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TheAmitabhaSutraisfTomMind-sealoftheBuddhaswhichis

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CoNTENTs

PatOne

Afabba5aRecitatioI

OrderofPracticeSession]
PurityVerse7
PraiseoftheLotusPoolAssembly8
BuddhaSpeakstheAmitabhaSutra9
PraisctoAmitabhaBuddhaz4
W/ishfbrRebirthintothePureLand25
RepentanceVerse26
PourGreatVowsz7
DedicationofMeritz8

ThrecRefUgesz9
PatTwo

PuelahdPincipIesandPactice
PureLandBuddhism],
Chanting4I
Cultivation43
TheFiveGuidelines6]
CareofDharmaMaterials8o

VisitingaBuddhistCenter8I
PatThee

DeathadDing8,
GuidelincsfbrSpiritualAdvisors
LivingW/ill94
IResolveIz

87

]]

PartOne

AmitabhaSutra
Rccitation

ORDERoFPRAcTIcESEssIoN

Thefollowingpracticesessionisbasedonthe
AmitabhaSutrarecitationsessionthatispracticedin
manyAmitabhaBuddhistSocieties.
Tbbeginthesession)eitherholdthisbookupor
placeitonatableandholdyourhandsintheb6Z
positionHandsarethusheldfbrtheremainderofthe

sessionexceptwhereindicatedduringthed
Sbvfbrhezangand-fbrhandsatwaist
levelNoVbowonce,dothreeprostrat1onsandbow
onemoretimeIfyouareunabletodoprostrat1ons,
youcandoallbows.
YbumavnowlightsomeincenseifvouwishUPon
lightingtheincense)fanitgentlywithvourhand(do
notblowonit)toputoutthefIamcandallowthe
incensetoburndownslowlRaisethcincenseand
holditclosetoyourfbreheadwiththeincensepointed
towardstheBuddha.Then,placetheincenseinthe
holder.

Next,changethewaterinthewatercontainePour
thewater1ntoanothercontainerfbrotheruses,like
drinkingorwateringplants.Donotdrinkoutofthe
waterconta1neritselfPourfreshwaterintothe

containerandreturntothegongzhuSavthePurity

Vrscwhileholdmgtheconta1nerinbothhandswitb
vourthumbsandfirstandsecondfingers.After
completingtheverse,raisethecontainertoyour
fbrehead,sayAmituofbtent1mesandthenplacethe
conta1nerbackonthegongzhuoinfrontofthe
1ncenseholder.

NextreadthePraiseofthcLotusPooI

AsseInbly.Aftercompletingthepra1se,beginto
rec1tetheAmitabhaSutraDonotanalVzcthe

wordsOurgoalhere1stofbcussingle-mindedlyon
recitingthetext.AsGreatMastcrYinguangsaid
Withouttry1ngtofindthemean1ngofthesutra,>ust
reciteitinonestrctchfrombeginmngtoendThe
purposeoftherecitation1stoclcarthemindofall
wanderingthoughts,discriminations,andattachments
sothatwemaVattaInpur1tyofmindI/henourminds
becomemorepureourunderstandingwiInaturallv
becomemoreprofbund
Afterthesutra,wereadthePraisctoAInitabha

Budd1mtopayourrespcctstoAmitabhaBuddhafbr
hiscompass1onatevowstohelpallbeingsAfterthe
praisc,wechantAmituOfb,fbraprcdctermined

lengthoftimcVthenvowtoattainrebirthinthe
stemPureLandbyreadingtheWishfbrRcbirth
intothcPureId

Next,wesaytheRcpentancersetocxpressour

deepregretfbrhavingharmedinnumerablcbeings
throughoutallourlifbtimesWthenreadtheIbur
Great\bwstotransfbrmourrepentanceintovowsto
helpallbeingsendtheirsuring.
AftCrthat,wereadtheDedicationofMeritto

passonthegoodnessthathasrcsultedfromour
chantingtohelpallbeingsendsuffbringandatta1n
lastinghappiness.Tbconcludethesess1onwereadthe
ThreGRcgcS

Thesessionmaybedoneindividuallyorinagroup
Ifinagroup,thebellmasterbeginsthepra1se,sutra,
andsoonbysayingthefhsttwowords.Othersthen
>oinin.Readthrougbffombeginningtoend,butdo
notreadthepageheadings.

PuRITYVERsE

Maythetranquilit)<puritXandimpartiality
symbolizedbvthiswaterbeattainedby

allbeings.

MaytheylearnoftheWsternPureLand,
vowtoberebornthere,andachievethat

rebirthtofbreverleavesuffCringbehindand
attainlastinghappiness.

PRAIsEoFTHELoTusPooLAssEMBLY

Amidstthesea-vastlotuspoolassemblX
mavAmitabhaBuddhatogetherwith
AvalokitesvaraandMahasthamaprapta,

sittingonthelotusplatfbrms,leadbeingsto
ascendthegoldenstairwayThesesageshave
thegreatvowstohelpallbeingsleavethc
mundaneworld.

Homagetotheseavastotuspoolassemblyof
BodhisattvasandGreatBodhisattvas.(#<imc5)

BuDDHASPEAKsTHEAMITABHASuTRA

Homagetothcseavastlotuspool
assemblyofBuddhasandBodhisattvas.(]timcs)
BclM!aste:BuddhaSpeaks
Everyon:TheAmitabhaSutra
ThushaveIheard:OnceBuddhawasinthe

landofShravasti)inthegardenofJetaand
Anathapindika.Hewasaccompaniedby
twelvehundredandfiftygreatbhikshus,allof
themgreatArhats,wellknowntoeveryone.
Amongthemwerehisleadingdisciples,such
figuresastheEldersShariputra,
Mahamaudgalyayana,Mahakasyapa,
Mahakatyayana,andMahakausthilaRevata,
SuddhipanthakaNanda,Ananda,Rahula,
Gavampati,Pindola-bharadvaiaKalodayin,
MahakapphinaVakula,andAniruddha{and
otherssuchasthese},allgreatdisciples.Also
presentweretheBodhisattvas-Mahasattvas:

ManiushriPrinceoftheDharma;the
BodhisattvaAiitatheInvincible;the
BodhisattvasGandhahastinandNityodyukta,
andothersuchgreatBodhisattvas.Also
presentwasShakrathekingofthegods)
alongwithcountlessnumbersofheavenly
beings,makingupagreatassembly(-)
AtthattimeBuddhasaidtotheElder

Shariputra:WCstofhere,pastahundred
billionBuddha-lands,thereexistsaworld
calledUltimateBliss.Inthislandthereisa

BuddhacalledAmitabha,whoisteachingthe
Dharmarightnow

{Shariputra>whyisthislandcalledUltimate
Bliss?Itiscalled(UltimateBliss,,becausethe

sentientbeingsinthislandarefreefromthe
myriadsuffringscommontomankind,and
onlyknoweverykindofioy
Furthermore{Shariputra>,thislandiscalled
UltimateBliss,,becauseitissurroundedby
I

sevenringsofrailings,sevenlayersofnetting,
andsevenrowsoftrees,allmadeofthefbur

preciousiewels.

Moreover{Shariputra},theLandofUltimate
Blisshaspondsofseveniewelsfilledwiththe
watersofeightvirtues.Thebottomofeachof
thepondsispuregoldensand,andthe
steppedwalkwaysthatleadupomallfbur
sidesofeachofthepondsaremadeofgold,
silver,lapislazuli,andcrystalAbovethe
pondstherearetowerswhichareadorned

withsilverandgoldandlapislazuliandcrystal
andmotherofpearl)redagateandcarnelians.
InthepondstherearelotusHowersasbigas
cartwheels:blueonesshiningwithbluelight,
vellowonesshiningwithyellowlight,redones
shiningwithrcdlightandwhiteonesshining
withwhitelight,eachemittingasubtlepure
fragrance.

{Shariputra,}theLandofUltimateBlissis
II

completewithalltheseadornmentsandvirtues.
Andthereismorc{Shariputra}-celestial

musicisconstantlyplayinginthisBuddhaland,andthegroundismadeofpuregold.
Heavenlvflowersraindownatallhoursofthe

dayandnight.Inthemorningthesentient
beingsofthislandfilltheirrobeswith
multitudesofwondrousHowersandmake

offCringstohundredsofbillionsofBuddhasin
otherworlds.W/henitismealtime,they
returntotheirownlandtoeat,and{to}

circumambulatetheteachingassembly

{Shariputra}theLandofUltimateBlissis
completewithalltheseadornmentsandvirtues.
Andthereismorestill{Shariputra}-inthis
landtherearebirdsofallsortsofwondrous

variegatedcolors:whitecranes,peacocks,
orioles)egrets,kalavinkasandiivaniivas.All
thesebirdsbringfbrthharmonioussongsday
andniRht.TheirsonHscommunicatesuch

BuddhistteachingsastheFiveRoots,theFive
Powers,theSevenFactorsofEnlightenment,
theEightfbldPath,aswellasotherteachings.
VVhensentientbeingsinthislandhearthe
singingofthebirds,theybecomemindfhlof
theBuddha,mindfi1loftheDharma,mindfhl

oftheSangha.
|Shariputra,!donotthinkthatthesebirds
werebornasbirdsduetokarmicretribution

fbrpastmisdeeds.W/hynot?InthisBuddhaland,theThreeEvillPaths}ofExistencedo
notex1st

{Shariputra,}inthisBuddha-landeventhe
namesoftheEvillPaths>ofExistencedonot

ex1st,muchlesstherealities.Allthesebirds

arethecreationsofAmitabhaBuddha,

fashionedinordertosingthesoundsofthe
Dharma.

{Shariputra,}inthisBuddha-landthereisa
sliRhtbreezethatstirstherowsofieweltrecs

andiewelnettingsothattheyemitsubtle
wondroussounds,likehundredsand

thousandsofmelodiesplayingallatonce.All
thosewhohearthesesoundsspontaneously
becomemindfUloftheBuddha,mindfhlof

theDharma,andmindfhloftheSangha.

{Shariputra,ltheLandofUltimateBlissis
completewithalltheseadornmentsandvirtues.
hatdovouthinkShariputra:whyisthis
BuddhacalledAmitabha?

{Shariputra}thelightofthisBuddhais
infinite,andshinesonalllandsthroughout
theuniversewithoutobstruction.Thusthis

BuddhaiscalledAmitabha.Also{Shariputra>,
theli-spanofthisBuddhaandhispeopleis
aninfinitenumberofimmeasurableeons,and
soheiscalledAmitabha.

{Shariputra,>AmitabhaBuddhaattained
enlightenmentteneonsago.
I4

Moreover{Shariputra>,thisBuddhahas
innumerabledisciples)allofwhomareArhats,
whosenumbersareincalculable.Amitabha

alsohasafollowingofinnumerable
Bodhisattvas.

{Shariputra}theLandofUltimateBlissis
completewithalltheseadornmentsandvirtues.

{MoreoverShariputra,}noneofthesentient
beingswhoarebornintheLandofUltimate
Blisseverfallbackintoalowerrealm.Manv

amongthemhaveonlyonemorelitimeto
gobeforeBuddhahood.Theirnumberis
incalculable:theycanbespokenofas
innumerable.

