Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha by Master Shen-Long

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha The Chapter Of The Surangama Sutra: The Great-Strength Bodhisattva Chants Amitabha In Perfection To Become Buddha

By Master Shen - Long 神龍祖師

ÂŠ 2019 by Master Shen-Long All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from the artist and publisher. Published 2019 in the United States of America. WWW.MASTERSHENLONG.COM Front cover: Photo by Master Shen-Long

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

By Master Shen - Long 神龍祖師

About Master Shen-Long Master Shen-Long is otherwise known as Master Sheng-Yao (courtesy name: Xiao-Yao 逍遙 or personal assumed name: Shen-Long 神龍, Tai-Yi (the great purity) 太一, Tai-Chu (the great beginning) who seeks enlightenment 太初道人, and so forth). He is an artist, calligrapher, writer, poet, philosopher, Buddhist master and the founder of the Enlightenment Power Mind School. He has conducted public talks on many Buddhist scriptures including the Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra ( 心經), the Sutra of Infinite Life (佛說大乘無量壽莊嚴清淨平等覺經), the Buddha speaks of Amitabha Sutra (佛說阿彌陀經), the Essential Annotation on the Amitabha Sutra (彌陀經要解), the Great-Strength Bodhisattva (Mahasthamaprapta) Chants (Mindfulness) Amitabha in Perfection to Become Buddha (大勢至菩薩念佛圓通章), the Suramgama Sutra (楞嚴經), and the Vimalakirti Sutra (維摩詰經).

Table of Contents 7

Author's Preface

Chanting Amitabha To Become Amitabha

Chanting (Mindfulness) Amitabha And Recollecting Amitabha Are Perfectly Integrated

Pay Homage To Shakyamuni Buddha The Original Master

The Chapter Of The Surangama Sutra: The Great-Strength Bodhisattva (Mahastamaprapta) Chants (Mindfulness) Amitabha In Perfection To Become Buddha

Recording Lecture On The Chapter Of The Surangama Sutra: The Great-Strength Bodhisattva (Mahastamaprapta) Chants (Mindfulness) Amitabha In Perfection To Become Buddha

293

Calligraphy By Master Yinguang

294

Postscript: The Valued Piece Calligraphy By The Great Master Yin-Guang

299

The Secret Of Success In Cultivation Practice

302

Praising The Marvellous Sound Of Chanting Amitabha

305

Four Incredible Teachings

307

The Dedication Of Transmitting Merit To All

Master Shen-Long 神龍祖師 is with Amitabha Samadhi mudra, wishing all sentient beings who view this portrait to become Buddha.

Author's Preface The Chapter of the Surangama Sutra: The GreatStrength Bodhisattva (Maha-stamaprapta) chants (mindfulness) Amitabha in perfection to become Buddha, that is: The supreme teaching from above the crown of the Great Buddh'a head, on the esoteric and profound cause of Tathagata, through practicing cultivation to realize the truth to become Buddha in all disciplines of salvation of various Bodhisattva [Surangama Sutra]. It is the full title of the Surangama Sutra. This is the seal of all Buddha mind, the origin of all living beings, the esoteric of all, the supreme enlightenment of all enlightenment. To remember Amitabha and mindfulness Amitabha, mindfulness and remember Amitabha into the intrinsic nature of all things, remember and mindfulness Amitabha attain the state of “unhindered absolutely in all”, one attains the state of Surangama. How can one truly imagine these kinds of unexcelled merits! This is the Buddha’s understanding and view which is unknown to the other nine states of existences. Only between Buddhas can they understand the key within, even the Bodhisattva of Absolute Universal Enlightenment (SamyakSamadhi) have difficulty to understand clearly and thoroughly the merits of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha; never mind those of the Functional Teaching Schools, Hinayana School and common folks. Yet all living beings who chant (mindfulness) Amitabha become Amitabha at once. This method is above all other methods,

the profound teaching above all others, the core of the center core, incredible above all. It has entire control of all methods to enlightenment, it is the supreme Dharani, matching with all fundamental quality to enlighten all living beings, and all Buddha praise and joy of all living beings. This is the king of all Buddha’s original vows, and an incredible cultivation above the crown of Vairocana’s head too. It happens to now be the age of degeneraton and extermination of the Buddha teaching, and the will of the people is confused. Living beings who slander the Buddha teaching are as many as the Ganges River sands. Especially those who slander the method of chanting (mindfulness) Amitaba, their sin is down to the Avici Hell (ceaseless pain)! It is this ignorance that many enter Hell, and there are few by means of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha with sincerity. One who practices in accordance with the steps of “firm belief, comprehend with wisdom, put into practice, and verify into the state of nirvana” is rare as the feather of a phoenix and the horn of a unicorn. If there exists one, it is truly hard to come across one through the infinite existence of world-periods! However, the foolish old man and old woman chants (mindfulness) Amitabha foresee the time to go to be born in Amitabha Pure Land; the total number is considerably huge all over the ages. Up to the present, I keep hearing that seeing the auspicious sign clearly, those relatives and township party all saw with their own eyes the impact it is making one deep in thought with self-intropection. More than just a few people make up their mind to chant (mindfulness) Amitabha. By comparison, this method is more accomplished to become Buddha than other methods and in fact, it is superior. Mindfulness and remembering Amitabha is convenient and easy to do, covering all-natural capacity of either “superior, medium or inferior” universally, to accept all people of either sharp faculties or dull faculties. The key is to wholeheartedly chant or mindfulness Amitabha,

to make the vow to go to be born in the Pure Land of Amitabha. With this immutable faith and vow eternally and practice for a long time, your delusional thought, discrimination, affliction and attachment all naturally disappear. In this life, you realize the self’s true colors immediately, see Amitabha and are premarked with Buddha attainment in the future by Amitabha, enter the omniscience ocean of the perfect wisdom attained by Tathagata, and reproduce yourself at infinitum and anywhere to help and enlighten all common people in perfection! As for self-attainment of Bodhi (enlightenment) in perfection, it is easy to help others from the reincarnation wheel of suffering. This is to benefit oneself and others, you and others are one with Buddha-nature. This is because this name of Amitabha achieves all, which is truly inconceivable! Review now, this method of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha to become Buddha in perfection, we ought to follow the GreatStrength Bodhisattva’s (Maha-stamaprapta) sincerity and true practice in: Bearing Amitabha in mind and mindfulness Amitabha, Amitabha manifests immediately, one certainly meets Amitabha. Advise all living beings universally to put into practice the method of bearing Amitabha in mind and mindfulness Amitabha, to the state of unifying with Amitabha in mind for 24 hours, or further to the state of single-mindedly without deviation. Then attain the nine grades within the three ranks after reaching the Pure Land of Amitabha, and it is grasped within days. The three elements of “firm belief, pledged vows and practicing cultivation” are in one go. We should not fail to live up to our soul/spirit to pass down this enlightenment way of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha to become Buddha in perfection, to bear a heavy responsibility with a long road, and to

continue the teachings of all Buddha’s originally cherished desires. This is all because of a sole unenlightened, ordinary one with a sincere mind to accomplish. When seeing one is true, all is true and when one has enlightenment, one enlightens in all. How could one dare to fool others!

Gatha: 佛法無人說，雖智莫能解，佛法無人證，難脫生死海。

Buddha teaching without the right person to explain, although a wise-one cannot comprehend; Buddha teaching without personal experiential entry of the truth, difficult escaping from the suffering sea of rebirth and recurring death.

觀佛三昧經，諸佛皆念佛，念佛真圓通，諸佛暢本懷。

Buddha-Dhyana-Samadhisagara-Sutra states: all Buddha chant (mindfulness) Amitabha; Mindfulness Amitabha is becoming Amitabha in perfection, all Buddha fluently reveal their original intention.

八宗十玄門，不出念佛道，法華華嚴旨，導歸極樂教。

Eight religious schools and ten divisions of the Profound School, none beyond the way of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha; The main thesis of the Dharma-Flower Sutra and the Flower Adornment Sutra guide and return to the teaching of Amitabha Pure Land.

金剛楞嚴趣，還入勢至圓，三藏十二部，念佛第一妙。

The delight of the Diamond Sutra and the Surangama Sutra also agree with Great-Strength Bodhisattva chants (mindfulness) Amitabha in perfection to become Buddha; Tripitaka classifies 12 volumes, chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha is still the foremost incredible method to enlightenment . Tai-Yi Shen-Long Xiao-Yao Preface at the Studio of Omniscient One

Chanting Amitabha To Become Amitabha Amitabha is the original source of the Buddha-nature body of all Buddha of the past, the present and the future from ten directions of the universe, also the life essence of all living beings of the past, the present and the future from ten directions of the universe; everyone inherently is Amitabha. However, all living beings with one unenlightened thought, loses oneself in the suffering sea, unaware one inherently is a Buddha. Amitabha sees this so he arises with an infinite merciful mind and pledges magnificent vows to build the Bliss World and grants his name for people to chant single-mindedly; to gather infinite beings to go and be born in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land, to attain Buddha enlightenment in perfection and restore one’s true self. This is the forty-eight great vows of Amitabha pledged. It has received praise from Buddha of the ten directions, all Tathagata proclaim it for eternal existence of the world-periods; thousand Sutras myriad theories all refer and return to this. The Ten Great Vows of Pu-Xian Bodhisattva (Samantabhadra – Universal Worthy) also directs to the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land. These supreme great vows are as deep and vast as an ocean to have perfect Buddha attainment in this life at high speed. If there is a living being unforgetting the name of Amitabha every thought-moment, and wholeheartedly chants Amitabha, this is known as “chanting Amitabha”. In addition, the chanting Amitabha person further should make a vow to go to be born in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land, to recover one’s life essence, to become Amitabha in perfection; this is known as “chanting Amitabha to become Amitabha”. *(All people should know: If you do not make a vow to go

and be born in the Pure Land of Amitabha, even if you attain Chanting Amitabha Samadhi, you will still be unable to go to be born in the Amitabha Pure Land to attain Buddha’s enlightenment expressly. Why? It is because that does not correspond with the original pledged vow of Amitabha. Therefore, Amitabha has no grounds to meet and receive. Besides chanting Amitabha wholeheartedly, you also need to make a vow to be born in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land, this way is called the utmost fulfillment of the whole. Be sure to remember this! Be sure to remember this!) Now, the Great-Strength Bodhisattva (Maha-stamaprapta) of the Three Saints of the West who aids Amitabha to propagate and influence with this incredible method of “chanting Amitabha to become Amitabha”, to gather all living beings who chant Amitabha universally to go and be born in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land, to perfect one’s Bodhi ( perfect enlightenment) and to become the supreme Mahasattva (great being) attains the Buddha’s enlightenment perfectly! Here I explain publicly The Chapter of the Surangama Sutra: The Great-Strength Bodhisattva (Maha-stamaprapta) chants (mindfulness) Amitabha in perfection to become Buddha; this is the supreme Mahasattva using this method of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha in perfection to become Buddha to teach all living beings: With the power to gather all six sense organs (six roots), chanting Amitabha continuously. One can achieve Chanting Amitabha Samadhi and further reach the state of: Without the aid of expedients, their minds naturally awake by themselves. Becoming the master of yourself to go to be born in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land, is the supreme revelation to have perfect

attainment of “chanting Amitabha to become Amitabha” at high speed. Also, this supreme revelation is extremely accurate and an important point for all living beings of the present, past and future from the ten directions of the universe to become Buddha. Admittedly, chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha in perfection to become Buddha is the unsurpassed Prajna of recovering one’s life essence. It is the easiest, simplest, fastest, the most perfect and unexcelled expedient way to attain Buddha enlightenment. Hold forth to all Buddha’s original mind content of praising together by “all Tathagata from the ten directions and Shakyamuni Buddha’s personal proclamations”. This is the supreme incredible method of going and teaching boundless beings and benefiting groups of the unenlightened ones universally. In fact, it is the most honored one amongst all Buddha teachings, the king of kings. Now arriving at the end of winter and the beginning of Spring, the day which all things take on a new start, I look forward to The Chapter of the Surangama Sutra: The Great-Strength Bodhisattva (Maha-stamaprapta) chants (mindfulness) Amitabha in perfection to become Buddha to be a widely expedient way for all living beings to become Buddha. Wishing all living beings to be on an express course to go and be born to the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land. All become Amitabha. Although we are currently in the period of degeneration and extermination of Buddha teaching, we can still rely on originally pledged vow power of Amitabha’s support to meet and receive all chanting Amitabha persons who have made a vow to go and to be born to the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land, to become Buddha in perfection at high speed. Thus, eternally detaching from the reincarnation suffering sea. After 9000 years, Buddha teachings would be all extinguished, but Amitabha’s name gathers all living beings with affinity and helps all confused ones universally. Today, we are so fortunate to encounter

this utmost incredible method, how can we not truly chant (mindfulness) Amitabha and truly make a vow to become Buddha with full strength, and wholeheartedly promote this method to repay Buddhaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kindness and obliged to collaborate with all sentient beings towards enlightenment? This is exquisite; chanting Amitabha to become Amitabha is fulfillment of the whole! It is fortunate! It is worth rejoicing! Amitabha! Tai-Yi Shen-Long

Xiao-Yao Recorded in the Spiritual Studio of Myriad Incredibles

Chanting (Mindfulness) Amitabha And Recollecting Amitabha Are Perfectly Integrated

The Chapter of the Surangama Sutra: The Great-Strength Bodhisattva (Maha-stamaprapta) chants (mindfulness) Amitabha in perfection to become Buddha states: Reflecting on Amitabha or chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha, Amitabha manifests before one, and one certainly beholds the Buddha. One who recollects Amitabha is classified as the fundamental essence, chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha is an external activity. Within recollection there is mindfulness, within mindfulness there exists recollection. It is the state of being “unhindered between the fundamental essence and the external activity”, and being “unhindered absolutely in all”. After the two ideas of reflection and mindfulness are destroyed and are forgotten, then you enter into the light of wisdom (when nearing nirvana)! All of you should urgently focus on “recollection”, the Pure Land School refers to “recollection” as mindfulness from the fundamental essence, the incredible state of “one mind undisturbed in enlightenment”, a flash of understanding to eradicate the unenlightened condition, and self-attainment of one’s own Dharma body. We are in the period of degeneration and extinction of the Buddha teaching and the majority of people do not understand about this. I am identifying this today and making an offering to the public due to our affinities from previous lifetimes. Others say, “Chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha also enters the fundamental essence, there is no need to recollect Amitabha.”

