Amitabha makes your mind undistracted

Master Huang Nianzu

Depending on Amitabha Buddha’s aspiration means to rely on "other-power"; our rebirth in Sukhavati depends on something beyond our own ability—Amitabha's aspiration. Otherwise, how could you be reborn in Sukhavati with just ten recitations of Amitabha (as stated in the 18th vow of Amitabha)?

After accomplishing sufficient merits, when a person like us approaches the end of life, Amitabha Buddha and the holy assembly will appear right in front of us. Weren't we talking the other day about an old woman in Fuzhou who saw Amitabha come to receive her?

The Buddha appearing before you—this is where Kumarajiva's translation of Amitabha Sutra is missing something. Kumarajiva was a great translator master, incredibly excellent, so Master Xuanzang would generally not retranslate the sutras that Kumarajiva had already translated.

However, Xuanzang did retranslate only two sutras—one is the Amitabha Sutra and the other is the Diamond Sutra. The Diamond Sutra had four very important lines, so he translated it again; as for the Amitabha Sutra, it was also missing a little bit.

In Xuanzang’s translation of the Amitabha Sutra, it states that "at the point of death, Amitabha appears before (the virtuous man or woman) surrounded by an assembly of countless Shravaka disciples and Bodhisattvas blessing and protecting them, causing their minds to be undistracted."

The word “undistracted” comes later. The term "single-pointed undistracted mind" is not present in Xuanzang’s translation, rather, it mentions "without being distracted" in the earlier sentence. (Refer to notes below)

Therefore, the issue of whether one has achieved a "single-pointed undistracted mind" or not doesn't even exist. Nowadays, many pureland practitioners have a big doubt. They say, "I have recited for so many years but I haven't reached the state of a single-pointed undistracted mind. I still have some wandering thoughts while reciting Amitabha. Can I actually be reborn in Sukhavati?"

Some people then say, "I just have to try my luck. If I'm lucky and can recite at the end of my life, I'll be reborn in pureland; if I'm unlucky, it won't work. It also depends on whether there's anyone to help me etc. It depends on my luck."

But it is not like that. For one, twenty-one characters were left out of Kumarajiva's translation of Amitabha Sutra. His translation was too concise. When you compare both translations, the meaning becomes very clear. This "undistracted" state arises when Amitabha appears and compassionately blesses you. Once you fill in the missing lines we talked about earlier, the meaning is complete. If you add this phrase "compassionately blessing and protecting them, causing their minds to be undistracted", this misunderstanding will not arise.

It is not that you must attain the level of being undistracted and clearly mindful at the end of your life before you are qualified to achieve rebirth in Sukhavati. Rather, it is because you have met the conditions of Amitabha’s aspiration (through your faith and aspiration). Since your mind aligns with the Buddha’s aspiration, Amitabha fulfils his vow and comes to receive you.

At the moment Amitabha comes to you, he blesses you compassionately, causing your mind to be undistracted! It is Amitabha who makes your mind undistracted. So what could go wrong? Your mind is undistracted, you are mindful of Amitabha, Amitabha comes to receive you. If you do not get reborn in pureland, what else could happen? Therefore, at that point, it is certain that you will be reborn in Sukhavati.

Notes:

Kumarajiva's translation: "Shariputra, if a virtuous man or women, hears of Amitabha and is mindful of his name for one, two, three, four, five, six or seven days with a single-pointed mind free from distractions （一心不乱）, Amitabha will appear before this person at the point of death with his holy assembly. This person will take rebirth in Amitabha's pureland Sukhavati at the end of his life with an unconfused mind."

Xuanzang’s translation: “Shariputra! If a virtuous man or woman of pure faith hears of the immeasurable and inconceivable merits of the name of Buddha Amitayus (Amitabha) and the sublime qualities of Sukhavati and brings it to mind for one, two, three, four, five, six, or seven days and nights without being distracted （系念不乱）, when this virtuous man or woman approaches the end of life, Buddha Amitayus, surrounded by a countless assembly of Shravaka disciples and Bodhisattvas come before them, compassionately blessing and protecting them, causing their minds to be undistracted. When their life ends, they will follow the Buddha and his assembly to be reborn in the pure realm of Amitayus, Sukhavati.” 

~~

Dharma Master Jingjie

Past high masters have given various interpretations on the term "one-pointed mind without distractions". Based on my understanding, there are two types of interpretation. Some people interpret "one-pointed undistracted mind" (一心不乱）as a meditative concentration which consists of the power of focus and the power of continuity. Personally, I feel that this interpretation is not complete.

I am inclined to agree more with Master Lianchi's (8th Pureland Patriarch) interpretation. Master Lianchi divides the phrase into two parts for explanation: "one-pointed" and "undistracted".

He feels that "one-pointed" refers to meditative concentration. "The mind abiding one-pointedly on Amitabha’s name continually"—this is "one-pointed". In the mind, there is only the recitation of Amitabha and no other thoughts. This is equivalent to the state of Shamata. On the other hand, "undistracted" carries the meaning of Vipashyana. It means seeing that afflictions or thoughts are unreal and being unmoved by them. One is the power of concentration while the other is the power of insight.

To what degree must one achieve "one-pointedness" in Amitabha recitation? If the requirement is to reach the first Jnana or even the concentration of the desire realm, how many people can actually accomplish that? If that were the case, the pureland teachings would not be universally applicable to beings of all three levels of caliber (high, medium and low).

Master Tanluan said that at the end of life, one should be able to "recite the name continuously right up till attainment." "Continuous recitation" does not require you to achieve meditative concentration or samadhi. However, at the end of life, the recitation of Amitabha’s name must have a certain duration or continuity. You need the power of continuity and the power of focus for some time at least.

This power of continuity is definitely not a state of meditative concentration, but rather a state of focus. Focus is different from meditative concentration; focus is like a continuous chain while meditative concentration is a state of mastery or control under any condition.

We are certainly able to sustain the recitation of Amitabha for a certain amount of time. During this time, you should not be disturbed by afflictions. You must have the ability to counteract, subdue or resist afflictions for that period of time. This is the standard required for rebirth in Sukhavati.

Giving rise to a certain degree of mindfulness at the end of life is the way to connect with Amitabha's compassionate vows. This is very important.

