Top 10 Essential Practices Every Lay Buddhist Should Know for Their Spiritual Path

Buddhism teaches that individuals must eradicate evil and cultivate goodness in order to free themselves from suffering and attain happiness. It does not shield those who commit evil deeds. As a lay Buddhist, one must take the precepts as their guide. If one’s actions contradict the teachings, mixing good with bad, negative karmic results will inevitably follow. When negative results manifest, they may blame the Buddha for not protecting them. But is that right?

One should not doubt the Buddha's teachings simply because they don’t feel an immediate response after reciting sutras or practicing mindfulness. Seeking divine response from a selfish mindset is counterproductive. Only with a selfless heart, devoted to helping others without expecting personal gain, can one cultivate true compassion. Through this, negative karma will gradually dissolve, and spiritual communication with the Buddha and all beings will naturally flow, bringing happiness.

If a lay Buddhist strictly observes the precepts, they will be protected by heavenly beings. Without proper observance of the precepts, one will never attain true concentration, and without concentration, wisdom cannot arise. Therefore, the precepts are essential. By observing the five basic precepts, you will earn the respect and protection of spiritual beings wherever you go.

Some people, before practicing Buddhism, have stable health and a good family and career. But after taking the precepts, reciting sutras, and chanting the Buddha’s name, they face difficulties. This is the karmic consequence of past actions transforming into present results—heavy karma becoming lighter. Their practice has triggered the purification of their negative karma. Before taking the precepts, they may have harmed others or caused obstacles in some way. If they persist in their practice with determination and patience, over time their family, career, and circumstances will improve, and obstacles will be removed.

It is essential to sincerely repent for past wrongdoings. It can be said that if you hadn’t encountered Buddhism, these problems might not have arisen. However, future difficulties may be even greater if you do not follow the path. If difficulties arise after taking refuge in the Dharma, respond with the mindset: 'Accept responsibility for your faults, avoid blaming others.' All mistakes we see in others are our own. View everyone as a Bodhisattva and remember, we are all ordinary beings.

Therefore, for those who oppose you, sincerely bow before the Buddha, chant, and dedicate your merits to them. This is because 'To understand the cause in this life, observe the effects you experience now.' The struggles you face are the result of debts from past lives, and it’s time to repay them now.

If a lay practitioner’s heart is pure, wisdom and supernatural abilities will naturally manifest. However, one should never actively seek these powers. Why? Because supernatural abilities must be guided by correct understanding to be beneficial and not harmful.

The Diamond Sutra says: 'If you try to see me through form or hear my voice through sound, you are following a wrong path and cannot see the true nature of the Buddha.' When meditating, if you encounter strange phenomena or unusual experiences, do not become attached or fascinated by them. Keep your mind calm and unwavering, unaffected by the temptations of the Five Aggregates and their illusions. It is easy to become lost in deceptive states and fall into wrong views, mistaking supernatural powers for truth.

Taking refuge in the Three Jewels must be understood in a broad and profound way. Many people fail to grasp this meaning, which leads them to create distinctions, thinking one Buddha's name is better than another's, or one sutra is superior to others, or that their teacher is better than others. So, what does it truly mean to take refuge in the Three Jewels?

Taking refuge in the Buddha is not just taking refuge in a single Buddha, but in the Buddha nature that exists throughout all Buddhas in the vast universe. It means to take refuge in the intrinsic Buddha nature, which transforms our minds from darkness to light—essentially, our mind itself is the Buddha!

Taking refuge in the Dharma is not just taking refuge in one particular scripture, but in all the teachings of the Buddha. As stated in the “Great Wisdom Commentary,” the Dharma is not only what the Buddha directly spoke, but also the true, wholesome, and marvelous words that arise from all the teachings that guide us toward the ultimate truth.

Taking refuge in the Sangha means taking refuge in all the noble beings who possess extraordinary virtue. The Sangha refers to the community of practitioners who are free from attachment to wealth, fame, or material desires, and who embody purity and wisdom.

Lay practitioners must understand this deeply to overcome the attachments of discrimination, as this kind of mentality obstructs their path to liberation.

There has been a dangerous and misleading view circulating online: that one can take refuge in the Buddha and Dharma, but not in the Sangha! To take refuge in the Three Jewels means to rely on the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. Without the Sangha, how can the full ritual of taking refuge be complete?

In the age of decline, there are monks who make mistakes or stray from the path of cultivation. However, we should not criticize or defame the Sangha based on the faults of a few individuals. The consequences of slandering the Sangha are severe and should not be underestimated! As lay Buddhists, we also have our own flaws and mistakes. We should not impose unrealistic expectations on monks to be perfect beings without any fault.

The cycle of rebirth affects not just humans, and suffering is not exclusive to human beings either. Without the Sangha, how would beings in other realms know where to seek refuge? Who would teach the Dharma to help them escape the cycle of birth and death? Therefore, this erroneous view is extremely harmful, as it undermines the very foundation of Buddhism. Lay Buddhists must be vigilant and aware of this issue.

