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**JediReturns84** · 08-09-2012, 09:59 AM

Hello gerrardthor,

This link can be of some help:

Befriending the Suttas

I think you have issued a good topic, because it is important how to approach them.

I agree that Suttas should not be taken with blind faith but with confidence. But to have confidence, practice is important. For practice it is needed understanding. So some suttas are about having core understandings that prepare us to approach the practical suttas.

In this way, there are suttas that are taught in an instructive way meaning that they can be put into practice testing the teaching.

Other suttas guide us in order to make clear the reason of practice: Quenching mental torment.

Some suttas need time to bear its fruit, so, sometimes they do not make too much sense. If that is the case, we can leave it aside and work with that one that fits well with the particular stage of understanding.

I have seen that there is needed some help form experienced practitioners or awakened teachers so to grasp efficiently into a sutta. This information can be given in texts, commentaries or by personal teaching in the presence of a teacher.

The approach I give to instructive suttas is more like a handbook than an ultimate truth as happens with other texts in religions. This means that suttas give us the opportunity to verify the teaching instead of just believing them blindly.

Other approach to suttas is like tools the Buddha brings us. Cognitive tools so to understand better how things work in order to perform well when practice.

Hope this can be of some help, gerradthor.

08-09-2012, 09:59 AM	#4
JediReturns84 Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 455 Senior Member	Hello gerrardthor, This link can be of some help: Befriending the Suttas I think you have issued a good topic, because it is important how to approach them. I agree that Suttas should not be taken with blind faith but with confidence. But to have confidence, practice is important. For practice it is needed understanding. So some suttas are about having core understandings that prepare us to approach the practical suttas. In this way, there are suttas that are taught in an instructive way meaning that they can be put into practice testing the teaching. Other suttas guide us in order to make clear the reason of practice: Quenching mental torment. Some suttas need time to bear its fruit, so, sometimes they do not make too much sense. If that is the case, we can leave it aside and work with that one that fits well with the particular stage of understanding. I have seen that there is needed some help form experienced practitioners or awakened teachers so to grasp efficiently into a sutta. This information can be given in texts, commentaries or by personal teaching in the presence of a teacher. The approach I give to instructive suttas is more like a handbook than an ultimate truth as happens with other texts in religions. This means that suttas give us the opportunity to verify the teaching instead of just believing them blindly. Other approach to suttas is like tools the Buddha brings us. Cognitive tools so to understand better how things work in order to perform well when practice. Hope this can be of some help, gerradthor.
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