Master’s Advice on Daily Practice

SutraTranscribing

As we live, we must strive for a life of value. Buddhism is different from philosophy, for it does not only deal with knowledge and theory. Rather, Buddhism calls for devout faith, developed morality, and most importantly: spiritual practice.

All we need is the right intention to begin any form of spiritual practice, whether it is bowing to the Buddha, chanting sutras, repentance, meditation, or other such practices. Any of these can form the basis of a daily practice.

You can start your Buddhist practice right at home.

Many Buddhists dedicate a room or a small space in their home specifically for their Buddhist practice. This place becomes the focus of one’s meditation and recitation. 

Such a place can also be the center of one’s devotional practices. It can be where one places a Buddha image, pays homage and bows to the Buddha, and makes offerings. 

A Buddha statue should be located in a place of respect. A Buddha statue can be placed in the living room of a house at an elevated place. It is also possible to place a Buddha statue in a bedroom by placing it in a cabinet—opening the doors when one is engaging in spiritual practice and keeping them closed when one is not. It is also possible to mount an image of the Buddha in a picture frame, bring it out while in use, and keep it in a high place or out of sight otherwise.

Bowing before a Buddha statue is a common sign of devotion, humility and respect. Buddhists will often make three bows to the Triple Gem: one to the Buddha, the teacher; one to the Dharma, the teaching; and one to the Sangha, the monastic community. Another common practice is to make offerings before a Buddha statue. Offerings need not be elaborate, some incense, flowers, water, or fruit is just fine.

It is important to be practical with regards to Buddhist practice.

For example, when doing daily recitations one should not do so too loudly out of respect for one’s neighbors. If someone knocks on the door or the phone rings during sutra chanting, simply mark one’s place with a piece of paper or a bookmark and resume again once the matter has been dealt with.

One’s practice should take shape around how much time one has in the day.

Some suggestions:

1-Minute Practice

  • Bow or join one’s palms before a Buddha statue at a home shrine or when passing a Buddhist temple.
  • Offer incense, flowers, or a cup of water before a Buddha statue.
  • Recite Amitabha Buddha’s name three times.
  • Chant the four-line verse from The Diamond Sutra.

2-Minute Practice

  • Chant The Heart Sutra during one’s household chores, like sweeping the floor, cooking dinner, or washing the car.
  • Chant the ten great vows of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva.
  • Bow to the Buddha three times.

5-Minute Practice

  • Before going to bed or right after waking up, sit calmly and observe the mind for five minutes.
  • Recite the name of Amitabha Buddha by exhaling, reciting ten times quickly, and only then breathing in.
  • Chant The Eight Realizations of a Bodhisattva Sutra.

10-Minute Practice

  • Chant The Universal Gate Sutra, The Amitabha Sutra, or The Great Compassion Mantra and Ten Short Mantras.

15-Minute Practice

  • Chant The Diamond Sutra.
  • Bow to the Buddha with twelve slow, mindful bows.
  • Sit in meditation and contemplate the mind.

30-Minute Practice

  • Sit in meditation and contemplate the mind.
  • Recite Amitabha Buddha’s name continuously.
  • Bow to the Buddha with twenty-four slow, mindful bows.
  • Chant a chapter from The Lotus Sutra or The Flower Adornment Sutra.

60-Minute Practice

  • Chant The Amitabha Sutra or Universal Gate Sutra, recite Amitabha Buddha’s name, circumambulate a Buddha statue, and transfer the merit.
  • Chant The Diamond Sutra three to five times.
  • Chant the Great Compassion Mantra 12, 24, 32, or up to 108 times.

***Related sutras and texts can be downloaded here.

The main purpose of spiritual practice is to develop one’s power of will. Just as porcelain plates and ceramic jars must be fired in a kiln or baked in the sun to become strong, we grow closer to recovering our true self through daily practices like offering incense, bowing to the Buddha, reading or chanting sutras, or meditation. By maintaining these practices regardless of how busy or idle we are, we will improve our temperament, purify our spirit, elevate our character, and enhance our vitality.

More Featured Articles

To "commit" is to give assurance to others and to make a conscientious effort to deliver a promise. To instill credibility and trustworthiness, we must honor our words. Confucius once said, "One without credibility is like a large vehicle without a brake pedal, or a small carriage without axles. How Read more
People often ask me, “What ad­versity have you experienced in your life?” And for a moment, I can­not come up with an answer. I have always maintained the attitude of taking things as they come, as in the sayings “When the soldiers come, de­ploy the generals to fight back; when Read more
In Buddhism, the root cause of human suffering and other problems are identified as the mind. It thus proposes to tap into this invaluable resource by transforming any unwholesomeness into wholesomeness. Buddhism instructs sentient beings on how to recognize the mind, calm the mind, and handle the mind. The Buddha Read more
Music gives us the capacity to express deep emotions. Whether through holy hymns or chants of praise, music is capable of uplifting the mind to an almost sublime state. As such, it has a significant role in the promotion of religion.All Buddhas and bodhisattvas are very skilled in utilizing music Read more
It is only through loving-kindness and compassion that we can find room in our hearts to forgive others. It is only through our willingness to let go of resentment that we can find a way to magnanimity.  Read more
The Forty-Eight Vows of Amitabha Buddha as recorded in the Larger Sutra of Immeasurable Life.  [1] If I should attain Buddhahood, yet there would be hell beings, hungry ghosts, or animals in my land, may I not attain perfect enlightenment.[2] If I should attain Buddhahood, yet humans and heavenly beings Read more
The Sumati Sutra discusses fulfilling both worldly and supramundane needs. Sumati’s first three questions are regarding obtaining an elegant appearance, obtaining wealth, and keeping a harmonious family life—all of these are concerned with success in this life. Being satisfied in this way ensures that a bodhisattva will not be hindered, Read more
Though sitting meditation was given to us from the ancient past it is a way for modern people to lead happy lives. Sitting meditation allows us to dispel the pressures of daily life that come from the mind’s confusion and a mistaken understanding of phenomena. Practicing sitting meditation quiets the Read more
The Avatamsaka Sutra says, 'The mind controls everything.' In order to properly control body and speech, we must come to understand our minds. If we can control our minds, we can do anything.Master Xingkong (780-862) wrote a wonderful passage that expresses this point very well. He said, "The practice of Read more
Humans are thinking animals! Since the beginning of time, there have always been people who fantasize, who have delusions, who dream—and many who have ideals. When we lie in our beds at night, we should be free from worry. Yet thoughts about our lives often arise then; thoughts about family, Read more
Love and affection are infinitely valuable. There are various levels of love and affection that we can aspire to. Some people describe how people love this way: Young people love with their words, middle-aged people love with their actions, and elder people love with their hearts.  Read more
Do you feel inspired when you see people help each other? Not everyone is. Some people may look at a generous donation and say, “Donating such a small amount of money is nothing extraordinary for such a rich person.” When other people suffer from disasters and pain like the many Read more