The recent upsurge of interest in Buddhism, both East and West, has been marked by a vigorous practical orientation and a drive to discover the peace and freedom to which the practice of Dhamma leads. This zeal for practice, however, has often been accompanied by another trait which may not be so fruitful, namely, a tendency to neglect or even belittle the methodical study of the Buddha's teachings.

The interrelationship of study and scholarship with practice is . . . a complex issue . . . What can be said unequivocally is that scholarly knowledge without practical application is barren; vigorous meditation practice without the guiding light of clear conceptual understanding is futile.

Bhikkhu Bodhi

In classical Buddhism, the three avenues to understanding are study, reflection, and meditation.

1. Study: learning the material, listening to teaching, studying texts.
2. Reflection: thinking about what you've learned, clarifying questions and understanding, making the material your own.
3. Meditation: holding the teaching in attention until it becomes part of how you live and function in your life.

Unfettered Mind