Question: As Buddhist practitioners, how can we respectfully care for and dispose of dharma materials—whether sacred scriptures, practice books, or even flyers and handouts we no longer need—while honoring the teachings they contain?
Bhante Sanathavihari:
First, I hope that we won’t become neurotic, overreactive, obsessed, worried, and anxious about how Buddhist books must be treated, which may lead us to blame ourselves for not treating the book in a certain way or be critical and judgmental of how others might treat Buddhist books.
However, we must also remember that whatever we do in body, speech, and mind, and how we relate to others and the world, has an impact not only on ourselves but also on others. From this perspective, how we treat anything, whether caring for a dharma book or cleaning our behinds, matters; it matters how we do things. It matters how we handle, read, store, and care for dharma books. We can take a look at our minds and see what is present when we interact with dharma books: is there joy in the mind, is there comfort, faith, energy, and so on? Or is there worry, anxiety, greed, pride, etc?
How we treat dharma books can be an opportunity for practice and seeing the results of our practice. I try my best to properly care for my dharma books, both suttas and books by modern Buddhist writers, but I don’t treat them any differently than some of my other favorite books. I try to treat everything with the same degree of care and attention, whether it’s a sacred book or the newest issue of Lion’s Roar magazine.
The best way to dispose of a dharma book is to create the potential for it to become someone else’s dharma book. Perhaps we can regift it, donate it to a book library or bookstore, or even leave it outside with a sign that says, “Free Books.” If this doesn’t seem feasible for any reason, consider composting or burning it instead. I would try my best to avoid it ending up in a landfill.
We must remember that during the time of the Buddha, the Buddha’s teachings were neither written down nor compiled into the collections as we know them today. So, I would also like to caution against confusing books or other materials with the actual dharma. It would be like confusing the Buddha with the body of the Buddha, which the Buddha might consider only a skin bag or a carcass.
Arne Schelling:
Traditionally, there have always been guidelines for proper care and storage of dharma texts. We are advised, for example, not to step on or over them, and to place them in a high and clean location. Some even recommend wrapping them in a beautiful cloth. Why such special treatment? Because dharma texts contain invaluable, liberating information—or more simply put, the truth.
Dharma texts are understood to embody the liberating speech of the Buddha, just as statues represent his enlightened body. Therefore, sutras such as the Sutra of Golden Light (Suvarṇaprabhasa Sutra) and the Prajanaparamitascriptures strongly recommend placing these sacred objects in elevated, clean spaces.
By treating them with such mindfulness and respect — not putting them on the floor, sitting on them, or stacking mundane objects on top — we are cultivating a habit of reverence and reinforcing our longing for truth and liberation. And that is a habit worth nurturing for a very long time.
In modern times, I feel this principle should also extend to digital dharma materials. But what does “high” or “low” mean when it comes to our computer screens or folder hierarchies? Aren’t digital dharma texts ultimately just ones and zeroes? One could argue that from a deeper perspective—on the level of ultimate reality—there is no “above” or “below,” no dharma text at all, only particles, waves, or emptiness. If we begin analyzing reality at that level, then indeed, no rule can truly fit. However, on the conventional relative level that we live and function in, it can still be meaningful to treat our digital dharma folders with a sense of care. Perhaps we don’t place them “below” our meme collections or entertainment downloads, but rather keep them “above” or “high up” within our folder structures.
With the possession of dharma texts comes the responsibility of disposing of them respectfully when necessary. They should not simply be discarded with everyday waste, since they represent the sacred speech of the Buddha. That said, before even thinking about disposal, it’s worth reflecting on whether we need to acquire certain dharma materials in the first place. If we accept a prayer booklet or even a postcard with sacred imagery, we should commit to treat it, too, with care and use it meaningfully.
Ideally, dharma texts that we no longer need could be offered to dharma centers, passed on to fellow practitioners, or respectfully placed inside stupas during their construction. This is considered one of the most respectful and meritorious ways to preserve and honor sacred materials when they are no longer usable (e.g. damaged or old) or when one simply wishes to enshrine them. Enshrining dharma texts ensures they continue to generate blessings. Even if no one reads the texts directly, people who circumambulate or make offerings to the stupa receive merit due to the presence of the dharma inside. Dharma centers can respectfully display and redistribute these texts, free of charge or by donation. This benefits all involved: the original owner practices generosity, the center facilitates proper preservation and sharing, and the new recipient benefits from the teachings. Any donations received can further support dharma activities.
Another traditional method of disposal is by fire — burning the texts in a clean fire, free of worldly refuse, and ideally accompanied by appropriate rituals. The ashes are then buried in a clean and respectful place, or at the base of a stupa. Some of my teachers also allow dharma texts to be placed in the paper recycling, if done with the sincere motivation that the recycled material may carry the blessing of the teachings to others in new forms.
As for digital files, respectfully moving them to the trash or recycle bin is likely the only practical option. Whether disposing of a physical text or deleting a digital one, it is always best to do so with care, reverence, and the heartfelt wish for the flourishing and longevity of the dharma.
Brianna Quick:
Years ago, when I formally took refuge, I learned from my lama that a central part of taking refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha meant respecting the teachings of the Buddha in all forms, including printed texts and practice supports like statues and stupas. Even a scrap of red cloth and words etched into flooring around town were to become reminders of the Buddha and his teachings, worthy of respect. Taking refuge in the Dharma meant not stepping over Dharma books and materials or setting other things on top of them. So, at home, Dharma books have pride of place at the top of my bookshelf. When I’m at the practice table, my coffee sits on the floor, a safe distance from any texts or ritual items. At the Dharma center, I’m aware of where texts are placed and make sure to keep them off the ground.
If personal practice texts or books are no longer needed, I’ll pass them to another practitioner or burn texts in a smoke-offering ritual. Since it is rare that these are no longer needed, burning loose pages of texts or passing along books is a reasonable task.
When I began working at a Buddhist publisher almost a decade ago, it was an adjustment to handle just so much Dharma material. At the time, we handled thousands of pages of proofs, drafts, and submissions. I quickly learned that when the entire bookcase is filled with Dharma books from every tradition, each one is worthy of respect; every shelf becomes the “top” shelf. In the office, too, my coffee stayed a safe distance from the books and pages of drafts on my desk out of respect.
When Covid and remote work arrived, most of our stacks of paper went digital, so disposal of materials is simpler now. But still, paper remains, and living in a city, there is no safe or feasible way to burn the quantity of papers that are no longer needed. What to do? When I need to dispose of drafts and proofs, with a little prayer, they go into the paper recycling bin. Each time, I imagine that any goodness in them spreads into new recycled sheets of paper, like prayer flags bringing blessings on the wind.
Personally, taking refuge in the Dharma means giving respect to it wherever it turns up in my life. That means respecting another’s practice, remembering my commitment when I handle texts, and helping make Buddhist teachings more widely accessible through my work. The key for me is to remember that taking refuge is something we must do consistently, over and over again. Not just when we repeat prayers, but with any hope, whenever we hold a Dharma text. We can remember that this is what sets us free—and act accordingly, the best we can.
That is a powerful way to let our minds be softened and purified by the Dharma.
