Sutra or Teaching Practice of Memorization

Zen is an oral tradition. The oral teaching way is very helpful. It helps us carry the teachings in our heart. There are a few steps to memorizing that might be helpful.

1. Please select a teaching and stay with that one teaching for the 60 days.
2. If you are studying the Mind Training, you could use the slogans as the teaching to memorize.
3. Write and re-write the words.
4. Repeat the words out loud to yourself throughout the day.
5. When you feel upset or too elated, pick up the teaching and read it and memorize it in the middle of the upset or elation. A teacher in any form helps us find the Middle Way.
6. Once you have taken in the words, re-write the teaching in your own words.
7. Please let us know what teaching you select to memorize.

I will begin to memorize the teaching by Kanchi Sosan, Faith in Mind.