{Shariputra}whensentientbcingshearthese
teachings,theymusttakeavowtobebornin

thislandWhyso?Sothattheycanbetogether
withalltheseBeingsofSuperiorGoodness.
<Shariputra,}onecannotbeborninthisland
I5

throughminorgoodrootsgoodfbrtune

andcausalconnections.Shariputra,}ifthere
aregoodmenorgoodwomenwhohearof
AmitabhaBuddha,andrecitehisname

singlemindedlyandwithoutconfhsion,fbr
onedavortwodaysorthreedavsorfburdavs
orf]vedaysorsixdaysorsevendays,then
whenthesepeopleareabouttodie,Amitabha
Buddhaandhiswholeassemblywillappear
befbrethem.I/hentheyareabouttodie,
theirmindsbeingunifiedandnotchaoticthey
willattainrebirthinAmitabha,sLandof
UltimateBliss.

{Shariputra,}Ihaveseenthisbenefit,andsoI
speakthesewords.Ifsentientbeingshear
whatIsa)(theymustmakeavowtobeborn
inthatland

{Shariputra,}rightnowIamextollingthe
benefitsoftheinconceivablevirtuesof
AmitabhaBuddha.(/\)Intheeastern

I0

directiontherearealsocountlessother

Buddhas,likeAkshobhyaBuddha,theBuddha
MarksofthePolarMountaintheBuddha

GreatPolarMountain,theBuddhaLightof
thePolarMountainandtheBuddha

Wbndrous\/bice.Eachofthem{teachesin
hisownlandwiththetruthfUlnessofa

Buddha}andcoversawholecosmos,speaking
thesesincerewords:allofyousentientbeings
shouldbelievethissutraextolling
inconceivablevirtues,whichallBuddhas

protectandkeepinmind,,

{Shariputra,}intheworldsofthesouthern
directiontherearecountlessotherBuddhas,

liketheBuddhaLampoftheSunandMoon,
thcBuddhaLightofRenown,theBuddha
GreatBlazingShoulders,theBuddhaLampof
thePolarMountainandtheBuddhaInfinite

Vigor.Eachofthem<teachesinhisown
landwiththetruthfUlnessofaBuddha}and

coversawholecosmos,speakingthesesincere
words:allofyousentientbeingsshould
believethissutraextollinginconceivable
virtues,whichallBuddhasprotectandkeepin
mind.,,

{Shariputra,}intheworldsofthewestern
directiontherearecountlessotherBuddhas,
liketheBuddhaInfiniteLif,theBuddha
InnumerableCharacteristics,theBuddha

InnumerableBanners,theBuddhaGreat

Light,theBuddhaGreatIllumination,the
BuddhaJewelAppearanceandtheBuddha
LightofPurityEachofthem{teachesin
hisownlandwiththetruthfUlnessofa

Buddha}andcoversaWholecosmos,speaking
thesesincerewords:allofvousentientbeings
shouldbelievethissutraextolling
inconceivablevirtues,whichallBuddhas

protectandkeepinmind.,,

{Shariputra,}intheworldsofthenorthern
I8

directiontherearecountlessotherBuddhas,

liketheBuddhaBlazingShoulders,the
BuddhaSupreme\/bice,theBuddhaHardto
IniuretheBuddhaBornoftheSunandthe
BuddhaNettedLight.Eachofthem
{teachesinhisownlandwiththetruthfUlness

ofaBuddha}andcoversawholecosmos,

speakingthesesincerewords:allofyou
sentientbeingsshouldbelievethissutra
extollinginconceivablevirtues,whichall
Buddhasprotectandkeepinmind.,)

{Shariputra,>intheworldsofthenadirthere
arecountlessothcrBuddhas,liketheBuddha

Lion,theBuddhaReputetheBuddhaLight,
{theBuddhaDharma,}theBuddhaDharma
Banner,andtheBuddhaUpholdingthe
Dharma.Eachofthem{teachesinhisown
landwiththetruthfhlnessofaBuddha}and

coversawholecosmosspeakingthesesincere
words:allofyousentientbeingsshould
I0

believethissutraextoIngmconceivablevirtues,
whichallBuddhasprotectandkCepmmind.,,

{Shariputra,}intheworldsofthezeniththere
arecountlessotherBuddhas,liketheBuddha

PureVbice,theBuddhaSoiournerKingthe
BuddhaIncenseFragrance,theBuddha
FragrantLight,theBuddhaGreatBlazing
Shoulders,theBuddhaBodyofMulticolored
JewelFlowerGarlands,theBuddhaSalaHee

King,theBuddhaPreciousFlowerVirtue,the
BuddhaSeesAllIfuths,andtheBuddhaLike
thePolarMountain.Eachofthem{teaches
inhisownlandwiththetruthfhlnessofa

Buddha}andcoversawholecosmos,speaking
thesesincerewords:allofyousentientbeings
shouldbelicvethissutraextoInginconceivable
v1rtues,whichallBuddhasprotectandkeepin
mind.,

{Shariputra}wbydoyouthinkthisiscalled
thesutrathatisprotectedandkeptinmind
Z0

byalltheBuddhas?
<Shariputra}iftherearegoodmenorwomen
whohearthis{sutra},upholditandhearthe
namesofalltheseBuddhas,thesegoodmen
andwomenwillbeprotectedandkeptin
mindbyalltheBuddhas,andwillnot
retrogressalongthepathofSupreme,Perct
Enlightenment.Therefbre{Shariputra,}allof
youshouldfaithfhllyacceptwhatIsayand
whatalltheBuddhashavesaid

{Shariputra}allthosewhohavevowedorare
vowing,orwillvowtobeborninthelandof
AmitabhaBuddhareachthelevelwherethev

donotretrogressfromSupreme,Perfect
Enlightenment.Thevarealreadyborn,are
nowbeingborn,orwillbcborninthatland

Therefbre,{Shariputra,>allgoodmenand
women,iftheyhavefaith,mustmakeavowto
beborninthatland

{Shariputra,}iustasIamnowextollinRthc
7=

inconceivablevirtuesofalltheBuddhas,all

thoseBuddhasarelikewiseextollingmy
inconceivablevirtues,withthesewords:(/\)

SakyamuniBuddha(-)isabletocarrvouta
mostdifficultandraretaskIntheSaha

Wbrld,theWbrldofEndurance,inanevil

worldoftheFiveCorruptions-the
corruptionoftheage,thecorruptionof
views,thecorruptionofaffIictionsthe
corruptionofsentientbeings,andthe
corruptionoflife-heisabletoachieve
Supreme,PerfctEnlightenment,andto
expoundthePureLandteaching,whichall
beingsinallworldsfindhardtobelieve.,,
{Shariputra,}knowthenthatinthcmidstof

thisevilworldoftheFiveCorruptions,Iam

abletocarryoutthisdiHiculttask,attain
Supreme,PerfectEnlightcnmentand
expoundthePureLandteaching,whichisso
hardfbrbeingsinallworldstobelieve.Thisis
ZZ

indeedmostdicult!

WhenBuddhaHnishedteachingthissutra,
Shariputraandallthemonks,gods,humans,
asurasandotherswhohadbeenlistening
havingheardwhattheBuddhasaid)reioiced
andfaithfhllyacceptedit.Theyallbowedin
homageanddeparted
AmitabhaSutraspokenbyBuddha
UProotallKarmicHindrancesfbrRebirth
intothePureLandDharani
NAMOAHMEEDOHPOHYEH
DOHTOHCHAYDOHYEH
DOHDEEYEHTOH
AHMEELEEDOHPOHPEE

AHMEELEEDOHSHEEDANPOHPEE
AHMEELEEDOHPEECHIALANGDEE

AHMEELEEDOHPEECHIALANGDOH
CHAYMEENEECHAYCHAYNAH

CHIHDOHCHIASOPOHHO
(Dhararli#timeS)

PRAIsEToAMITABHABuDDHA

AmitabhaBuddha,allingoldencoloB
withfbrm,fbaturesandradianceuneqUalled,

whitecurlswindinglikcthefiveSumeru
Mountams,andpurpleeyesasclear
asthefburg7eatseas.
InhisauraaretransfbrmedBuddhasin

countlessmillions,andtransfbrmed
Bodhisattvas,also,inlimitlessnumber;

fbrty-eightvowshemadetoenlightensentient
beingsandtoenableallninegndestoreachthe
othershore.

Homagetothemostcompassionateoneofthe
WsternParadise,AmitaBuddha.
Amituofb(chantastimcaIows)

24

W/IsHFoRREBIRTHINTHEPuRELAND

wishtobeborninthesternPureInd

withlotusblossoms,innineordersasparents.
VVhenthelotusblossomsfl1I%wcshallseethe
Buddhaandbeenlightenedwiththeabsolute
truthwithnevefretrogessiveBodhisattvasas
compan1ons.

REpENTANcEVERsE

Allevilactionscommittedbyme
sincetimeimmemorial,

stemmingfiomgreed,angeI}andignorance,
arisingfrombod)(spcechandmind
Ideeplyrepenthavingcommitted.

Z0

FouRGREATVows

Sentientbeingsareinnumerable;
Ivowtohelpthemall
Afflictionsareinexhaustible;
Ivowtoendthemall

Ihystopracticeareboundless;
Ivowtomasterthemall

Enlightenmentisunsurpassable;
Ivowtoattainit.

Z7

DEDIcATIoNoITMERIT

MavthemeritsandvirtuesaccruedfiDmthis

practiceadomtheBuddha,sPureLand,
repaytheIburKindsofKindnessabove,
andrelievethesuffbringofthoseintheThree
Pathsbelow

Mayallthosewhoseeandhearofthis

bringfbrththeheartofunderstandingand
compassion,andattheendofthislibeborn
togetherinthelandofUltimateBliss.

28

THREEREFUGES

TbtheBuddhaIreturnandrel%returning
fromdelusionsandrelyinguponawarenessand
understanding.
(Oneprostration)

TbtheDharmaIreturnandrelXreturning
fromerroneousviewsandrelyinguponproper
viewsandunderstanding.
(Oneprostration)

TbtheSanghaIreturnandrelXreturning
frompollutionanddisharmon}<andrelying
uponpurityofmindandtheSixHarmonies.
(rhrceprostratlonsan(loncb0w)

Zg

TbrmsUsed

bow:abowfioInthewa1stwithhandsinhezang
hezang:handstogetherandheldinfrontofchestatlevclof
one,sheart

gongzhuo:atableuponwhicbweplaceBuddhaimage,
conta1nerofwateI]1ncense,f>owers,etc.

prostrat1on:afl1llbowtothefloor

Acknowledgements
WwishtoexpressourappreciationtoJCClearvandalso
totheSutraTfanslationComm1tteeoftheUmtedStatesand

Canada,fbrthistranslationofthedSTbesutra

appearsinthesecondeditionofMeqeB,tbe
translationofMasterOuyiscommentaryonthed
s

Forthesakeoflavoutandeascinsingle-mindedchanting
withoutdistract1ons,wehavetakenthelibertyofremov1ng
thequotemarksaroundeachofthenamesoftheBuddhasof
thesixdirectlons.

alsothanktheSutraIfanslationConn1tteeofthe

UnitedStatesandCanadafbrtheirtranslationofthePraise
toAmitabhaBuddhaandWishfbrRebirthintothePure

Land,,bothofwhicharefromtheBiL,Second
Edition,I09]

]O

PartTWo

PurCLand

PrinciplesandPracicc

PuRELANDBuDDHIsM

W/iththewisbtohelpaIbeings,
mayallmythoughts,words,

andactionsbevoidofattachmentandego.
Maytbeyarisefromcompassionandwisdom
Maytheybeimbuedwithpatienceandloy.
Once,theBuddhawasaskedifhewasagodThe
Buddbarepliedthatno,bewasnotagodThenwas
heanangel?No.Aspirit?No.Thenwbatwasbe?
TbeBuddharepliedtbatbewasawakened.Sincethe
Buddha,byhisownassertion,isnotagod,wedonot
worsbipbimW/erespectandaregratefUltohimfbr
teacbingusmanydiffbrentmetbodstohelpusfind
thewaytobeliberatedfTomthecycleofbirth,

deathandrebirth,andlikehimtobecomeperfctly
enlightened

OneoftbemetbodstheBuddhataughtisPure
LandBuddbism.Tboughstillinitsfbrmativeyears
intheW/est,PureLandBuddhismiswidely
practicedinAsiaanditsrootsextendallthewayto
ancientIndia.

egeneraythinkintermsofonlyoneBuddha:

]5

Sakyamuni,Wholivedaboutz5ooyearsago.But,since
anysentientbeingcanawakenandinnumerable
numbershave,thereare1nnumerableBuddhas.

