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.The Prajna-Paramita Discourse states the The Bodhi-sattva enters into Dharma with strong and diligent faith (deter-mination), and happily accumulates the merits of a Buddha.This is an easy path that was specially introduced by the Superior Faith Bodhisattva in the Mahayana Teaching.This easy path is also the expedient alternative to the difficult path (the Path of Prajna and Skilful means thatemphasise wisdom and compassion).Thus, The Commentaryon the Ten Stages of Bodhisattva written by NagarjunaBodhisattva states that: A beginner should practice recitingthe name of the Buddha, repentance, promotion of thedoctrine of the Buddha and other methods as mentionedabove, so that the mind may be purified and faith strength-1Virtues of perfect wisdom, compassion and detachment.2The thirty two marks or sign on the physical body of Buddha afterBuddha attained Buddhahood.3The truth of emptiness.71ened.Thereafter he may be able to go a step further into thepractice of wisdom, loving kindness and compassion.The Sraddhotpada Sutra also says that: Beginners shouldlearn such methods in order to strengthen their faith, as livingbeings are weak minded. By teaching them to concentrateon the name of the Buddha , this will help them to maintainand strengthen their faith so that they do not fall back.The main purpose of the practice of reciting the name ofthe Buddha is to initiate the faith and determination in those inwhom they have not yet developed, and to strengthen andmaintain faith and determination in those in whom they have.To recite the name of the Buddha is to recite with the mind.Also to remember the virtues of the Buddha whilst recitingwith intense concentration is a skilful means of initiating one sfaith and determination.The normal practice of reciting bymouth is just a convenience among the conveniences, it is notthe best way of practice.b) VegetarianismTo be vegetarian means not to eat meat.Vegetarianism is atradition of Chinese Buddhism.It is not necessary for one tobe a vegetarian in order to become a Buddhist.TheravadaBuddhists in Sir Lanka and Buddhists in Tibet and Japan dotake meat as an accepted part of their diet.Some ChineseBuddhists thought that to be vegetarian is the Hinayanistpractice, and not the teaching of the Mahayana.This is a greatmisunderstanding.In actual fact, vegetarianism is a practicespecially advocated in the Mahayana teachings.This can befound in sutras, such as the Lankavatara, Nirvana and72Angulimala Sutras.There are various reasons for not eatingmeat, but the main reason is to cultivate one s loving kindnessand compassion.As the sutras say: "Eating meat nipscompassion in the bud.A Bodhisattva should always seek to benefit others and torelieve the sufferings of all living beings.If one is cruelenough to kill beings and eat them, then where is one s mindof kindness and compassion? The practice of the Bodhisattvaemphasises the mind of compassion.Hence, the virtue ofvegetarianism is certainly the conclusion of the Mahayanateaching.c) Sutra ChantingThe chanting of sutras is also an expedient way of practice.Although the practice may have other purposes its main aim isto develop wisdom.There are three stages in the practice ofwisdom before the realisation of the true Prajna (the wisdomof enlightenment).They are the stages of hearing, thinking andanalysing, and practising.These three stages of cultivating wisdom can also beclassified into the Ten Righteous Practices (The Ten Ways ofDevotion to the Buddha s Teaching), namely: to copy sacredtexts, to offer places for keeping and maintaining sutras orDharma writings, to preach or give such exposition of Dharmato others, to listed attentively to their exposition, to read them,to teach others about them, to intone them, to explain them, tothink and analyse them and to practise them.In this traditionalschema, the first eight are practices of wisdom throughhearing.Sutra chanting reminiscent of schools in olden days73when one would intone the text before giving an explanationof it.After one intones the sutra one becomes familiar with it.Then one may eventually understand it or at least seek such anunderstanding.These are the expedient paths in practisingwisdom through hearing.d) Righteous practice of the Expedient PathThe most common methods of practice amongst ChineseBuddhist are the recitation of the name of the Buddha,vegetarianism (releasing lives) and chanting the sutras.Theseare in fact expedient steps for anyone who wants to begin thepractice of the Bodhisattva.These are expedient measures thatwill strengthen one s faith and determination, loving kindnessand compassion, and wisdom as stated in the Mahayanateachings.However, some people stress the merits of chanting thesutras whilst placing little value on the understanding of theirmeanings.In this case, the chanting will not expedite thedevelopment of wisdom.On the other hand, those who advocate the practice ofvegetarianism and the release of captive lives may emphasisetheir practice of these two methods but may not show lovingkindness and compassion towards sufferings human beings oract to protect and help them.They only care about other livingbeings but neglect their calling to care for and protect humanbeings.This perversion of practice arises due to ignorance ofthe purpose behind true practice and cannot lead to thedevelopment of true loving kindness and compassion.74By comparison, reciting the name of the Buddhacultivates one s faith somehow or other as the action remindsone about the virtues of the Buddha.However, the problem isthat most followers incline towards superstitious acts whilstothers are only seeking personal salvation
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