Master Mingzheng: Is it merit to read (not reading) scriptures?

ask:I am an overseas Chinese in Myanmar. Sometimes I don’t understand the scriptures when I read them. That day, a lady told me that if I use the scriptures to translate them like this, the word will shine, which is the same as reciting the scriptures. Is that true?

Master Yingzheng's teachings:That doesn't work, it's just a good root. For example, when you turn this prayer wheel, you say that turning it is equivalent to reciting the Tripitaka. It's impossible. Don't be so stupid as to the point of being so. If you don't read the scriptures, how can you know the meaning of the scriptures? But you will definitely plant good roots for you. There is no doubt about it.They told a story about a cow. When the sutras in this temple is drying, it is wet in the south. When the sun is good, it will be taken out to dry. After drying it, it will not easily grow insects in the Sutra Tower. An old cow will come inside to hear this scripture. It is very strange. After smelling it, it was driven away by others. Someone guarded the Tripitaka where you can come over, what should you do if it is dirty, what should you do if it is broken? It smelled a few times and was driven away. As a result, it became a human being due to the merits of listening to the sutra. Because it heard the first half of the Lotus Sutra, it was easy to recite it very well. However, before he could hear the second half, it was driven away by others. He could not understand it at all, and could not read it in, and could not recite it smoothly. Therefore, this must be effective. It cannot be said that it has no effect, but you cannot say that if you flip it, then you will shine and you will know what it means. That is impossible. The light is because it is a Buddhist scripture. Every Buddhist scripture emits light. There is no Buddhist scripture that does not shine. It will definitely be released. But if you don’t study in depth, you will only plant good roots in this life. Flip it is a good root, so it will definitely be a good root. In the future, you will be smarter. This is certain. So, if you have nothing to do, you ask your children to recite the scriptures and flip it. Don’t worry if you understand it. You see, in ancient times, we taught children that they did not require you to understand the meaning, so you memorize it. It will be useful to grow up, because you will understand the meaning slowly. So, it doesn’t matter if you don’t understand in this life, but you will have good roots in the next life, so it will be easier to learn again. That’s it.

Source: Excerpted from Master Mingzheng’s answer to the question 2 of “Eight Precepts and Buddha’s One”