Lord Buddha's display of impermanence

Dharma Master Jingjie

The Lotus Sutra mentions about Lord Buddha's passing into Parinirvana.  Lord Buddha could have actually remained in this world for an eon, but he did not do so.

The explanation in the Lotus Sutra is presented through a parable. It says that there was a highly skilled physician with several sons who were all strong and healthy. One day, these children went out to play and accidentally consumed poison.

This poison was a slow-acting toxin and as there was no immediate effects, the children did not feel it was anything to be concerned with. Their father then prescribed different medicines for each of them: one was for the eldest, another for the second and so forth, writing their names on each packet of medicine and distributing them to his sons.

These sons said, "What is there to fear? My father is a great doctor anyway, what is there to worry about?" They procrastinated about taking the medicine and left it aside.

The father thought to himself that this could not go on as these children were too dependent on him and took their health for granted. Therefore, he came up with a plan. He gathered all his sons together and said, "I am going to travel to other countries. Your medicines have all been stored away for you in the cabinet and I have labelled them with your names. If you need to take them, go take them yourselves."

The sons were still indifferent. So, this doctor took his attendant and traveled to other countries. After some time, the attendant returned and said, "Your father has died abroad."

Once the children heard this news, they got anxious about the situation. “Before, our father was around to cure any illness. Now our father is dead!" They rushed to the cabinet to get their own medicine, because their father was dead and they had to take the medicine immediately.

What does this show? It illustrates that if the Buddha remained in the world for a long time, it would bring less benefit to sentient beings. Disciples become complacent and unwilling to study and practice diligently and earnestly. They think that the Buddha will always be there to depend upon. They rely on the person, rather than the Dharma.

Thus, the Buddha manifested his parinirvana so that everyone would develop a sense of crisis. With no Buddha to rely on, the only thing we can do is to study the Dharma to realize the Dharma. Then everyone is made aware of impermanence.

No one else can study or practice on your behalf. Let me say it again: no one can walk the Dharma path for you and hand you the results, it's impossible!

Lama Tsongkhapa said, "The Buddhas do not wash away the sins of sentient beings with water, nor do they remove the sufferings of beings with their hands; they do not transfer their own enlightened qualities onto others, it is only by teaching the Dharma that they guide beings towards liberation."

If you study and practice Dharma earnestly, the Buddha remains in the world as far as you are concerned; if you do not study earnestly, being around the Buddha is of not much benefit. Look at Buddha’s disciples during his lifetime. Two disciples fell into the three lower realms even though they lived with the Buddha and took ordination under him.

The success or failure of your practice does not depend on whether the Buddha remains in the world, but it depends on the Dharma —the true refuge is the Dharma…The Buddha's appearance in the world is only to speak the Dharma—whether you transform your mind or not depends on your own efforts.

Managing the input into our minds

Khenpo Sodargye

Under the control of big data (algorithms), many short videos and social media are actually sowing discord and driving wedges between people. This includes relationships between husbands and wives, teachers and students, parents and children, among others; these relationships are being constantly being undermined.

To develop one’s life values from such input is deeply tragic and pitiful; it is also one of the reasons why more and more people are suffering from depression and anxiety nowadays. Many children who are just ten years old or so suffer from depression, feeling that they are not acknowledged by their schools or their parents. Consequently, they are unwilling to attend school and are even sent to psychiatric hospitals, and after coming out, their capacity for thinking is no longer fully intact. This phenomenon is becoming increasingly common…

Many people are constantly brainwashed with negative thoughts through short videos and similar medium, then they come to believe that the entire world must be as depicted by these negative perspectives. Online information is overwhelming and pervasive, while excellent education focused on virtue is missing. 

What catches people's eyes is negative information… the more they dwell on it, the more they want to watch it, until finally they truly believe in their hearts that things are exactly this way. Nowadays, there are alot of provocative suggestions about how children should confront their parents, even the words used by couples during arguments are learned from these videos designed by their creators for stimulation and entertainment…

Moral standards have also been torn down by these videos—as more people watch these videos of previously unacceptable behaviors with enjoyment, these immoral behaviors become normalised and accepted by the mainstream.  This is a characteristic of the degenerate times.

Chicken habit and Deity Practice

Lama Tharchin Rinpoche

(editted for clarity)

Vajrayana's wisdom is within you. You don’t have to wait because Dzogchen point of view is you don't need to be liberated. You are already liberated. You never got bound, you are free.

I have a story. We had a life-release. Suzanne bought several boxes of chickens. Each box had three or four chickens. A small box like this, it is completely packed. We opened the box and set them free. But due to their habit, the chickens feel they can't walk or run around. They always sit like this (in a restricted manner). Because of habit.

If you don't trust your freedom, you are just like those chickens. [Laughter] It's really true. I realized that, wow, this is how heavy habit is. Then I realized we are just like these chickens. Even though we already enlightened, we kept dualistic structure.

We taught these chickens to move and let them move, later they learned to move.

Similarly, this skillful training of (visualizing deities and generation stage) is like that. [Laughs] Just like that. Let us feel, “Wow, I'm a deity.” Trick our minds in a positive way so that we can be free. This trick is called the Mahayoga practice.

For example, if you change your name every day or every week.  You keep using different names, keep changing.  Someday you will be confused and think, “Who am I? What is my name?” So the mental trick is like that.

The deity yoga is a good way to feel this freedom. When you're feeling this freedom, it builds up a habit, then you are free. Because our delusion, this entire dualistic phenomena or appearance is created by our mental habit. This whole universe is a mental display.

Whether it is a good place or bad place; good life or bad life, it’s all okay.  Whether it is pleasurable or painful time. It's okay. Everything is displayed by mind.

Samsara is also a generation stage of creating material phenomena, concrete phenomena, heavy phenomena. We are always creating samsara appearances. This is unenlightened generation stage practice. This is samsara practice.

We use the same trick but in a good way. To create a good habit, your mind can visualize deity appearances. First you create, then you feel, then feeling comes more because that habit is coming closer to the truth, approaching purity. Then that mind attains the habit of deity phenomena.

It sounds a little complicated, but actually when you do it, it is simple. Because we have only one mind. We don't have two or three minds, just one mind. When you focus that one mind, whatever you focus on, repeating it again and again. That is called karma. It is a mental habit that you keep repeating.

