Knowledge of the Dhamma is good but practicing the Dhamma is better
“To Practice Dhamma can be difficult” - pg 47, Words from the Heart (abstracts from 75 Dhamma Talks), Venerable Sayadaw Dr Nandamalabhivamsa.
“Dhamma knowledge acquired by learning is not as strong and mature as the knowledge gained by actual practice. The practice of Dhamma, even when it is known, can be very difficult because of the influence of the kilesa (mental defilement) such as lobha (craving), dosa (ill will) and mocha (ignorance). When these are very strong, the knowledge or wisdom is very weak. If the wisdom becomes stronger, kilesa such as lobha will become weak and then one can practice Dhamma. One often acquires the knowledge on how to develop wholesomeness by listening to Dhamma. One performs Dana (generosity, offering), sila (morality) and Havana (mental development) to accumulate wholesomeness according to one’s knowledge. If one can apply the knowledge into action, then one can say that one practices Dhamma. If one does not do so or does not get started to accumulate wholesomeness, even though one has the knowledge, one is said to know Dhamma but with difficulty to practice.”
My understand of the above quote, is that just because you know what the Dhamma says and can quote the different Suttas from memory, doesn’t mean you have a strong knowledge of the Dhamma. In order to obtain a strong knowledge you must put what you learn from the Dhamma into actual practice. You can do this by living your life morally well or following, at a minimum, the 5 precepts, reciting various suttas, and by meditation. If you are not even actually practicing, then your knowledge is not as strong as one who practices Dhamma.
I have recently met a monk who will not consider you to be Buddhist without at least practicing meditation. This will be talked about in another post that I am currently drafting. I felt that the above needed to be shared.
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