The Practice of Continuous Mindfulness

The Torrent of Unceasing Thoughts

What is the nature of this continuous mindfulness? It refers to the flow of our thoughts—whether they are good or evil, coarse or subtle. It is the constant presence of the Holy Name of Namo Amituofo within our hearts, or conversely, the tangled web of wandering thoughts that bind us to the cycle of rebirth. Our thinking, our ideas, our delusions, our scattered thoughts, and our desires are all composed of these fleeting mental movements. In the blink of an eye, there are 3.2 billion thoughts. Within such a brief moment, an immense number of mental events have already occurred. Even when we sleep at night, these thoughts continue unabated. If we consider the entire day, how many countless thoughts have arisen? It is a number beyond imagination, a figure that defies comprehension.

For those who are accustomed to constant planning and thinking, this is the reality of every day, every month, and every year. We live in a sea of immeasurable and boundless thoughts. How can our lives endure such a burden? How can our bodies find peace? Without a pure heart, the goal of Awakening remains a distant, unreachable horizon. We must realise that this constant mental activity is the very source of our exhaustion and spiritual stagnation.

The Burden of the Five Aggregates

Within the Five Aggregates—form, feeling, perception, impulse, and consciousness—the aspect of perception is formed by the continuous succession of thoughts. This is one of the primary causes of the suffering of the Five Aggregates in their burning intensity, which is one of the eight types of suffering. Where there is thought, there is karma. There is a distinction between good karma, negative karma, and pure karma. To reach the state of no-thought is to reach the state of no-karma; this is the true realm of purity.

Whether we are thinking of the past, the present, or the future; whether we are thinking of our homes, our work, our family members, or our karmic creditors and attached spirits, we are constantly caught in a cycle of rumination. We repeat the same thoughts over and over, unable to take charge of our own minds. We dwell on our emotions, which rise and fall like waves, causing interference for ourselves and others. If we allow these thoughts to continue unchecked, how can we escape suffering? How can our problems ever be resolved? Every thought we emit is like a radio wave. It not only attracts karmic creditors to manifest before us, but it also causes our hearts to suffer and our bodies to fall ill. This is truly a time of great physical and mental distress.

The Wisdom of Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva

In the Shurangama Sutra, in the chapter on the perfect penetration of Buddha-recitation, Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva stated: "Gather the Six Roots, and keep the pure mindfulness continuous." The pure mindfulness he refers to is the Holy Name of Namo Amituofo. Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva possesses supreme compassion and wisdom. He strikes directly at the heart of our problems, identifying the source of all our suffering and providing the ultimate remedy. Only by keeping the Holy Name of Namo Amituofo in continuous, unbroken mindfulness can we suppress and eventually sever the suffering brought about by our ceaseless thinking.

Namo Amituofo is praised by all Buddhas of the ten directions and the three periods of time. The Holy Name itself contains the infinite compassion, vow, and power of Namo Amituofo. It is the purest and most virtuous of all thoughts. Those who recite the name can obtain immeasurable benefits; it is the essential condition for rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Those who know how to recite can allow the Holy Name to manifest its powerful strength to save the world and rescue beings. They can receive inconceivable blessings. This is known to those who have truly practised and attained the Buddha-Recitation Samadhi.

The Path to Meditative Concentration

Time is precious, and impermanence occurs at any moment. There is truly no time to waste on idle thoughts or delusions. Everyone should be diligent and practise continuous chanting of the Buddha's name. The Holy Name is easy to recite and can be chanted at any time. However, if you wish to gather your mind and achieve the meditative concentration of the Buddha-Recitation Samadhi, you must ensure the Holy Name is always circling in your heart and ears. You must chant until you reach the state of chanting without chanting, and no-chanting while chanting. Only then can you obtain the true benefits of the Holy Name. This achievement does not come from nothing; it requires great effort and dedicated practice.

