Studying sutras

Literally a "thread" or "stitch", a sutra binds together the essential aspects of a subject, wisdom distilled into a short statement or verse which may be memorized and reflected upon. Reflection may lead to discovery of the hidden thread of the argument under what appears to be a collection of unrelated ideas. In fact, the sutra contains everything needed to be known for a proper understanding of the subject, although considerable effort may need to be made to fully elucidate what it has to say. This effort is as valuable as the resultant knowledge and is the reason for the apparent obscurity of the sutra. Knowledge is thoroughly assimilated and the powers and faculties of mind developed. Each word may imply a whole pattern of thought; and study in the original language is thus more illuminating than study of a translation, when it is virtually impossible to carry over the full meaning.