That's why we repeat mantra. We repeat visualization of wisdom deities. The one mind is engaged with wisdom body, wisdom speech, wisdom mind. That's how you accumulate mental habit and build wisdom phenomena.

The one that builds ordinary, solid, material phenomena and clings to it is your mind. Your mind creates this karma.  When your mind shift focus to wisdom phenomena, then it gets a little vacation from building samsara and emotional phenomena. [Laughter]

Samsara is built by your mind. That is why we are meditating. Because the focus is now changed.  We have been meditating on samsaric phenomena for countless lifetimes. For eons and eons we repeated this meditation. Therefore, samsara is solidly manifesting to us right now.

So we are undoing the process through the same way. It is exactly same — using your mind. Clinging onto phenomena is our problem. We desire good things and hate negative things.  Both of these emotions of attachment and aversion comes from not knowing its nature, that's ignorance. Through repeating attachment, aversion and ignorance, we build this samsara.

Now, our Dharma practice is to reverse this process. Go back to who we are originally. For example, I am Tharchin and my body here is 75 years old. It is a temporary thing. This is not going to be forever. It is not reliable. If I understand this, I have less expectation of my body.

If you have faith that your true nature is the primordial Buddha Kuntuzangpo, instead of Tharchin. Then you keep repeating this moment by moment. It changes this material, solid, concrete phenomena into what you are meditating upon.

 

Sharing: Supportive-chanting at end of life

Question:

During the end-of-life supportive-chanting of Amitabha, the deceased's body cannot be moved for eight hours. But in Japan, especially in hospitals, if we perform supportive-chanting when someone has just died, the hospital immediately requires their body to be moved to the mortuary when they die.  What should we do then?

Dharma Master Ding Hong:

…this depends on the merit of the practitioner. If you wish to pass away with ease, have people chant Amitabha for you right after you pass and have no one move your body, then you must cultivate merit right now.

You save this merit to be used at the time of your death. When you cultivate merit, you cannot yet enjoy it. When you enjoy your merits, it is used up. Therefore, you must cultivate strongly, do giving, let go.  At the same time, take suffering as your teacher. Live simply where possible. This way, your merits are preserved. When your end of life comes, you will have no problems.

We encountered the same problem in Hong Kong. Hong Kong law also dictates that once a person dies, the police must be called. If in a hospital, they must be immediately moved to the mortuary.

However, we have also sent off some fellow HK practitioners who had great merit. They notified the police a full 24 hours later.  The police came, took a look, and said, "Okay, let's check the body." After examining the body, it was fine. They did not investigate further.

There was no problem leaving the body there for 24 hours.  They had great merit. At the time of their passing, no karmic creditors came to disturb or interfere with them.

If one passes away in the hospital, it is quite troublesome because the hospital cannot accommodate you, especially if you enter the Intensive Care Unit [ICU]. Once you enter the ICU, your fate is completely handed over to the doctors.  Your family members can't do anything; fellow practitioners can do even less...

I have seen it myself. We once went to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Hong Kong to do supportive-chanting for a pureland practitioner. Her son didn’t know what to do. His mother had a stroke and he immediately sent her to the hospital.

She was sent to the hospital, fell into a coma and went into the ICU. In the ICU, you mostly go in and only come out when you are dead. They use these machines to prolong your life or extend it for a few days. This is considered fulfilling the medical staff's responsibility of saving life.

How did they prolong her life? They cut open her windpipe and inserted a ventilator tube. Because your nose is no longer working, they insert it directly into the windpipe. They use a machine to help you breathe and they add a pump to the heart.

The entire body is inserted with tubes. There is a tube in the esophagus to pump liquid food into you. Then there are urinary catheters, tubes for feces, and so on. Anyway, you are full of tubes.

Plus, there are the wires and tubes for the monitors. This one is for heartbeats, this one is for breathing. This kind is for blood pressure etc.  Anyway, the person is restrained to the bed. Extremely suffering. Tell me, isn't this being cruel to the patient? This was too terrifying. It was simply hell on earth. You are unable to move a muscle.

When I went in and saw this, my tears just fell. The air conditioning was blowing on her, her clothes were quite bare, she was only covered with a thin blanket. Even normal healthy people would feel... most people would feel freezing cold in this environment.

Anyway, they don't care… as long as the machines are plugged in, it's fine to them. Just a thin layer covering her, her body was freezing cold. You see, it's like this.

Our group went in to chant Amitabha but the hospital wouldn't allow so many people to chant, they only allowed one person. If you came out to go to the toilet, there can't be a second person going in. The visit is considered over. What to do? In the end, everyone sent me in. Before going in, I first went to the restroom…

It was gloomy and eerie inside, as if entering the underworld. In that ICU, it wasn't just her alone; there were other people. Some people, when they woke up, were wailing. It truly sounded like ghosts crying. Going in, I felt my body trembling.

I chanted for her for a long time, but there was no response. I didn't dare to be loud. If it was loud, the medical staff would say, "Don't disturb the others." Because there were several patients together there, I didn't dare to chant loudly. But if I didn't chant loudly, I was afraid she couldn't hear it.

What to do? I thought of a method. I took a piece of paper and rolled it into a tube, placed this at her ear and chanted through it. I chanted softly to avoid getting kicked out. It was truly quite difficult.

Because there were no chairs there, I could only bend over. I couldn't stand too far away… after less than an hour of chanting, my lower back became sore. Finally, I knelt down. Kneeling down, I could at least keep my back straight, then my mouth was exactly level with her ear. So I chanted like this.

In the end, the doctor was touched and brought a stool over for me. Really, that supportive-chanting session was the most grueling in my life…

So it's best if you know it is the end of life to remain at home. You just chant Amitabha right where you are and seek rebirth in Sukhavati. Less suffering, it is okay even if we leave this world a bit earlier…

At home, when you chant Amitabha, your mind is clear. If you chant Amitabha with faith and aspiration to seek rebirth in Sukhavati, Amitabha will definitely come to receive you. If by chance karmic obstacles manifest and you lose consciousness, then faith and aspiration will all be absent.

Of course, that practitioner in Hongkong also lacked sufficient faith and aspiration, which is why she suffered such an outcome. If she had true faith and aspiration, she could have told her children that when her time comes, they must absolutely not send her to the hospital.

Take my mother, for instance… I have her will with me today. Let me read her will to everyone. This is from February 2008…

There are five clauses in total.

