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The Great Sutra Treasury - Southern Transmission 09
Right after the sitting meditation ceremony with the Buddha, each morning we recite the Buddha’s name, chant the Opening Verse, and then recite either one long sutra (8 pages) or two short sutras (2–3 pages). In the afternoon, we recite very short sutras. It is good to invite someone with a clear, expressive voice to lead the chanting, taking turns so that everyone has the opportunity to “chant well” and bring a lively flavor of recitation to the Sangha.
The eight sutras can be divided over six days, including:
- Love (1.5 pages)
- Happiness (short)
- Anuradha (questions about what happens after death)
- The Eight Realizations (3–4 pages)
- The Middle Way and Dependent Origination (includes “being–non-being” and the twelve links of dependent origination)
- The Dharma Seals (the three doors of liberation)
- Teaching the Sick (used in ceremonies for well-being)
- Teaching on Illness (8 pages, the longest)
The stories—such as the two acrobats taking care of each other, the prisoner carrying a bowl of oil through the street while people clap, the nun who tempted Ananda, or the hunter and the herd of deer—all point out that taking care of our own body and mind is the highest prerequisite for taking care of others. Maintaining mindfulness with each step and each breath helps us to be aware of the six sense organs, prevent accidents, and to transform suffering, while at the same time setting a bright example for the whole community.