The answer is, “Recollect Amitabha and chanting (mindfulness) Amitaha are one originally, mindfulness and reflection Amitabha are perfectly integrated; however, people of today are sadly degenerated, and are hard to bring into agrement. Some obsess with the fundamental essence and do not carry out their own external activities of cultivation. Some attach to external activitities and discard the underlying truth. One divides between “recollection” and “mindfulness” as two, therefore, one cannot have a unified mind. I, hereby, make this urgency known, to teach you to enter deeply through the Pureland door out of mortality and into Nirvana, obtaining peace of mind through cultivation, and naturally you will attain the result!”

Tai-Yi Shen-Long

Buddhist salutation in homage to all with my sincere respect

Pay Homage To Shakyamuni Buddha The Original Master

Sutra Opening Gatha This unsurpassed, extremely profound and marvelous teaching, It is hard to encounter for hundreds billion existence of world-periods; I now behold Buddha with the eyes and hear his truth with the ears to attain and uphold the teachings of Buddha, With my earnest vow to understand the Tathagataâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (Buddha) true meaning.

The Chapter of the Surangama Sutra

The Chapter Of The Surangama Sutra: The Great-Strength Bodhisattva (Mahastamaprapta) Chants (Mindfulness) Amitabha In Perfection To Become Buddha The Dharma Prince, Great Strength (Maha-stamaprapta), together with fifty-two Bodhisattvas of the same congener, arose from the seat, prostrated at the Buddha's feet, and reported to the Buddha: I recollect, when the past countless existence of worldperiods is numerous as the sands of Ganges, a Buddha called Infinite Light appeared in the world. In that same world-period there were twelve successive Tathagatas*; the last Buddha was called the Light Surpassing the Sun and the Moon. This Buddha taught me chanting Amitabha Samadhi (Buddha-Mindfulness Samadhi). Suppose there was a person who recollects wholeheartedly about someone, but that someone who remembers has wholeheartedly forgotten about the other. If two such people were to meet, even if they were to see each other, they would not take notice. They would not recognize each other. If two people recollect each other until they develop deep memories for one another, then life after life, they will be together like a form and its shadow, and they will never be dissimilar. Out of pity for all sentient beings, the Tathagatas of the ten directions are tenderly mindful of them just like a mother recollects her child. If the child runs away, what use is the mother's regard? But if the child recollects his mother in the same way that the mother recollects the child, then life after life the mother and the child will not be far apart.

The Chapter of the Surangama Sutra

If the sentient beingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mind recollects Amitabha and chants (mindfulness) Amitabha, Amitabha who comes to manifest before one, one certainly sees the Buddha. One will never be far from Amitabha, without the aid of expedients their minds will naturally awake by themselves. Like a person who has been near scented incense will carry the fragrance on oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s body; it is the same in this case. Such is called glorious fragrant light. My original state of practicing Buddhism leads to the resulting Buddhahood by mindfulness of Amitabha and the beginning to understand the Realization of non-arising and non-ceasing of all phenomena. Now in this world I direct all those who chant (mindfulness) Amitabha and bring them back to the Amitabha Pure Land. The Buddha asks chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha to become Buddha, I select none other than laying hold of the six sense-organs entirely through continuous pure mindfulness to attain Chanting Amitabha Samadhi. This is the foremost method.

* Twelve successive Tathagatas: 1. Buddha of Infinite Light, 2. Buddha of Boundless Light, 3. Buddha of Unobstructed Luminosity, 4. Buddha of Non-adversarial and Incomparable Radiance, 5. Buddha of Flaming Brightness, 6. Buddha of Pure Light, 7. Buddha of Joyous Light, 8. Buddha of Wisdom Light, 9. Buddha of Incessant Radiance, 10. Buddha of Inconceivable Radiance, 11. Buddha of Ineffable Luminosity, 12. Buddha of the Light Surpassing the Sun and the Moon.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

Recording Lecture On The Chapter Of The Surangama Sutra: The Great-Strength Bodhisattva (Mahastamaprapta) Chants (Mindfulness) Amitabha In Perfection To Become Buddha Today we explain one of the twenty-five chapters within the Surangama Sutra known as The Great Strength Bodhisattva (Mahastamaprapta) chants (mindfulness) Amitabha in perfection to become Buddha. First, explanation of the Sutra title is required. The following is the complete original title: The supreme teaching from above the crown of the Great Buddha's head, on the esoteric and profound cause of Tathagata, through practicing cultivation to realize the truth to become Buddha in all disciplines of salvation of various Bodhisattva [Surangama Sutra]. For ease of discussion, the title has been simplified and will be referred to as the Surangama Sutra. While Sanskrit is a very complex language, the Chinese prefer uncomplicated and more distinct language contrasting with the Indian tradition. Moreover, when we read their sentence it feels like the tongue is twisted which is the reason for simplifying the Sutra title. It is essential that we explain the entire title of the Sutra in detail and with precise clarity. The Sutra title is very important; in fact, the title is the best feature of the Sutra, which is directly related to chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha in perfection to become Buddha. The term Great represents the past, present and future and denotes time and space. Honestly speaking, the true description of Great is that time and space do not exist and in addition, it has reached to the cognitive sphere of:

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha Up to the utmost biggest, the same as the universe has no outer boundary, down to the smallest, the same as one’s true self-nature has no inner boundary. This is a very important concept of Buddha teaching. The state of relative opposites, the Buddha completely has discrimination and attachments, but the mind is vast and boundless, with tolerance for all and no hindrances. Beings of our Saha Land (the land on Earth), beings of our Milky Way Galaxy are very attached to the notion of judgment regarding the relative ideas of inner or outer, right or wrong, good or bad, and beauty or ugliness, etc. The mind is very narrow. This state is called the inverted view explained in the Prajna-paramita Heart Sutra. What is the “inverted view”? This is when one obstinately persists to go about things the wrong way and breaches normal human relationships. All beings have attachment, discrimination, a deluded mind, and are attached to phenomenal characteristics; as a result, one sinks into the phenomena of confusion, creating karma, reincarnation and receiving retribution. Especially, the sentient beings of this era have special discrimination and attachment between the reasonable and unreasonable. Why? It is because everyone thinks they are the most reasonable ones, and they do not give in to each other. It is a group of beings living completely believing that they are always in the right, firmly and surely clinging to discriminations or emotions. Therefore, this era is called the era of struggle. During Shakyamuni Buddha’s time on Earth, he stated: The first Sutra to be annihilated will be the Surangama Sutra. Which precisely means the first Sutra that will vanish from this world is the Surangama Sutra. It is because this Period of Degeneration

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

and Extermination of Buddha teaches people to struggle hard and not to believe in the Holy words. So, the Sutra will naturally become extinct. Some people now say that the Surangama Sutra is forged and that the Buddha never expounded this Sutra. This reflects modern people’s mental condition. Modern people stress having knowledge, but do not have wisdom. Without wisdom, one does not understand the real world of the Sutra. The ordinary one uses knowledge to pass judgment on the truth and falseness of the Sutra; this is ignorant thinking and behaving. Since the Buddhist Scripture is the truth of the universe revealed from the pure mind of the Buddha and the Bodhisattva, your mind must be completely fixed and undisturbed to associate yourself with the discourses of the Buddha. Wisdom is absolutely related to perfectly mind stillness. What is this “perfectly mind stillness” referring to? It is the breadth of your mind to recover the cognitive sphere as: Up to the utmost biggest, the same as the universe has no outer boundary, down to the smallest, the same as one’s true self-nature has no inner boundary. That means all your arising thought in mind has left the relative opposed phenomena; things of reasonable and unreasonable have vanished from your mind; thus, you learn the Buddha’s way, this is truly freeing the mind from the influence of external circumstances, precisely the Great Surangama-Samadhi. We learn the Buddha way is learning the mode of freeing the mind from the influence of external circumstances and enlightenment, truly understanding the origin of life in the universe such as, the origin of the mountains and rivers of the great Earth, and the four elements of “who is the person, what is the matter, where is the place, how and why of the related objects”. Speaking bluntly, it is self-confirming the essence

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha of life in the universe. If you have this correct concept regarding your own life in the universe, then you can detach from fussy trivial things, gain and loss, and phenomena of opposite relativity. You can then practice to attain the cognitive sphere of eradicating the confusion and become enlightenment. This denotes the Buddha teaching is the teaching of Absoluteness (unconditional). What is the teaching of Absoluteness? It is “who is the person, what is the matter, where is the place, how and why of the related objects” clearly and plainly. It is not opposition against others or yourself, it is detaching from the contradiction, surpassing life and death, helping and enlightening others in accordance with these conditions, self-experiential entry into the essence (Buddha-nature), and wholly completing the nirvana merit and enlightenment virtue. Only using cultivation practice of the Buddha teaching to self-realize the “only and absolute” facts and the truth of life in the universe is known as the “teaching of Absoluteness”. This is “using the great Prajna wisdom to cross the enlightenment shore” and only this can be called learning the way of the Buddha. This is extremely important. I just talked about sentient beings here struggling firmly and surely because they cannot enter the “teaching of Absoluteness” and are unable to abandon the habit of struggle. This habit is where everything is based on competition, making it difficult to learn the Buddha’s way; this is very troublesome. If you have no competition in your mind, not only are you happy, the people around you are also happy. It is possible for you to learn the Buddha’s way. And how does competition come from? It comes from delusional thought. One thinks that there are things to be attained. Everyone has a greedy experience, regardless of your greed for either the materiality or the spirituality; all are greedy. The state

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

of greed is gain and losses. If you truly practice cultivation today with a sincere mind, you can realize that everything in the universe is unreal; then, you will never be greedy again. Since you know that nothing is to be attained, greed is useless. Then your mind is fixed and undisturbed. What kind of life do you live daily under this condition? Of course, it is a day of pureness without defilement. Keeping up with daily routine, if you are a housewife you keep the household in clean order, warm and fragrant, warm and peaceful. And the attitude of the family members respond to you, there is no disgust with behavior because you are detached from the worldly affairs and your mind is clear, so your cooking also tastes good and even yourself feels not the same. Why not the same? There are no emotions in those dishes but only wisdom. Only this wonderful joy that wisdom produces that exceeds countless fold than our secular people’s joy. Buddha teaching calls it the joy of hearing/ tasting Dharma (the teaching). The “Dharma (the teaching)” refers to the essence of the universe, it is the eternal existence. “Joy” is the wonderful joy free from resistance of enlightenment nature. It is joyous and infinite. This joy is never lost. Therefore, people at home can sense your wonderful joy, no one has an opinion about you, there is no conflict of interest, and no difference in opinion because you have already detached from phenomena of relative opposites and entered phenomena of absoluteness. Getting along with you, everyone is happy, being full of joy from tasting the Dharma (Buddha teaching), and keeping on the right side of everyone is the result of true practice. It deserves to be learned by us. In modern families today, every family has a difficult experience. Why is it difficult? You are different from the other family members. What kind of variance? You are obsessed with your way of thinking and opinions while others are attached to their way of thinking and opinions; very different from each other. But you learned the Buddha’s way, and

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha strangely there exists no difference. Why is there no difference? You can get along with everyone under any circumstances. For instance, Buddha and Bodhisattva enlighten all living beings in the six realms of reincarnation, especially these three wretched realms—animal, hungry ghost and Hell; they enter the abyss of suffering to teach and convert in accordance with conditions, free from all resistance to enlighten all beings, practicing compassion and wisdom simultaneously, doing it skillfully and easily. Since their minds are refreshing and radiant with wisdom light and are yet to get along with all these beings, there is no bad mindfulness. They look at these beings directly and see their life’s essence—it is Buddha-nature. All living beings are originally Buddha; all is equal. While in this bad environment to help all and yet: In fact, there exists no living being to be helped. It is completely no attachment and no discrimination. Genuinely achieving “selflessness and no others”. However, the unenlightened ones are not equal to seeing all beings. We see that beings are very simple; we see that they are not pleasing to the eye. If your personality is afraid of getting involved or cautious, they stay away from it. If you like the people who fights, one of the days these two people will fight. Fighting vigorously, after the action is done, neither side wins. I see this kind of struggle in the world, it takes place daily in society and in the family. Why? This is because the mind of all beings is too narrow. Why is it too narrow? Because there is the “self-I”. For example, after brushing your teeth and rinse the month in the morning is over, you begin to think about matters that are completely irrelevant and selfish.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

Some people say: “No, I am responsible everyday. I go to work, take care of children, and if this family does not have me, it will fall apart.” It is this concept of “self-I” that causes damage. At the same time, one has a concept called “sacrifice dedication” which is very troublesome. If you have sacrifices, you will feel uneven. My statement of unevenness is not just saying it casually, it is because you still hold this concept of the ego. “I” have sacrificed dedication for this family, why is there not a little bit of return? This is obviously your attachment and delusional thoughts that cause this mischief. Why do I say that it is caused by delusional thoughts? Seriously, life is composed of dream and illusions. These things make life difficult for yourself and for others too. If a person’s head is clear, one just pays attention at work and does not pay attention about the harvest, then is no reward needed? Then there is another situation: precisely I am good to this family, to this company, good for the people of this place, good for this country and last, I am good to this world. But from the perspective of Buddha teaching, such breath of mind is still narrow because one’s breath of mind is limited, and the Buddha’s breath of mind is infinite. There is another way of thinking when someone is in the same class, we look at them favorably. However, if they are not my family, then I ignore. Some religions have some education, where those who are non-family are not equal. This is a big problem. However, the school of Buddhism uses a universal viewpoint to see the world, considering all spirituality and materiality within this universe are equal. Everything is manifested from the essence of spirituality and the materiality. The essence is the life source and energy of enlightenment, of course all spirituality and materiality are created from this essence. That is, everything is merely owing to different conditions,