“Recalling my entire life, I am grateful to my parents, grateful to my teachers. Grateful to the country and its people, grateful to my siblings and all my friends. I was able to work peacefully until retirement and am able to enjoy a wonderful twilight years. Grateful to all sentient beings. Especially grateful to Venerable Master for teaching us to learn traditional culture and understand Buddhism and Pureland practice. At the time of departing this world, let me affectionately say: Thank you, everyone.”

This is the first clause.

“What makes me satisfied is that my thirty years of effort in raising my son were not in vain. My only child, my son Zhong Maosen, has allowed me to become the mother of a PhD and the mother of a professor. What comforts me even more is that my son has embarked on the path of learning from the past sages and propagating the teachings of the sages. I hope Maosen will diligently study and promote the traditional cultures of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. Delve deeply into teachings, continuously teach, and follow the teachings of the sages. Cultivate moral character, manage the family, govern the state, bring peace to the world, benefit society and the people, and seek rebirth in the Pure Land.”

This is an expectation she has for me.

“In my later years, I personally studied the Buddhist Pure Land sutras, and resolved to chant Amitabha to seek rebirth in Sukhavati. I hope my son, Zhong Maosen, will preside over my end-of-life matters and affairs after my passing. I also hope relatives, friends, and fellow practitioners will chant Amitabha for me for twenty-four hours during my final moments, and escort me to be reborn in Sukhavati.

“My body should only be moved twenty-four hours after passing away. This is very important. If, due to old age I suffer an illness, no matter at what time or place, absolutely do not send me to the hospital. Even more so, do not attempt resuscitation or life-support. Please immediately chant Amitabha for me.”

My mother is really smart.

Below it says, “If my lifespan has not yet ended, I will receive the Buddha's blessing and recover. If my lifespan has ended, I can pass away amidst the chanting of Amitabha’s name. Absolutely do not, under any circumstance, send me to the hospital. Chant Amitabha right there. At the juncture of life and death, chanting Amitabha is the number one thing to do."

This is the third clause.

“The family property, including the real estate under my name and all bank deposits, cash, and household items, etc., shall all be inherited and managed by my son, Zhong Maosen. If there are still plenty of deposits, please donate appropriately to make offerings to the Triple Gem, print wholesome books, and engage in social public welfare and charitable works.

“I hope that when relatives, friends, and fellow practitioners learn of my passing, they can all recite the Ksitigarbha Sutra, Amitayus Sutra, Amitabha Sutra and chant Amitabha within 49 days. This will be the best memorial and help for me. Thank you!

“May we meet in Sukhavati again. Namo Amituofo!  Pureland practitioner Zhao Liangyu. Written on February 29, 2008, in Guangzhou.”

This shows my mom had the most wisdom. Being able to completely and clearly hand over all matters after death, one can rest completely at ease. Once people reach old age, they should quickly think about writing a will properly.

Master Yinguang said: "Always hang the word 'Death' on your forehead." If a person frequently thinks of death, they will have Dharma in mind.

Reciting till single-pointed emptiness

On an occasion of sharing by two venerable masters with their disciples.

Elder Master Chanyun: Layman Dong was an old man who stayed in Zhanshan Monastery as a language teacher.  He was reciting Amitabha in a room when they called him to come out for mealtime.  

Elder Master Mengcan:  No, no-one called him.  He recited Amitabha and simply exited the room.  The door was locked. He locked the door from within but he left the room while reciting Amitabha. I was staying there at that time. I was there when this happened.  This happened around 1938-39.  I did not leave the monastery yet.

Elder Master Chanyun: So what happened was that: he entered his room and locked the door from within to prevent anyone else from entering. Then he recited Amitabha until a state of one-pointedness. Without opening the door, he went out of the room.  Later, when he returned to his room, he couldn’t open the door because the door was locked from within. (Audience laughed)

Elder Master Mengcan:  This is the state of “one-pointed undistracted mind”.  It is “Form is emptiness; emptiness is form” (from Heart Sutra).  His body-mind was empty, the external structure of the room was empty.  He recited until all that remained was just that one phrase "Amitabha". Nothing else existed for him.  In this state of union, he could pass through the door and leave the room. 

Either progress or regress, there is no third alternative

Dharma Master Jingjie

When karma matures, firstly, it arises and ceases from moment to moment. Secondly, it directs your behavior. The power of karma will make you repeat the act again and again.

In the view of Yogacara, when you do not repent a negative deed, it means you rejoice in it. There is no third alternative.  Ordinary beings are not able to remain neutral in the middle.

Thus, from the perspective of Yogacara, if you do not repent your behavior, it means you approve of it. If you say, "I didn't repent, but I don’t approve of it either," that is wrong. If you do not repent, then you are complying with it.

In Yogacara, there are only two situations: you either purify and eliminate karmic seed, or you strengthen it. 

This means that no one remains in the original condition without changing. The phrase "staying constant" does not apply to ordinary beings, only to holy beings (who have realisation). Holy beings have realised their mind to be unborn and unceasing, so they can stay constant.

We are not qualified to "stay the same." You are either improving or you are regressing, because your life is a flowing stream of thoughts which arises and ceases, so how is it possible to stay constant?

Therefore, from the perspective of Yogacara, if you do not repent and purify, it means that you are indulging in the behavior. “Not repenting” and “rejoicing” mean the same thing. Therefore, the power of the negative karma is augmented…

At first, you create the karma, but in the end, the karma will be the one compelling you to create further karma. A karmic seed will activate further ripenings. Originally, you were the one who created it, but later it influences you to do that same type of action again…

Therefore, a kind of mutually reinforcing cycle is generated. This seed will not cease until you repent and counteract it.  It slowly snowballs and accumulates strength. This is the first point.

Once the karmic seed has been created, even if the conditions that allow it to surface are absent and it doesn’t continue (to influence your behavior), then it is instead stored latently within your mind (until conditions allow it to arise again.)

Study but do not neglect practice

Khenpo Tsultrim Lodro

Many people are studying the Five Great Treatises, and this is very good.  If you have the time, you should study them as well. But it is important to remember that the Dharma is as vast as the ocean—boundless and inexhaustible. One could spend an entire lifetime and still not learn it all.

