The Fundamental Purpose of Studying the Dharma

Even if one can read ten thousand volumes of books, without understanding their meaning, it is not true diligence. The fundamental purpose of studying the Dharma is to gain wisdom, not to amass countless knowledge and learning, not to learn for the sake of learning, and certainly not to learn for others to see. Therefore, in order to gain wisdom, what we should do and how we should do it is something we ought to ponder carefully. A learner of Buddhism learns the Buddha's mind and conduct; it is not about collecting all of the Buddha's words, but rather, through the Buddha's words, understanding the Buddha's mind, and then learning the Buddha's mind and emulating the Buddha's conduct. Only in this way can one ultimately be equal to the Buddha without difference and show compassion to others.