature and principles of all things in the world, people gradually let go of selfish desires, cultivate compassion, and engage in altruistic activities. Learning Buddhism brings the following four benefits to individuals:
Benefit of Learning Buddhism 1: Physical and Mental Health, and a Happy Life
Learning Buddhism is equivalent to learning compassion, reducing selfish desires, and appreciating contentment and gratitude. This is the key to solving all mental afflictions. Such individuals often think of others, do not calculate gains and losses, and can calmly handle the ups and downs of life, leading to a naturally relaxed and comfortable life.
Benefit of Learning Buddhism 2: Increased Wisdom and Joy in Practicing the Dharma
Just as a teacher needs to possess extensive knowledge to educate students effectively, those who wish to help others must have sufficient knowledge and skills to assist them. Therefore, Buddhist practitioners continuously strive to learn and improve themselves while practicing the bodhisattva path. With the growth of aspiration and merits, they also develop incredible wisdom, abilities, and merits, leading to abundant joy in practicing the dharma.
Benefit of Learning Buddhism 3: Belief in Karma and the Practice of Good Deeds
Buddha revealed the law of karma, making people believe in the cycle of cause and effect and the consequences of good and bad actions. Aspiring to be a kind and compassionate person leads to restraint in words and actions and adherence to moral values. Such a person’s life becomes auspicious, smooth, and peaceful.
Benefit of Learning Buddhism 4: Mitigating Disasters, Alleviating Karma, and Changing One’s Destiny
Life often encounters unexpected difficulties and challenges, primarily due to karmic forces. By practicing generosity, offering, and doing good deeds, individuals can help others and also purify their own karma. This accumulation of merit can change one’s destiny, leading to a more fulfilling life for oneself and future generations.
For Beginners Learning Buddhism: Five Steps and Recommendations
Upon learning about the numerous benefits from the practice of Buddhism, how should beginners start their journey? What is the correct way to learn Buddhism? Here are five steps to help you quickly grasp the methods of learning Buddhism:
Step 1: Sincere Faith in the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas
First and foremost, have faith in the buddhas and bodhisattvas. Believe in the content of the Buddha’s teachings in the sutras. This is the first step in learning Buddhism because genuine belief is essential for a smooth learning process, and continuous learning is crucial for gradually elevating one’s wisdom.
Step 2: Cultivate Acts of Reverence and Offerings to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas
Secondly, cultivate acts of reverence and offerings. For instance, place a Buddha or bodhisattva statue (or a thangka, a picture) in a place of honor in your home, and offer fresh fruits and flowers as a sign of respect. Additionally, you can volunteer at Buddhist centers, participate in volunteer activities, contribute to the creation of Buddha statues, or assist in printing scriptures.
Step 3: Recite Buddhist Mantras and Sutras Regularly
Third, regularly chant Buddhist mantras, bodhisattva names, or read Buddhist scriptures. This helps establish a connection with the buddhas and bodhisattvas, receiving their blessings and protection.
Step 4: Attend Practical Training Courses to Improve Yourself
Fourth, attend practical training courses to learn authentic methods of practice, cultivate the habit of daily practice, and supplement your energy through real practice. For example, Bodhi Meditation’s introductory meditation course is suitable for people from all cultural backgrounds, and it doesn’t require any prior knowledge of Buddhism.
Step 5: Disseminate Buddhist Knowledge and Share the Benefits of Learning Buddhism
Fifth, spread Buddhist knowledge widely and share the benefits you’ve gained from learning Buddhism. You can explain sutras to others, help people in need, and accumulate boundless merits while you learn.
Three Recommended Introductory Buddhist Classics: Enter the World of Buddhism with Grandmaster JinBodhi
Studying Buddhist sutras is the most direct way to gain the wisdom of the Buddha. However, many modern people are unfamiliar with the language used in Buddhist texts, making them challenging to understand. Therefore, having a master explain them and help us understand their true meaning is invaluable. It is recommended that beginners start by learning from Grandmaster JinBodhi’s explanations of two classics: “Earth Store Bodhisattva Sutra” and the “Sutra on the Visualization of the Buddha of Infinite Life.” Additionally, there is the “Bodhi Dharma School Classics,” which can guide you into the world of Buddhist studies. Below is a brief introduction to these three classics and related resources to facilitate your journey into Buddhism:
Introductory Buddhist Classic 1: ” Earth Store Bodhisattva Sutra”
The “Earth Store Bodhisattva Sutra” is a filial piety sutra. The Buddha, through the story of Earth Store Bodhisattva’s past life as a filial son who made great vows to save his mother, encourages people to emulate the great filial piety of Earth Store Bodhisattva.