Therefore, after reaching a certain level of study, one must understand the importance of practice. If one keeps studying without practicing, one may eventually degenerate into a mere theorist—someone who lacks renunciation, bodhicitta, and faith, and can only talk eloquently about Buddhism without genuinely embodying it.

Much of the content in the Five Great Treatises is not merely theoretical; it has practical significance and can guide us in real life. There is no need to wait until attaining Buddhahood or being reborn in the Sukhavati (for results from Dharma practice). Even in this very life, one can benefit from Dharma.

For example, when we encounter afflictions, old age, sickness, or other hardships, we realize that things we usually value so much—money, fame, philosophy, logic etc—become meaningless, whereas many of the principles taught in Buddhism turn out to be very useful.

However, we should also be careful. Once we reach a certain stage of learning, we may become so absorbed in study that we cannot pull ourselves away. We continue studying endlessly, reluctant to let go, and even find it highly enjoyable. From there, two outcomes are possible.

One possibility is positive. Because we understand many Buddhist teachings, our faith in the Guru and the Three Jewels becomes even stronger. We become deeply aware that the only truth of real value in this world is the Dharma, we lose interest in everything else and wish to devote ourselves wholeheartedly to practice.

The other possibility is negative. As our learning and reflection increase, our actual practice naturally decreases. Instead of applying Buddhist teachings to our own cultivation, we use them for debating, preaching, and scrutinizing others.

Taking Buddhist principles as a measuring stick, we begin judging other people's strengths and shortcomings. At that point, we have started going downhill, and in the end, we may even regress from the path altogether.

If we notice such a tendency in ourselves, we should immediately make adjustments and intensify our practice. We should put great effort into cultivating faith, compassion, and renunciation. By doing so, we can reverse the situation and get back on track.

Remembering impermanence is the mark of a practitioner

Khenpo Sodargye

In Dharma practice, thinking of impermanence is of the highest importance. If we lack the remembrance of impermanence, we are no different from ordinary worldly people. Sometimes, we see certain Khenpos, Geshes, or other figures of high stature whose speech and behavior seem to lack the understanding of impermanence.  Then, their Dharma practice will not be good either. If one lacks the contemplation of impermanence, one clings to permanence, leading to afflictions and negative karma which ultimately brings suffering.

For practitioners, the contemplation of impermanence is of the highest importance among all practices… Just as the teachings of the Kadampa masters show, when the feeling of impermanence arises in our mindstream, we no longer have much interest in worldly matters, realizing that if we do not listen, contemplate, and practice Dharma as soon as possible, this brief human life will pass by in the blink of an eye.

Amitabha's light

Khenpo Yeshe Phuntsok

When you recite Amitabha with utmost sincerity, you are connecting to the mind of Amitabha. Amitabha will immediately bless you and your mind will gradually undergo a transformation.

As Lord Buddha Shakyamuni stated in the Contemplation Sutra, Amitabha Buddha radiates infinite light upon countless universes in the ten directions, blessing and guiding those who recite his name, without leaving out anyone.

Pureland Patriarch Shandao also mentioned in his Pratyutpanna Praise that the Amitabha’s light shines universally upon those who practice Amitabha-recitation. Amitabha’s light possesses boundless, inconceivable functions to benefit beings. When your recitation resonates with Amitabha, you will naturally receive blessings.  The more you recite Amitabha, the greater the joy and bliss that arises in your mind.

Therefore, reciting Amitabha is by no means dry or boring. The peace and joy it brings can only be experienced by those who recite with genuine sincerity. As you continue to recite Amitabha, your mind gradually becomes purified and your faith and feeling for Amitabha will grow and deepen.

When you reach the point where you experience the peace and joy, you will be unwilling to stop reciting even if someone told you to do so. Amitabha’s ocean of aspirational vows has infallible blessings. Amitabha guides and cares for sentient beings through his light; his sacred name is a medium for sentient beings to connect with Amitabha’s power.

As long as you sincerely recite Amitabha, the Buddha's light begin to enter your mind. As your recitation progresses and your communion with Amitabha deepens, the blessings you receive will also become greater and greater.

Hence, reciting Amitabha is akin to bathing in the Buddha's light. The better you recite, the more obvious will be the receipt of blessings. It can bring peace and strength to your body and mind; it can eliminate karmic obstacles. Sometimes you can feel it yourself during the recitation that you are truly bathing and immersed in the Buddha's light, your mind naturally becomes very pure and joyful.

This is because Amitabha’s light is also called the "Blissful Light ". When you receive the blessing of Amitabha’s light, joy naturally wells up in your mind. Furthermore, when you recite Amitabha with a sincere heart, the dust obscuring your mind will gradually be cleared away and your virtuous roots will be activated and manifest effortlessly more and more.

For example, your body and mind feels gentle and workable, your hairs may stand on end, or you may find yourself weeping as you recite; sometimes a heart of great compassion may arise, making you aspire to benefit all sentient beings without end... These are all signs of your virtuous roots being activated. (However, do not become attached to these signs as these are natural processes.)

Normally, when we are not reciting the Amitabha, our body and mind remain in an impure state of afflictions. Yet, when you recite Amitabha well, even for just a short period of time, your body and mind feels as though they have been thoroughly washed clean, becoming extremely pure and joyful, and your entire body-mind feels refreshed and transformed.

From various biographies as well as the personal experiences of the Buddhist friends around us, we know of some blind people who have recovered their sight through Amitabha-recitation. Some have had their tumors disappear, some have become so full of energy that they do not need to sleep much because they receive the blessings of Amitabha’s light all day long and are free from wandering thoughts.  They have already attained recitation-samadhi. There are even patients with terminal illnesses who had been told by hospitals to prepare for their death, but through single-minded recitation of Amitabha were cured of their very severe illnesses.

This is because when people reach that critical stage, they have no other hope and their sole recourse is to single-mindedly take refuge in Amitabha Buddha. Thus, the sincerity of their recitation produces a spiritual response very quickly. These are all results of Amitabha recitation and receiving the blessings.

I have told the story of Venerable Zhaoyue's mother many times. When she was first brought to the monastery by her son, she missed her son every day, and she spoke of nothing but worldly matters. Later, the monk urged his mother to recite Amitabha and refused to discuss any other topics with her, leaving her with no choice but to recite Amitabha.

In the beginning, she was extremely reluctant and only did it because there was nothing else to do, forcing herself to recite half-heartedly. After three years of continuous practice, she became used to it and derived great benefit. She no longer thought about worldly affairs and achieved a rather pure practice of Amitabha recitation.