SalWamuniBuddba,afterhisenlightenmenteXplained
thathesawnotonlyhispastlifbtimesbutalsobowtbe
fUturewouldunfbld

Sakyamunisawpeopleinourtimehavingmore
afHictions,worries,andwanderingthougbts.Our
deep-seatedbadhabitshavingbecomeevenmore
entrenchedoverthousandsoflifbtimeswouldmake

liberatingourselvessolelybyourowneffbrtsalmost
impossible.Heknewtbattoendone,sproblemsand
attainlastinghappinessmanypeoplewouldneedtbe
helpofanotherBuddha:Amitabha,theBuddhaof
InfiniteLightandInfiniteLifb
AlmostalloftheteachingsbySakyamuniwere
theresultofhisbeingaskedaquestion.Ina

departurefromthenorm,andknowingWhenthe
timewasright,Sakyamuniinitiatedtheteachingthat
introducedAmitabhaandhispurelandThis

spontaneousteachingbySakyamuniiswbatmakes
thisteachingsospecial.

InthisteachingSakyamunirecountedbowtbe
bodhisattvaDharmakara,afterwitnessingtbe

]6

suffbringofsentientbeings,spcntf]veeons(an
incrediblylongperiodoftime)studyingalltheBuddha
lands.DharmalKarathenmadefbrty-eightvows,the
fUlfiImentofwhichwouldcreatetheW/esternPure
LandofUltimateBliss.Hedeclaredthathewouldnot

attainBuddhaboodunlesshisvowsfbraperfbctpure
land,whereaIbeingswouldadvancealongthe
Buddhistpatbandneveragainfallbackintosamsara,
wereaccomplisbedOncethesevowswere
accomplished,DbarmakaraBodhisatIabecame
AmitabhaBuddbaHeisnowspeakingtheDharmain
hispurelandandhelpingallWhoaretrulysincerein
theirvowstobereborntbere.

VVitbhelpfromAmitabha,wedonothavetorely
solelyonourselvestoattainenlightenmentaswe
wouldwitbothermetbods.InPureLandBuddbism,

werelyonthecompassionateBuddhasand
bodhisattvastobelpus.Thus,relianceonselfandon

anotherarecombinedaswerequestbywayofour
mindfUlcbantingthatAmitabhaBuddha,tbrough
thestrengthofhisvows,belpustobereborninhis
PureLandaswebreatheourlastbreathinour

presentbody.
Amitabbaalsovowedthatonceweattainthis

]7

rebirth,wewiIalwaysprogressinourpracticeand
learning.W/ewiIbeabletocontinueourpracticein
lIisPureLand,or,wbenwechoose,returntothis

andotherworldstohelpothers,withoutbeing
affbctedbyunfavorableenvironmentsorourfbrmer
badhabitsIfwewisb,wewiIbeabletodotbis

befbreweattainsupremeenligbtenment.
DuetoAmitabbaBuddha,smeritsandvirtues,

andthegoodnessofallthebeingsthere,bisPure
Landhasinnumerablewondersandadvantages,allof
WhicbarisefTomthegreatvows,deeds,andpurityof
alltbebeingsthereThroughhisvows,Amitabha
helpsallbeingscreatetbecausestoplanttheroots
ofgoodnessW/ithbisdeeds,hecreatestbe
conditionsfbrbeingstoaccumulatemerits.I/ithbis
purity,hehascreatedaperfbctland--onethatisfree
fromanger,andintolerance.Itisalandofpeace,
serenity,andeqUality.Incomparison,ourworldis
oneofdelusionandsuffbring,fIIedwithworry
Forcountlesspeople,PureLandpracticeisthe
mostsuitablefbrseveralreasons.Firstitisrelatively

easytopracticeinalmostanyenvironment:alone,
withotherpractitioners,orevenamidthel1ustleand
bustleofeveIydaylifbSecond,therearenodifBcult

]8

entrylevelcriteriaEvenifone,sabilitiesand
knowledgearemodestwithbelief;vows,and
practice,wewiIberebornintbePureLand
Beliefmeansthatweneedtobelieveintbe

Buddhasandtheirteachings,andincausality.I/e
needtobelieveinourselvesandthatwehavethe

sametruenatureastbeBuddha.W/eneedtobelieve

tbatbylivingamorallifandbeingmindfUlof
AmitabhaBuddhawewillbebornintotheW/estern

PureLandandbecomeaBuddbainoneliftime.

Andthird,duetothevowsofAmitabba,

achievementtbrougbthismethodcanbeattained
morequicklyandmoreeasilytbanwithother
practicesVVecanunderstandthisbetterthrougban
analogyW/ecometoariverthatwewishtocross.
ecanswimacrossbutourbaggageisveryheavyand
tbewateristreacherouslydeep
Alternativelywecangetonaboatthatwill
quicklyandsafdytakeusandourbaggage,totbe
othershore.Symbolically,theothershore,,istbe
achievementofenlightenment.Thebaggagewe
carryisourdeep-seatedbadhabitsandnegative
karmasaccumulatedoveruncountableliftimes,and
theboatisAmitabhaBuddhaIscompassionatewill.

]9

Thetickettoboardtbeboatisbeliethesincere

vowtobereborninthePureLand,andpractice,
whichincludesleadingamorallifandmindfUlly
chantingAmituofb,,

4O

CHANTING

TbesimplestwaytopracticePureLandisbychanting
Amituofb,,,whichisAmitabhaBuddbamCbineseJt

doesnotmatterWhetherwecbantinChineseorany
otherlanguageaslongaswedoitproperly.Wbenwe
chant,thesoundofAmituofb,,arisesinourminds
AndasweutterAmituofb,,,ourmindsconcentrateon

andembracetbatsound.I/bilechanting,doso
sincerelyandcontinuously.
Asonekeepschantingandtbemindfbcuseson
tbesoundofAmituofb,,,erranttbougbtsare
replacedwithpuretboughtsInthisway,wealso
createlessnegativekarma.AfterAmitabhaBuddha
hasbeeninourmindcontinuouslyfbralongtime,
ourtruenature-ourBuddha-nature-willgradually
beuncovered

Itissimilartoacbildremembcringadearlyloved
one:amotber,fatber)orsomeoneelse.Thedearly
lovedoneisalwayswitbhim,alwaysinhisbeart.
Likewise)heisalwaysinthedearlylovedonels
heartandneverfbIgottenInasimilarway,
Amitabbaisalwaysthinkingofus,waitingfbrusto
reacbouttobimsothathemayrespondtous.

4I

AmitabhaBuddhaistbewiseandcompassionate
teacherwhounderstandseverything,andwhois
alwaysthinlKingofus,liftimeafterlifbtimeafter
lifbtime.W/earetbestudentswboaretrymgtolearn
andtopracticeJustasagoodteacberlistenstothe
callsfbrhelpfromastudentlookingfbrtheright
answers,ifwehaveunwaveringbeliefWowtobe
reborninthePureLandandsincerelypractice
AmitabhawiIrespond.AIwehavetodoischanthis
namemindfully.
I/henwechanttothepointofsingle-mindedness
withtbesolethougbtofAmituofbwesuccessfUlly
fbrmaconnectionwithhim-infact,webecomeone
witbbim.InthatinstantweareintbePureLand

fartothewestanddeepwithinus.Aswebreatheour
lastbreathinthisworld,ifwecanfbrmthis
connection,fbrmthisonenesswithAmituofb,,,we
willattainournextrebirtbintheW/esternPureLand

andleavesuffbringbehindAndoncethere,wewill
havealltbetimeweneedtocontinueourpractice
andlearning,fbrwewillbeinthecompanyof
AmitabhaBuddhaandallthebodhisattvas.Theywi
helpuslearnallthewaystowiselyand
compassionatelyhelpotberbeings.

4Z

CuLTIvATIoN

OurpracticeofchantingAmituofb,,canbedone
anyWhereanytimeButifwewisbtohaveaspecial
placefbrpracticeinourhome,wefirstneedto
decideWberewewouldlikeittobe.Aseparateroom
isideal,butwhenthisisnotpossibleaqUietand
comfbrtablespotwilldoiustaswell.Itisalso
advisabletochooseasettimeintbeday,perbaps
earlyinthemorningwhenthemindisstillrelatively
calmoratnightasyouarewindingdownfromalong
dayandwisbtoletgoofanythingtbatistroubling
you.

hensettingupyourgDgz0thetablewhere
youplacetheBuddhaimage,incense,andotber

practiceaids)placeonlyobiectsthatrelatetoyour
practiceonitnoteverydayobiects.Apartfrom
creatingarespectfUlatmosphere,thiswillbe
benefIcialtoyourconcentration.Youcanusea
bookshelfifspaceislimited;however,itisbestto
notplaceob}ectsothertbanDharmamaterialsor

boolKsabovethissbelfJfthegongzbuoneedstobe
placedinyourbedroom,donotplaceitatthefbot
butrathertothesideofthebed

4]

Asimplearrangementwouldbetoplaceastatue
orpictureofAmitabhaBuddhaaloneor
accompaniedbytwobodbisattvasontbegongzhuo
withacleancontainerofwaterinfrontofAmitabha.