There is a saying in the world: “Respect the Buddha, honor the Sangha.” Honoring the Sangha is not merely about their role as messengers of the Buddha, but because monks embody virtuous qualities that surpass ordinary people. This refers to true, virtuous monks. Unfortunately, many people respect the Buddha but neglect the Sangha. They may honor the Buddha and practice at home but rarely visit the temple. This is often because they do not place their trust in the Sangha. This is understandable, as we frequently hear about fraudulent monks or monks living lives of indulgence, little different from the secular world, or disputes over temple property.

Many people mistakenly believe that it is inappropriate to place a Buddha statue in an apartment because of the potential disrespect towards those living on the floor above. Others argue that placing a Buddha statue on the ancestor altar is disrespectful because ancestors are unenlightened spirits. Some even believe that one must choose an auspicious day to invite a Buddha statue into the home, otherwise misfortune will follow.

This is a false belief and should not be accepted. If the idea that placing a Buddha statue at the wrong time could bring misfortune were true, no one would dare to worship the Buddha! Lay Buddhists should be cautious of spreading such misleading ideas, as doing so leads to wrong teachings and goes against the law of cause and effect.

The Buddha does not reside in wooden statues, nor does He exist solely because of the incense and offerings we present daily. The Buddha, being fully enlightened, transcends the cycle of birth and death and is free from any hindrance. The fears we experience are merely delusions that obstruct our path to practice. Worshiping the Buddha in an apartment is perfectly fine, as long as the place is clean and respectful. You can invite a Buddha statue on any day, at any time—just ensure the conditions are right for receiving the Buddha's presence in your home.

Worshiping the Buddha requires sincerity. The household should observe the Five Precepts, especially avoiding killing. It is good to follow a vegetarian diet on the 1st and 15th days of the lunar month, as well as on special days honoring the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Maintaining purity of body, speech, and mind is essential—practicing meditation, reciting the Buddha’s name, offering repentance, doing good, and avoiding evil.

When setting up a home altar for the Buddha, the following guidelines should be observed:

• The altar should be placed in the center of the house, elevated above head level, with its back resting against a solid wall. The altar should face the main entrance of the house so that anyone entering will see the Buddha altar and make offerings. This benefits both the living family members and the beings in other realms, including the departed, if the household practices sincerely.
• Do not position the Buddha altar opposite the stove, laundry area, bedroom, bathroom, or any impure places. The altar should not be placed against the bathroom wall, stairs, or in the bedroom (which is not clean).

The Buddha does not require us to consecrate His image, nor can we empower the Buddha's statue, for He is the Supreme Enlightened One, the teacher of all sentient beings!

To truly understand 'consecrating a statue' means: from this moment, we begin to worship and learn from the Buddha. Having a Buddha statue at home ensures we always have His image before us, serving as a constant reminder to maintain right understanding and right view. The most important practice is to abandon greed, anger, and ignorance, and to diligently cultivate morality, meditation, and wisdom.

Therefore, when you bring a Buddha statue into your home, place it wherever feels most suitable to you. Once you offer incense, flowers, and other offerings, and bow in reverence, you have already consecrated the statue!

The Buddha statue, once placed with sincerity, will carry spiritual presence. During worship, you may chant the Buddha’s name, recite the “Great Compassion Mantra,” the Heart Sutra, or the Diamond Sutra. As the Buddha taught, 'All things are created by the mind.' By following the Five Precepts and practicing the Ten Good Deeds, you will become a true disciple of the Buddha.

Some superstitions (based on ignorance and blind faith) suggest that chanting the Kṣitigarbha Sutra at night is not recommended, as it is believed that when you chant, spirits are drawn to you, and while they come easily, sending them away is difficult. They also claim that chanting the Great Mantra should only be done between 3 and 5 AM, or it will bring bad results. Another myth is that mispronouncing a word while chanting will lead to hell. All of these are misguided notions of those still trapped in delusion, focusing on rituals and forms without understanding. Lay Buddhists should not fall victim to such baseless beliefs.

Venerable Master Hsuan Hua once said: Sutras and mantras can be chanted at any time! Moreover, when a practitioner upholds the Five Precepts and chants the sutras, countless beings gather to listen. If mispronouncing a word in a sutra leads to hell, then who would dare to chant the sutras or believe in the Buddha's teachings? Would the Buddha's teachings be harmful to people?

We should chant sutras with a clear mind and wisdom, aiming to improve ourselves, follow the Buddha's teachings, and help liberate all sentient beings. When we chant, many beings—whether spirits or those connected by past karmic ties—gather to listen. These beings benefit from the wisdom in the sutras and are freed from suffering. With the Buddha’s blessings, they are guided to happiness and rebirth in a pure realm. Therefore, they are forever grateful and will never harm us. Additionally, Bodhisattvas like Avalokiteshvara, the Eightfold Division of Devas, and guardian deities are always present, protecting those who chant the sutras. Any harmful entities seeking revenge or malice cannot come near.

If you chant with sincerity for the benefit of all beings, without selfish intent, you can dedicate the merits to all sentient beings in the universe. Over time, past karmic obstacles will be resolved, illnesses will be cured, and your path in life will become smoother.