I also recommend the Sutra of Complete Enlightenment and the Surangama Sutra. Although these are better to recite, they are also excellent sources of Dharma principles, and in fact, are close in format to sastras. They present many concepts, without too much repetition. These two sutras emphasize practice, talk about levels of meditation, and discuss the experiences that are associated with practice. They also analyze the state of ordinary sentient beings and the world. If you do not have a master to check your progress, you should refer to the Surangama Sutra to ascertain what you are experiencing, and to determine if you are proceeding in the right direction.

The Vimalakirti Sutra is also good, because it discusses two important ideas. It states that the Pure Land is innate in one's mind, and it expounds on non-duality, which means neither this nor that, neither something nor its opposite. When the Heart Sutra says, "Neither pure nor impure, " it means that purity and impurity are not separate. To the enlightened mind, they are the same. In the same way, the Pure Land and the world of ordinary sentient beings are the same.

STUDENT:

Would you recommend reading or reciting the Avatamsaka Sutra?

SHIH-FU:

The Avatamsaka Sutra is good to read or recite. It takes a "mind only" perspective of Buddhism. It also talks about the various stages of bodhisattvas, from the first bhumi level and above. It doesn't talk much about the human realm, or how ordinary sentient beings can practice to attain enlightenment. For these reasons, it is considered a high level sutra. But it is still worth reading.

STUDENT:

I wish to understand correctly. Sutras were spoken by Sakyamuni Buddha, with the exception of the Platform Sutra, which was spoken by the Sixth Patriarch, Hui-neng. Sastras are commentaries on sutras written by patriarchs. Is this correct?