LookingattheimageofAmitabba,youwouldplace
AvalokitesvaraBodbisatIaontherightsideand
MahasthamapraptaBodhisatIaontheleftside.If
youhavediHicultyinobtaininganimage,youcan
contactoneofthesocietieslistedatthebackoftbis

booktorequestapicture.Ifitisnotpossibleto
obtainastatueorotherimages,youmaysimply
writeAmitabhaBuddha,,onapieceofpaperand
placeitbehindtbecontainerofwater
Ifyouareinasituationwhereeventhisisnot
possible,iustfbcusquietlyonyourpractice.
MotIationiswhatisimportant.Asincerewishto
cbant,toimproveoneselandtobelpothersisthe
mostimportantrequirementfbrpractice.
SymbolismandUse

TheimageoftheBuddhasymbolizesourtruenature,
thesamenatureastbatofallBuddbas.Theimagesof
thcbodhisattvassymbolizeunderstandingand

practice.Mal1asthamaprapta,alsoknownasGreat
PowerArrivedBodhisattva,symbolizeswisdomand
Avalokitesvara,alsoknownasGreatCompassion
Bodhisattva,symbolizescompassion..Wisdomand
compassionarecomplementaryandneedtobeused
together
Ifusingastatueyoucanplaceitonastandorbox
toelevateitabovetheotherobiects.Thestatueand
bodbisatIaimagesareplacedatthebackofthe
gongzhuotofbrmthefbcalpoint.
W/aterrepresentspurityandstillness.Ourminds
needtobeaspureandcalmaswateraswellasvoid
ofgreed,anger,andignorance.Thiswillenableusto
interactwithothersandsituationswithasereneand

nondiscriminatorymind,whichviewingeverything
impartially,reflectseveIythingclearlybutnoniudgmentallylikeamirror.
I/hensettingupyourgongzhuo,useanewcupor
glassfbrthewater.Trytouseaclearglasscontainer,
asseeingthewaterwiIremindyouofwhatit
symbolizes.Placethecontainerinthecenterofthe
gongzhuoandchangetbewaterregularly.Tbe
traditionaltimetocbangetbewaterisinthe
moming.Ifthisdoesnotfitintoyourmorning

45

routine,youcaninsteadchangethewaterWhenyou
doyourdailychanting
Incensesymbolizesselfdisciplineandtraining
whicbwillawakenourwisdomandcompassion
W/henlit,tbeincenseistransfbrmedfrom

sometbinghardandunyieldingintothefragranceof
tbeDbarma,thetruthtbatteachesushowtoend

suringandtbusfindlastinghappiness.Placethe
incenseholderinfrontoftbewater

Flowersrepresentcausality.Oureverythought,
word,anddeedarecausesthatwillbearresults.Ifwe

wishtohavegoodresultswemustfirstplantthe
seedtocreatethecauseAlso,flowerscanserveto

remindusofimpermanencefbrasbeautifUlas
Howersare,tbeirbeautyisshort-lived.Nothinglasts
fbrever.Everythingisimpermanent
FlowersmaybeplacedatthefbotoftheBuddba
imageortothesideApottedplantorsilkflowers
canbeusedinsteadofcutflowers.Changetbem
wbentbeyarenolongersuitablefbrthegongzhuo
Candlessymbolizewisdomandbrigbtness
iIuminatingtbedarknessofignoranceiustasasingle
litcandlecaniIuminatearoomthatbasbeendarkfbr

thousandsofyearsThecandlealsorepresentstheact

46

ofgivingasitgivesofitselfsothatotbersmaysee.
Acandlemaybeplacedoneachsideofthe
gongzhuoarrangement.Forsafbty,youmayuse
lampsinsteadofcandlesAlso,therearesma
battery-operatedcandlesthatserveasasafb,yet
fitting,alternat1vetocandles.
PormsofPractice

Tobeginourpractice,weputourhandstogether,
palmtopalminfrontofourheartFingersarealso
placedtogetberwithoutanyspacebetweenthem.
Eyesarefbcusedonthetipsoftbemiddlefingers.
ElbowsareslightlybenThebeadistiltedslightly
down.Thismovementisusedtoexpressrespectand
iscalledbe2inChineseBesidesbeingUsedto
symbolizethemindwitlIoutwanderingthoughts,it
isalsousedtoexpresstheonenessofthetruenature.
Itistraditionaltobeginpracticewithasimple
ceremonythatincludesbowingtotbeBuddha.
Bowing,alsocalledprostrating,isourwayof
showingrespectandcanservetopurifythethree
karmasofbodyspeechandmindwhenitis
combinedwithchanting.Sincethispracticecanbe

47

difHcultphysicallyfbrpeoplewhoareunaccustomed
totbemovements,itisacceptabletodoastanding
halfbowinsteadofafUIbowtothefloor.

VVhenreadytobeginapracticesession,doahalf
bow,threefi1llbows,andahalfbow.Botbfbrmswi

beexplainedindetailinfbIowingsections.I/itb
thisbowing,wepayrespecttotheBuddhaand
mentallypreparetobeginourcbanting.Havingdone
tbis,wemaynextligbtanincensestickifconditions
allow,andthentakeupourposition
Sitting

Assumeacomfbrtablepositiononameditation
cushionorstool,oronacbair.Useacusbion,eitber

onthef>oororyourcbair,thatisslantedsotheback
isslightlyhigherthantbefrontofthecushionThis
willinclineyourpelvisfbrwardandprovidebetter
support.W/bensittingonthefloorwithacushion,
youmaydosoinafl1llorpartiallotusposition,or
youmaycrossyourlegs.IfthispositionispainfUl,it
maybemorecomfbrtabletouseameditationstool
orbighercushion.Sittingonthestoolandplacing
one,slegsunderitinasimulatedkneelingpositionis

48

tbeusualposition.Ifsittingonacbair,placeboth
fbetflatontheflooraboutafbotapart.
Tositinalotusposition,sitontbecusbionand
placethetopofyourleftfbotonyourrightthigh
Next,placeyourrightfbotonyourlefttbightofbrm
astableseat.Thebackandshouldersshouldbeerect

butrelaxedIftbisistoodifHcult,asitisfbrmany
people,trythehalflotusposition,inwhichyouraise

onlyonefbotontoathighandresttheotberunder
theoppositethighOrsitcross-leggedPlease
rememberthatitisnotnecessarytofbrceyourselfto
sitinanunfamiliarpositionthatistoophysically
demanding.
Trytodeterminewhetheryourdiscomfbrtis
simplytheresultofsittingstiIinadiffbrentposition
fromwhatyouareusedto,orduetotakingupa
positionthatisiusttoodifHcultorpainfUl.Itis
moreimportanttofbcusonsubduingourpointless,
wanderingthoughtsthanonsubduingbodiesthat
arenotusedtosittinginunfamiliarways.
Holdyourhandsonyourlapwiththebackofthe
righthandrestingonthepalmofthelefthand,and
withthumbtipsslightlyraisedandlightlytouching.
Eyesmaybelightlyclosedorslightlyopen.Ifyou

49

fCeldrowsyWhenyoureyesareclosed,opentbem
slightly.Postureisveryimportant,sositupright
comfbrtablywitboutslumpingorleaningfbrward
Holdtheheadataslightdownwardtiltwiththe
chinpullediniustalittle.Inthisposition,begin
chantingAmituofb,aloudorsilently.
Breatheinthroughtbenose,pullingtheairdown
intothedeepestpartoftbelungswhiledistendingtbe
diapbragmandthenslowlybreatheouttbroughthe
nose.BreatbingshouldbenaturalTrytouseyour
diapbragmtopuItheairdeeperintoyourlungs
insteadofbreathingshallowbInsilentchanting,the
tipoftbetonguelightlytouchesthebackoftbe
upperteeth,andteetbandlipsareheldasusual
Shouldersarelevelandelbowsareheldslightlyaway
fromyoursides
Ifyouarenotyetaccustomedtosuchpractice
andeXperiencediscomfbrtsuchaslegcrampsslowly
moveyourlegsintoapositioninwhichyouaremore
comfbrtableItisbesttolKeepinitialsessionssbort:
tentofifteenminutes.Sessionsmaybegradually
lengthenedasyoubecomemoreusedtothepractice
Itisbettertodoashortperiodofchantingthannot
doitatallYoumayusewalkingorbowingtocalm

5O

bothmindandbodybefbreyoubeginyoursitting.
Continueyourchantingasyouvarythephysical
fbrmsofpractice.
W/alking

VVecanpracticewalkingindoorsoroutdoors.This
practiceisexcellentfbrmindfUlnessaswellasfbr
calmingdownbothmindandbody.Weareusually
sowrappedupinrusbingfromoneplacetoanotber
thatbefbrewecansitquietlyweneedtogentlyslow
ourselvesdown.Thus,itisoftenhelpfUltobegina
longerchantingsessionwithwalkingbecausetbis
helpstomakethetransitionfromhurriedeveryday
act1v1t1estoourpract1ce.

Unlikeourusualwalkingasameanstogetfrom
oneplacetoanother,oftenqUicklyandwithoutany
realsenseofWhereweare,ourpracticeofwalking
Whilechantingisslowanddeliberate.W/hilewedo
notbecomeabsorbedinoursurroundings,wedo
remainawareofwbereweareandwhatishappening
aroundus.Ideally,weremainalertbutarenot
distractedbyactivitiesaroundus.
Ifyourareafbrwalkingislargeenough,youcan

walkinacircle.Whilewalkingslowly,beawareof
liftingandplacingyourfbetuponthefloororthe
earthInsteadoftheusuallmrriedimpactontbe

surfacewearewalkingontbefbotshouldgently
touchitKeepbodymovementssmoothandlithe,as
withtaichimovements.Duringthispractice,hands
areheldatslightlylowerthanwaistlevelinfrontof
us,withthebackoftberighthandrestingontbe
palmoftheleftandwithourthumbtipslightly
touching.W/alkcloclKwise,asthishasbeentbe
customsincethetimeoftheBuddha.

Therearetwobasicfbrmsofourwalking.Inthe
fasterfbrm,liftyourrightfbotoffthefloor,or
ground,andmoveitfbrwardandplaceitonthefloor
asyouchantA),(pronouncedasah).Thenrepeat
themovementwitbyourleftfbotasyouclIantmi,,

(pronouncedasme).Stepagainonyourrightfbot
asyouchanttuo,,(pronouncedastuaw,,)andthen
ontheleftfbotonfpronouncedasfa,.Inthe
slowermethod,steponyourrightfbotasyoucbant
(A,,andslowlyshiftyourweightfromyourheelto
yourtoesasyouchant(mi.,,Thensteponyourleft
fbotontuo,,andslowlyshiftyourweightfromyour
heeltoyourtoesasyouchantfb,,

52

Inbothfbrms,allmovementsshouldbe

deliberateandcarefi1lWhileweusuallysteponthe
rightfbotfirst,peopleatotbercentersmigbtstepon
theleft,soifyouattenddirentcentersyouwill
needtoseehowtheydotheirwalkingmeditation.
Duringthewalking,ourchantingmaybedone
aloudorsilentlytoourseves.Whetheraloudor
silent,listentoandfbcusonthesoundofyour
chanting.W/alkingmaybeusedtobreakuplonger

periodsofsittingorastlIesolefbrmofpractice.
Duringretreatsorregularchantingsessions,some
centersusewalkingmeditationmoreoftensinceit
effCctivelycountersthedrowsincssandstiffilessthat
canarisefromprolongedperiodsofsitting
Prostrating

W/ebownottoworshipbuttopayourrespectsto
theBuddhafbrteachingus,torecognizethe
Buddha-naturetbatisinhimandinallbeings,andto
practicehumilitybytoucbingthefloorwithour
head

Ifwearefbcusedandsincereinwhatweare

doingwewiIbecleansingthcthreekarmasofbody

,]

speech,andmind.Forexample,aswebow,ourbody
willbemovingaswechant,andwitheacl1bow,we
willpuri0someofournegativekarmawehad
createdthrougbourfbrmeractionsAswethink
Amituofbwewillpurif)/someofourevilkarma
createdbyourpasttboughts.Aswechant
AmituofbwewipurisomeofourpastbarmfUl
speechInourchanting,wepronounceeachsyllable
clearlyanddistinctlysotbatwehearthechant
wbetheritisvoicedorsilent.RegardlessofWhether
wechantwhenwalking,sitting,orbowing,our
fbcusingontbeBuddl1a,snamewilldecreaseour
everydayworries.EventuallytbeywiIbeeliminated
Tobeginbowing,standwithyourfbetpointing
sligbtlyoulwardinaVandyourheelsafwincbes
apart.Placeyourhandsinthehezangposition,look
downatthetipsofyourmiddlefingers,andsligl1tly
tiltyourheaddown.Keepingyourneckstraight,
slowlybendfbrwarduntilyouhavebentoveralmost
fbrtydegreesThen,bendatthekneesand,wbile
boldingyourlefthandintbesamepositionatcbest
levelmoveyourrightbandtowardthefloorsothatit
wiIsupportyouasyourbendingkneescomplete
loweringyoutotheground.

