Teachings on Chanting Namo Amituofo by Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju

The Burden of the Past

Are you still allowing the people, events, and circumstances of the past to entangle your heart? Do you find yourself constantly trapped by memories, unable to truly open your heart or share a genuine, peaceful smile? We must reflect deeply on why we allow these shadows to linger. When we remain tethered to the past, we lose our connection to the present moment, which is the only place where true practice can occur.

The Trap of Time and Karma

We must also consider the influence of our daily lives—the events of yesterday, today, and the years that have passed. Are we allowing these experiences to shape our Body, Speech, and Mind in ways that are not aligned with the truth? When we dwell on these temporal concerns, we inadvertently attract karma to manifest, which leads to unnecessary suffering and hardship. Furthermore, when we allow our consciousness to wander into the anxieties of the future, we only create more afflictions, confusion, and doubt. These are all illusions that cloud our true self.

Replacing Delusions with the Buddha Name

These are all unnecessary burdens. Please, replace these distractions with the practice of chanting Namo Amituofo. By focusing entirely on the sacred name, you can replace the following obstacles:

• Delusions:
• The false thoughts that obscure your true self.Discriminations:
• The tendency to judge and divide the world into likes and dislikes.Attachments:
• The clinging to things that are inherently impermanent.Afflictions and Confusion: The mental states that cause us to suffer greatly.

Whenever you feel these burdens rising, simply return to the Buddha name. Just remember to chant Namo Amituofo. Chant it straight through, with your heart fully focused on the Buddha. Never forget the Buddha for even a single moment, and the Buddha will protect you from within.

The Verse of Chanting

I once wrote a verse on this practice to guide you. It teaches that the Buddha who teaches us to chant is the same Buddha we are chanting to, and ultimately, it is the Buddha within us who is doing the chanting. The essence of the verse is as follows: Namo Amituofo teaches me to chant Namo Amituofo; my mouth chants the name, and I listen to the sound of the name. I chant Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo, straight through without interruption; in the end, it is the Buddha within chanting to the Buddha without.

Awakening the True Nature

Namo Amituofo is not far away. He is here at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, and he is within your own heart. Your true self already contains the Buddha. He is waiting for you to chant, to call out his name with sincerity, and to awaken the Buddha within your own true nature. Do not let another moment pass in confusion. Return to the light, return to the name, and find your way home.

Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

Namo Amituofo