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha different equations, and also different â&#x20AC;&#x153;cause and effectsâ&#x20AC;? which is manufactured out of this illusion and that is all. Thus, the Buddhaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s breath of mind naturally is: Embracing the cosmos, extending to endless and boundless worlds as numerous and vast. Which is truly and ally with the marvelous state of all pervading or all embracing. This is the normal vision as: Everyone is a Buddha originally. That is not surprising at all. Therefore, once a person is lost then one emerges with the feeling of superiority or inferiority, and frequently making a fool of oneself. In this case, it becomes more amusing. For instance, in a situation where someone is sitting here, If a dog also is sitting here, our minds become unequal, instantly become superior. If a ghost is sitting here, we will likely faint from fear and will keep away. If there is a celestial being sitting here, we become curious. If a being from Hell is sitting here, it becomes extremely disastrous, horrifying. If there is a Buddha or a Bodhisattva sitting here, our mind will be very peaceful, because one is infinitely merciful and compassionate; but at the same time, we feel inferior. To think one is Buddha and how can I compare. Why do people have so many reactions? This is because:

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

1. Our minds are inequal; 2. We do not understand the myriad phenomena about the universe. Just like human beings: When a group with good predestined affinity are sitting together, they are very happy, a group with bad predestined affinity are sitting together it would be unbearable. This truly is apprehending perceptual forms with discrimination and extremely deep attachment to feelings. The title of the Surangama Sutra refers to the supreme teaching from above the crown of the great Buddha’s head, the word Great, it does have its profound truth. If your mind has completely recovered to normality, you would not have a distance with all living beings. Because he is you, are you not then just him, this is called “absoluteness”. Buddha, we have explained many times formerly, is a person who thoroughly understands the truth about the universe. The Crown refers to “the peak teaching (peak method)”, as the highest enlightenment sphere of Buddha’s self-realization. It is precisely the cultivation to the point of the mind that has thoroughly purified of defiling illusion, only then one attains the Great Surangama Samadhi. If the mind has not been purified, then there is no way to become enlightened. Many people have asked me: “To live life this way is good, why do I need to become enlightened?” Of course, they asked. They live in the human society, in the seven emotions and six desires, and live in the ambiguous environment and state of being unable to let go. There is another type of person, “as long as I am a good person, I do not harm others or do not make life difficult for others, I keep Amitabha in mind”. This is called “self-deception”.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha There are so many individuals like this around. There are also another kind—a superstitious person. When one turns to Buddhism and begins with burning incense and worshipping Buddha, when one turns to Christianity, and one begins with Jesus Christ. For a while one does not believe it anymore. There are also people who are fascinated by religion. 1. One does not understand the meaning of a teaching; 2. One does not understand the fundamental principles of the religion. Speaking bluntly, it is when they do not know theoretical methods, and one simply says what everyone says. Therefore, before explaining the Sutra scripture, let me report some conditions to you first. What is your way of thinking to hear the Sutra is very important. Your way of thinking to hear the Sutra, either curious, simply giving an ear to listen, or waiting to find ways to solve the problems, this is not right, all are not “direct valid reasons”. Without having the direct valid reason then it cannot obtain a positive outcome after sustained efforts. It is: If the fundamental cause is untrue, then the effect meets with complicated developments that never get anywhere. This is important. Complicated developments that never get anywhere refers to being curving around, unsmooth, and imperfect, where one cannot become Buddha. The untrue refers that you do not arise the intention to achieve enlightenment to take “direct valid reason” as the will of the mind. The seed of the fundamental cause must be the enlightened mind, only then will the seed germinate. After sprouting can it grow,

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

only then it blossoms to fruition. Only the enlightenment mind is the â&#x20AC;&#x153;direct valid reasonâ&#x20AC;? to become Buddha smoothly. Therefore, it is not possible for you to become Buddha if you do not arouse the intention to achieve enlightenment. In that case, regarding the teaching of Buddha, one must have a truly complete and thorough correct understanding; only then can fruition settle smoothly to have perfect enlightenment. There are three types of people who have difficulty to become Buddha: 1. No correct understanding of Buddha teaching, even when a person has memorized the scriptures fluently, performs daily incense burning and worships Buddha; 2. Person does not believe anything; 3. People who are superstitious. To recap again; these three kinds of people do not achieve Buddahood. There is nothing anyone can do regarding this. Only one way to solve it is to develop wisdom to learn the way of the Buddha. You must think about it, if you still have emotions or mixed emotions to hear the Sutra, then you cannot enter the Scripture at all because the Sutra has no emotion. This sentence is very important. The Sutra scripture entirely does not exist ideas, does not exist mixed thoughts; if you still have ideas, or have knowledge, then you are completely incomprehensible. Sutra is different from other books. A book is the human thought and behaviors that is the result of our knowledge. But the Scripture is not, it is an interpretation of the truth of the universe by the enlightened; in fact, it is the manifestation of wisdom. Many people recite the Sutra and after a long time it becomes dull and boring. This is because one applies one's own thinking behavior to study the Scripture, which is completely ineffective and no effect at

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha all. To worship Buddha and chant (mindfulness) Amitabha for 10, 20, 30 or 40 years, it does not work for a lifetime because the concept of secularity has not changed; speaking directly, one does not relate to the Buddha teaching, one still maintains the worldly phenomena. The school of Buddhism refers to the Buddha teaching is neither apart from the worldly phenomena nor ruin the worldly phenomena. Is the teaching of the worldly, the Buddha teaching? Of course not. Yet, the school of Buddhism can blend perfectly all phenomena of the mundane and the supermundane, it is truly wonderful. If your mind is completely purified, you can deal with anything; that is, wisdom. Wisdom can bring you two benefits: 1. Direct penetration. 2. Never be tired. Think about it, everyone has tiredness. If we explained the Sutra in the middle of the night today, everyone here would fall asleep. You feel tiredness because you have the concept of time and space. Learning the Buddha’s way, the first move is to take away the concept of time and space. If you are focused, you would not be tired. Why do we get tire today? Our brain is not focused; it is completely blurred for the life of the universe. You have been sitting there for a long time; you are either in a daze or feeling agitated. One is known as the “unenlightened condition”, the other condition is called the “wandering of the mind (restlessness)”. And the most primitive reason for this is what? Your breadth of mind is too narrow, delusional thought and attachments are too serious, this problem is huge.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

I hope all of you will make more progress again and again, but this progress cannot be forced. You can only put down your afflictions, and after letting go for a long time, your mind is fixed and undisturbed. If you are unable to let go, even if you face Buddha or Bodhisattva or Jesus Christ, it is also useless. I want to mention Jesus; this person is very important. We all know that Jesus Christ is very modest, and we call him a saint. What is a Saint? It is a person whose body and mind are undefiled. He was in Jerusalem at that time and was not very old, but his wisdom was different, and he had full clarity regarding situations of local politics and economics at that time. Although we cannot say that he was a special person, because his provisional manifestation was like a human being. In the school of Buddhism, he is in the same association with us but does not follow our bad examples. “In the same association with us” means he lives in the same society; “does not follow our bad examples”, that is, all sentient beings are defiled; and he has no defilement. So, he could show you how to get to the right path at any moment, to enlighten and educate all beings. The educational method he used was to develop the spirituality of Westerners at that time; this is the same as Shakyamuni Buddha in India used educational method. Absolutely not like this phenomenon today: “Believers, you make offering to me, I want you to give, or constructing a temple for me, I as your master can stay there to do my cultivation practice.” There is no such thing as sitting idle and enjoying the fruit of others. These two Saints, one in the West and the other in the East, all predict that our modern society will end up with the whole world in chaos. Are they right? Yes, very true. People from Taiwan remember the severe earthquake of 921 (September 21, 1999) as a phenomenal big disaster. Those of us who reside abroad have also heard of many disasters globally. Why are there

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha so many disasters in this era, yet people have become less grief-stricken towards them? Why do I say it this way? It is because those events do not concern us. If this earthquake happened in your office or happened in your home, then I think you would have a deep experience. You would be alerted immediately that something is wrong, and have awareness. Generally, people live in a state of ignorance who would not feel. So, people often ask me: Does Amitabha or Guanyin Bodhisattva exist? Does the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land exist? Does Heaven as described by Jesus exist? I tell everyone, it is here; it penetrates through all the materiality of the universe. Because their mind is pure, it is a pure energy field. But why do we not feel? Because our mind has not purified of defiling illusion. When you chant Amitabha or pray, if the mind has purified of defiling illusion completely for about a second, you would feel that the Buddha is indeed here omnipresent and everywhere. Great is the same principal of omnipresent and everywhere. Therefore, your mind is also omnipresent and everywhere. However, this mind is different from our current mind with delusional thoughts and attachment; it is the sincere mind without defilement after recovering its pureness. Learning Buddhaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s way is very simple. There is no need to change careers, burn incense to worship Buddha, or donate money for offerings. The most important thing is to be able to solve your afflictions. How to deal with it? Afflictions are unreal, it is the situation of moment arising and ceasing of the universe phenomena, how can this

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

be real? If it is real, then I tell all of you, do not practice cultivation any more. We often say, “momentary slip”, where is the slip? The slip is in your decision power. Speaking bluntly, your personality is life; your luck is an encounter. Therefore, a narrow-minded person not only refers to the general secular person worrying unduly over minor matters, but also a person who is very sharp and unkind. Even more is how you live on Earth, without an entire understanding of the world beyond the Earth, and you do not know the relationship between the universe and you at all, this is a bigger problem. Nowadays, people live poorly, like flies, mosquitos or ants. The bees themselves think that it is not bad to be busy every day building a hive. The ants think we must go through the winter, hibernate; and when winter is over, it is good that we are still alive. We are the same now, sit, eat and wait for death to come around. Where does this phenomenon come from? It is from you, where it is fundamentally unknown and lack understanding regarding life in the universe Everyone seems good enough to keep a breath, live, drive a car, have a house to live in, and everything is stable enough. Finally, one is ready to get sick and have funds for retirement. Life is just like this. Finally, one chooses their own tombstone and engraves one’s own words. I believe people here all feel the same; people are born destined. Therefore, for this problem phenomenon, every lecture begins, and I must remind you again. To establish the “direct valid reason” it starts the learning of Buddha’s way, in the future you will attain the

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha “correct retribution” of becoming a Buddha; you can then surpass the phenomena of “birth, aging, sickness and death” and otherwise all is invalid. The Sutra title, the supreme teaching from above the crown of the great Buddha’s head, this tells you that your breath of mind must be broadened to the extreme the same as a Buddha, it is boundless. The question is, are we open like a Buddha today? Of course not. We must try our best to learn the Buddha’s way, so you can try to achieve one grade to gain one grade, this is very good. To let go of one grade then you are one grade easier. I said, “letting go”, there is no pressure. “Letting go” is not to escape and is not to say that this job feels bad, or that you are going to escape. From this way, it lets you see the nature of it, the relationship with people is thoroughly understood; then you are happy, there is no pressure to do anything called “learning the Buddha way”. Communication with others is also very important. If you have preconceived ideas in your mind, you cannot communicate. There are all kinds of different ideas in your mind, it is the obstacle, it is the limits of self-limitation. As the saying goes: Taking a step back, there will be a wide horizon. “Taking a step back” is to teach you not to use the idea of struggle, and not to use the idea of self-limitation. Then why do we need to take a step back? It is the strategy of taking the retreat into progress. Everyone in our lives wants to have boundless open vistas, yet the condition of boundless open vistas is called “being disillusioned with everything and letting go of all”. Regarding “being disillusioned with everything” do not misunderstand, it is not like the beings of the

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

world are disillusioned with worldly affairs and then leaving home to be a monk or nun. No, it is not. Remember, “being disillusioned with everything” is to clearly see the truth about life in the universe. “Letting go” refers that you know what to do in this life and can live a life without greed and no desire. However, we are often masked by the condition of complete ignorance. You ask a person, “How did you come from in the past?" One replies, “From my mother’s tummy. " Nothing wrong, this is only a phenomenon; however, one does not know before the phenomenon. One has no control over what is going to happen the next minute. Where does one go after death is unknown? This kind of life is not called life; instead, it is called life and death. From morning until night, we hover between life and death, worrying and being under a continual state of arising and ceasing. In fact, everyone is equal; equality is based on your original undefiled life essence. In real life, is everything equal? To tell the truth, real life is also equal, only you cannot see it and that is all. For example, two individuals (A and B) where “A” is a good person and “B” is a bad person. Why are they equal? The difference between these two is from the “cause and effect”, these two caused different karma; so, a good person ought to ascend to Heaven; a bad person ought to descend to Hell, is this not so? But, why do I say that is equal? It is because all people’s thoughts and opinions are an illusory dream. Why do I say it is an illusory dream? The dream of life and death are an illusion.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha And people can change. If you cannot change, it is really destined to have rebirth and recurring death. For example, we are listening to the Sutra explaining now, look on the bright side of things and get over it, let go of all, take a step back without any fuss, and without being opposite with others; then you are relaxed. After relaxing, others will think that you are enfolded in the spring breeze, at this time is it that “cause and effect” has already changed? Your fate and luck have also changed? We call that phenomenon “everything changes between thoughts”, it is equal in reality. So, people cannot change, and everyone can be Buddha. Everyone is Buddha originally, if you truly make up your mind to be Buddha, how is it possible that you are not successful. Thus, the supreme teaching from above the crown of the great Buddha’s head precisely is Buddha’s self-confirmation of the true facts and the truth of the vast, the unsurpassed enlightenment and the life in the universe. It is the supreme and outstanding teaching, which is the excellent cognitive sphere reveals naturally from the true mind of Tathagata; this is incredible and inconceivable! Now getting back to the Sutra title, the word Tathagata requires a comprehensive explanation. Tathagata (the reality of all Buddha) represents the nature of all things—the ultimate of reality, refers to Buddha-nature such as my essence. How come we are now not that way? It is because we are unaware our life essence inherently is the undifferentiated whole of things—the ultimate reality. The meaning of ultimate reality is the life essence of all, it would not change because of time and space, of rebirth and recurring death, and of the unenlightened conditions; it is eternal.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

