Within Chinese Buddhism, the Sutra of Forty-Two Sections has generally occupied a modest, supporting role rather than standing at the center of formal liturgy. It has often functioned as a concise primer, especially in monastic settings, where its brief, pointed teachings lend themselves to introductory training for novices and structured Dharma study. Monasteries have used it for reading and reflection during study periods, and it has sometimes been incorporated into regular scripture-reading schedules, not as a fixed daily chant but as part of a broader curriculum of foundational texts. Its emphasis on discipline, renunciation, and right conduct has made it particularly suitable for contexts that stress moral formation and basic doctrinal orientation.

In communal practice, the sutra has tended to appear in more flexible or occasional formats rather than as a universally standardized daily recitation. It may be read or chanted during Dharma assemblies devoted to fundamental teachings, in study–practice sessions where recitation is followed by explanation, or in smaller temples and lay halls where the range of texts in use is more limited. Individual sections are well suited to contemplative reading, and these brief passages can be taken up for specific spiritual needs or as material for admonitory talks that encourage ethical refinement. In this way, the text serves as a bridge between formal doctrine and the everyday work of moral cultivation.

Among lay practitioners, the sutra has been used in home devotions and informal group study, where its compact format allows for regular engagement without the demands of longer scriptures. Short passages may be incorporated into morning or evening routines as contemplative readings, standing alongside more widely chanted texts. Some communities have printed it in small, portable editions, making it available for personal recitation, memorization, and reflection. This quieter, almost understated presence has allowed the Sutra of Forty-Two Sections to function as a steady companion to practice, shaping understanding and conduct even when it does not dominate the soundscape of daily liturgy.