One day, while reciting Amitabha in front of a Buddhist pagoda (stupa), her mind suddenly opened up and all she could see was a vast boundless light. All ordinary appearances vanished from her consciousness and she directly beheld a golden world (ie, Sukhavati).  From then on, her six sense faculties became serene and still, and whether walking, standing, sitting, or lying down, she no longer gave rise to any discursive thoughts.

There was also a man named Blacksmith Huang. He was a smith who worked all day beside a high-temperature furnace which was exceptionally grueling labor. Later, he began to recite Amitabha while striking iron. Because his recitation connected to Amitabha’s blessings, he no longer felt tired or miserable at all.  His mind was always restful, joyful and deeply at peace.

The Dharma practice of Amitabha recitation is by no means a shallow or inferior method. As long as one continuously invokes this great name of myriad virtues, when the recitation reaches full maturity, the body and mind will dissolve into emptiness, the duality of subject and object will collapse and one's nature of mind will manifest and be realized. This is what is known as attaining "One-Mindedness in Principle." (See note below)

Of course, reaching One-Mindedness in Actuality or One-Mindedness in Principle belongs to a very high level of attainment, which ordinary people cannot achieve for the time being. However, this does not matter; as long as your faith and aspirations are firm and resolute, you will certainly achieve rebirth in Sukhavati.

After being reborn in Sukhavati and having received the blessings of Amitabha Buddha, you will absolutely attain realisation. Therefore, as long as you recite Amitabha with utmost sincerity, the Buddha's power will produce its function in your mind and you will reap immense benefit.

Our main goal right now is to urge everyone to get on the path; otherwise, if you never take this first step, you will never be able to get on the path. As the proverb goes, "The first step is always the hardest." At the beginning of practicing Amitabha recitation, there will indeed be some difficulties because you have never habituated yourself to it, making the practice feel very foreign and unfamiliar.

But this is not a problem at all. As you recite over time, you will become proficient in it and really obtain the Dharma bliss from your recitation. Right now, we are using the power of group practice to urge everyone forward, helping everyone get accustomed to Amitabha recitation.

People's spiritual acumen vary. Some find it hard to sustain their recitation, this type of person needs to strengthen their faith and vows, or combine it with other methods of practice. On the other hand, some people have very simple, pure minds and can sustain their recitation easily, having no problem reciting all day long. Therefore, since there are many different situations, we must apply different methods to handle them in accordance with each individual's capacity.

(Note: Read past posting in this group on Venerable Yuan's life of practice for an example of attaining realisation of mind-nature through Amitabha practice.)

Useful in Countering Afflictions

Jamyang Rinpoche

For instance, when we hear pleasant sounds, we are happy; when someone says something harsh, we get really upset. If we are still behaving like that, it means that our practice is not really good. If we had a good practice, we would have at least dissolved this sort of fixation. If we can’t dissolve this fixation, then we can say a great deal about the Dharma but it doesn’t do the slightest bit of good for our practice or afflictions. 

Being unable to overcome our afflictions means that our practice has failed.  If the military trains troops for a few years, yet these troops do not know how to fight their enemies on the battlefield, then the military is a failure and all its efforts are useless.  

Afflictions are the enemies for a practitioner. If afflictions win, then the practitioner has failed.  One can check for oneself if your practice has succeeded or failed. There is no need to ask the Guru.

When afflictions arrive, our training in renunciation and bodhichitta are completely lost, needless to mention emptiness —then your Dharma practice has been useless to you.  What is the use of listing out all the amazing practices you have done? Useless! If Dharma is useful when it comes to dealing with your afflictions, then you are truly successful.

~~

Constantly trying to rest your mind in a state free of thoughts and thinking that this is Dharma practice is incorrect. In Tibet, many small animals called marmots hibernate for about 6 months each year. Keeping your mind in such a state is similar to the minds of these hibernating animals.  

It is not necessary to control your mind in this way. What we need to address is the source of afflictions. We need to investigate where afflictions come from.  

There is a certain sect in India that trains in keeping the mind still for hundreds of years. In history, the adherents of this sect have been said to achieve this feat.  Long-life devas can also still their minds for hundreds of years. After all that effort, the only result is that they remain trapped in samsara.  

The cause of samsara is self-grasping.  When we rest our minds in stillness, this self-grasping is not dissolved, instead, on top of that, we add another layer of clinging at stillness.  

In other words, we already have self-grasping, but this type of practice adds another layer of self-grasping on top of our existing self-grasping. In the meditation, a watcher observes the mind for distractions and brings it back to stillness; this watcher becomes another artificially created layer of self-grasping. Therefore, one remains entrapped in samsara instead of moving closer to liberation.

When this type of training is engaged in for a long time, one approaches a kind of state when consciousness seems to be extinguished.  If this habit becomes deeply entrenched, then one takes rebirth as a long-life deva. These devas are still firmly enslaved by self-grasping. 

The true view of Buddhism is to dismantle self-grasping. This is the only way to liberation.  Beginning with self-grasping, discrimination arises, and the various objects of the five senses are judged as pleasant or unpleasant, attachment and aversion arises, one reacts and creates karma and all of samsara unfolds from there on…

Uprooting obstructions for pureland rebirth before death arrives

Dharma Master Jingjie

Pureland practitioners are inclined to emphasize on creating virtues while neglecting to stop existing non-virtuous habits.  When we recite Amitabha, we are cultivating a positive force in our minds to take rebirth in Sukhavati.  However, there remains many forces in our mind that obstruct pureland rebirth —these are our strong habits.  

Compared to these obstructing habits, the positive force to take rebirth in Sukhavati is far weaker.  Therefore, this becomes a hurdle you fail to cross when you are dying. You cannot expect someone to be there to counsel you when you are on the verge of dying.  As a practitioner, you should now constantly examine what kind of thoughts arise in your mind and see where these karmic forces lead to.

When these disturbing thoughts arise, you can’t say, “Ah! Just recite Amitabha and distract myself.”  Even if you succeed in distracting yourself from the disturbing thought, its underlying attachment still functions, therefore the habit is hidden and waiting to ambush you at any time.  