The speed of our thoughts and the strength of our thought power are related to our level of purity and energy. The purer one is, the faster one's thoughts arise and the stronger one's thought power becomes. As stated in the Infinite Life Sutra, "In a single thought-moment, one can travel to all Buddha-lands." This is the speed of a truly awakened mind.

The Realm of Pure Awareness

Practice requires us to grasp even the most subtle thoughts. Even if a thought is as fine as a spider's thread, we must stop it as soon as it arises. Only then do we have a chance to enter the realm of no-thought. By preventing any subtle thought from arising, we reach a state of pure emptiness—flawless and pristine. Only when no thought arises is there a possibility of Awakening. We must possess a high degree of awareness, constantly maintaining it to overcome our personality and afflictions. We must not be lazy for even a moment, because a single moment of laziness is a moment of thought, which will cause us to lose the opportunity for Awakening.

The so-called state of no-thought is not a state of nothingness or ignorance. It is a state where, although there is no thinking or ruminating, one is still perfectly clear and aware. This is the realm of those who have realised their true nature; it is entirely different from ordinary confusion. A true practitioner of Buddha-recitation keeps the Holy Name in their heart. They chant without chanting, and do not chant while chanting. In the state of no-thought, there is meditative concentration. They do not attach to any appearances and are not disturbed by any external environment. They are perfectly clear. Throughout the twenty-four hours of the day, the Holy Name naturally flows continuously in their heart, merging with the Buddha-heart and the Buddha-vow, living in harmony and freedom with all external things. Those who have attained this level of skill can be said to have attained the Buddha-Recitation Samadhi.

Applying the Holy Name in Daily Life

No matter what happens, hold onto the Holy Name and chant it to the end. Whether you are eating, dressing, walking, or sleeping, the Holy Name should never leave your heart. Even when you are speaking with others, the Holy Name remains within. When your hands are busy with work, the Holy Name continues its pure, continuous flow in your heart. When you are listening to sutras and hearing the Dharma, you listen with your ears and see with your eyes, but you do not allow thoughts to arise or engage in analytical thinking. The Holy Name continues to circle in your heart, never breaking.

When others speak of matters that do not concern you, simply continue to chant. If someone speaks ill of you, points fingers at you, or even speaks to you with anger, do not respond with further conflict. Instead, respond with the Holy Name of Namo Amituofo. This will keep your heart calm and prevent you from being provoked, which would otherwise lead to the manifestation of karmic creditors and the creation of negative karma. Maintaining an unmoved mind and not becoming angry is crucial for practice. Your daily diligent practice is the perfect test of your current level of skill.

When you see the goodness in others and their spiritual achievements, offer a sincere Namo Amituofo, sending them infinite light and infinite life, along with boundless blessings. When you see the faults of others, do not let your mind be moved. Simply chant Namo Amituofo to sever your own evil thoughts and intentions. If you face physical pain, illness, or danger—even at the critical moment of life and death—never let go of the Holy Name. This is the perfect time to receive the Buddha's blessings, to be released from pain and terror, or to be guided by the Buddha to rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, rather than falling into the cycle of rebirth.

When you see others happy, rejoice in their merits with a Namo Amituofo; both the speaker and the listener will be joyful. When anger arises, raise the Holy Name to extinguish the fire of hatred. When you feel sad or discouraged, let the Holy Name enter your heart and ears to soothe your helpless spirit, injecting energy to help you recover and face the situation with peace. During a Dharma assembly for Chao Du, as you circumambulate the Buddha and chant, let every Namo Amituofo carry your heartfelt prayers. May all karmic creditors chant along with you, receive the illumination of the Buddha-light, and be guided to rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

If you can remain in sync with the Buddha-heart and the Buddha-vow twenty-four hours a day, keeping the pure mindfulness of Namo Amituofo continuous in your heart and mouth, you will certainly increase your pure karma. You will soon find your true nature, nourish the lotus of the West, and attain rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Namo Amituofo

Recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe