How to Study Dhamma?

In the past, during the period of Lord Buddha, all teachings of Buddha was not written in books. Monks learn Dhamma and kept the teachings of Buddha in their mind. They revise the teaching in their mind. Until Tripitaka was written, the teachings of Buddha passed to the future generations verbally.

In several occasions the Blessed One taught his disciples, how to study Dhamma well and keep it in mind. One such sermon is "Sussusati Sutta". In this sermon, the Buddha shows us six steps we should follow to study Dhamma well. This method could be used to study any other subject too.

Let's see what are those six steps of studying Dhamma.

1. Sussusati - Desire to learn Dhamma. Without desire to learn Dhamma, you can't learn it well.
2. Sotam odahati - Listening to Dhamma with deep concentration.
3. Aññaya Cittam Upattapeti - Apply the mind with the intension of realizing Dhamma.
4. Attam Ganhati - Grasp what is explained by the Dhamma.
5. Anattam Rincati - Eliminate what is not important.
6. Anulomikaya khantiya samannagato hoti - Try to understand Dhamma by applying it to own-self.

Those are the six steps of studying Dhamma explained by the Buddha in Suussusati Sutta. Follow these steps to study, remember and realize Dhamma.

With Metta.