Study is starting point to gaining spiritual knowledge and realizations

[KhedrubGyatso]

Tsem Rinpoche says , 'If we always do not understand Dharma, then that is a sign of not studying. '
Knowledge comes from study – by  listening , by contemplating and by meditating on it .It should  not stop there otherwise it remains in our head and we cannot actualize them out to produce positive experiences for others and ourselves. We have effectively become a library.
We have to apply knowledge/dharma  through actions of speech and body. From the experiences of our actions we gain deeper understanding which will fuel our interest to learn more. This  in turn motivate us to do more. So the cycle of gaining knowledge and applying it synergistically produce more and more positive results . Our spiritual journey  becomes the joyful path to enlightenment. It all begins with study.
Can anyone figure why many are still not doing it ? Also for those who do attend classes they do not put in the effort to absorb and apply in daily life? Many only listen for the 1-2 hrs and then it is mostly forgotten by the next class.

[DSFriend]

Well, just like everything else in life, there are many people who studies a subject matter but never become good at it. How many people in this world takes tennis lessons, swimming lessons, and not all made it to the Olympics! How many people learn the piano but can't even play a music piece decently.

For most, learning tennis, swimming, the piano etc are just hobbies. They think that they don't NEED it to make a living. But for a few who becomes really good at it, they not only loves it but made it their life.

Sadly, this is the approach we have towards the Dharma. For most, it is merely an intellectual exercise and it doesn't get past that because we simply think we don't NEED it but nice to know.

[DharmaSpace]

Most often than not, we become intellectual monsters that quote and paraphrase and use 'borrowed' wisdom ( this term one of dharma teachers used for us).  I was speaking to someone who was supposed to be volunteering at children home and he was very engrossed in debating about buddhism with the senior students and he forgot that he was there to give value to the kidz.

He was just on for an intellectual trip, it was all a trip for him to feed the EGO. 

[KhedrubGyatso]

Dear DSFriend,
Yes, all the masters and teachers  have to use skilful means to always exhort on this point .  Even if people attend classes through some pushing or encouragement, but if they are not paying attention or their  thoughts are not in the lessons , they will still be like upturned pots  with nothing going in.
Tzu Chi's founder Master Chen Yen said, ' Without study, we don't see purpose of practice, without practice we don't gain experience. Without experience we don't transform.'
We are deceived by samsaric pleasures which delude us into not paying heed to  what the Buddha revealed  that we are all drowning in the ocean of suffering  is exaggerated or not urgent..
Rev Piyasilo   said in the same vein that we don't purge the 3 poisons in us  because we don't feel sick in the way we usually associate with physical pain or suffering which required immediate attention and relieve. We are  so habituated by our ignorance like sheep queuing for slaughter.