Learning Buddhadharma - Practice

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I would like to share a quote from "Analects of Master kuang-ch'in"

We can "learn" secular knowledge, but we can never pretend that we are able to "learn" Buddhadharma in a similar fashion as we do secular knowledge. Hampered by our imperfect perception, as all ordinary people are, we can never truly comprehend the essence of the sutras through research or study. THus, you may very well think that you understand the meaning of a sutra after reading it. But your understanding is as illusive as the flower's reflection in the mirror or the moon's reflection on the water because it is derived more fromo your imagination and speculation than from your comprehension attested through practice.

Therefore, you should not cling to the words of sutra and adopt a literal interpretation of what you read. Otherwise, you will be bound by the words and can not attain true liberation. In the Diamond Sutra the Buddha taught us: "one should relinquish even the Dharma; how much more so undharmic doctrines." All sutras are paths pointed out by the Buddha to help us escape the cycle of birth and death. The purpose of studying them is to follow the paths, to practice diligently so as to attest the teachings. There is no other way to escape the cycle of birth and death but to practice in person. Have faith that all Buddhas are guiding and watchin over us so that we can ultimately reach nirvana and unfold the formless wisdom immanent in the essence of our minds.