Instead, you need to completely release this attachment through contemplation, analysis and investigation of its nature. You need to convince yourself that this attachment arises from deluded thinking and that it is the nature of suffering, only then can the mind completely relinquish this attachment and no longer give rise to such thoughts.  This obstructing force would thus be removed from the mind.

Therefore, all pureland practitioners should support and encourage each other.  Pureland practice is cultivating the positive force for rebirth in pureland, at the same time, one should also try one’s best to remove all countering forces that are obstacles to pureland rebirth.

Merits and the lack of it

Jamyang Rinpoche

In my hometown there was a poor family. In autumn, they sometimes did not have enough to eat and had to borrow food from neighbours. They had many children.

Once, the price of cordyceps rose suddenly, and this family (who relied on digging cordyceps for a living) had many children to dig up the cordyceps, and they made a small fortune of maybe several tens of thousand yuan. Many locals were envious of their sudden luck, thinking that they have struck a fortune this year. 

But then their eldest son suddenly fell seriously ill, and sought treatment in Ganze.  The medical cost was something like 7 to 8 thousand yuan. Then during some heavy rains, an epidemic spread among the livestock and half of their cattle died, leaving them in more dire straits than before they had struck a fortune. 

Soga Rinpoche (an emanation of Amitabha) commented then, “Look, when there is a lack of merits, no matter how you try, you end up with nothing.” …

Making a mountain of effort is not as useful as creating a small drop of merit.  In Tibet, people have the habit of making offerings and giving charity.  For instance, when they buy groceries for themselves, the first thing they think of is to save 1 dollar from their shopping budget for an offering to the Triple Gems or helping others, maybe releasing lives or offering lamps.

Tibetans would always set aside some portion of their butter for making offerings. My mother would set aside two portions— one for offering to the monastery sangha during pujas, and one for making butter lamps. We had only a few cows then, so it was only enough for one lamp. Later when the number of cows increased, we could offer five or ten lamps. We offered lamps daily in our shrine.  We did not think about our own consumption first when we got the butter, we thought about making offerings to the sangha; next we thought about making butterlamp offerings.

But when they get their income, the first thing many people think of is not the Triple Gems, but on how to spend their money on enjoyments such as vacations, good food, seafood, meat etc.  Therefore, we are meritless and prosperity cannot stay long with us. 

When a person has merit, even a small bowl of tsampa (roasted barley flour) would make them totally satisfied and contented.  If you have no merit, even the most delicious meals feel like the food of hungry spirits (pretas), you do not feel happy or contented.  In Tibet, we have a saying, when a particular region of people has merits, no matter how simply they eat, each meal makes them fully satisfied and happy. They do not feel hungry or needy.

When a person lacks merit, no matter how good the food is, one feels dissatisfied.  No matter how good the food, beverage or clothing is, one feels something is lacking.  This is a lack of merit. 

For instance, you have so many shoes in your cabinets and so many clothes hanging in your closets, if even half of that is used for creating merits like releasing lives, offering lamps, offering to the sangha, that will bring enormous merits and enjoyments for future lives.

Also, I will point out one mistake for all Dharma brothers and sisters.  This year, during our Amitabha Sukhavati puja, some Dharma friends wrote so many names for one dollar of offering.  They wanted to take advantage of the opportunity. But isn’t this just a kind of dishonesty or cheating?

On the other hand, when you bring your friends or clients out for a meal, you are happy to spend extravagantly for a meal of meat and alcohol for the sake of face or reputation. Think for yourself what you are doing to your own merits — are you exhausting your merits or increasing your merits?

Our Sukhavati puja takes place once a year. Some people think, “Oh this puja is free!” so those clever ones give only 10 dollars and write a hundred names.  I think it is better if you learn not to take advantage of others.  This is a kind of habit that will carry on into your future lives, and it will quickly deplete your store of merits. 

Personally, when I accumulate merits, I never consider how much money I have left. When I went to India for learning Dharma, I left Yarchen monastery with only 70 yuan. By the time I reached Lhasa, I was left with about 30+ yuan.

That was my first visit to Lhasa. I went to the Jokhang Temple to offer a lamp.  There were various types of lamps for offering, 15 yuan; 6 yuan etc. I bought the one that cost 15 yuan.  I thought that it was a most precious opportunity to make offerings at this holy temple.  Then there was the gold leaf offering to the Buddha statue, I offered another 15 yuan for that and all my money was finished.   I was left penniless. I did not even consider if I had money for my next meal or lodgings.

That night, I stayed in a place for beggars, in a makeshift tent.  There were many lice but it couldn’t be helped.  I spent the night there.  They made tea and I wondered if I could get some.   They shared tea but not the food. I spent two nights there and for three days, I had nothing to eat.  Finally, I could not stand it and used my last 50 cents for a cup of milk at a tea-place opposite the Jokhang Temple.  On the third day, my hunger was so bad that it affected my eyesight. I couldn’t see far away.  After this cup of milk, I regained some strength and went to circumambulate the Jokhang Temple. 

Suddenly, I ran into a nun from Yarchen monastery.  Her uncle was sick and she came with him for treatment in Lhasa.  The nun invited me for a meal and I was very happy. She offered me a bag of tsampa but I did not take it. Later, I wondered if I had been very stupid to reject this offer. Afterall, she had given it willingly.  What was I to survive on then?  Then I thought of selling the three turquoises on my rosary, I had bought them at Yarchen when I had some money.  They fetched more than 30 yuan and with that I made my way to Shigatse.  That used up all the money. 

That night I spent a night in a horse shed.  The next day, I went to Tashi Lhunpo monastery of the Panchen Lama to beg for alms, saying that I needed it to go to circumambulate Mount Kailash, an old lady gave me 5 yuan and I was elated to receive it…

The point is that when it comes to making offerings, I do not consider much.  When it comes to spending on myself, I will consider more.  But when I look at how people make offerings at the Amitabha puja, they seem to have so many reservations. Maybe you have not enough money for groceries tomorrow, or maybe there is not enough to buy clothing, or not enough to buy an air ticket for travelling…

One should never make offerings stingily.  This is a negative karma. One should rejoice and feel that it is a precious opportunity to accumulate merits.  No matter how much you offer, you should do it this way.  With merits, whatever you do can be accomplished perfectly; your Dharma practice will also be accomplished auspiciously.

