The Continuous Stream of Namo Amituofo

Namo Amituofo's discourse, recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

March 29, 2024, First Session.

The Goal of Continuous Chanting

Namo Amituofo asks: Can you achieve a state where chanting then becomes a continuous, flowing stream that never stops? This is the goal of chanting the Buddha-name. It is the state where the Buddha-name becomes the very rhythm of your existence, a constant stream that never ceases, regardless of the external circumstances you may face.

The Art of Letting Go

In the process of practice, one must go through the act of letting go, letting go, and letting go again. Continuously "see through" and "let go". Do not let idle matters, worldly affairs, or the concerns of others weigh upon your heart. To truly progress, you must understand what these distractions are:

• Idle matters:
• Matters that provide no benefit to one's practice are called idle matters.Worldly affairs:
• These are mundane matters: emotions, calculations of gain and loss, fame and profit, right and wrong, and comparisons.The concerns of others: These are the thoughts and afflictions arising from the subjective differences in perspective between you, me, and others.

In other words, have nothing on your heart except for the Buddha-name.

The Practice of Stillness in Motion

During daily practice, while serving the public, during a Dharma assembly, while fulfilling duties, or while working in the gardens, act in accordance with the Buddha-heart and vows. Adhere to the temple rules and do not violate the Precepts. Through diligent practice of the Three Learnings of Precepts, Samadhi, and Wisdom, and by achieving success in meditative concentration, you will not be disturbed by external interference from people, events, or objects.

At that point, the Buddha-name will naturally emerge, even in the midst of movement. This is the state of chanting without chanting, and without chanting yet chanting. It is a state where the practice has become one with your very being.

The Purity of the Heart

What is the Pure Land? It is a state where there is not a single trace of attachment in the heart; all things that manifest in the Pure Land are pure. For a practitioner of the Pure Land, chanting the Buddha-name well is the fundamental skill of practice. Purification is the priority. When the heart is pure, the land is pure. One must put this into practice to truly gain an understanding.

The Lotus of the Pure Land

When the heart is the Pure Land, both the body and the spirit are purified, and then one can see their true self. The true self is the Buddha-heart; all actions and deeds are in sync with purity. One sees the truth of reality clearly and does not violate the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. Knowing that even the slightest pollution prevents one from seeing their true self, one must distance oneself from dust and grime, just like a lotus flower that rises from the mud yet remains unstained, pure, and flawless. To maintain the Buddha-name continuously, 24/7, is to realise the Pure Land practice at Hsiang Kuang: A Sacred Sanctuary. Namo Amituofo.