How to Feel the Sūtra: Reading Ancient Buddhist Texts as Living Oral Tradition

Chagdud Khadro reveals an essential approach to reading the Sūtras—experiencing it as a deeply cinematic and visual literary work that expands the imagination rather than a dry philosophical text. She compares the sutra's narrative structure to a movie, noting how each chapter unfolds with vivid, dramatic potential that comes alive through engaged reading. To fully experience the text, she recommends vocalizing the verses rather than reading them silently—an auditory approach that honors the original oral tradition through which these teachings were transmitted and preserved for centuries before being written down. This practice of reading aloud makes the profound content more accessible, allowing the rhythm and sound to carry meaning beyond intellectual comprehension. By sharing the reading aloud with others—whether in groups or even just to oneself—practitioners can better internalize the vivid scenery, dramatic encounters, and transformative messages found within the pages, engaging multiple senses and levels of understanding to fully receive the teaching's impact.