Keeping the Buddha in mind and chanting Buddha’s name
2025-03-18
Lecture by Elder Lay Buddhist Li Bing-nan
In Buddhism, there are originally no sects, because in the Dharma-Ending Age, the roots of sentient beings are weak and their wisdom is not as good as before. Therefore, one must be selective in the method of practice. The Buddha said: "In the Dharma-Ending Age, one should achieve success through the practice of the Pure Land method." We must practice according to the Buddha's teachings. The Pure Land Method is a method of two powers, relying on the power of Buddha and one's own practice. However, there are only a few people among thousands who truly believe in the Pure Land Method. Most of them only have superficial faith, but not real faith!
There are three words in learning Buddhism, and none of them can be missing. It means "listening, thinking and practicing". Hearing means listening, 'Buddha's Dharma is rarely heard, but now I have heard it.' It is not easy to be able to listen to the Dharma. However, if there is no further contemplation after hearing it, it will be in vain.
Nowadays, the Tripitaka (Sutras, Vinaya: monastic rule, and Abhidharma) and "Twelve Divisions" are everywhere, but the Sutras themselves cannot speak out. As the saying goes, "If there is no one to explain the Dharma, even if one has wisdom, one will not be able to understand it." Therefore, it must be thought about and researched deeply. Besides, the Pure Land Dharma is difficult to believe. If one wants to understand it, one must delve deeply into the Tripitaka to comprehend it. From this we can see that it is not enough to just study the Pure Land Dharma, it must be practiced. If it cannot be implemented, it is just nonsense. You should know that it is better to think more than to hear more, and it is better to do more than to think more. All three are indispensable.
The Pure Land Dharma is a method that is easy to practice but difficult to believe. It's hard to believe, because in order for your faith to be strong, you have to be a Bodhisattva of the eighth level or above so that it won't waver. Therefore, all sentient beings must believe in the holy words, follow the Buddha's vows, and practice earnestly. 'The one who has the power of vows, the other who truly practices.' This is extremely important. It is easy to practice. As long as you follow the Buddha's teachings, you will definitely succeed. The six words "Namo Amitabha" include "Tripitaka" and "Twelve Divisions". The content cannot be explained in three or two days, and practice cannot be separated from them for a moment. The ancients said: "If you want to know the way down the mountain, you must ask someone who has been there.' You should do what those who have experienced it teach you, and you will succeed.
The word "pure" in Pure Land Buddhism is very important, as ordinary people are often impure. This is because ordinary people have delusions all day long, and in the blink of an eye they have hundreds of delusions. Just a delusion leads to one reincarnation of life and death, which is terrible. And if you have delusional thoughts all day long, you will not be able to get out of the six realms of reincarnation. Someone asked, 'Is there anyone who doesn't have any delusions or thoughts?' The Buddha does not have any thoughts. The Pure Land Sect is about letting all thoughts become pure and not having any delusions. 'Can it be done? 'As long as you know the method, it can be done. It is not easy for me to come here, so today I will tell you the method. What method is it? It is 'keeping Buddha in mind and chanting the Buddha's Name'.
Chanting the Buddha's name means every thought in the mind is "Amitabha". Of course, these are pure thoughts. But this way you can't do any job. Another method is to remember the Buddha, that is, to think of the Buddha in your heart and not to forget the Buddha.
Chanting the Buddha's name means chanting it now and then. Keeping Buddha in mind means to remember it clearly and not forget it, and to know it silently.
For example: Everyone cannot forget about money and also cannot forget about eating. If you change your mind of "thinking about money" and "thinking about eating" into thinking about Buddha, then everything will become Amitabha.
To know it silently in this way, to have an impression in your mind without speaking, is to keep Buddha in mind. Everyone must understand these two sentences, " Keeping Buddha in mind" and "Reciting the Buddha's Name", and you will gain great benefits.
Today the time is short, so I would like to offer you these few very important words. You should study it clearly, and continue to chant the Buddha's name as time goes by, and " keep Buddha in mind " with the same mind that never forgets money and food.
Sincere blessings
Everyone can practice to a state of undistracted mind, and filled with Dharma joy.