54

W/henyourrighthandtouchesthegroundbring
thelefthandtothegroundaswell,butaboutsix
inchesaheadoftherigbt.Besuretoplaceboth
handsonthefloorsotbeywillbeinfrontofyour
headwhenittouchestbef>oor.VViththissupportof
bothhandsontheground,continuebendingyour
kneestotbegrounduntilyourkneesareontbe
floor.Yourrighthandsbouldbeiustinfrontand
slightlyoutsidetheedgeoftherightknee,andthe
lefthandstillabeadoftberightFortbosewith
problemsinthewristorioints)orwhofCelunsteady
duetophysicalconditionsyoumayplacebothbands
downatthesametimetofbrmabettersupport.
Next,flexyourfetsotbatthetopsofyourfbet

arerestingontheHoorandyourtoesarealmost
touchingeachother.Yourlowerlegsandfetwill
nowberestingontbefloorandyourbuttockswillbe
restingonyourlegs.
Moveyourrightbandtoapositionlevelwithyour
leftandangleyourbandstowardseachothersoyour
lowerarmsandbandsfbrmaninvertedV,,without

thehandstouchingoneanotherandwitbyourpalms
down.Continueloweringyourupperbodyuntilyour
fbrebeadtoucbesthefloor.Atthispoint,slowlyand

55

supplelymakealoosefistwitheacbhandandthen
turnyourhandsoversotheyarepalmsupwith
fingersverygentlycurledPositionyourhandsasif
oringtoholdtbeBuddhawitbyourhandsTbisis
thefinalpositionintbefUllbow.Yourfbrehead,
fbrearms,knees,lowerlegs,andfbetwillnowbe
restingonthefloor.Keepyourslightlycurvedback
paralleltotheHoorDonotpushyourstomach
downtherebypullingthemiddleofyourbackbone
down;keepthebackgentlycurved
Toraiseyourself;repeatthebowinreverseorder.
Slowlyturnthehandssotbeyarepalmsdown.
Changetbepositionofyourfbetsoyourtoesareon
thegroundandyourfbetarereadytosupportyouas
yourise.ThenpuIyourrightbandtowardsyour
bodyafbotorsoandthiswillhelptostraightenand
raiseyourtrunkIfneeded,pullyourlefthand
towardsyourbodyuntilitismorelevelwithyour
rightbandtbenusingbothhandspushyourselfup.
Continuerisingandstraighteningupuntilyouare
againstandinguprigbtwithpalmstogetberatchest
level.

Beginwithonlyafbwbowsbowingslowlyand
gentlywhilebeingmindfl1lofyourmovements,and

,6

graduallyincreasethenumberyoudIfpossibledo
thispracticewhileachantingmachineorCDis
playing.YoumayremaininthefUllbowpositionfbr
severalsecondsuntilyoubegintorise
DedicationofMerits

Uponcompletionofourchanting,wefbrmally
dedicateourmeritstobeingbornintothePure
LandbyrecitingthefbIowing:
Maythemeritsandvirtuesaccruedfromtbis
practiceadorntheBuddha,sPureLand,
repaytheFourKindsofKindnessabove,
andrelievetbesuffbringsofthose
intheThreePathsbelow.

Maythosewhoseeandbearofthis,
bringfbrthtbeheart
ofunderstandingandcompassionand,
attheendoftbislifb,

beborntogetherintbeLandofUltimateBliss.

,7

TheFourKindsofKindnessaretheTbreeJewels
oftheBuddha,theDbarma,andtheSangha;parents;
teachers;andallbeingsAttbeinitiallevelof
understanding,theThreePathsbelow,,arethoseof
animals,bungryghosts,andheIdweIers.Inthecycle
ofrebirth,thesethreearebelowtboseofhumans,

asuras,andheavenlybeings
Butatahigherlevelofunderstanding,tbeThree
PathscanbeviewedastheRealmofDesire(our

world),theRealmofPorm(wherethelesserdeities
dwelD,andtheRealmofFormlessness(wberetbe

higherdeitiesdweI).Untilonetranscendsthecycle
ofrebirth,oneisstiIboundtorebirthwithinthe

hell,hungryghost,animal,human,asura,and
heavenlypaths.Yesevenfbrtboseinthebeavenly
realmswhereex1stenceistrulywonderfUl,suclI
ex1stencewillonedayendandsuringwillreturn.
Nianiu

Anothermethodfbrpracticeistousez,or
malaTbesearewornaroundthewrist.Intbis

metbod,wereciteAmituofb,,onceaswegently
moveeacl1beadtowardsuswitbourtbumb.Aswe

58

practice,ourthoughtswiIinitiallybeonthebeads,
butgraduallywewiIbeabletofbcusmorefirmlyon
ourchanting.TbismetlIodisparticularlyhelpfi1l
duringthedaywhenwecanfindsometimetochant,
especiallywhenwewishtoreturntotbesenseof
serenitythatourchantingbrings,orwhenwe
encounterstressfUlsituations,andsoon.

Nian}ucomeinsinglewristlengthsofvarying
numbersofbeadsoralongerlengthofIo8beads.
Thislongernianiuwillusuallybavethreesmaller
beadsevenlyspacedalongthestring,andone
motherbeadThetbreesmaIerbeadsusuallyofa

diffbrentcolor,symbolizethefbIowing:theBuddha,
wborepresentsawakening;theDbarma,which
representsproperviewsandunderstanding;andthe
Sangha,Wbichrepresentsharmonyandpuriof
mind

Nianiubeadsareoftenmadefromtbeseeds
wood,orrootofaBodbitree,orfromotbernatural

materialslikegemstonesordiffbrenttypesofwood.
Naturalmaterialslikewoodandseedsdarkenand

developabeautifUllusteraswepractice.
IfthemotherbeadofyournianiuhasaBuddba

image,donotuseitfbryourcbantingStopatthe

59

beadbefbreitandreversedirectionsoyouare
movingintbeoppositedirection.InthePureLand

traditionmostnianjudonotbaveaBuddhaimage,
sowecontinueourchantingandpassthemother
beadinthesamemannerastheotberbeads.
AudioAids

Manypractitionersliketouseachantingmachine,
whichisasmallplasticboxthatcontainsacomputer
chipThecbipcontinuouslyplayscbantingmusic
andaIowsustoalwaysbavethechantingwithus.
Althoughwemaynotconsciouslyfbcusonthesound
ofthechanting,themachineservesasanexceIent
aidtokeepthesoundatleastonalowerlevelof
awarenessreadytorisetoourconsciousnessWbenever
wcwish

CDsareaverygoodalternativeandtbecontents

canbetransfbrredeasilytoMP]players.CDsmay
berequestedfromAmitabhaBuddhistsocietiesand
PureLandLearningCenters.ChantMP3scanalso

bedownloadedfromwww.amitabha-gaIery.oIg

6O

Ten-recitationMethod

Thissimple,convenient,andeffbctivewaytopracticeBuddhanamechantingisespeciallysuitablefr
tbosewbofindthattheyhavelittletimefbr
cultivation.ThechantingbelpsustobemindfUlof
AmitabhaBuddbaItbringsusioy.

.Webeginwhenwewakeup.Situpstraightand
clearlychantAmituofb,,tentimeswithacalmand
fbcusedmind,aloudorsilently.Werepeatthiseight
moretimesthroughouttheday.Eachtimewechant
Amituofb,,tentimes.Thiscbantingcanbedoneby
fbllowingoneoftwoprograms.Pleasecboosetbe
onethatistbemostsuitablefbryourcircumstances

Oneprogramistocbantuponwakingup,befbre
andafterbreakfast,befreworlK,befbreandafter
lunch,befbreandafterdinner,andbefbreretiring.

Theotherprogramistochantuponwakingup,
befbrebreakfnst,befbreandafterourmorning,s
work,befbrelunch,befbreandafterourafternoon,s
work,befbredinner,andbefOreretiring.
Thekeyisregularity;disruptionofthispractice
willreduceitsectivenessWhenwerecite

consistentlywithoutinterruptionwewiIsoonfbel

6I

anincreaseinourwisdom,serenity,andpurityof
mindDiligentpracticeofthismetbodtogetherwith
unwaveringbeliefWows,andlivingamorallifbcan
ensurerulr
ensurefUlfillmentofourwishtoreacbtheW/estern

PureLand

62

THEFIvEGuIDELINEs
TheFiveGuidelinesfbrmthefbundationandarethe

wayweprogressinourpracticeTheyarefirst,tbe
ThreeConditions;second,theSixHarmonies;tbird,

theThreefbldLearning;fburtb,tbeSixParamitas;
andfifth,theTenGreatVows.VVebeginour
practicewiththefirstguidelineoftheThree
Conditionsandgraduallyprogressfromthere.
MasterChinKungextractedtheseguidelines
fromtbefivePureLandsutras,whichconsistof

threesutras,twochaptersfromsutras,andone
treatise.ThePureLandsutrasandtreatiseare:

LTlIeI!ZLMZ

2.TbedZWM

J.Thevksrm
.SamantabhadraBodhisattvaisConductand
Vows,,fromtheduzJtzS

,.ThePerfct,CompleteRealizationof
MahastbamapraptaBodhisattva,,fromthe
SmgZSrm
6.TbeRebrZT

6]

TheThreeConditions

InthebeginningoftheVSZm,Queen
Vaidehi,havingencounteredoverwhelmingfamily
misfbrtunesandhavingthustrulyexperienced
suffbringentreatedSakyamuniBuddhaTheworld
isfilledwithsuffbring.Isn,tthereabetterplace,a
worldwithoutevil?Iwishtoberebornthere.,,

Throughhistranscendentalpowers,tlIeBuddba
compassionatelydisplayedalltheBuddhaLandsin
thetenquartersoftheuniversefbrbertoobserve
andchoosefrom.

AsSakyamuniBuddhaexpected,shechose
AmitabhaBuddba,sW/esternPureLand,alsoknown

astheLandofUltimateBliss,andrequested

SakyamuniBuddhatoteachherhowtoattain
rebirththere.

