Muni's PlayTen Dharma Practices (Daśa Dharma-carita)
According to the Madhyanta Vibhaga Karika (Chapter 5, Verses 9-10), there are ten religious practices or “conducts of Dharma” that result in an immeasurable aggregate of merit.
The Ten Practices and Their Purpose
| # | Sanskrit Practice [Transliteration] | English Translation | Purpose in the Path |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | लेखना (Lekhanā) | Writing | Preserving the teachings for oneself and others. |
| 2 | पूजना (Pūjanā) | Worshiping | Cultivating reverence and devotion toward the truth. |
| 3 | दान (Dāna) | Giving | Sharing the Dharma (the highest form of generosity). |
| 4 | श्रवण (Śravaṇa) | Listening | Receiving the teachings through the ear. |
| 5 | वाचन (Vācana) | Reading | Engaging with the written text directly. |
| 6 | उद्ग्रह (Udgraha) | Memorizing | Taking the Dharma into the “storehouse” of memory. |
| 7 | प्रकाशना (Prakāśanā) | Explaining | Teaching and illuminating the text for others. |
| 8 | स्वाध्याय (Svādhyāya) | Self-recitation | Constant internal repetition and personal study. |
| 9 | चिन्तना (Cintanā) | Contemplation | Analyzing the meaning logically (Wisdom by Reflection). |
| 10 | भावना (Bhāvanā) | Cultivation | Internalizing the truth in meditation (Wisdom by Practice). |
Scriptural Reference
These verses are extracted from Chapter 5 - Supremacy of the Vehicle.
Verse 9
Sanskrit Text
संयुक्ता धर्मचरितैः सा ज्ञेया दशभिः पुनः।
लेखना पूजना दानं श्रवणं वाचनोद् ग्रहः
Transliteration
saṃyuktā dharmacaritaiḥ sā jñeyā daśabhiḥ punaḥ
lekhanā pūjanā dānaṃ śravaṇaṃ vācanodgrahaḥ
Translation
Furthermore, it should be known as being joined with the ten religious practices (dharma-carita): writing (lekhanā), worshiping (pūjanā), giving (dāna), listening (śravaṇa), reading (vācana), and memorizing (udgraha).
Verse 10
Sanskrit Text
प्रकाशनाऽथ स्वाध्यायश्चिन्तना भावना च तत्।
अमेयपुण्यस्कन्धं हि चरितं तद् दशात्मकम्
Transliteration
prakāśanā’the swādhyāyaścintanā bhāvanā ca tat
ameyapunya-skandhaṃ hi caritaṃ tad daśātmakam
Translation
(The remaining practices are:) Explaining to others (prakāśanā), self-recitation (swādhyāya), contemplation (cintanā), and cultivation (bhāvanā). This ten-fold practice results in an immeasurable aggregate of merit (punya-skandha).