But, does not the phenomena of “birth, aging, illness and death” change every minute? And what is this changing phenomenon? It is being in the illusion of reincarnation in your dreams. How to explain this, in the dream there is “birth, aging, sickness and death” and there are four types of human emotions “happiness, anger, sorrow and joy”. Wake up, are there these phenomena? No more. Even when dreaming, do these phenomena exist? There is no phenomenon. It is all illusory. If you know you are Tathagata, enlightenment nature is inherent, then your life can truly be different. You use Tathagata (pure and original without defilement nature) to live your life, this is the life of Buddha and Bodhisattva. Unexpectedly, we do not know and also do not want to admit that we are a Buddha. And, we live with emotions. People are very intriguing and like to live with emotions. We often hear people, “I am not in a good mood today.” You ask one, “Where is it not good?” One said, “It is very uncomfortable to live.” This is the person who will say it, while there are many who will not say this. Some people are not happy all day long. I believe very few people here are happy—maybe 20%. Most people are unhappy. You ask one, “how is one’s life going?” According to the people I have contacted, about 90% of them tell me that life is not good, and they are unhappy. I met a lot of people, and almost all said the same—Life is not easy.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha A wealthy one is also very strange, one often tells me, “Life is not easy.” I said, “Your money can be used for ten lifetimes.” One said,“You are wrong. This is all my hard-earned money.” I said, “Since it is hard-earned by you, why do you not enjoy it now? One said, “Hey, how can I enjoy it? I must plan well beforehand, and my future heritage must be ready, otherwise, it will be taken away by others, and I want to leave it to my children and grandchildren.” There are many people who are like this. People who nod at it feel very relaxed because they do not have these burdens; people who do not shake their heads or nod I think are burdened. 1. They are afraid of losing. Action in this life stems from the fear of loss, it is best to achieve your ideals before you die. 2. If it is not possible, it is best to achieve some goals. If you cannot, then it becomes an unpleasant and helpless state of life. I am helpless, and I am willful. After a long way of being, this person’s mind is unclear. I once had a chat with a friend, he said, “I truly wish there is a world where there is nothing at all. Since there is nothing at all, in that world I have nothing, the same as everybody else and I am very happy.” I said, “Let me tell you, you will never be in a world where there is nothing because you cannot escape from your own attachment, discrimination, and delusional thoughts; furthermore, you cannot escape from your own afflictions."

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

What is the “self”? It is the reincarnation concept spinning one’s wheels with successive rebirth and recurring death. As the saying goes: “You may escape today, but you cannot escape tomorrow”; or “you cannot escape your conscience”. To be honest, you absolutely cannot escape your Buddhanature. Because you originally are Tathagata, inherently you are the nature of all things and you are originally pure, even if you are now living in a confused way one day you will still be enlightened and become a Buddha. This is very interesting! There is a scientific metaphor here, a spaceship took off and went to space and without any direction it continued its course. Even if its fuel is not used up it flies all the time, flying infinite time, flying to the end and to its original launch pad. Think about it, this spaceship returns to the origin just like the recurring cycle of cause and effect back to its original spot. Yet people live forever in one’s own concatenation of cause and effect, getting retribution for one’s actions—as a man himself sows, so he himself reaps. This “concatenation of cause and effect” one cannot escape from. Since there is no escape, you should be disillusioned and let go of all after learning the way of the Buddha is the solution to transcend the reincarnation, ending affliction, detaching from the abyss of suffering. Where does affliction come from after all? When one cannot let go of “delusional thoughts, attachments and discriminations” thus, producing “greed (attachment), aversion and ignorance” arising a lot of afflictions. For example, when the roof is leaking, you need to find a repairman to fix it tomorrow. The repairman says he is available next month; does that mean the roof will leak again?

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha If you are a smart person, despite all methods to remedy there is no pressure in your mind. Finally, there is no way to fix this and it still leaks; does it mean that there is no way to fix this? Of course not, but your mind does not have the phenomenon of leaking. If your thoughts are fixated on this leaking matter then you are experiencing affliction. If you know this is a dream you can let go in one move, all is carefree and at ease, and everything is well. In the past, I met a monk and we chatted. He asked me a question, “Do you have a home?” I asked him,“Do you have a home?” Then both of us laughed! What does this mean? If you still have a “home” concept there is still a place where you can escape, live comfortably inside, hide in your own habits, and continue to make karma. This means that a person has no way to face themselves because they still want or have reliance on, and there is also a greedy (attachment) existence. However, Tathagata has completely no need for anything; one attains great unhinderedness being the master of oneself. The home of Tathagata is omnipresent; the physical and mental are both purified without affliction. This enlightenment is very good and is too important for modern people. Nowadays, modern people want everything. What do they want? They are also confused and people want everything. You have a house; I also want to have a house. Others get married and have children; I also want to have a wife and children. Others have retirement funds, then I also need retirement funds. Think about it, does this not start the reincarnation of rebirth and death again.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

You see the condition of Tathagata, if you are broad-minded, you can see it. Where do you see it? You see it on all things and see it when people are getting along. For instance, when someone is talking to you if the conversation is not congenial, it feels unwell. I ask you, what is talking? It is the transmission of sound. Is there any connection with the content of this statement? No, it does not matter. Whether good or bad when listening to it, I tell you that it does not matter. Whether it is good or bad, it is all unreal. But others are not so clear. When someone told you that they are coming tonight to listen to Sutra expounding at 8:00 pm, you also said, “Right, I will go; I will go at eight o’clock.” But, is there anything in your mind? No, absolutely no such thing. Then why are you coming? Because someone else has the attachment of eight o’clock; yet, you are never attached but you must deal with these people, then you must follow their attachment called “following along”. Tathagata is selflessness therefore he follows along. When a person has a clear mind, one will speak appropriately regardless of occasion and play a right role in any environment; this is called Buddha or Bodhisattva. Buddha or Bodhisattva is not just the appearance of the painting. Buddha and Bodhisattva do not have a fixed appearance. Buddha and Bodhisattvas are not so far away from us; in fact, Buddha and Bodhisattva can also become like us now, with two eyes, one nose, one mouth, two ears and one head; the only thing that is different from us is that they roam for pleasure in the world and there is no opposition with all living beings, his mind has purified of defiling

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha illusion, without phenomena of “birth, aging, illness and death”. This is called Tathagata. Buddha and Bodhisattva can be wealthy, or they can be poor without a penny. They came to this society to do nothing, and to play with all living beings. How do they play? They remind you from the process of dealing with you that afflictions are unreal; life and death are unreal called “enlighten all living beings”. If you have “enlighten all living beings” in your head, then you are not Buddha or Bodhisattva. The mind of a genuine Buddha and Bodhisattva has no defilement and no thought. All of you think about it, where are Buddha and Bodhisattva? When you open your eyes, they are all around. When you are in opposition against others, you are in opposition against yourself. During this opposition, can you see Tathagata? No, of course not. We often hear people speak about, “beholding one’s own Buddha-nature and becoming Buddha”, people here who are experienced practitioners understand this meaning. What are you going to do to “behold your own Buddha-nature to become Buddha”? Absolutely not using “eye, ear, nose, tongue or mind”, nor using “sight (form), sound, smell, taste, touch or idea”, nor using the faculty of thought and the consciousness. It takes a Tathagata to see Tathagata. That is, when you restore your own pure essence, you will see the Buddha-nature and self-confirm Tathagata. This matter is extremely important. At this splendid event there is no need to eat or care about life or death, so let go of everything, forget the “self-I” and you will be successful. For some people, they do not think that they can do it. Conceptually, there exists the phenomena of “birth, aging, sickness and death” and one has pain and itching. Difficult!

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

Thinking about it, is it difficult? Today people slap you, you say that you are willing, is it possible? So for modern people, you can only be friends with them and being a friend is enough. Between sons and daughters, it is also necessary to get along in a friend-based relationship. Since modern people have their own ideas and opinions it is impossible to speak to each other heart to heart. Why is it not possible? This is because they have already been defiled; so, everyone’s protection color is very heavy. Is the protection color of the older generation not heavy? It is also heavy but not as heavy as the modern people. The modern people are 99% selfish and self-interested; it is hopeless and incurable. If our era does not achieve enlightenment, everything will be over. Without enlightenment, like a school of silver carps moving down a stream who suddenly slip into the three wretched realms (as hungry ghost, animal, Hell); from my point of view, one is unable to come out of there for the countless and boundless existence of the world-periods. What is “the existence of the world-periods”? It is a unit of time widely used in ancient India divided into three categories of great, medium and small. How long is a great existence of the world-periods? It is equivalent to our time of 1,344 million years. One day in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land is the Earth time of one great existence of the world-periods (1,344,000,000 years). The life span of the Pure Land is astronomical in figures. It has no space, no time. It is the living world of Tathagata, it is the scope of activity of Buddha; so, it has no time and space at all. To describe it reluctantly is one great existence of the world-periods, in fact, it is called “Infinite Life” or “Infinite Light”, it is endless life and endless materiality, it is a world of complete pureness and equality.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha The esoteric and profound cause is the “profound teaching’s fundamental cause”. The “fundamental cause” just talks about the reason for the initial start, which are the initial expedients of our cultivation practice. We all know that Shakyamuni Buddha practiced in the past and attained enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree. What has he realized to the end? If you have read the Biography of Shakyamuni Buddha, you would know he has attained the truth about life in the universe. Telling the truth, majority of people do not know what the truth is; including monks/nuns. Why do they not know? Because they are attached to the language and words, misusing the three minds (of the past, present and future) plus the two consciousness (of discrimination and attachment); so, they do not know. Today, if they explored and studied through Dhyana (Zen) meditation, or practiced the Mantra recitation or Sutra recitation, or chanted (mindfulness) Amitabha; when practicing these methods if one can cultivate to the state of “singlemindedly without deviation” and can concentrate up to 100%; one can then see the truth. However, the esoteric and profound cause itself does not mean secretive, especially we often speak of terminology of the Esoteric religion, or the school of Esoteric Buddhism; do not make this mistake. It is neither secret nor mystique. Then why is it called esoteric? Esoteric has no loophole at all, and there is no life or death at all; this cognitive sphere is the original fact of Buddha-nature, that everything is originally non-arising and non-ceasing. We see today that we have the phenomena of “birth, aging, sickness and death” called “phenomena of birth and rebirth, death and recurring death”. Yet, within the “birth and rebirth, death and recurring death”, there exists a state of “non-arising and non-ceasing”, it is the essence of all things. When Buddha practices his initial cultivation,

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

when his mind allies with the cognitive sphere of profound teaching, he communicates completely with the truth of the universe in a flash and agrees with the life truth called the esoteric and profound cause. This is truly inconceivable! This is extremely important. For instance Chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha, some people chant (mindfulness) Amitabha to the state of “single-mindedly without deviation”. Chanting to the state of “single-mindedly without deviation” what is this phenomenon? 1. Rebirth and recurring death have ended, you can surely be in control of your cell metabolism. 2. You can go to the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land to become Buddha at any time. 3. No need to sleep, eat, or have friends. 4. Regarding life in the universe has full clarity, recovering your inherent six supernatural abilities. This is the sphere of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha attaining “single-mindedly without deviation”. It is also divided into several stages, such as the lowest class of “Three Ranks and Nine Classes”, the state of unifying with Amitabha in mind, without delusional thoughts arising, no distracting thought, without worries and afflictions in 24 hours. The is slowly returning to normal. Furthermore: 1. Regarding many ways of thinking and viewing, one already does not care. 2. Regarding life of the universe, one is slowly becoming clear. 3. Regarding life and death, one has no more fear. Wonderful, one is not afraid; this point is very important.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha Many people are afraid from birth. Do they know what they are afraid of? You ask them, what are you afraid of? They say: 1. Fear of being abandoned 2. Fear of death 3. Afraid of not living 4. Fear of the future Yet, the majority of people is precautious and lies to themselves. Looking at this life from the eyes of Buddha, it is a figment of one’s imagination. These are illusions. Life and death are all unreal. Therefore, Shakyamuni Buddha has become enlightened about what? He has enlightened about this “illusory life and illusory death”. All living beings have Buddha-nature, all have Tathagata Buddha-nature. Why can people not be enlightened with it? It is because we have delusional thoughts and attachments. Today, if you really admit your life is an illusion, then I congratulate you, you are enlightened. If you still think everything is true, let’s say your body, money, your thoughts and other cognitive spheres of reality etc., and you really believe it is yours, then I am telling you that you are still living between life and death. Humans come in many kinds, but all kinds have a destination. One must have an end, and the ending is the death. I have met some people who do not die. I have seen it. Why do they not die? It is very simply: 1. He has no thought of dying; 2. Regarding the body, he has completely let go. This is important.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

Without thoughts of dying, the body is also being let go, then what kind of life does he live? I tell you, he does not live his lives because time and space are not related to him. This person is the venerable Monk Guang-Qin (廣欽). Before venerable Monk Guang-Qin, previous Patriarchs and the most virtuous one was like this. Someone asked the venerable Monk Guang-Qin, “Why do you only eat fruit?” He said, “If I do not eat, people think I am strange.” He does not sleep and he meditates in a seated position daily. Do you know why he does not sleep? Because he does not need sleep. His seated meditation is also unreal, a performance for us to see. Since he is in the world for a day, he keeps the rules of the world. To him, he does not have this idea of keeping or not keeping. Why do we often see these eminent monks have this ability? It is very simple because he is purified of defiling illusion. I have also seen worldly people with this skill. One has large numbers of children and grandchildren and is well taken care by families. They are busy with family gatherings either the New Year or other festival occasions, and going to parties here or there; to tell the truth, all are not related to him. There is no such thing in his mind, he knows that he is dreaming. The most important is that this person is not stubborn. People need to carefully read this book, Records of Seeing and Hearing of Being Born in the Pure Land of Amitabha by Lay Practitioner Miaoyin. This old man started to chant (mindfulness) Amitabha in his 70’s, his son asked him, “Do you dream while you sleep?” He said, “I do not have delusional thoughts.”