BefbretheBuddhastartedontherequired

practicesfbrrebirth,hetaugbthertopracticetbe
ThreeConditions,explainingthattheywerethe
truecausesofpureactivitiesofallBuddhasoftbe
threetimeperiods.,,ThisimportantstatementteIs
usthataIBuddhasofthethreetimeperiodsofthe

past,tbepresent,andthefUture,relyontheThree

64

Conditionsasthefbundationfbrtheircultivation
andattainmentofBuddbabood
TheFirstConditionis:

I.Befilialtoandcarefbrone,sparents
z.BerespectfUltoandserveteachers
].BecompassionateanddonotkiIanyliving
beings
CultivatetheTenVirtuousKarmas

Pllysically,wearetorefrainfromkiIing,
stealingandsexualmisconduct.VerbaIywe
aretorefrainfromfalsespeech,harshspeech,
divisivespeech,andenticingspeechMentaIy
wearetorefrainfromgivingrisetogreed,
anger,andignorance
TheSecondConditionis:

,.TaketheTbreeRefi1ges
6.Abidebytheprecepts
7.Behaveinadignified,appropriatemanner
TheThirdConditionis:
8.GeneratetheBodbimind

9.Believedeeplyincausality
Io.StudyandchanttheMahayanasutras
II.Encourageotherstoadvanceonthepathto
enlightenment

6,

TheSixHarmonies

TheSixHarmoniesareguidelinesthatwiIenableus
togetalonginasangba,whicbistheBuddhist
communityoffburormorepeople,monasticorlay,
whopracticetheteachingstogetberTheSix
Harmoniesare:

IHarmonyinhavingthesameviewpoints
2.Harmonyinobservingthesameprecepts
].Harmonyinlivingtogetber
Harmonyinspeakingwithoutconflict
,HarmonyinexperiencingDharmabliss
6.Harmonyinsharingbenefits
Firstisharmonyinhavingthesameviewpoints,
whicbmeansestablishingconsensusesinagroup
Tbegroupmembersmustupboldthesame
principlesandmetbodsthattheyarestudyingand
practicingfbrharmoniousgroupcultivationIfwe
wantastablesociety,everyoneneedstogetalong
withoneanother.Onlyharmonycangraduallydraw
togetherandeventuallyminimizethediffbrencesin
ouropinions,ideas,andwaysoflifeThenequality
canbeacbieved,andfinally,happiness.

66

Secondisharmonyinobservingthesameprecepts
W/henweliveandpracticetogether,weneedtohave
rules,orelsetberewiIbedisorder.Therulesinclude

thepreceptssetbytheBuddha,wbichvary
dependingonWhetheritisalayoramonastic
sanghaTheflmdamentalpreceptsaretbefive
preceptsfbralaysangha,andtbemonkornun
preceptsfbramonasticsangha.Inadditiontothe
Buddhistprecepts,lawsandlocalcustomsarealsoto
beobserved

Tbirdisbarmonyinlivingtogetherasagroup.
Tbepurposeofestablisbingacultivationcenteristo
belpeveryparticipantinthegroupsucceedintheir
practiceLivingtogetberinagroup,practitioners
cansupporteachother
Pourthisbarmonyinspeakingwithoutconflict.

Byreducingandideallyeliminating,disputespeople
willbebetterabletofbcusontheircultivation

Peoplewbotalktoomuchoftencreateproblemsfbr
themselves.Misunderstandingscanariseastbe
listenertakestobeartacarelessremarkoftbe

speaker.Tbusacarelessspeakerunknowinglyincurs
manyenmities,whichgiverisetofUtureretaliation.
ThisiswhyitisbesttoiiTalkless;chantthe

67

Buddha,snamemore.IIThelesswespeak,thefwer

problemswewillhavcItisbesttbatwespeakonly
whennecessary.
FifthisharmonyinexperiencingDharmabliss.
W/henwelearnandpracticeaDharmaDoor,the
basicachievementthatweshouldattainishappiness
Ifwefbelunhappyinourpractice,tbenwehave
encounteredaseriousproblem.Thisproblemlies

notintbeBuddha,steachings,butintbewaywe
practiceW/emayeitherhavedonesometbingthat
goesagainsttheprinciplesoftheteachingsor
appliedtheprinciplesincorrectly.Otherwisethe
resultswouldgraduallybecomeapparentaswelessen
oursuffbring.itheachpassingdaywewouldenjoy
greaterhappinessandfiseedom.Thisshowsthatwe
areprogressinginourpracticeIfwearenot
achievingthis,weneedtoreflect,findourmistakes,

andthencorrecttbem.W/ecanthenthustruly
benefitfromourpractice.

Sixtbisharmonyinsharingbenefits.Inthesangl1a
eveIythingissharedfairlyandWheneverpossible
eqUaIyIntbiswayeveIyone,sbasicneedswillbemet.
SpecialneedsarealsotobeconsideredUnderstanding
thateveIytbinginthesangbaisanoffbring,notbing

68

shouldbewastedThiswillinsurethatfUtureneeds
willalsobemet.

TheTbreefbldLearning
TbethirdoftheFiveGuidelinesistbeThreefbld

Learning.Tocounteracttheproblemsofthepeople
inourworldandage,theBuddhataught:
I.Moralselfdiscipline
z.Meditativeconcentration

3.Innatewisdom

Moraldisciplinecounteractsourhabitsfbr
wrongdoing.Meditativeconcentrationcounteractstbe
tendencyofourmindstowanderandhavescattered
thoug1ts.Wisdomcounteractslgnoranceourwrong

vIewsandknowledge,andourlackofcorrectknowledgc
VVebeginwithmoralselfdiscipline,withtraining
Onabasiclevel,weabstainfromkiIing;from

stealing;fromsexual,orsensual,misconduct;from
lying;andfromtbetakingofintoxicants.Ona
broaderbasis,webehaveinamoralandethicalwayin

everythingwedo.

Bynotkilling,wewillreverealllifb,andhave
compassionandrespectfbrallsentientbeings.Byour
69

veIyex1stence,wearetakinglives.Aswewa>k,westep
oninsects.Toproducetbefbodweeatandthewater

wedrinkmIonsofotberanimalandmicrobiological
livesaredestroyed.VVecannotstopeatingordrmking
water,butwecanmakecertamwedonotwaste

anytbing.Understandingourimpactonothers,wecan
usewbatweneed,butnomorethantbat.

NotkiIingalsohasamoresubtleaspect:W/e
shouldnotkiItheseedsofgoodnessinothersor
harmanotberemotionally.W/hileourthougbtsand
actionscanbedamagingtoothers,itisourspeecb
thatalltooeasilycommitsthisoffnseOurcareless,
sarcastic,orangrywordscandeeplywoundachild,a

lovedone,afriend.Wneedtouseourspeechwisely
andspeakfromtbebeartthatwishestohelpothers.
Bynotstealing,wewillrespecttbeproperof
othersandnottakeoruseanythingwithout
permissionoftheownerThisseemssimpleenough,
butthistrainingalsomeansthatwedonottakethat
bookwhicbislyingunclaimedinarestaurant.
Neitherdowekeeptheextradollarthattheclerk

mistakenlygavetousnordowetakethingsfrom
whereweworlKfbrpersonaluse.

7o

Bynotcommittingsexual,orsensual,misconduct,
wedonotindulgeinsensualpleasures,understandingthattodosonotonlyincreasesourattacbments
andcravings,butoursuffbringaswell.
Bynotlying)wespeaktruthfllllyunderstanding
thepowerthatourwordscanbave.W/echooseour
wordswiselyrealizingthatgreatharmcanresult
fromill-considered,untrutbfUlspeech
Bynottakingintoxicants,wedonottake
substancestbataffbctourabilitytotbinkandbehave
clearlyatalltimes,andthatharmourbodies.
Remainingclear-headedhelpsustonotharmothers
orourselves.

Nextismeditativeconcentration.Inmeditative

concentration,wefbcusourattentiononwbateverwe
choose.Tberearenodistractionsorworries,no

doubtsordrowsiness,nodiscriminationsorattach-

ments:W/eremainunaffCctedbyourenvironment
andmaintainacalm,undisturbedmindInitiallythis
statewiIbringioyandasenseofease.Eventually,it
willenableustoseethingsastheytrulyare.
Ineverydaylifb,wecanconcentrateonwhatever
wearedoingW/ewillbeawareofwhatisbappening
aroundusbutwewillnotbedistractedordisturbed

7I

byit.Indailylifb,wecanpracticemeditative
concentrationineverythingwedo:whetherweare
workingwateringthegarden,ordrivingourcarW/e
cboosetheobiectoractivityofourattentionand
thenremainfbcusedonit.

I/ealsostrivetoattammeditativeconcentration

inourBuddhistpractice.Thepracticeof
concentratingonAmituofb,,willhelpustobecome
onewitbperfbctcompassion,perfcthappiness,and
perfbctpeaceNolongerwillwefbelthatweneedto
attainperfctiononourownaswerealizethatwe
arealreadyonewithtbatwhichisperct.
Thirdisintuitivewisdom.Intuitivewisdomisnot

aninteIectualpursuitnorisitameasureofacademic
intelligenceItisknowingandunderstanding,andit
arisesfromwithinuswhenourmindsareclearand
calm

TheSixParamitas

TointeractsuccessfUllywithotherstheBuddha
taughtustbeSixParamitas,orPerfbctions.Tbe
fburtboftheFiveGuidelines,theparamitasaretbe
practicesofbodbisattvasTheSixParamitasare:

72

I.Giving
z.Preceptobservation
].Patience

Diligence
.Meditativeconcentration
6.W/isdom

ThefirstparamitaisgivingGivingcounters
greed,andensuresthatinthefUturewewillhave
ampleresourcestocontinuehelpingotbersThe
underlyingmeaningofgivingislettinggo.
TberearetbreemaiorkindsofgivingTbefirstis
tbegivingofwealth,beitmaterialresourcesorour
timeandenergy.W/henourgivingbecomes
increasinglyunconditional)wewillbegintofbel
moreliberatedspiritually.Themoreweglveaway)
thefbwerpossessionswebavetoworryaboutSoon
wewillrealizethatweneedverylittletobetruly
content.

SecondisthegivingofteachingByteaching
otbers,wearehelpingthemtolearnhowtorely
moreonthemse>ves.W/egivematerialresourcesto
trytosolveimmediateneeds.But,ifwewantto
solveneedsthataremorefar-reacbing,weteachIt
isnotnecessarytohaveexceptionalslKillsSimply

7]

teachwhateverwearegoodatandwhatothersare
not.ThehighestfbrmofteachingistheDharma,
whicbcanhelppeoplefindlastinghappinessand
liberation.