When I was in Yarchen monastery, I was the poorest and had not enough to eat.  But I had a method that was easy to use in Yarchen because they were all fellow-disciples.  I used to look at whose chimney was smoking and went to that house to get a meal.  They all knew that if I came to their home, it was to get a meal. They knew that I was poor so no one turned me down.

There was this old practitioner who later got ordained. He liked to scold others.  He often called me the poor Tulku of Tsopu monastery who was like a wandering beggar.  Although he scolded me, I did not mind as what he was saying was true.  I did not get angry or feel defensive.  It was true that I was poor and begging for food. 

But his words somehow got known by Lama Achuk Rinpoche.   One day, Lama Achuk Rinpoche said publicly during his teaching, “Today, you think of this Tulku as a poor beggar. But he is not poor. You are the poor one since countless lives in samsara.  And in future lives, you will still be poor.  But not this Tulku! There will come a day when this Tulku receives so much offerings that he will not know where to keep them and he will even reject these offerings.  Such a time will come.”

Everyone thought this was the Guru’s words of encouragement to me.  Everyone did not take it seriously because I was the poorest in the monastery. In the past, my cousin told me not to just keep begging and to try instead to achieve something in life.  

I told my cousin, “If I wanted to achieve something, I will definitely succeed. But I am not interested in it, because everything is like an illusory dream in this samsara, there is nothing worth pursuing.  It is all so laughable.”  My monastery also wanted me to be a big achiever with something to show, but I did not want to choose this path. 

Later, when I became abbot of Tsopu monastery, one had to sooth the egos of government authorities and meet the wishes of those who depend on you.  It is a high throne and a high position but it comes with much sufferings. I made the aspiration that in all my lives I will never become an abbot of a monastery again. 

Nagarjuna also wished never to become a monastery manager in all his lives and I think he was right. When I was young, I could practice as I wish; now I have to keep all these peoples’ expectations and wishes in mind, taking care not to offend them. It is indeed a heavy suffering.

 

Reciting Amitabha is not a simple practice

Venerable Elder Guangqing

Reciting Amitabha is not a simple practice. You need to thoroughly let go and cast aside all internal and external distractions, single-mindedly chanting Amitabha —only then can you gain attainments.

Recite Amitabha’s powerful name clearly and hear your recitation clearly without having a single thread of doubt. Distracting thoughts dissolve and you will definitely enter a state of one-pointed concentration.

If you believe my words, recite Amitabha genuinely. Whether walking, stationery, sitting or reclining, do not be apart from this thought of Amitabha. Even in your dreams, you can sustain the (mental) recitation of Amitabha and not be distracted by the sense perceptions.

Once you reach this stage, your mind will drop all attachments and be unconfused. When your practice reaches maturity, Sukhavati will naturally manifest before you. You must not be careless about this!

If the mind is sincere, wondrous fragrances and bright lights will appear when reciting Amitabha. Even if you are dwelling in the mountains, with only three blades of grass as an incense, an extraordinary fragrance will emit from the incense. Buddhas and Bodhisattva pervade all of space, they are not only present in the monastery. If the mind is sincere, you connect to Amitabha.

All Dharma practices come down to this mind. Our daily practice is essentially to cultivate this mind. If this mind possesses meditative stability, it will be like pure and still water. Such water reflects all images without exception. Therefore, when our minds are very pure, we naturally perceive the true nature of all things.

Our practice of reciting Amitabha is meant to cultivate this mind until it is as pure and tranquil as water. If the mind is scattered and impure, it is like muddy water. There are many non-virtuous thoughts, the mind judges what is good and bad, what is tasty or not, what is fragrant or foul-smelling; it becoming attached to "forms, sounds, smells, tastes, tactile sensations and mental objects."

When the recitation of Amitabha reaches a point where this mind is clear, bright and free from impurities, one will naturally cease to cling to the "five aggregates." In this way, the six sense organs will no longer be affected by the six sense objects; afflictions will be severed, and the five aggregates will be realized as empty.

You will naturally transcend all suffering and difficulty, manifest the luminous wisdom of your self-nature, and penetrate the profound and subtle Dharma.

The emphasis in Amitabha recitation is on “mental focus" and "pure dedication". One sustains the recitation day and night without interruption or distraction. Reciting with the mouth, listening with the ears and being mindful with the mind is the way to make the effort.

Gradually and naturally, you will reach the state where there is no distinction between day and night, one recites single-mindedly without distractions. Through reciting Amitabha, one attains concentration; from concentration, wisdom opens and one is certain to accomplish results.

Knowing time of death beforehand

Venerable Elder Guangqing

If there are many thoughts when chanting Amitabha, the method is to ignore these thoughts.  Just recite Amitabha. If you try to get rid of distracting thoughts, that is adding one more thought or affliction on top of what you already have. Once you have recited Amitabha sufficiently, thoughts will be reduced on their own.  Also, your worldly desires will decrease and it will be easier to reach single-minded focus…

When reciting Amitabha, every thought is never apart from Amitabha.  You recite clearly and hear each recitation clearly. Every syllable is clearly recited.  Your mind is placed on the sound of Amitabha that you hear through your ears while your mouth is reciting. In this way, the Amitabha chant engages your mind fully. You let go of everything else and suspend your attention on this sound, this is how you reach a single-pointed mind…

There are many methods of chanting Amitabha.  When you have not reached a certain level, you often waver between methods.  Sometimes you feel this method makes you concentrate better, later you feel another method is better.  This is because our mind lacks stability. Sometimes we think “this is good, or is that better?”

This comparison of better or worse is from our discriminating mind. Before reaching a certain stage, one has such fluctuations and mind cannot settle down.  Actually, every method is good. They are only an expression of our self-nature.  If you let go, that is your self-nature.  If you use a certain method, that is also your self-nature.  Therefore, it is not necessary to generate such attachments when you practice…

When you are dying, do not hope for or try to see visions of Buddhas or Bodhisattvas.  Whatever you seek is false or unreliable.  Without any expectation of seeing anything, simply recite Amitabha with a pure mind; whatever arises from your mind naturally is then true.  

Don’t speak of gaining anything, if there is something to gain, one has not yet reached.  When reciting Amitabha, recite until there is only this one thought of Amitabha left in your mind without any other distracting thoughts.  Then you will know your time of death beforehand.  If there are other thoughts, they will obscure you and you will not know the time of death beforehand.