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha This person was an ordinary farmer. Why does he not have delusional thoughts? It is because he can let go. We just talked about these eminent monks—the venerable Monk Guang-Qin who does not have education. Since he was young, he entered the Buddhist monastery system where the living was harsh and very bitter. Was it hard for him? He does not have this feeling because the body and spirit does not exist at all. We would say, “It is because he is a monk and we are at home, so we have a lot of afflictions.” The example I just gave—the old farmer is a family man who has a wife, son and daughter. He is still the same way by chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha to become Buddha; he is free from all resistance now. Also, there were many old women who went to be born in the Pure Land of Amitabha, they left by either standing on their feet or sitting, and very many with clear heads. During ordinary days when asking them for anything, they seemed expressionless. But I tell you, she knew all your arising thoughts in the mind. What you think in mind, she is very clear about all. Why does she does not show it? She knows that you do not believe. Since you are a commoner, she cannot let you slander the Buddha teaching, cause karma produced by your comments, and she would not let you increase your afflictions. How many people like her are there in Taiwan? At least 400 or 500 people. They know which day they will go to the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land, when to go without illness. Plenty will either leave by standing on the feet or sitting. This is a conservative estimate. I have been in the United States for many years and also see a lot people who have been born in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land, and these people are not monks or nuns.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

We often say, “The Buddhist monk and nun life is different from ours. They are vegetarian, have merits….and so on.” Those people are not vegetarian, their diet consists of chicken, duck, fish and all kinds of meat and are also, secular people. Why can they go to be born in the Amitabha Pure Land? It is clear whether one can go to be born in the Amitabha Pure Land or not, one must be disillusioned with everything and let go of all. I have also seen people who are very rich and able to summon the wind and rain. And they can let go all. One has said, “Power and position are all unreal”. Her family did not encounter any sudden and terrible misfortunes, and she was well-known across all social stages. She is disillusioned with all and able to see clearly, when she finally goes, she was abundantly clear, her offsprings all saw Amitabha to come and meet and receive her. Everyone felt weird because her offspring were Christians and Christians do not believe in the Buddha teaching, and Christians think Buddhism is paganism. It was unthinkable that this old lady performed a testimony in front of her family members. She not only left free from resistance, the whole family also saw Amitabha. Not only did she fulfill to enlighten herself but also to enlighten others. Yet this kind of thing, calling it a miracle in Christianity but in Buddhism, it is normal to have Buddha moved to respond, like eating a meal. It was normal. Because she planted the “esoteric and profound cause of being disillusioned with all and let go of all to chant Amitabha”, only then could she fulfill merits in perfection. But today, why should I mention this gong-an (study-case)? It is due to Shakyamuni Buddha attaining Buddha by chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha also. Shakyamuni Buddha himself said in the Buddha-Dhyana-Samadhisagara-Sutra:

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha I and Buddha of the ten directions of the universe, and thousands of Buddha of the present period (the Bhadrakalpa), from the initial determination to seek enlightenment, all due to Chanting Amitabha Samadhi Power, therefore, to attain overall and perfect knowledge wisdom. To attain overall and perfect knowledge wisdom is becoming Buddha in perfection. Therefore, Shakyamuni Buddha also uses “chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha” to be the esoteric and profound cause to become Buddha, this is the best proof. These examples above, of people being reborn in Amitabha Pure Land all used chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha to become Buddha to be the esoteric and profound cause, even Shakyamuni Buddha were no exception. Therefore, the esoteric and profound cause of tathagata is precisely: The self-nature of Tathagata is mindful of Tathagata, the self-nature of Amitabha is mindful of Amitabha. This statement can be deep: the self-nature is mindful of selfnature, then it is impossible not to bring self-nature into perfection. The meaning is that you are Buddha originally but currently you are lost now. Even though you are lost, you can “chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha” to be the “cause”, then direct the “cause” to be the “effect”; then, do you not become a Buddha in perfection? For example, if you had a dream, and in the dream you experienced birth and death, and are confused. As a result, people tell you, “This is a dream.” Instantly you wake up and you are enlightened, then you become a Buddha.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

Therefore, the most crucial factor now is that you never admit that you are in a dream. Let me give you another example: when you were young, from your own memory to the present: Think, is it a dream? Everything about the dream went where? Your “birth, aging, sickness and death” went where? All the “happiness, anger, sorrow or joy” is not in your memory, the last thing that remains is a vague dream recall. These dreams recall eventually become your afflictions and unknowingly, you are lost within it. So, you must remind yourself not to think that your dreams are true. In this way, only then you can be enlightened, only then you can chant (mindfulness) Amitabha. Everyone listening to Sutra explaining in the present, if you think there is still the concept of time, it is your misconception. If you hear someone explaining the Sutra, this is also your misconception. This is very funny. What is the misconception? You heard it wrong and perceived it wrong. Our eyes often misread, our ears mishear, tongue mis-tastes, and the nose mis-smells. In fact, it is not this flavor; I tell you, it does not have flavor. Is there a “supernatural power” that most people talk about? Yes, there is. The “supernatural power”, speaking bluntly, is not distinctive because everyone has it. Why does everyone have it? It is our original instinct. What we truly want to recover is our pure mind; if your mind has purified of defiling illusion, you will naturally know the phenomenon of the universe. For example, someone has done an experiment before blinding a little girl’s eyes and told her to drive a car. Was she able to drive? Yes, she could drive.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha People ask, “How did you see the road?” She said, “I used the nose to see”. People asked again, “How can your nose see things?” She said, “This is using the power of thought to see.” Furthermore, her whole head could see, her whole body could see. If the body was gone, her energy could also see. She has this kind of ability; however, not only she has, but we also have it. This is the instinct. The major purpose today is to learn the Buddha way and to restore your pure instinct and have no affliction. This is very important to recover the ultimate original pure condition. It is best to change from the concept first. I often advise everyone to change the old concepts to the new concept of “being disillusioned with everything and letting go of all”. If you cannot be disillusioned with and let go, you will never believe that you will change one day. In particular there is the problem of “face (self-respect)”, no one teaches about the “face (self-respect)” because you want to have self-respect when you are born. When a suckling baby wants milk, if you do not give them milk, they make noise. After you fed them, you give them the face (self-respect) and he calms down. This is how it goes because the baby has the habit of being born having the tendency of loving their face. Also, for example: The frontier people have a custom of putting a basin of water in the snow and ice. The newborn is thrown into the icy water: To see if the newborn will drown.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

Will they float? Will they freeze to death? If not, let the newborn survive. If one freezes to death, then so be it. Why? It is to test the newborn’s adaptability. This also demonstrates the formability of humans. Just like today we want to learn the Buddha way, but it is entirely up to you. If you can truly learn up to 70% and 80%, you have almost become a Buddha, but the biggest concern is that you do not want to learn. Like the newborn being thrown into the ice water, they know that they want to survive and live. Then they can live. Even if the temperature is below zero, one still lives. This is the power of thought. All our pain and phenomena of “birth, aging, sickness and death” is all from thought; therefore, if you can control thought, then you can control yourself, then you can control “life and death”. This is extremely important! However, each person has different degrees of tolerance and different habits. Many people say: Keeping calm in mind will naturally make one feel cool. The purpose is to examine whether your mind is fixed and undisturbed. If your mind is fixed and undisturbed, 24 hours will not feel that there is time. Let alone you are wholeheartedly chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha. Chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha is mindfulness of enlightenment. How does this mindfulness work? It is a mindfulnessmoment defined to be the enlightenment mindfulness at this very moment. At this very moment, you are selflessness. You still use the computer, cook and prepare meals, you do not arise thought in mind; this is the efficacy of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha. It is absolutely not like novels: “Wow! This monk, his kung-fu is very powerful, etc.” This does not matter.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha The efficacy of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha is for you to control your life and death, at any time you can go to be born in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land to become Buddha and to be the Patriarch. Within the esoteric and profound cause of Tathagata there is another phenomenon: when you chant (mindfulness) Amitabha wholeheartedly, simultaneously your mind can start boundless functions. A purified mind refers to no attachment, yet the mind has no attachment, but it still needs to arise naturally and use freely, to arise the Bodhi (enlightenment) mind to enlighten all sentient beings universally. We must think about it, do we not care about other living beings after purifying the mind? No, others are you. Therefore, the cognitive sphere of Buddha and Bodhisattva refers to “improving oneself and bring benefit to others”. Therefore “improving oneself and bring benefit to others” is progressing at the same time. Absolutely it is not saying that after I practice cultivation well, my mind has purified and then help others. No such thing. The most important is that you can help all the living beings in that moment of your practice cultivation. How do I say this? Because your mind is not fluctuating, just like the spring breeze—as if cleansed by the spring breeze. When people see you, clean by the spring breeze, they are getting enlightened. Your old enemies and debt collectors see you and their thoughts of hate are eliminated. This is called “the dual-use of one piece” and it works at the same time. Therefore, to enlighten all living beings during cultivation in three studies, “moral discipline, stillness of mind control, and wisdom” is completed in one round. When starting to practice cultivation we can concentrate reciting the Infinite Life Sutra. Sutra recitation can accomplish the three studies of “moral discipline, stillness of mind control, and wisdom” all at once. It does not say first to keep the moral discipline, then arise the

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

stillness of mind control, and then wisdom develops; these three are done at once. When we recite the Sutra clearly that is “moral disciple”, To recite until the mind does not fluctuate that is the stillness of mind control, To apprehend the Sutra text plainly then it is called “wisdom”. So, “moral discipline, stillness of mind control and wisdom” fulfills the whole meritorious virtue. Therefore, you wholeheartedly recite the Sutra for two hours, and just within these two hours complete cultivation of “moral discipline, stillness of mind control, and wisdom”. This effect is huge. So, everybody goes to work or to school. Before you go to work, fix your mind for one minute and do not think of anything, and have mindfulness on Buddha – only Amitabha. When you chant, chant it clearly and listen to it explicitly, not too fast or too slow and your mind enters the state of “moral discipline, stillness of mind control, and wisdom”. Not to mention you have Amitabha’s name around for 24 hours called “immeasurable merit”. This function is incredible. Therefore, I suggest to everybody that if you want to practice cultivation, take a day out every week, or half a day, or an hour, or ten minutes. During this limited time, have nothing on your mind and only chant (mindfulness) Amitabha. Only then can you truly cultivate “moral discipline, stillness of mind control, and wisdom”. Or else, some people who chant (mindfulness) Amitabha for a while then forget about it, after forgetting for a while they then chant again. It is like boiling water, turning off the fire before the water boils which is called no effort. This has no effect on cultivation practice.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha The most important thing about practicing cultivation is that the “fundamental cause” must be upright. After having an “upright fundamental cause” in the future, you can attain Buddhahood through one’s efforts and insight. We all know that Shakyamuni Buddha reached his attainment by chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha. Where can we prove this? It is in the Buddha-Dhyana-Samadhisagara-Sutra discussed previously, and in the Buddha speaks of Amitabha Sutra, which states: All Buddha of the ten directions praise Shakyamuni Buddha, who can cultivate this method of difficult to believe in this world which are stained with the Five Turbidities. This method of difficult to believe refers to the method of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha. All of you do not underestimate this method of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha, it is the root of all the universe. Buddha is the root of the universe. Therefore, chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha is mindfulness at this root. It happens to hold the same view with the Surangama Sutra “abandon the perceptions of consciousness and using the origin root”. Furthermore, the chanting method is more convenient than “abandon the perceptions of consciousness and using the origin root”and is straight ward and fast. Also, to lean on the support of the great vows of Amitabha, like a tiger with grown wings across from the Threefold Worlds (Triloka), to go to be born in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land, never receding to become Buddha. Other-power and self-power are integrated as one. It is the self and others are one and undivided, the self and others are the nature of beings. The esoteric and profound cause of Tathagata possess this profound teaching cause. In fact, the method of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha is the supreme teaching from above the crown of the great

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

Buddha’s head is the fundamental cause, theory and principle of this profound teaching. The virtuous ancients said: People practice blindly and cultivation groundlessly; nine out of ten walks down the wrong path. People who genuinely want to practice cultivation to become Buddha cannot afford to not know about this supreme Esoteric and Profound Cause. This is really an exceedingly rare day difficult to come across through the infinite existence of world-periods. Also, this exceedingly rare wonderful method of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha is difficult to come across through the infinite existence of world-periods. One needs to reflect on it. Speaking now about Through Practicing Cultivation to Realize the Truth to Become Buddha. What does Cultivation mean? Where do you practice Cultivation? It is to cultivate during “thought arising in the mind”. This is extremely important. Do not misunderstand when we practice cultivation, that it is not just exercising a chanting session in the morning and evening, or often participating in the activities and Buddhist service of monasteries often. These are not all-around cultivation practice genuinely. Genuine cultivation is practicing during thought arising in the mind. “Thought arising in the mind” can be practiced anytime, anywhere. If you have any impurity, any defilements, any worries, or any matters to be concerned about in the mind, all can be replaced by Amitabha’s name. When you replace it, your mind must be composed; do not rush. After your mind is fixed and undisturbed to a certain level, you will be able to quell afflictions. And for some people, the mind is

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha very fixed originally, therefore one chants Amitabha a few times in a day it will also be able to ally oneself into a more profound cognitive sphere. If you progress to this state of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha, you know that the process of practice cultivation is not a hardship. Many people have a concept that cultivation is hard. I tell everyone, true cultivation is very easy as long as you practice cultivation in the way you treat people: 1. When looking at others first, you must not be objectionable. 2. Must not have prejudice. This is called practicing cultivation. Going one step further, after seeing people’s thought arising in the mind, you are all clear about it and in the end, you can see through this person. After seeing through this person, you are not attached to one’s phenomenal characteristic, yet one’s words and deeds have no hindrance to you, this means you have caught the trick of cultivating the mind. If you cannot do it, then focus on the Sutra recitation. Using the truth inside the Sutras, use it in daily living and in way you treat people. Although this is not the best method to practice cultivation, it is very effective. The first is to cultivate external phenomena: First, fix your mind on the phenomena of the way you treat people. Seeing any type of person, you will speak their type of words but, without flattering and fawning, and also without feeling wronged. After persisting for a long time, would you still have any attachment? Slowly it also gone. You gradually enter the state of selflessness. This is a good phenomenon. However, if the general public holds to the concept of the ego is too severe, this means there are too many self-centered people around and it will create a societal problem. Many people would be unconsciously stubborn and unconsciously have afflictions and in the end, one is dead and gone unconsciously. This is because people are overly “obstinate