Andtbirdistbegivingoffarlessness.Itisto
removetheinsecurities,worries,andfbarsofothers,
whethertheother,,ishumanornon-human.This

givingcanbethesharingofakindword,thegiving
ofourstrengthandstability,orourunderstanding.
W/henwerelievetheworriesandfbarsofothers,and

helpthemtofbelmoresecure,theywillbeableto
findpeaceandselfrespect.
Tbesecondparamitaismoraldiscipline,Which
countersworriesandunhappiness,andenablesusto
continueonourwaytoawakeningInamoreliteral
sense,itmeansabidingbytbeprecepts.Inabroader
sense,tbesecondperfbctionmeansethicalbehavior,
aswefbllowtbecustomsandlawsofwhereverwe

arc.Initiallyaswebeginourpracticeofdiscipline
wecanfbcusonrefrainingfromharmingothers.
Graduallywebegintodevelopandincreaseour
virtue.Theultimatefbrmofthispracticeisto
benefitothers

74

Tbetl1irdparamitaispatience,wl1ichcounters
angerandhatred,andhelpsustoavoidaIgumentsand
toachieveourgoalsW/eneedpatienceinalmost
everythingwedo.Ifweareinschool)weneed
patiencetopersevereinourstudy.Atwork,patience
helpsustoproperlyaccomplishourtasksAthome)
patienceisthefbundationfbrinteractingweIwith
familymembers
Patienceenablesustogetalongmoreharmoniously
withthosearoundus.Forourselves,patienceallowsus

torecogn1zeourbadbabitsandtoimproveourselves
bychangingthosehabits.
Thefburthparamitaisdiligence,orenthusiastic
effbrt.Itisthejoytbatwebringtoourpracticeand
toallthatisworthwhileinourlives.Itisthetrue

delightthatarisesfromdeepwitbinuswhenweare
doingwhatisWbolesome.Itenablesustokeepgoing
whenwefbeltiredoroverwhelmedItisrefieshing
andinspiringCultivatingenthusiasticeffbrt
counterslazinessandbringsioytoourlivesaswe
fbelasenseofaccomplishmentinfinishingwl1atwe
havestarted

Thefifthperfctionismeditativeconcentration.
Ourpracticeandtrainingindisciplineandnot

7,

harmingotherswillreduceandgraduallyeliminate
ourharmfUlverbalandphysicalbehaviors.Our
mindswiIbecomecalmerandlessagitatedI/hen
ourmindsarethussettled,wewiIbebetterableto
concentrate

Ourconcentrationwillitibreduceand,then,
graduallyeliminateourdisturbingthoughtsand
emotionalbehavior.I/ewillthenga1nmeditative
concentration,wlIicbwIenableustouncoverour

1nnatewisdomJ}]usdisciplinemeditativeconcentIation
andwisdomworktOgetheI}andarecomplementary
Thesixthparamitaiswisdom.W/isdomcounters
ignorance,andenablesustoknowhowbesttobelp
otbersandtoimproveourselves,includingourability
togetalongweIwithothersThiswisdomisnot
thatwhichisgainedthrougbintensestudyand
analysisofmanydiversesub}ects.Thatwouldbe
seekingwisdomfiDmexternalsourcesItisour
innate,all-knowingwisdom
Ifwebegintopracticetheses1xperfbctionsin
eveniustsomesmallmeasureeveryday)startingwitb
todaygradually,wewillbegintolookintherigbt
direction,andgraduallywewillawakentothe
perctgoodness,perfctcontentment,andperfbct

76

ioythatarealreadywithinourtruenature,our
Buddba-nature.

TheTenGreatVows

OnlywhenweapplytheThreeConditionstheSix
Harmonies,tbeThreefbldLearning,andtheSix
Paramitasinourdailylivesarewetrulylearning
Buddhism,emulatingbodhisattvas,andbeginningto
resembleabodhisattva.BodhisatIascannotattain

BuddhahoodonlybypracticingtheSixParamitas.
TheyalsopracticeBuddha-namechanting
InthepracticeofBuddha-namecbanting,wecan
achieveeitherConstantMindfUlnessofAmitabha

BuddhaorOneMindUndisturbedinMindfUlness,
butwecannotachieveOneMindUndisturbedin

Enlightenment.Inotberwords,wehavetomove
beyondthefbundationoftheSixParamitasand
progresstothenextlevelofpractice:theTenGreat
VowsofSamantabhadrataughtintheduJ
MZ.

ThisDharmadoorleadstoattainmentofOne

MindUndisturbedinEnlightenmentandattainment
ofBuddbaboodItispracticedbyDbarmaBody

77

MahasattvasThesearegreatBodhisattvaswhohave
realizedtheDbarmaBody;inotherwordstheyhave
freedthemselvesfTomdelusion.Therefbre,itisthe

laststepofourcultivationandcannotbereachedby
skippingtheprevioussteps.VenerableMasterChin
Kungbassaidthatifwedonotsucceedinour
practiceoftbeSixParamitas,wearenotevenclose
topracticingtheTenGreatVows.
Thedistinctivefbatureofthepracticeof
Samantabhadraistbatthisbodhisattvahasamindas

broadastheuniverse.Asaresult,eachofhisten

vowsisultimateandperfbctinitself
TbeTenGreatVowsofSamantabhadraare:

ITorespectallBuddhas

z.TopraiseTathagata(oneofthetennamesfbr
Buddha)

3.Tomakeoffbringsextensively
Torepentkarmicobstacles
,.Toreioiceatother,smeritoriousdeeds
6ToreqUesttheturningoftbeDharmaWheel
7ToreqUesttbeBuddhatoremainintbisworld
8ToconstantlyfbllowtheBuddha,steachings
9.Toaccommodateallsentientbeings
Io.TodedicateallmeritsuniversaIy

78

Inconclusion,ourlearningoftbePureLandteachings
isbasedonthef}vePureLandsutrasandonetreatise.

OurPureLandpracticeisbasedontheFiveGuidelines:
theThreeConditions,theSixHarmon1es,the

ThreefbldLearning,theSixParamitas,andtheTen
GreatVowsofSamantabhadra

Theseguidelinesareverysimple,veryclear,and
notatallcomplicatedIfwefbllowtbeseguidelines
inourlearningandpracticefbrtherestofourlives,
wewilldefinitelysucceedAsanancientsageonce
said,Iftenthousandpractice,tentbousandwi
attainrebirth,,I/ehavetbeprinciplesandtbe
practicemetbods
Howdoweinteractwithpeopleandengagein

tasksindailylifb?Ifwefbllowthesefiveguidelines
wewiInotgowrong
Inadditionifwesingle-mindedlypractice
Buddha-namecbantingandseekrebirtbinthe
W/esternPureLand,allofuswiIsucceed

79

CAREoFDHARMAMATERIALs

Wbetheroneisathomeortraveling,donotplace
Dharmamaterialsontbefloorortheseatofachair.

Ifotherspaceistemporarilyunavailablewemay
carefUllyplaceabookontbearmofasofaorchair.
Prerablybookssbouldbeclosedandplacedneatly
ontbehighershelvesofabookcaseW/henturning
thepages,dosocarefUllyanddonotturndownthe
edgeofthepagetomarkyourplace.Ifusingabook
fbrstudy,wemaywriteinitifitisacommonly
printedbookandhasnointrinsicvalue.
Thebooks,images,andotherDharmamaterials
arenottobetakenintobathroomsAlso,ifpossible,
pleasedonotplacetbemdirectlyonyourbedWlIen
traveling,tbesebookscanbewrappedinaclean
clothandplacedinyourluggage.Thebooksmayalso
beplacedonthecloththatisinturnplacedona
bed

Whenweareinthebathroomorarenotproperly
dressedchantsilentlyHowever,whencleaningor

doingchores,wemaychantaloudSilentorvoiced
chantingbringstbesameresult

8o

VIsITINGABuDDHIsTCENTER

Thefbllowingaresomeguidelinesfbrvisitinga
BuddhistcenterByadberingtotheseandobserving
howotbersbehave,youwillbecomfbrtablevisiting
anycenter.Youcanalsoaskthepersoninchargeif
youareunsureofwbattodo
IRefrainfiDmanypracticesotherthantboseof
tbecentre

z.Avoidtalkingloudlyorunnecessarilysoasnot
todisturbothers

].DressinarespectfUlmanneranddonotwear
shortskirtsorshorts,see-throughortight
clothingDiscreet,loose-fittingclothingis
appropr1ate.

4.DonotuseperfUmeandscentedlotions;
refrainfromwearinganythingthatcouldmake
noise.

5.Greetotherswitbhezangandaslightbow
6.Removeyourshoesbefbreenteringtbe
cultivationhall.YouwiIusuallyleavetbemon
inotherareas,likethedininghall.Itispolite
towearsocks.Alsotrytoremoveyourshoes

8I

inaplacewhereyouwillnotsteponthe
groundpriortoenteringthehall.
7.Placeyourbandsinthehezangpositionand
bowtotheBuddhaafteryoustepintothe
cultivationhall.Iftheroomisnotcurrently
beingused,youmaymovetoacusbionanddo
abalfbow,threefUIbows,andahalfbow.

8.Inmanycentersitiscustomaryfbrmentosit
ontherightsideandwomentositontheleft
IfyouareunsureiftbiscustomisfbIowedat
thecenteryouarevisitingyoumightask
abeadoftimeIfthatisnotpossiblefbIow
tl1isarrangementtobesafC
9.W/henmovingaroundthecultivationbaI,try
toavoidcrossinginfrontoftbosewhoare
chantingorprostrating
IoPeoplecometotbecentretopracticeandto
learn.Aquietenvironmentisnecessaryfbr
bothpursuits.Inordernottodisturbothers,
pleaserefrainfromallunnecessarytalking.If
talkingisnecessarydosoqUietly.Please
respectotbers,wishesiftheyindicatetheydo
notwanttotalk

8Z

II.I/benyougreet,or
wnenyougreet,orwr1teto,amonast1c,1t1s
politetousethebonorificofVenerablebefbre
themonastic,snameIfyoudonotknowtheir
nameyoumaysimplyaddressthemas
VenerableIfyouwouldliketousethe
Chinese,ShifUisChinesefbrteacberandcan
alsobeused

8]

PartThree

DeahandDymg

GuIDELINEsFoRSPIRITuALADvIsoRs

I.Remindthepatientofthesuffbringofthisworld
andthe>oysofthePureLandtohelpstrengthenhis
orhervowtoberebomintothere.Thespiritual
advisorshouldalsoenumerateandpraisethe
patient,sgooddeeds,merits,andvirtues.Thiswill
helpthepatienttobehappyandfreeofdoubts,
certainthatwhenthetimecomestodie,heorshe

wiI,thankstobisorbergooddeeds,vows,and
practice,berebornintotheW/esternPureLandof
UltimateBliss.

zltisimportanttoremindthedyingperson
ceasethinkingofwealtbandproperty,aswell
attachmentstofamilyandfriends

].IfthepatienthaswrittenawiI,verygood,butif
notitisbesttocounselagainstwritingoneatthis
time.Theadvisorcanalsoadviseeveryonetorefrain
fromgossipanddistractingconversationsasthey
couldrekindlethepatientsattachmenttotbis
world,Whichisdetrimentaltothepatient,sdesired
rebirth

87

.Whenrelativesandfriendscometovisit,they
sbouldbediscouragedfrombecomingemotionalin
thepatient,spresence.Iftheywishtohelp,theycan
standtotlIesideandcbantAmituofb,,aloud

Explaintothevisitorstbatcryingatthistimecould
distractthepatientfiomtbedesiredrebirthinthe
PureLandandresultintbepatientbeingsubiected
tomuchsuffbring.
5Thepatientshouldbecounseledtopractice
generosityandgiveawaypersonaleffbctstothose
whoneedtbemAlso,thepatientcanpurchase
Buddbaimages,sutras,andotherBuddlIistmaterials,
andrequestthattbeyalsobegivenawayThiswi
belpthepatienttoincreasehisorhermeritsand
reducebadkarmas,andthushelptofacilitateagood
rebirth

Thegoodadvisorshouldkeepthesegeneral
guidelinesinmind,butbereadytoimprovise
accordingtothesituation.

