If 84000 were to have a signature outreach activity, it would surely be its series of resoundings. Reading the words of the Buddha aloud is said to benefit oneself and all those who can hear them, and so, designed to engage our audiences and readers, resoundings are a distinctly participatory activity that emulate the traditional monastic practice of reading aloud the entire Kangyur.
A ‘Resounding’ is the term that 84000 uses to express an activity that emulates the traditional monastic practice of reading aloud the entire Kangyur. In the monastic practice, each participant of a group selects a sūtra or section of a sūtra and reads it aloud – until the entire Kangyur has been collectively read aloud. The 84000 version of this practice is the activity of collectively reading aloud translated sūtra(s) or sections of a sūtra that have been published in the 84000 Reading Room. The idea is to have as much of the sūtra(s) as possible read aloud by any number of people in the given amount of time. Reading the words of the Buddha aloud is said to benefit oneself and all those who can hear them.
Very simply, the practice involves finding a sūtra, opening to any page of the body of the text, and reading it out loud. Practicing Buddhists may wish to state their intention through opening prayers and dedicate merit with closing prayers (see below), and/or insert a resounding into another form of practice. Ideally, the sūtras will be read in their entirety.
Many beneficial conditions arise when one resounds the words of the Buddha. Most concretely, it allows one the time and space to really engage and familiarize oneself with a new text, and similarly, holds the potential to pique one’s interest in reading further. It may also provide more understanding and insight into the wisdom of the Buddha’s teachings, and even inspire or prompt one to request a qualified teacher to instruct him or her on this sūtra.
Traditionally, there are many more benefits to resounding the Kangyur that include strengthening the imprint of Dharma in one’s mind while avoiding less wholesome forms of distraction; planting the seeds of Dharma in all those who hear your voice resounding these wisdom words; and the accumulation of merit attained by participating in a group Dharma activity, and in reading the words of the Buddha with the right motivation.
For more explanations, we encourage you to watch Rabjam Rinpoche explain the methods and benefits of a resounding here.
And here Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche talks of the significance of reading the words of the Buddha under the Bodhi Tree (October 28, 2012) here.
One can participate in a Resounding at any time in any place, by organizing one for oneself or for one’s community; by joining in a location-specific 84000 Resounding, such as our biennial Resoundings Under the Bodhi Tree or in other spiritually significant settings; or by pledging a chapter when 84000 hosts a global resounding. Some may wish to resound on their own or do so ‘with’ others who may be resounding in other places.
Resounding Resources:
Our team is made up of academics, Dharma teachers, technology experts, translators, and practitioners working remotely from twenty-two cities around the world.
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