The Art of Subduing the Wandering Mind
Teachings from Namo Amituofo
Recorded by Venerable Fa Hui on February 22, 2025
Words of Namo Amituofo, recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable Fa Hui.
The practice of subduing thoughts is essential for every practitioner. When we speak of a 'thought' in this context, we are referring to the myriad of mental activities that cloud our true nature: delusional thoughts, -based thoughts, mental notes, and fleeting ideas. All of these are forms of pollution that obscure the clarity of your heart.
Within these thoughts lie the eight consciousnesses and the fifty-one mental factors. Every single thought and every action you take is recorded within your . Throughout countless aeons, your thoughts and your heart's actions have been stored there, creating a vast reservoir of karmic seeds that continue to influence your life today.
The Silent Echoes of the Wandering Mind
There is a saying in the practice: 'Do not fear the arising of thoughts; fear only the slowness of your awareness.' When a thought arises, if you are able to perceive it immediately, you possess the quality of awareness. The goal of your practice is to subdue these thoughts, ensuring that delusional ideas do not continue to flow and further stain your original nature.
However, if a thought arises and you cannot perceive it immediately, you have already allowed countless other thoughts to follow in its wake. This is what we call 'slow awareness.' If you allow these countless thoughts to pass without ever noticing them, you are in a state of 'non-awareness.' This state allows delusional thoughts to disturb your heart, making it incredibly difficult to subdue them.
The Heavy Chains of Unseen
For a practitioner of the , every thought and intention is an act that creates karma. If you cannot subdue your mental activity, the karma you create will be endless. How, then, can you hope to avoid suffering? Those who have achieved deep meditative concentration are able to subdue their thoughts, cut off these delusions, and eventually transcend their afflictions.
Yet, we must be honest: subduing and cutting off thoughts is an immensely difficult task. Namo Amituofo, in His infinite , knows that the spiritual obstacles of all beings are heavy and that our delusional thoughts are difficult to tame. Therefore, He has infused His Forty-eight Great Vows, His boundless power of merit, and His majestic power into the sacred name of 'Namo Amituofo.'
The Radiant Path of the Sacred Name
If you can truly 'arouse the mind and single-mindedly recite Namo Amituofo,' you will find that your own efforts are supported by the Buddha's . This combination of and allows you to subdue your thoughts, cut off delusions, and eventually overcome your afflictions. You must understand this truth: those who can recite and uphold the Buddha-name will receive the deepest benefits of the .
When a practitioner attains meditative concentration, they are no longer swayed by external environments. They can subdue their thoughts, preventing them from arising in the first place, and thus attain purity. By replacing every wandering thought with the sacred name of Namo Amituofo, you transform your mind. You must recognise the Ultimate Vow of Namo Amituofo and understand the magnificence of the Buddha-name. If you truly wish to leave suffering behind, there is no better way than to hold firmly to the sacred name of Namo Amituofo. Otherwise, your suffering will continue, because your mind remains filled with delusions. If your thoughts are constantly wandering, your practice will remain at a standstill. The answer lies in the six-character name of 'Namo Amituofo,' recited with sincerity, maintaining an unbroken stream of practice and realisation. Namo Amituofo.
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