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

and self-opinionated”. There are too many people like this in modern society. You ask someone anything, they know it all. However, when you ask them if one have seized the essence of detaching from the fate of life and death? Then they know nothing and find a lot of reasons to refuse you. Would they admit mistakes? They absolutely admit no mistake, liking a walking dead who lives on in degradation and without purpose. A person who does not admit mistakes is a great problem because they do not know to practice cultivation. Practicing cultivation is to correct mental and behavioral errors, plus mistakes in ways of viewing and thinking. The saying goes: If one can change after making a mistake, there is nothing better. Looking at the Buddha and Bodhisattva checks oneself every day because they have already reached selflessness. “Selflessness” means that they know the truth about the universe, able to admit mistakes and correct oneself, and genuinely become self-enlightened and help others to get enlightened. Their practice cultivation model is extremely worth learning. This to realize is even more intriguing. The extent to which you have cultivated to “selflessness” after you have mind purified of defiling illusion is called to realize when seeing each person’s different way of thinking and viewing through the self. When you look at it again, it turns out that these different ways of thinking and viewing are from their own “attachment, discrimination and delusional thoughts” and from their not fully completed and correct concept.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha What kind of concept? It is the misunderstanding of life, the universe, and the bad influence from after being born. One has been badly influenced by the postnatal living environment. Everyone starts with prenatal education, then educated by their parents, then trained at kindergarten, elementary, junior high, university, a research institute or obtaining a Ph.D. degree, by society through social education, and finally with self-education. Yet, if the content of these education was incorrect that precisely is defilement. What kind of person are you if you are defiled until you become clear. Today we are going to return to normality and restore to our original. That is very simple, we shall ally ourselves into the state of â&#x20AC;&#x153;selflessnessâ&#x20AC;? and to equally according with all living beings. We are all aware of all social phenomena and when you enter a country, to follow the local customs. For example, Taiwan has the its own customs, when you go to the Mainland, Hong Kong, we follow the local customs everywhere. One of these days, scientific developments will allow us to sightsee in outer space, yet outer space must also follow the local customs. There are many living beings in outer space. There are intelligent beings in the universe beyond the Earth, not necessarily in human form and some are various spiritual compositions. These scenes in the science fiction films that we are watching now, I would not rule it out because it truly can happen. If you want to interact with these beings, how do you interact? Of course, treat them with a sincere mind. In fact, you can interact with people on the Earth and in the future, you will be able to communicate perfectly with all beings in the universe. Why? The people on this planet are the hardest to engage with, and communication is the worst. The people on Earth are wonderful, sometimes good and sometimes bad. After a while it will not work again, it is difficult to ascertain. Some people, you look at them seem quiet as a mouse and do not utter a

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

word; however, they have their own schemes in mind. Some people talk and talk and are very out-spoken, do they have schemes in mind? I tell you, they have even more schemes. The appearance of everyone around you is different. Different represents different mind-sets and inner-beings; this is the universe. Therefore, to practice cultivation in such a complex environment, I tell you, is immensely enjoyable. Meeting with whoever and speaking their words, either real or unreal, you have no opposition to them and view them as a school of silver carps moving down a stream. A smart person will not fish three days and spend the other two days drying the net. You see the Grand Duke Jiang 姜太公 (Jiang Zi-Ya, sage advisor to King Wen of Zhou in 1100 BCE) does the fishing, really a master hand, he fishes with no bait and no hook. This is called “a willing victim letting himself be caught of his own will.” What does it mean? It is your own decision to relate to all beings. This is wonderful! There is no predestined affinity that one will not come to the hook; and one has the predestined affinity will need to transform to be the pure affinity. Husband, wife, son and daughter; they are the affinity of good and bad; this to be called debt collection from each other or settling payment among each other. So, if you bond yourself with these mundane entanglements, then you are not behaving as the Grand Duke Jiang. Then you look at to Realize and practice cultivation to this extent, you must agree with the truth of the universe, able to unify with all living beings, and according to circumstances to enlighten, selfexperience the essence. This is known as Realizing the Truth to Become Buddha. Realizing the Truth means once the main problem is solved, all troubles are solved. Realizing the Truth is fully understanding the source of life and having no more doubt and become Buddha in perfection. All kinds of boundaries and dead corners simply do not exist. Reading the daily news in the newspaper and all are overjoyed. Who can reach this kind of cognitive sphere? I tell you it is very simple. Everyone can.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha If everyone is thoroughly aware of society and life, attain the cognitive sphere of selflessness, then you are a Buddha or Bodhisattva. Being a Buddha or being a Bodhisattva is simpler than being a secular person. Being a secular person really does not work without a couple of good skills. Nowadays you may need more than a couple skills; sometimes even having several good skills is not enough. You are better to be a Buddha and Bodhisattva, or a man without worries and afflictions, or a woman without worries and afflictions, or any being without worries and afflictions. What is called “without worries and afflictions”? It is all living beings not being in opposition to oneself, but it cannot be done by trickery. When we talk about trickery it refers to a two-faced person, this kind of person is ineligible. We talk about with “sincere” treatment and the sincere treatment to others, people know: 1. If they want to cook up schemes upon you, they will not have the heart to do so. 2. If they cook up schemes upon you, they would also not gain any benefit. 3. The idea would not exist on both sides to even cook up new schemes. This is called cultivation practice. Guan-Yin Bodhisattva (Avalokitesvara) and Great Strength Bodhisattva (Mahasthamaprapta) are the two who represent individually the infinite compassion and infinite wisdom of Amitabha Buddha. One is the Amitabha’s transformation body of compassion, one is Amitabha’s transformation body of wisdom. Our life essence represents Amitabha named as “Infinite Light” or “Infinite Life”. Our function comes with compassion, wisdom, rationality, and emotion. Emotion becomes compassion, and rationality becomes Prajna wisdom. Therefore, looking at these Buddha and Bodhisattva is there any opposition to people? No, not at all. They are everywhere. Do they have any

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

shape or forms? It can also be said that there is and can also be said no. When you appeal to him, he will be present. Whatever image you have in mind, his ions will manifest that image. If you do not appeal, he does not present. Yet, without presenting an image, it does not mean they not there. The state of existing and non-existent is one Buddha-nature, it is not separate. This is the teaching of Buddha. Through Practicing Cultivation to Realize the Truth to Become Buddha, it is a thorough understanding of the meaning of the truth of all life in the universe, as: The illusory nature of all existence and the manifested phenomena are non-duality, the real and unreal exist simultaneously. That is the meaning of it. Just like my explanation of the Prajna-Paramita Heart Sutra: No existence of the unenlightened condition, and no ending of the unenlightened condition, up to and including no aging and death, also no ending of aging and death. There is no suffering, no source of suffering, no cessation of suffering, and no way to Nirvana. There is no wisdom, also nothing to be attained. Because nothing to be attained, therefore, Bodhisattva relies on Prajna Paramita to have no hindrance in oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mind. There is no hindrance in mind hence one does not panic or fear, keeping one away from inverted views and to think of in a dream. Enter Nirvana thoroughly (the imperturbable stillness of the mind after the fires of greed, hatred, and delusion have been finally extinguished).

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha This is Through Practicing Cultivation to Realize the Truth to Become Buddha, to be the truth of all phenomena—nothing to be attained, which is the wonderful sphere of the Supreme Great Perfection when one becomes Buddha. I believe that everyone has already experienced this somewhat. With the term “Various” Bodhisattva, it denotes numerous as measureless and boundless. Bodhisattva, I think it is necessary to explain it again. Bodhisattva is a Sanskrit term from India, which translates into Chinese as an “enlightened sentient being”. “Enlightened” is to fully understand the truth about the universe plus the relationship between man and the universe. It also refers to the relationship between man and the six realms of reincarnation, the Ten States of Existence, and The Dharma Realm of One Truth (that is inherent pure natural world of all living beings). Yet the word “sentient” of sentient beings inappropriately is explained as emotion and explained as the deluded consciousness. The “consciousness” is precisely the 6th consciousness interpreted as the “soul” in modern language. The “Enlightened sentient beings” is exactly the enlightened souls, those that are self-enlightened who can help others to become enlightened. After oneself understands the truth about life in the universe, one goes to help all living beings to understand the truth about the universe. This is the original definition of a Bodhisattva. Bodhisattva has 52 cultivation tiers, which will be discussed later. However, the “Precepts of Bodhisattva” are illustrated very clearly in the Brahma Net Sutra. Those who are interested can study this on their own as I am not going into detail here. The “Bodhisattva Precepts” mention many different discipline precepts. In the future, all of you may have the opportunity to be ordained with the Bodhisattva Precepts. But whether you are ordained with the Bodhisattva Precepts that is also not be covered in today’s discussion. For now, we will only focus on the behavior of the Bodhisattva.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

This Sutra and the behavior of Bodhisattva are directly related. Of course, Bodhisattvas who have advanced to the Ten Stages (between the 41st to 50th of the 52 cultivation tiers) are different. The 1st of the ten stages bodhisattva of “the Distinctive Teaching School”, also the 1st of the ten stages Bodhisattva of “the Perfect Teaching School”: these levels are Mahasattva (with Dharma Body) who have eradicated the “unenlightened condition”, it means one has already seen the genuine truth of life in the universe. Why have I included the word “genuine”? Because what they see is not an illusion. Our eyes see full of illusion, but Buddha and Bodhisattva see no illusions. What they see is the fluctuation of ions. This kind fluctuation has already been proven by science through the theory of Quantum Mechanics. When Bodhisattva is in the incredibly profound state of Samadhi (having an internal state of imperturbability exempt from all external sensations), one sees people’s thoughts, yet a person’s thinking behavior is not real, all are an image of continuous fluctuation in particles. People do not know that this is unreal. Some ordinary people also have some special abilities, but they can only see very shallow phenomena. And this ability is temporary. Why is it temporary? Because one cannot control one’s life and death. After one entered a mother’s womb in preparation for rebirth to return to this life, this ability may have disappeared. There is a world of difference between the ordinary one and Mahasattva (with Dharma body) in any ability. Bodhisattva has 52 cultivation grades but every enlightenment degree is different. There are two kinds of Bodhisattva. One kind is the initial determination to seek enlightenment Bodhisattva, also called a “Nominal Bodhisattva”, which means one has achieved the status only in name. Just like and ordinary person just recently making up their mind to learn the Buddha way. To make up what mind? Making up the mind to benefit others and improve themselves, to help all living being

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha however their body and mind have not purified enough, and they are not fully capable of being the master of one’s self. The school of Buddhism emphasizes “being one's own master”, it is very important to have the ability to solve life and death. If you cannot solve the problem of life and death, it is hard to be an authentic Bodhisattva. Another kind of Bodhisattva is one who has advanced to the Ten Stages (between the 41st to 50th of the 52 cultivation tiers) and at every stage able to end rebirth and detach from recurring death, according to circumstances to help all living beings. The total proceeding Stages are ten; beyond the 10th Stage there are another two grades: Bodhisattva of Absolute Universal Enlightenment (SamyakSambodhi) and Bodhisattva of Supreme Perfect Enlightenment (Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi). Yet, when one becomes Buddha in perfection it is called the Supreme Perfect Enlightenment (Bodhisattva), the highest sphere of cognition. Just a moment ago, I talked about becoming an authentic Bodhisattva. People say that they want to be an enlightened one, in that case, they must have eradicated the unenlightened condition and only then is it called attaining enlightenment. Yet reaching “enlightenment” life and death do not exist which is exactly so-called Bodhisattva who has advanced to the Ten Stage. They see that all living beings are non-existent of life and death. Even though all living beings are deceived in regards to reality and have cognitive distortion, and in the phenomena of “birth, aging, illness and death” but, they know that it is only an illusion of time and space, and the fluctuation of ions. In fact, there is no life and death. Currently we are explaining chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha in perfection to become Buddha, particularly talking about the Bodhisattva as in all disciplines of salvation of all Bodhisattva, it is talking precisely about these Mahasattva (with Dharma Body) who have already eradicated the unenlightened

