The Essence of Chanting Namo Amituofo
Teachings from Ashvaghosha Bodhisattva
Recorded on February 28, 2019
The Path to
When you chant Namo Amituofo, you are not merely reciting a name; you are calling upon the Buddha-nature that resides within your own heart. To chant well is to bring forth this inherent nature, aligning your own character with the heart of Namo Amituofo. When your heart and the Buddha's heart become one, you are truly prepared for rebirth in the Western Land of Nature.
Many practitioners ask why they fail to achieve spiritual success. The answer is often simple: they have not truly changed their ways, nor have they engaged in diligent practice. Without genuine effort, one cannot expect to see results. Therefore, you must be mindful of every thought and intention. Whenever a thought arises, you should immediately lift the Buddha-name into your heart. This is the only way to subdue your delusions and afflictions.
Mastering
As you go about your daily life, your Six Roots are constantly interacting with the . It is vital to maintain your awareness during these interactions:
- The Six Roots: Our sensory inputs—the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind.
- The Six Dusts: The external world—sights, sounds, smells, tastes, touch, and thoughts.
When you possess true awareness, you will notice when a deluded thought arises. By immediately lifting the Buddha-name, you ensure that you are not influenced by external conditions or circumstances. A true practitioner keeps their Six Roots under control and remains settled within the Buddha-name. By listening to the sutras and hearing the Dharma, you build confidence in yourself and in the Buddha. You come to understand that all beings are equal to the Buddha. In this state of chanting, you reveal the Buddha-nature within, which is the true self.
Refining the Heart Through Experience
When you chant with the heart of a practitioner, you purify your own spirit. The Buddha-name you recite can also assist in the of your . Furthermore, you can expand this practice to help all beings chant for rebirth, thereby saving both yourself and others. This is how you cultivate true Wisdom. As the Great Master Qingliang once taught, we must "refine the heart through experience."
Whenever you encounter afflictions, use the Buddha-name to subdue your heart. In your daily life, every person, object, and event becomes an opportunity to train your heart to remain unmoved. When afflictions arise, using the Buddha-name to settle your mind is the manifestation of true Wisdom.
The Ultimate Destination
To all the Bodhisattvas and virtuous ones in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, remember this: to chant Namo Amituofo is to align your heart with the Buddha. Your true self already possesses this nature. Only through constant chanting can you subdue all afflictions and overcome the influence of external conditions. Only then can you be free from the suffering of being reincarnated and attain the ultimate happiness of the Western Land.
Recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Shi Haiyuan, based on the teachings of Ashvaghosha .
Namo Amituofo
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