This sutra possesses incredible spiritual power. Anyone who recites, worships, pays respects, or even just hears it will receive the continuous protection and blessings of buddhas, bodhisattvas, and heavenly beings, accumulating immeasurable merits.
Online Courses:
Participate in the online “Earth Store Bodhisattva’s Chanting Class” led by Grandmaster JinBodhi at the Bodhi Meditation College. In this course, you can learn more about the benefits of worshiping Earth Store Bodhisattva and chanting the “Earth Store Bodhisattva Heart Mantra.”
Related Material Downloads:
If you don’t have a copy of the sutra during class, you can use the resources below for reference. You can also download the audio recordings and videos of Grandmaster JinBodhi’s explanations to listen to repeatedly.
- Download “The Earth Store Bodhisattva Sutra” Full Text (PDF): Bodhi Meditation College
- Download Grandmaster JinBodhi Chanting “Earth Store Bodhisattva Sutra” Audio: Bodhi Meditation College
- Download Grand Grandmaster JinBodhi’s Explanations of “Earth Store Bodhisattva Sutra” Audio/Video: Bodhi Meditation College
Introductory Buddhist Classic 2: “Sutra on the Visualization of the Buddha of Infinite Life”
In this sutra, the Buddha describes the virtues and splendors of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, inspiring people’s aspiration to be reborn there. The sutra explains the 16 contemplations of Amitabha Buddha’s Western Pure Land and the benefits of reciting this sutra.
Grandmaster JinBodhi has extensively expounded on this sutra, making it more accessible to a wider audience. His teachings aim to help those who are fortunate to develop faith in Buddhism, practice sincerely, and truly benefit from it.
Online Courses:
Listen to Grandmaster JinBodhi’s explanations of “The Sutra on the Visualization of the Buddha of Infinite Life” online.
Related Material Downloads:
- Download “The Sutra on the Visualization of the Buddha of Infinite Life” Full Text (PDF): Bodhi Meditation College
- Download Grandmaster JinBodhi’s Explanations of “The Sutra on the Visualization of the Buddha of Infinite Life” Audio/Video: Bodhi Meditation College
Introductory Buddhist Classic 3: “Bodhi Dharma School Classics”
The “Bodhi Dharma School Classics” is a collection of four Buddhist classics, including “The Medicine Master Sutra,” “The Heart Sutra,” “The Diamond Sutra,” and “The Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment.” Reading each of these sutras in their entirety can lead to enlightenment and provide wisdom to address various troubles and obstacles in life. If you enshrine this classic at home, it can protect your family and bring auspiciousness and peace.
Miraculous Protection from “Bodhi Dharma Classics” – Lin Liping, Malaysia
On the occasion of the 2022 Mid-Autumn Festival, I was driving my family of four to my parents’ home for the celebration. While driving on the highway, another vehicle suddenly hit us at high speed on the right rear side. Our car rolled over a few times, landing upside down about 100 feet away.
After my family and I crawled out of the windows, we realized that my husband, our second son, and I only suffered minor injuries, while our eldest son was unscathed. At that moment, my first thought was gratitude for the protection of the buddhas, bodhisattvas, and Grandmaster JinBodhi, because I had a copy of “Bodhi Dharma Classics” and Grandmaster JinBodhi’s auspicious card in my car. As the car rolled over, I felt as if we were shielded by a powerful force. The car was severely damaged, but our family was safe. This was truly a miracle!
Related Material Downloads: Read or download the full text online: Bodhi Meditation College
Follow Grandmaster JinBodhi to Learn Buddhism and Benefit Easily
After understanding the purposes, meanings, and benefits of learning Buddhism, if you value physical, mental, and spiritual well-being, would you like to explore Buddhism? Faced with the profound and vast teachings of Buddhism, you need a master who possesses wisdom and can integrate profound Buddhist principles into everyday life in a straightforward manner. Grandmaster JinBodhi emphasizes the practical application of what is learned, advocating that knowledge and principles be applied to real-life situations. Only then can one truly benefit and make life happier through learning Buddhism.
If you wish to follow Grandmaster JinBodhi and get close to Buddhism, learning wisdom for life, you are welcome to attend Buddhist courses at the Bodhi Meditation College. Courses such as “Changing Destiny with Buddha’s Light,” “Chanting Buddha’s Name and Walking with the Buddha,” and “Understanding Life through Chanting Buddha’s Name” are available. To learn more about Buddhist practice, please subscribe to Grandmaster JinBodhi’s YouTube channel or follow his Facebook page to stay updated on his teachings and seize every opportunity to deepen your understanding of Buddhism and improve yourself.