88

SupportiveBuddha-nameCbanting

SupportivechantingbyfamilymembersandDbarma
iendsiscrucialwhenapatientisontheveIgeof
deathbecause,atthattime,heorsheisweakbotb

mentallyandphysically.Insuchtryingcircumstances,itbecomesincreasinglydifHculttofbcuson
chantingAmituofb.,,ThisisWhysupport1ve
Buddha-namechantingissoimportant

LTobelpfbcusthepatient,sthougbts,respectfUIy
placeastatueorpictureoftbestandingAmitabha
Buddhainfrontofthepatientwbereitcanbeeasily
seen.Placeacontainerofcleanwaterinfrontofthis

imageandsomefresbflowersinavasenearit
Lightlyscentedincenseorevenasmokelessvariety,

maybeburned(Astrongfragranceorexcessive
smokemightcausetbepatienttohavedifHcultyin
breatbing.)
2.Thosewhocometopracticesupportivechanting
shouldrememberthatthepatient,whoisina
weakenedstate,requiresadequatefreshair.Iftoo
manypeopleareintheroomatonetime,thepatient

89

mayhavedifHcultybreathingandbecomeagitated,
resultinginmorebarmthangoodAlso,people
shouldpre-arrangetheirchantingtimeandsilently
taketurns,sotbatthechantingcancontinue
uninterruptedEacbsessioncanlastaboutanhour.

].AccordingtoMasterYinguang,thethirteenth
patriarchoftbePureLandschool,theshort
chantingfbrmofAmituofb,,shouldbeused,sothat
thepatientcaneasilyregisterthisnameinthemost
subtleconsciousness,atatimewhenbothmindand

bodyareveryweak
Itwouldbewisetoaskthepatientwhichoneis
prefbrred-Amituofb,,orNamoAmituofb.,,Inthis
way,thepatientcancomfbrtablyandsilentlychant
alongwiththegroup.Togocountertothepatient,s
likesandbabitsmaydestroyhisorher
concentration.Peopleshouldnotchanttooloudlyso
asnottoexpendtoomuchenergyandsbortenthe
timetheycanchantOntheotherhand,theysbould
notchantintoolowavoiceorthesoundmightnot
registerinthepatient,smind.Also,theyshouldnot
speaktooneanotherwhileintheroom.
Chantingsbouldneitherbeoverlyloudorsoft

9O

tooslowortoofastEacbutteranceshouldbeclear

anddistinctsothatitcanbebeardclearlyand
penetratedeepintothepatient,sconsciousness.One
caveat:ifthepatientistooweakorisincoma,he
maybavedifHcultyhearingthecbanting.Insucha
case,someonesbouldchantclosetothepatient,sear
tobelpthepatienttomaintainaclcar,steadymind
ithregardtoinstrumentsitisgenerallybetter
tousethesmallhandbeIwithitsclear,limpid
sound,asitcanhelpthepatientdevelopapureand
calmmindHowever)thismaynotapplyinallcases.
Ifpossible,itisbesttoaskthepatientinadvance
whatisprefbrredIfsomedetailsdonotsuitthe
patient,weshouldadapttotbecircumstancesandbe
flexible

AfterthePatientDies

I.Relativessbouldnotcryinthepresenceoftbe
patientespeciallyimmediatelybefbreandaftertbe

deathDoingsocancausethedyingpatientto
developthoughtsofattachmentwhichcanprevent
themuchsoughtrebirthandresultantliberation.

9I

z.Itisvitallyimportantnottotouchormovethe
bodyofthedeceasedperson.Thus,peopleshould
waitatleasttwelvehours,andprefrablytwentyfburbefbrewasbinganddressingtbebody.
].Familyandfriendsshouldconccntrateonchanting
inallearnestnessandwithoutcryingfbratleast
twelvehours.Thisistoallowthepatient,smost
subtleconsciousnessadequatetimetoleavethe
body.IMuringthisperiodanyonetouchesthebody
orcries,thedeceasedmaystilleXperiencefbelingsof
pain,sadness,anger,orselfpity,andsinkagaininto
therealmsofsuffbring.

4.Duringtheminimumtwelve-bourperiod,(twentyfburhoursisprefbrable),ifpeoplecanremain
chantingnearthedeceased,somuchthebetter.
Exceptfbrcbanting,nothingshouldbedone.
,.Funeralarrangementsshouldbesimpleandmodest,
withoutunnecessaryexpenses.Onlyvegetarianfbod
shouldbeprovidedfbrservingmeatorfishwill
burdenthedepartedwithmorekarmicobstacles,
makingliberationthatmucbmoredifHcult.Itis

9Z

Inportanttorememberthateventhosewhohave
alreadybeenrebornintothePureLandmaystillbe
affbctedbythebehavioroffnmilyandfriendsacting
onbehalfofthedeceased

9]

LIvINGW/ILL

Tomyfamilyandallthoseconcernedwithmycare:
I,

,of

beingofsoundmind,makethisstatementasa
directivetobefbIowediffbranyreasonIbecome
unabletoparticipateindecisionsregardingmy
medicalcare

Uponmydeathandtransitionintothenextlifb,Ido
notwishtoberebornasaghostorananimal.Ido
notwishtosuffbr.Instead,IwishtofbIow
AmitabbaBuddhaandtoarriveathisW/esternPure

LandofUltimateBliss.Toallmyfami>yandfriends,
IwishtoaslKfbryourassistancesothatImaynot
suffbr,butinsteadremaincalmandpeacefUlto
preparefbrmyarrivaltotheW/esternPureLand.
IntheeventthatIshouldsuffbrfromaterminaI

iInesstotheextentthatdoctorsfbreseenopossible
recovery,Iaskthatnomedicaltreatmentbe
undertaken.ShouldIalreadybeinthehospitalat
tbispoint,Iwishtobecbeckedoutandbrought
bome.Pleasenotifymyassignedfamilymemberor

friend

attelephonenumber(s)
and

Oncehome,pleasepositionmeinthemost
comfbrtable,naturalpositioninwhichImayrest.

Theassignedfamilymemberorfriendwilllead
othersinchantingAmituofb.,,SbouldIdeclineto
tbepointwbereIloseconsciousnessandamno
longerawareofmysurroundings,theassignedfamily
memberorfriendshaIhavefl1llauthorityinmaking
anydecisionsregardingmyweI-being.Ifthisperson
cannotbecontacted,pleasefindaBuddhistmaster
orBuddhistbelievertoaidintbeclIantingof
Amituofb,,untiltheassignedpersoncanbereached
.Withintwenty-fburhourspriortoandaftermy
death,Iwouldliketoaskmyfriendsandfamilyto
complywiththefbIowing;

IDonottouchormovemybodyorevenmybed
2.Donotchangemyclothing.
3.Donotplacedryiceorothersubstancesonmy

body.Sandalwoodincensemaybeburnedifthereis
anyodor.

.Donotletabreezeblowdirectlyontomybody.
.Donotallowtbescentofalcohol,onions,

scallions,garlic,orcbivestoentertberoom`
6Donotsmoke,cry,ortallKintheroom

Mypurposefbraskingthisistocreatean
atmosphereinwhicbImayremaincalmandat
peace.TheonlysoundIwishtobearisAmituofb),
sothathemayescortmetothePureLand

IfIamathomeuponmydeatb,myfamilyshould
talKeturnschantingAmituofb,,fbreighttotwentyfburhours.AtthispointIwiIbereadytobemoved
washed,anddressedTlIisperiodofchantingisthe
besttimetoassistmetobecahnandpeacefUl.A
fUneralarrangementscanbemadeafterwards.IfI
shouldpassawayinthehospital,pleasefbllow
hospitalpolicyandchantasmuchasisaIowed
Duringmyterminalillnessandwithinfbrty-ninedays

aftermydeatb,allfamilymembersshouldadopta
vegetariandietIdonotwishfbranykillingtobe
associatedwithmydeathAllfUneraloringsmust
bevegetarianTbeuseofalcoholisstrictly
probibitedFuneralarrangementssbouldbekept
simple,andproperBuddhistetiquetteshouldbe
fbllowed.Idonotwishfbranyunnecessaryexcess.
I/ithinfbrty-ninedaysfbIowingmydeath,I
sincerelyaskmyfamilymembersandfriendstoseek
myrebirthintothePureLand,andtoperfbrmgood
deedssuchasgivingofbingstotbeTbreeJewelsof
theBuddha,Dharma,andSangha,printingsutras,
helpingtheneedyandsoon.Tbesegooddeedswill
helpmetoattainadditionalgoodkarma,andfUrtber
assistmeinarrivingatthePureLand.Most
importantisfbrmyfamilytosincerelycbant
Amituofb.,,

InorderfbrmetobenefittbemostandtopeacefUlly
arriveatthePureLand,theabovepointsmustbe
fbllowed.Tbiswillnotonlybcnefitmebutallthose
involvedaswell.Inthismanner,Iwisbfbreveryone
tolearnandtobelieveinBuddbism.Thus,everyone

canarriveattbePureLand,aswell
Amituofbtoall

Thesedirectionsexpressmylegalrighttorequestor
refl1setreatmenLTherefbreIexpectmyfamily
doctor,andallthoseconcernedwithmycareto
regardthemselvesaslegallyandmoraIyboundtoact
inaccordwithmywisbes.
Signe
Datc

I/itness:Ideclarethattbepersonwhosignedthis
document,oraskedanothertosignthisdocument
onhisorberbehalMidsoinmypresenceandthat
heorsheappearstobeofsoundmindandfreeof
duressorundueinfluence
V/itness

Date

CLosINGTHouGHTs

PureLandBuddhistpracticeisnotconfinedto

learningaboutparticularBuddhistprinciplesand
cbantingasutraortheBuddba,snamewbilebowing,
sitting,orwalkingOurpracticeistbedevelopment
ofacalmer,purermindsowewilllearntothinkand
behaveasaBuddhaineverythingwedo.
Wstrivetoachievetbismindsetthroughthe

previouspracticesaswellasthroughlessfbrmal
practiceHow?Byremindingourselvesdailythat
whileallofushavemanysbortcomings,weshould
onlybeconcernedwithourownByunderstanding
causalityandnotblamingothersfbrthedifficulties
inourlivesAndbyrealizingtbatallbeingssur
andtbatonlywbenweawakencanwetrulyhelp
otberstobefreefrompain

Ultimatelourpracticewillenableustobave
loving-kindnessandpatienceheldequallyand
ioyfUllyfbrall.

IREsoLvE

IresolvenottokiI.

Instead,Iwillrespectand
havecompassionfbrallbeings.
Iresolvenottosteal

Instead,befbretakingorusinganythingbelonging
toanother,IwiIasktheowner,spermission.
Iresolvenottoengageinsexualmisconduct,
oranysensoryindulgence.
Instead,IwiIdevelopthemind
ofselfrestraintandpurity.

Iresolvenottousefalsespeech.
Instead,IwiIspeakthetruthinawisewayand
attherighttime.
Iresolvenottouseharshspeech
Instead,Iwillspeakwords
tbatbenefitothersandfbsterpeace.

IOZ

Iresolvenottousedivisivespeech
Instead,Iwillspeakwordsthatfbster
harmonyandunderstanding

Iresolvenottouseenticingspeech
Instead,Iwillspeak
sincerelyandtruthfUlly.
Iresolvetorefrainfromgreed
Instead,Iwillopenmyheartand
pract1ceg1v1ng

Iresolvetorefrainfromanger

Instead,Iwilldeveloppatienceand
thecompassiontoseethesuringofothers
Iresolvetorefrainfromignorance.
Instead,IwiIdisciplinemyselfand

calmmymindsothatIcanactfromwisdom.

I]

Maythemeritsandvirtues
accruedomtbisworkadorn

theBuddha,sPureLand,

repaytbeFourKindsofKindnessabove,

andrelievethesuffbringsofthose
intheThreePathsbelow.

Maythosewhoseeandbearoftbis

bringfrthtbemind
ofunderstandingandcompassion,
andattheendofthisli,

beborntogether
intheLandofUltimateBliss.