To make good use of the present moment is to ensure that not a single second passes in vain. What we call the present moment is but a fleeting instant, a mere flash of time. In the very moment that a thought arises, that moment has already passed, and we have already entered the next. Because time is so transient, we must learn to anchor our firmly within the current moment.
The most effective way to make good use of the present is to grasp every single recitation of the Buddha-name. Each character and each phrase must be clear, distinct, and free from ambiguity. When you chant, let every sound be precise. Do not allow your mind to wander or become clouded by the distractions of the world.
The Practice of Devotion
Making good use of the present also applies to the practice of prostrations. When you bow to the Buddha, you must be grounded and sincere in every movement. Your practice should be defined by the following:
Every physical movement must be accompanied by the recitation of .
Every syllable of the Buddha-name must be heard clearly within your own heart.
There must be no delusions or stray thoughts mixed into the Buddha-name.
If you allow other thoughts or delusions to intrude, you contaminate the purity and goodness of the Buddha-name. You must pay particular attention to the exact moment you perform the . This is the precise time when the Buddha’s are bestowed upon you, and the energy within the Buddha-light is infused into your body. This is the true reason why prostrations are so effective in dissolving negative , increasing your energy, and making both your body and mind supple and soft.
Cultivating Concentration and Wisdom
For those of us who are practitioners of the path, we must be diligent in our prostrations. You must seize every character of the Buddha-name and perform every movement with absolute certainty. Only when there is nothing but the Buddha-name, with no other thoughts present, can you receive the full measure of the Buddha’s blessings. This is how you train yourself to be focused and to develop deep meditative concentration.
When you recite the name of the Buddha, you must arouse the mind and single-mindedly recite Namo Amituofo. When you recite the sutras, you should read them directly without dwelling on the literal meaning of every word. This is how you maintain meditative concentration. You must avoid the fluctuations of the mind, deep contemplation, or the scattered thoughts that lead to and cause you to drift into other spaces.
The Path to
Prostrations, chanting the Buddha-name, and reciting the sutras are the essential conditions for dissolving negative karma, clearing away obstacles, and elevating the quality of one's spirit until one reaches the state of an awakened being. Every moment is a precious treasure. Do not let these moments slip away easily. If you allow one or two moments to pass without focus, you are inviting delusions, discriminations, and other stray thoughts to enter your mind. Therefore, holding tightly to the Buddha-name is the best method for making good use of the present.
When you make good use of the present, all your resources—your spirit, your physical strength, and your energy—are directed toward the purpose of your practice. Do not waste these precious resources on:
The arising of unnecessary thoughts or delusions.
Scattered thinking or emotional turbulence.
Engaging in idle discussions about right and wrong.
Allowing to interact with , which leads to the accumulation of negative karma rather than good karma.
Therefore, please let go of the past and do not dwell on the future. There is only the present moment, and in that moment, you must chant Namo Amituofo all the way, from the initial aspiration to Buddhahood. Namo Amituofo.
Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.