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

condition and can fully see the deepest sphere in the truth of the universe. If using modern terms, the deepest fluctuations in the subconsciousness can be seen. After seeing it, there is no doubt or fear, no need to prepare for a rainy day, no affliction caused from inverted view, and one truly returns to normal. If you are a Dharma Body Bodhisattva, then your purpose as a human now is “to enlighten yourself and helping others become enlightened”. This time you are a genuine Bodhisattva and will be called so accordingly. And our exertion now is to correct the behavior as much as possible, learning to be disillusioned with all and let go of all, and to practice cultivation sincerely. Step by step to achieve: Undo all kinds of bad deeds and pursue all good deeds. in that case, Self-purification of one’s thoughts (intention) is the teaching of all Buddha. Then one advances into the cognitive sphere of the Ten Stages Bodhisattva (cultivation of 41st to 50th of 52 tiers) where their thoughts have already been purified. Since they do not use the perceptive mind at all, not using the thinking behavior of ordinary man, they use their pure mind which is very different from how we use our mind. This is because there is a serious problem in our way of thinking and viewing because there is a “self-I”, and there exists “my way” of thinking and “my way” of viewing. But for Bodhisattva who has eradicated the unenlightened condition, one does not have the “self-I”, they are selfless. You say, what way does a person view? A person who is clear absolutely regards all “who-people, what-matters, where–places, or how and why-things”. Yet, this kind of clarity means that they have attained without delusional thought and distracting ideas and are full of pureness and a bright state. This is self-purification of one’s thoughts.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha Buddha teaching pays attention to the word “purification”, referring to pure without defilements, without delusional thoughts. Because of this being a Bodhisattva is easy. Some people say, “It is very difficult to a Buddha or a Bodhisattva.” Just like Christian often say, “It is impossible that I become God or Jesus.” However, in Buddhism, everyone has an equal attitude towards all beings, everyone is qualified to practice cultivation to become Buddha. So, the definition of Bodhisattva is not in the narrow sense for specific people, like those of us who are ordinary people often say: Guan-Yin (Avalokitesvara) is Bodhisattva, or Di-Zang (Ksitigarbha) is a Bodhisattva, but we are not. In this case, you are wrong. This is the difference in concept. Buddha and Bodhisattva live with the concept of “no concept”, it is to live with the absolute concept of being pure without defilement. Yet, ordinary people are not because they focus on these relative concepts of good or evil, beauty or ugliness, right or wrong, good or bad, reasonable or unreasonable. Living with this concept will certainly have gains and losses, and there must have afflictions. Originally, our mind is pure without discrimination but now, the discrimination and attachment is very heavy, the endless and boundless afflictions comes from here. This is serious defilement. After all of you have a general idea about Bodhisattva, next is in All Disciplines of Salvation, All Disciplines to describe the 84,000 methods, describing numerous as infinite and the boundless. These infinite and boundless Disciplines are to fix the activities of the mind. More directly speaking, these Disciplines is all of the phenomena in life. Then, what is the difference between their way of living and our way of living? Honestly, dressing and eating are the same, but the

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

mentality is different. Why different in mentality? They do not have every kind of vital interest and dispute between humans within themselves or with others or have right and wrong. It does not mean they do not know every vital interest and dispute between humans. Of course, they know. But among every kind of vital interest and dispute between humans, their body and mind are purified, absolutely do not have inner fluctuations. It is different for us because regarding life we have fluctuation. What kind of fluctuation? The biggest issues are the three fluctuations of “aging, sickness and death”. Many people think that before these three conditions come, to make proper preparations and arrangements. If you do not do a good job, it is not perfect. In addition to this, there is attachment, after you finish with attachment, then you start delusional thought, it is endless. However, the life of a Bodhisattva is not like this. Besides in All Disciplines of Salvation, they need to cultivate the Six Paramitas. What are the “Six Paramitas”? They are the six conditions of practicing cultivation: 1. The perfection of Generosity—the practice of giving (Danaparamita) 2. The perfection of Compliance with Moral Precepts (Silaparamita) 3. The perfection of Tolerance under Insult (Ksanti-paramita) 4. The perfection of Proficient Diligence (Virya-paramita) 5. The perfection of Dhyana (Zen) Meditation to Samadhi Level (Dhyana-paramita) 6. The perfection of Wisdom (Prajna-paramita)

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha 1. Generosity—the practice of giving (Dana-paramita) is very important. The generosity—the practice of giving in modern Buddhism is a phenomenon that you often see. There is a merit box in the Temple placed at the door of the main hall calling you to take money out to practice of giving. Could it be that practice of giving? Of course not. This is an extremely wrong and sad phenomenon. This is superstition. Because most of the temples are not really Buddhism now, they do not instruct Buddha teaching, and have turned into a kind of religious superstition, personal worship, or charity. However, Buddha teaching is certainly not a religion, but an education of enlightenment. The Buddha teaching is to teach you how to behave in daily life, and finally to improve things by being disillusioned with everything and letting go of all. Being disillusioned with everything and letting go of all is a life without stress, that is, practice of giving the afflictions completely. When you are not under stress, you are not in opposition to others. When you are not opposite to others, your life has become overjoyed with all. After your mind has slowly purified of defiling illusion, you are able to see everybody’s thinking behavior which an ordinary ability is. If you go further to a higher level, then your supernatural ability manifests. Supernatural ability is beyond discussion and description. Supernatural ability does not come by asking. Why? If you practice of giving “self-I “completely, the pure mind manifests, the essence of Buddha-nature is restored. The ability of this essence is the supernatural ability. The supernatural ability, after self- mind has purified, the energy inside the vitality begins to return to normal roles. In science, it means that there is no fluctuation in the mind to generate this energy which can penetrate all materiality, see all

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

composed phenomena of “who-people, what-matters, where-places or how and what-things”. The phenomena are the continuous phenomenon of arising and ceasing in an instant. How many arising and ceasing in an instant? A conservative estimate would be 36,000 occurrences of arising and ceasing. In general, this is hard to see during ordinary Dhyana (Zen) meditation. Like the Bodhisattva just talked who has eradicated the unenlightened condition, that is different. One has advanced beyond the 8th Stage – that is, the Stage of non-receding, then one absolutely can see the movement in the Alaya-consciousness. What is Alaya? It is the storage-house where every living being’s thought arises in the mind, and cognitive distortion in reincarnation through all eternity. Attaining the non-receding Stage Bodhisattva, one sees the minute arising and ceasing continuous phenomenon of all living beings, it is the illusion of arising and ceasing simultaneously. Truly speaking, most us cannot attain such high skill. Who can achieve it? That is Guan-Yin Bodhisattva (Avalokitesvara), yet she did not attain this by practicing cultivation in one life term; she practiced cultivation through the countless over boundless existence of world-periods. How did she cultivate? By letting go and constantly letting go of her inherent concepts. This is too difficult for secular people. Telling you to let go of your parents, brothers, sisters, wife, son and daughter, these unreal phenomena of the six realm of reincarnation, is very hard to you. None of you can let go. Why is it that you cannot let go? Because of the attachment. Therefore, the Buddha teaching itself, in truth, is easy to be misunderstood and difficult to understand. Hence, the Four Varga (groups of monks, nuns, disciples of males and females) should demonstrate good models of being disillusioned with everything and letting go of all for the public. Everyone can be Buddha. We often refer to “the disciples

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha of the Four Varga”, which includes lay practitioners, monks and nuns as the “disciples of Buddha”. Yet the true meaning of the word “Buddha” is it that you have complied to the teachings of Buddha to attain Buddha enlightenment? If you have not confirmed this point, then everything you see is surely not the truth states in the Sutra; yet what you see is just an illusion, there are illusory marks in the illusion, this illusory mark will lead you to misjudge, or to such an extent as if possessed. The Surangama Sutra mentions about fifty kinds of evil-spirited hidden natures (or hidden natures of a person which are against the Buddha-nature), which refers exactly to this phenomenon. Thus, truly being disillusioned with everything and to let go of all, only then one has no Buddha-truth hinderance. “Hidden nature” talks about the illusion of defiling the good teaching. “Evil-spirit” is a torture of being attached to phenomena. The five desires (wealth, sex, food and drink, fame and sleep) and the six qualities produced by the sense-organs (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch and ideas) are rough torture. If you want to talk about delicate ways, for example: during the joyful state of meditation, once gladness arises, you are already obsessed. Therefore, practicing cultivation of the Buddha teachings, to be honest, if the brain is unclear there is no way to go directly into the sphere of enlightenment. You can only go through an indirect route. It is extremely problematic to go indirectly because after the indirect route, life is too short and there is not enough time. Generally, practicing cultivation effectively takes infinite existence of the world-periods, it means that if one step is wrong by taking a deviation, you will never be able to recover. What does it mean by one wrong step? It means the concept is wrong. Just like we have been wrong in being a man and doing things. If a person has not changed it, they will be wrong. It is hard to ask one

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

to change again. There may be simple corrections for some persevering sentient beings, where one can change after making a mistake. But for some beings with a weak will, most are powerless to change. Why is it that one cannot change? Because all have already become a habit. So, the first step cultivation of practice of giving is to dislodge mistakes and afflictions in the mind, only that is called Generosity—the practice of giving. The average person has three afflictions: “greed (attachment), aversion (ill-will) and ignorance”. When the greedy desire cannot be fulfilled, then one gets angry. After being angered for a long time, one then becomes confused. These are the three primary afflictions. First, you must turn greed (attachment) into non-greed, but this is not enough and needs to turn further into non-aversion, but it is hard to turn around because it is hard to ask you to not have thought movement and lose your temper. Telling you not to be obsessed with ignorance is even harder. Of course, these three are the fundamental afflictions—as the source of all the passions and delusions; if you cannot get rid of them, you are unable to practice cultivation. Think about it everyone; do you have any greed (attachment) in your life after all? If there is no greed, then you have fulfilled the Generosity—the practice of giving. Why? It is because your mind has purified of defiling illusion. After the mind has purified, the practice of giving wealth is named “Dharma assets”. “Dharma” is pure and equal, just and honorable. “Assets” because you have purified of defiling illusion, therefore, have no attachment. Without attachment turns it into the state of unattaching to manifested phenomena, and then you have no afflictions. And the people you give are without affliction called “merit”. This is important.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha And now the world’s people practice of giving with attachment to manifested phenomena. For example, I practice of giving 500 dollars to someone, in my mind is marked with a $500 image, then I practice of giving to someone. And they seem to not be happy with it, and then I hate that person. This state is the kind of cause and effect, after the karmic-retribution begins to brew and spin this is called “reincarnation” —like a car wheel unceasingly leading the “causes” to be the “effects”, then leading the “effects” to be the “causes” again. It is endless. Generosity—the practice of giving does not necessarily only aim at the practice of wealth giving, there are many different kinds practice of giving which can be categorized into three groups: 1. Practice of money giving: Using money and labor (e.g., working as volunteer, or material aspect to engage in charitable and emergency relief). 2. Practice of fearless giving: Using the great fearless mind, infinite mercy and compassion to help all living beings, enabling them far from frightening, cognitive distortion, and escape from the abyss of suffering. 3. Practice of Buddha teaching giving: The teaching of the Buddha is the wisdom. Using a clear head and undefiled wisdom to explain Sutra and expound the teaching to let people to destroy delusion and uncover enlightenment, through practice cultivation to become Buddha. This practice of giving in Buddha teaching achieves the greatest merit, the most supreme. Honestly speaking, is there wisdom in the worldly teaching? Of course, but there are very few. Most people in the world are smart, but there is no great wisdom. This kind of smartness but petty-minded bluntly speaking, is called “conventional knowing with sharp eloquence”. This is considered “one of the eight difficulties” in the Buddha

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

teaching and one of the eight hindrances of learning the Buddha’s way. The most serious one out of the eight is this. It is modern people’s habit thinking they are smart and regard oneself as infallible. This is trouble. In the Buddha teaching, there is neither the word “smart” nor the words of “Buddha teaching (Dharma)”. This is the true pure teaching. But once you have made your own cleverness, you are finished. “Being smart” is your own self-limitation. The original mind is as broad and boundless as the universe, but people divide into the elements of “who-people, what-matters, where-places, or how and why -things”; or “you versus I”, or “right versus wrong, or kindness versus evil, or good versus bad, or beauty versus ugliness”, making so many discriminations and attachments. Is it not all finished! The mind becomes narrower and narrower, and you cannot tolerate even yourself. What kind of people are like this? Of course, smart people. The ancients said: A smart person may become the victim of his own ingenuity. It is impossible for such people to eradicate the unenlightened condition. Therefore, the Sixth Patriarch showed as a person who was illiterate and did not know words. Especially speaking from the perspective of the classes in the feudal era (Tang Dynasty), he was the lowest-ranking firewood rafter, completely unknown and without universal world knowledge and intelligence; however, he did have one special condition which was his mind has purified of defiling illusion. Therefore, the Fifth Patriarch asked him, “What are you here for?” He said, “I come here to be Buddha.” He understands this, but the average person did not understand. It is amazing! The average person goes to the school of Buddhism and

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha asks for two things: one seeks fortune, one seeks there is no mishap. Neither can be found. So, who do you ask? Ask yourself. If you do not ask yourself, there is no one can ask. As the people of the worldly say: Seeking the cause in oneself rather than someone else. The meaning of seeking the cause is to call yourself to turn around, no more greed (attachment). Oneself, after all this oneself is the reincarnated-self? Or the enlightened-self? Like the Sixth Patriarch self-stated: I, the disciple, constantly yield wisdom in the mind. That is different. Therefore, if you ask for wisdom, you must seek the Buddhism path of enlightenment. And people who think they are smart will constantly have afflictions arise. In fact, “smart” refers to sensitive and clear. Then one is mistaken totally, one is neither clear with the truth about the universe, nor sees affliction in self-mind. This is the biggest problem of people. Returning to the subject, to “practice of Buddha teaching giving” one must have a condition that they must see the truth of the life in the universe. This is the question of “the order of precedence in cultivation practice”, and also the question of “epiphany phases”. Just like passing from elementary school, high school and university you must be at least at the university level and only then will you be qualified to do “practice of Buddha teaching giving”. The University level refers to the “Functional teaching School”, as the Buddha and Bodhisattva of Four Holy Realms (1. Sravaka— sound-hearer as Arhat, 2. Pratyekabuddha, 3. Bodhisattva, 4. Buddha) who are close to the cognitive sphere of eradication the unenlightened condition. Elementary school level refers to Arhat. What class is the graduated elementary school? It is selflessness where there is

