Sutras

Hello.

As the term “sutras reading” suggests, I think sutras are “read.” In other words, it's not something you force yourself to memorize.
I think it's better to “read” after understanding the meaning.

By the way, I don't have the confidence to write correctly. Also, I usually open and “read” sutras.

> I'm originally unreligious, but recently, I've been trying to memorize the Heart Sutra little by little.

Isn't that a wonderful thing?

Monks read sutras every morning, so I think there are many people who can remember long sutras.
As you might have guessed, it's repetitive practice.

I was a temple kid, so I've been receiving strict guidance from my father every morning since I was in elementary school.
If you learn sutras when you were a kid, you'll remember them forever.

Also, if you copy sutras (transcribe sutras), you will be able to write sutras without looking at anything.
There are people, even ordinary people who can write the Heart Sutra without looking at anything.

This is a great opportunity, so please enjoy memorizing it.

Donatsu-sama

This is Kawaguchi Hidetoshi. This is my humble answer to the question.

I am very thankful that you are now learning to memorize the Heart Sutra.

Now you can immediately listen to the sound source of the chanting of the Heart Sutra by a monk on the internet YouTube, so even if you listen to it over and over again and memorize it by chanting it together.

Also, in order to aim for the perfection of the highest wisdom, it is also necessary to correctly understand the contents of “the sky.”

This is a humble argument, but I hope you can also refer to the following.

“On the 'sky' in the Heart Sutra”
http://blog.goo.ne.jp/hidetoshi-k/e/93cd51b49c2264eb00fcc00a904a3392

As an aside, there are also things in the Heart Sutra that are even shorter and are represented by “one character” with “sky” attached to the character Hannya “a” (negative term in Sanskrit).

If you can't remember the Heart Sutra, it doesn't matter if it's just “a-” (laughs)

Also, they sometimes chant only the mantra that appears at the end of the Heart Sutra: “Gate, Gate, Harasogathe, Boji Sowaka” (Gate, Gate, Paragate, Parasangate, Body Sohar”) that comes up at the end of the Heart Sutra.

Occasionally, Jusei also tweets nothing but Hannya Shingon.

Anyway, being able to read and write is a good thing, but above all, I want to have a firm understanding of the meaning and content in order to improve my own wisdom.

Kawaguchi Hidetoshi Gassho

Here are Buddha's poems from the Hakku-kyo Sutra.

“The sutras (teachings) with deep meaning
Even if you recite (recite) out of your mouth
Don't do this to yourself
If you let go of your mind (laziness)
Called (not called) Shamon (ascetic practitioner)
That value is not
True and empty
Count other people's cows
Take the example of a cow herder (cow herder).” (Faku Sutra 19)
“Sobble (the sky) by saying sutras
True or even a little (very)
What you do to yourself is against the law
Abandon greed, anger, and insincerity
Wisdom is right
When you unwind with ease
Don't write in this world
Something untenable to hold on to the world
He is the only one who doesn't join the Shamon line (road).” (Faku Sutra 20)

Reading sutras is good, writing is good, and memorizing sutras is good, but doing is the most valuable thing, right?

Nichiren Shinto was told the same thing.
“The Lotus Sutra is not simply read by mouth; it is read by body and body.”

I hope that reciting the Heart Sutra will be an opportunity for them to further develop Buddhism.
Also, I don't really remember. It's also a good idea to read and enjoy it slowly while looking at the kanji character by character and imagining the meaning.

Donatsu-sama
Hello. I took a look.

They're interested in the Heart Sutra, and they're trying to remember it, aren't they? I think it's precious. Originally, there is no religion, so there is nothing to “force” non-religious people to “do this,” but please forgive me for speaking from the standpoint of a single Buddhist.

Sutras are a binding of the teachings taught by the Buddha, and they are read with respect and appreciation for the Buddha and the many masters and Buddhists who have conveyed them. It is also used as a ceremony to read aloud, and it is also something you learn while enjoying the content. I work with that attitude in my case, so of course I read it over and over again, but I now remember it naturally.

However, memorizing is not good at all; rather, my master taught me to “remember and don't make it your own.” In my case, I've been taught that it's essential to always go back to teaching without turning it into my own teaching, and that it's not something I read in return, so I still try to treat it that way. Personally, I feel that I learned that attitude itself.

It is often said that you are not “learning Buddhism (knowledge),” but “learning (yourself) from Buddhism.” I myself don't force the general public, but I'm telling the parishioners and the like to imagine that there are people who at least value sutras even if they don't understand them, and compare them to what's important to you and treat them with care. It's the same whether it's the Bible or the Quran.

Buddhism is a way of seeking attainment of Buddhism (freedom from the cycle of suffering (reincarnation)). Even if you are not a Buddhist, they teach you the importance of looking at yourself, so I hope you value precious relationships. Gassho