Attaining Buddhahood Depends on Right View

Theory is also part of actual practice, and indeed the most crucial part; one should not regard doctrinal study as non-practice. Doctrinal learning is the primary path to attaining correct knowledge and views. Only under the guidance of correct knowledge and views can one adopt proper methods and proceed in the right direction. Liberation from birth and death depends on correct knowledge and views as well as correct wisdom, while accomplishing the Buddha Way relies on correct wisdom. During the Buddha's lifetime, he primarily taught the Dharma to his disciples, occasionally instructing them in meditation, but he did not lead them in specific practices. After hearing the Dharma, disciples would each find a quiet place to contemplate and reflect on the principles the Buddha had expounded. When their contemplation became clear, they attained purification of the dharma eye and realized the fruition. Many people attained fruition right as the Buddha was expounding the Dharma—they contemplated while listening. Therefore, before teaching, the Buddha would always say: "Listen carefully, attend closely, and reflect well upon this; I shall now explain it to you in detail."