Sutra Copying Manual

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- Lotus Sutra Making a brush stroke is unique and absolutely real. You could actually sum up the history of your life in one stroke. - Chogyam Trungpa, Rinpoche

If there is anyone who hears this sutra, copies it, or moves others to copy it, their merit will be limitless even if it is measured through the Buddhas wisdom.

Muddy Water Zen http://muddywaterzen.org

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Sutra reads Right to Left, Top to Bottom

INTRODUCTION

In the diversity of Buddhist traditions, there are many different forms of prescribed formal practice to help cultivate ones awareness, mindfulness, and concentration. Those practices primarily include sitting meditation, chanting, and prostrations. Another popular practice among both clergy and laity in East Asia is sutra copying. More than 2500 years ago, during the Buddhas time, teachings were committed to memory and transmitted orally, although writing systems were generally known in India at that time. One of the reasons for this was that oral transmission was a custom and tradition of the existing culture in India. Buddhism was progressive in many respects, one of which was that it was the rst Indian religion to record its scriptures into writing, since its aim was to convey its teachings to everyone equally and wasnt hesitant to create written copies. Buddhist sutras were rst recorded on large leaves called pattra, which is a type of fan palm. Other materials included birch bark, cloth, and hides. Palm leaves are still used today for copying sutras in some Southern Buddhist countries. The oldest historical mention of sutra copying indicates that sutras were being recorded in writing in Sri Lanka around the 1st century BCE. The earliest Mahayana sutras speak of the merit of writing out the sutras, especially the Perfection of Wisdom sutras. One of the prominent characteristics of Mahayana literature is its strong emphasis on the merits of copying, reading, reciting, expounding, and disseminating Buddhist sutras. Both the Lotus Sutra and the Diamond Sutra extol the virtue and merit-generating power of sutra copying. The Avatamsaka Sutra as well as the Bramha Net Sutra even encourage devotees to use their own esh and blood to copy sutras! Near the end of the Avatamsaka under the vow to Imitate the Buddhas, the bodhisattva narrator explains how the Buddha Vairocana was willing to give even his life. He peeled off his skin for paper, broke off a bone for a pen, and drew his own blood for ink. The scriptures he copied in this manner stacked up as high as Mt. Sumeru. 3

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SUTRA COPYING TOOLS

The Four Treasures

The Brush The brush is the most important tool for sutra copying, and calligraphy in general. Brushes consist of two main parts; the bamboo handle and animal hair bristles. Sutra copying brushes must be very ne tipped to make the small and precise brush strokes. Brushes should always be thoroughly washed after use and stored properly.

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Ink Stick & Ink Stone Ink Sticks are traditionally made of lampblack, or soot. The inkstone is used to grind the inkstick to mix the soot with water to create the ink. The thickness of the ink can be controlled by grinding more of the inkstick or diluted by adding more mater.

Calligraphy Paper Calligraphy paper comes in many shapes, sizes, colors, and quality. Calligraphy paper is using the mitsumata tree, bamboo, hemp, mulberry, or a variety of other natural bers.

It takes some skill to balance the pairing between ink and paper to ensure proper saturation and to avoid bleeding. (Paperweights)

Paperweights are used in calligraphy and especially in sutra copying to keep the tracing example aligned with the paper. Traditional paperweights are made of metal or stone and are long and thin. They are usually placed at the top of the paper but there are many shapes and designs and even designer paperweights available.

PRACTICE SPACE AND POSTURE

Practice Space Sutra copying should be practiced in a clean and quiet space, conducive to meditation. A dining table should provide ample space, and the table should be clear of any other things. Also, ensure there is adequate lighting available. The congurational layout of the sutra copying supplies should mirror that in the photo. 1. Sutra Reference Copy (optional) 1 4 2 2. Paperweight 3. Copying Paper (master underneath) a. Smooth black felt or newspaper should be used to protect worktop 4. Inkstone & Inkstick (on protective cloth) 5 3 Posture 1. Keep head straight. Do not tilt neck. Keep head and neck in a naturally bent curve but not too forward. 2. Relax shoulders. Rest left palm near right elbow to stabilize and atten the paper. 3. Keep torso straight. Sit only on one half, 1/3 or 2/3 of the chair. Never lean back on a chair. 4. Keep feet on the ground. Do not cross legs. Keep legs parallel and relaxed. The distance between the outer rims of the feet may not be less than the shoulder width. 5. "Contain" the breath and concentrate during execution of each stroke. Breathing during writing each stroke will interfere with concentration and may not render smooth strokes. Then breath naturally between strokes or characters. 5. Brush/Pen on brush rest

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Download Practice Sheet 1-10

Unicode

No.

Hanja

Korean

English

6469 8a36 822c 82e5 6ce2 7f85

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

MA HA BAN YA

Great

Prajna

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BA RA Paramita 871c 591a MIL TA Heart Sutra Avalokiteshvara 5fc3 7d4c
Practice Sheet 11-20

SHIM GYONG KWAN JA JE

89c0 81ea

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5728 83e9 BO Bodhisattva 85a9 884c 6df1 SAL HAENG SHIM
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goes deep