" It is impossible to reach enlightenment just by reading sutras and praying to a Buddha statue. A Buddha statue is just a statue carved out of stone and there is no living example to show you how to reach enlightenment! Similarly, sutras are profound text that cannot be understood by debating, memorizing reciting or researching. Although the above are meritorious activities and considered to be doing good, you cannot solely rely on it to gain enlightenment.
Commentary by Jerome:
One cannot learn driving just by reading the driving manual. Similarly, one cannot gain enlightenment just by reading sutras. A cultivator will need an enlightened master to teach him how to meditate in safe manner, guide him and give him instructions on the path to enlightenment. The Buddha has passed into Parinirvana 2500 years ago! There is no more living example to show us. We cannot rely on ourselves to reach there. If we try to research the sutras, it is like a blind person trying to figure out how beautiful the world can be if he had eyes. Only an enlightened master can guide us on this path as he had trodden this path before. He knows the dangers and pitfalls on this path and will advise us and give us instructions on how to reach there with the safest and fastest method.
More information available at:
1) Master Jin Bodhi Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/jinbodhiworld/
2) Official Bodhi Meditation Website
http://puti.org
http://putihome.org
Author:
Jerome is a Buddhist practitioner that has learnt from Theravada, Mahayana and Tibetan traditions and is still learning! He first learnt meditation and Dharma from Theravadan monks and practitioners in the lineage of the Arahant Venerable Amatha Gavesi Maha Thero from Sri Lankaramaya Buddhist temple in Singapore. Then, he completed a Diploma in Buddhism from the Buddhist and Pali College in 2016. He also learnt from Zen Master Wu Jue Miao Tian (85th Zen Patriach) from the LingJi lineage in Taiwan in 2014 - 2015. Subsequently, he learnt from Garchen Rinpoche from the Drigar Thubten Dargye Ling tradition (Tibetan) and attended annual Om Mani Padme Hum and Om Ami Dewa Hrih retreats from 2015 till date. Currently, he is a disciple of Master Jin Bodhi (Mahayana) from Bodhi Meditation in Singapore and is an active volunteer there. Master Jin Bodhi is his main Dharma teacher. Jerome feels that Buddhism is not a religion but is a practical way to reduce our life's problems. The essence of Buddhism is not in the books or sutras but in the way we apply it into our lives. Having understood some aspects of Buddha's teaching, he wants to give back to the society and hopes to share his insights with everyone who has the affinity with him.
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