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

no concept of self-I. In Buddhism, this is considered graduating from elementary school. Without the concept of “self- I”, the six supernatural ability manifests which is our six original capabilities that we had and being recovered, but not yet in perfection. This is because there is still High school to advance as the Pratyekabuddha, who still has illusion and temptation through the immense variety of duties in saving all sentient beings, and illusion and temptations that arise from failure to philosophically understand things in their reality. Both have not been fully eradicated yet, and one is still unable to behold one’s true nature. As a result, to truly “practice of giving in Buddha teaching” is to only become a Buddha and only then can one attain in perfection. Does this mean we have no part in this? According to past Patriarchs and the most virtuous one, the ordinary person can only and frequently persuade people to “chant (mindfulness) Amitabha”, this is the ultimate and most perfect “practice of giving in Buddha teaching”. This is extremely exceptional. This is called the trick of having a big payoff for a small effort, it is infallible. If you ask others to be disillusioned with everything and let go of all, and you have not done so yourself, I think others will also be less likely to believe in the Buddha teaching. However, to encourage people to “chant (mindfulness) Amitabha to become Buddha” and this can achieve the full merit, this wisdom is incredible. “Being disillusioned with everything and let go of all” is easier said than done. Seriously, you cannot do it without knowing the truth of the universe. First, you must be disillusioned with life in the universe as a big dream, in the dream birth and rebirth or death and recurring death all does not relate to you. Mainly let go of this life and death.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha The meaning of letting go of all and being disillusioned with everything is a clear and stress-free life. Therefore, Buddha is teaching you to live a clear and stress-free life. Where to seek this? Just ask yourself to let go. Finally, the word seeking is gone and the person is relaxed and slowly will return to normal. Many people who chant (mindfulness) Amitabha, to the state of “single-mindedly without deviation” or “unite with Amitabha in mind for 24 hours”, their mind is bright and they are completely confident regarding their fate of life and death. We have seen many in the United States. Many people have said, “I have to go at ten o’clock the next morning.” One was asked, “Where are you going?” One said, “I am going to the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land.” People asked them, “Is it an illusion, or from your superstition?” One said: “It is neither illusory nor fascination; this place truly exists. It is a widespread space, big to the extent of infinite boundless.” Obviously, this person does not have mental illness. And all the real states in the Sutra scripture have indeed been seen. A friend of mine, after he recovered a part of his ubiquitous supernatural abilities has also seen this. He used to tell me, “Never doubt all the truth spoken in the Sutra.” Why? He has seen it himself.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

Lecturing the Sutra is a “practice of Buddha teaching giving”, the enlightenment guidebook is the Sutra. Is not Buddha a representation of great enlightenment? Therefore, the Sutra is a guidebook. If you just truly do what it says, you transform in instantly, you turn into a non-human detaching from the human condition, and then you are a Buddha. The Chinese character of “Buddha 佛” is intriguing. It is composed of two words “human 人” and “not 弗”, it means “nonehuman”. A person already has no afflictions of gain or loss, good or evil, discrimination, or good and bad but they fully comprehend all these phenomena and see clearly. One performs among us. So, the ancients said: The supernatural abilities in which Buddha and Bodhisattva take their pleasure. The supernatural abilities do not make mistakes, and we think it is a mysterious phenomenon in fact, in modern terms, it is inherent ability and is the ability of everyone. However, the inherent ability in the school of Buddhism is developed to the point of completeness, it is completely restored to the state of self-nature pureness. All the wisdom and radiance are called “supernatural abilities”. “Practice of Buddha teaching giving”, for instance: A printed Sutra scripture explaining Sutra and expounding Sutras. It is really the best to tell everybody one meets to be able to “observe the opportune moment to amuse and teach”. By just seeing people, you will know how to resolve one’s afflictions, to develop one’s wisdom, and point the way for one’s practice method to enlightenment, etc. This requires a certain amount of effort and quite a certain power of meditative stabilization otherwise, you would be lost by the emerging situations Look at the numerous transformation bodies of Buddha and Bodhisattva omnipresent in every social status, also in places where

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha providing the pleasures of song and women, hunting and racing (gambling). They are energy of here and there and everywhere. For example, if you want to help a pack of pigs, you need to become a pig for the pig to accept you because if you become human form, you are separated from them. If Buddha wants to help a person, he needs to become human form so, Guanyin Bodhisattva (Avalokitesvara) often manifests into the appearance of a woman. Why? It is a form of motherhood the public can accept. Buddha manifests in different states, and only then different beings can accept them. If you think Bodhisattva is a man in the mind, one then manifests in male appearance. If you think Bodhisattva is a neutral gender, one manifests in neutral gender appearance. If you think Bodhisattva is female in the mind, one manifests as a female. But the question is whether the state in your mind is defiled? If there is defilement, then it is unable to manifest. If your thoughts have enlightenment, then Bodhisattva manifestation is perfectly free from resistance and ever-changing. Yet, you are like a host of a show and your own life is this show. You want to invite which guest is in the show and Bodhisattva will then manifest that guest. Buddha manifests according to the rising thought of all sentient beings and correspond with the capacity of how one perceives. We must think about it, is there a Buddha or Bodhisattva in this world after all? Of course, they are here and everywhere. So, the first state the Buddha and Bodhisattva brings to all living beings is â&#x20AC;&#x153;fearlessnessâ&#x20AC;?. You will never be afraid when you see them instead, there is a power of belonging because he is you. If you return to the original state of life in the universe, all vitality sources from here within is non-duality and no difference of one Buddha-nature, there is absolutely no barrier.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

Therefore, these three kinds “practice of giving”—practice of Buddha teaching giving, practice of fearless giving and practice of money giving do not attach to phenomena. We are now talking about “no attachment to phenomena” which means having no mark in your mind and only then, the mind is pure. If you have this mark, then your mind is ruined. Why do I say ruined? Because your afflictions start. If the receiver of your giving is disrespectful or has different opinions towards you, then your mind again fluctuates. I have often seen people regret when practice of giving where every time one gives, one regrets. After someone finished practice of giving, it seemed like they finished a big event, and he was no longer responsible. These all rise afflictions. If one can apply Buddha teaching to practice of giving, one has no such afflictions and has no regrets too. One's practice of giving certainly is in perfection because one is selfless, then who regrets? Therefore, under this kind of situation, tell the truth, our daily life is practicing cultivation. This kind of cultivation, speaking bluntly, is practice of giving. For example: You bring no affliction to all living beings that is also called practice of giving. Nodding your head at someone with a smile, this is also practice of giving. Encouraging people to chant (mindfulness) Amitabha is also practice of giving. Every word and action, all are known as practice of giving. The scope of practice of giving is not narrow. It is not the monastery putting a donation box and asking you for donation. The scope of practice of giving expands throughout all of space and pervades the whole universe, the entire universe is under the state of your

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha unconditional practice of giving because you are not in opposition with anyone, and you are already with selflessness. 2. Compliance with Moral Precepts When you speak to modern people about “compliance with moral precepts”, obeying the disciplinary precepts, it is not easy. “Compliance” means to obey. “Moral precept” refers to not doing things that we should not do. This is very difficult for modern people. In the minds of ordinary people is not possible to accept. Catholicism and Christianity have the “Ten Commandments”, which are the same as “Ten Wholesomeness Precepts” taught by Buddhism and referred to as the basic “shared Dharma (teaching)”, the cultivation base of compliance in common. There are four situations in moral precepts which are “under circumstantial conditions to end abstinence, keep distance from faults that require special restraint, strictly adhering to the precepts, breaking or violation of the precepts” to condition, to keep distance from, to uphold, and to not commit crimes. These four situations must be applied creatively and flexibly, otherwise you become inflexible under the precepts. What does “inflexible” mean? It becomes a rigid ordination and you become a wooden man. The Chinese constantly say: If it is not in accordance with propriety (standards of conduct), then one shall not look. If it is not in accordance with propriety (standards of conduct), then one shall not speak. If it is not in accordance with propriety (standards of conduct), then one shall not listen.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

These three are considered part of the moral precepts, asking modern people to achieve these thee standards is impossible. If it is not in accordance with propriety (standards of conduct), then one shall not speak; some people can still hold. If it is not in accordance with propriety (standards of conduct), then one shall not listen; is difficult. During moments of gossip, your ear naturally hears it. The living beings of our Galaxy, the auditory faculty (organ of hearing) is the sharpest. The ear and this hearing power especially have a kind of habit: 1. Likes to pry into the status of others, 2. Likes to listen to whispers, 3. Enjoys fighting. This is very intriguing. There is an old Chinese saying: The wall next door has ears. And in addition, with a saying: Safety in the first place is better than regret for a venture going wrong. In fact, most people must have this hobby and it is difficult to change. These are the state of cognitive distortion and reincarnation. Even if you sit next to a person and do not listen to one, you will invisibly listen to it. This is the habit of all living beings in our world. It is not in accordance with propriety (standards of conduct), then one shall not look, some people hold on, one should not look at then one does not look. But now it is hard, there are a lot of weird things on the computer and on television and asking people not to watch is impossible. Asking them to not look is impossible. Especially asking one to keep moral precepts, there is no way. People have said

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha that they cannot commit “killing, stealing, excessive lust attachment”, and they can never do it. 1. Killing: It is not only killing people and animals, but also eating all raw meat is considered as killing. 2. Stealing: The “who-people, what-matters, where-places, how and what-things” are not arbitrarily plundered with the permission of others is called stealing. 3. Excessive lust attachment: Discourteous behavior or indecent assault, or movement of thought. It does not only refer to the situation of men and women, but the scope of man and women is too narrow. In fact, it is called “immersion” in any circumstance or activity is called delusion. The ancient school of Confucianism said long ago about “greed (attachment), aversion, and ignorance”; why is it not in accordance with propriety (stands of conduct)? Because it does not agree with human nature. People are pure. You speak to a newborn baby about “killing, stealing, excessive lust attachment” they really cannot figure it out. When they were about two or three years old, they slowly realize this because their past memory turns on and is recovered. In fact, to enter a mother’s womb for ten months in preparation for rebirth into this world is known as “cerebral concussion”. For ten months, one is entirely in a coma state and knows nothing. Only few of those eminent monk’s brains are clear at the time of returning to this life. I have also known a few friends who have very clear heads and returning to this life did not forget what they did in their previous life, what to do in this life, and are very clear about where they will go in the future. These people are very simple and their minds have purified, and absolutely do not have any conditions of “killing, stealing, and excessive lust attachment”.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

Because if one has the conditions of “killing, stealing and excessive lust attachment”, then they would have “greed (attachment), aversion, and ignorance”. These are what the school of Buddhism often refers to as the “three poisons”. Generally, “poison” is harmful to the human body but modern people are fully immersed in it. Modern society is a struggling society. This kind of struggle is endless and a cycle. This society provides people with the phenomena of “greed (attachment), aversion, and ignorance”. Therefore, the school of Buddhism talks about strictly adhering to the precepts. In truth, if you cannot see clearly that all phenomenal characteristics are “the continuation of the combination of the momentto-moment arising and ceasing thought”, then “strictly adhering to the precepts” will be impossible to do. If you are in the profound Samadhi (meditative concentration) state will see meat as some light ions temporarily inactive. Why inactive? Because it is going to go down but it also exists temporarily for the time being. It is an illusion of the combination of the temporary immobility of moment to moment thought and light ions. If looking further in-depth, it turns out to be a cloud of dust, precisely is the most refined kind of micro-dust among the dust, a bacterial state very close to the ether. Eventually, it is just the flash of thought, a fluctuation and nothing more. Those eminent monks we are talking about have recovered purity and bright state. Then he has no response at all seeing meat. What they saw was a mass of ions, a temporary appearance of arising and ceasing. Why add the words “temporary appearance” to it? Because people insist that is true, believing that things would not disappear, but it is actually unreal. This is the reason why Buddha, Bodhisattva and Arhats can follow “strictly adhering to the precepts”!

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha Why can they not stand against anyone in public and bring happiness to everyone? Because they see the temporary appearance like what we see as superficial. Therefore, an average person needs to take a bath daily. After three days without a bath our superficial appearance starts the change, like staying up late or all night, one's internal metabolism becomes unbalanced and one will get sick. The phenomena of “birth, aging, sickness and death” have manifested. The body of Buddha or Bodhisattva is called the “incorruptible adamantine body”. The body of Buddha or Bodhisattva is transparent and pure, and eternally non-perishable. To tell the truth, if we also have the concept of these Buddha and Bodhisattvas, this is the most important thing. The first step of learning the Buddha way, you must have this concept. If you do not have the concept of Buddha or Bodhisattva, learning the Buddha’s way would be no use. So, we must think practice of giving is exactly to throw away afflictions, learning to be purified of defiling illusion, and learning to have no pressure every minute and second. After a long time, one naturally sees the phenomena of the universe. 3. Tolerance under Insult. If you cannot clearly see the truth of the universe, then tolerance under insult cannot be achieved. We often say that, “destiny will make enemies meet”. You say that you want tolerance under insult, I think it is very difficult to do it. The more one looks at it, the more annoying it is, the more one can bear it, and the more one cannot stand it. Why have this kind of phenomena? This phenomenon occurs because you do not know the enemy is merely a kind of fluctuation and illusion of ion composition. If you see that this is an illusion, the insult is no more.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

Chinese people have a popular saying: A respect scholar would rather die than be disgraced. Therefore, past Patriarchs and the most virtuous ones must make the following statement: If insult can be tolerated, then your mind has already been purified of defiling illusion. This statement has its origins. The Chinese word “tolerance 忍” has a knife (刃) in the “mind or heart (心)”. This “knife” is cutting your heart. If you have no “heart (or mind)”, the knife is useless. Think about it, when you get to his point, you certainly are able to achieve proficient diligence. 4. Proficient diligence. Proficient is being single-minded to the utmost or to commit oneself to one practice method dedicating themselves to it profoundly is called proficient. Dedicating oneself to it profoundly and is naturally diligence. This diligence if speaking directly refers to “effortlessly to achieve the enlightenment”. It is the same as “when the boat gets to the pier, it will go straight with the current; let nature take its course”; which is making great effort naturally. Because your mind has been unified, there is no obstacle to you mentally and physically. If you choose a method to restore the energy of your universe life, that is incredible. The power of this concentrated sincerity can reach the state of “splitting open metal and rocks”. To have sincerity up to the most extreme is no distract thought arising. When there is no distracting thought arising, all phenomena are illusions and in your mind. If you further make great effort, the mind also does not exist. This person is truly proficient diligence and there is no need to push harder. If you can push harder and can improve yourself this is called

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha “effortlessly to achieve the enlightenment”. The Bodhisattva has eradicated the unenlightened condition and all have this sphere. Therefore, every being in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land, even those who go to be born in the Pure Land as the lower grade of the inferior rank, all are in the state of proficient diligence to chant (mindfulness) Amitabha proficient diligence, chanting Infinite Light or Infinite Life, and chanting (mindfulness) the universe essence. What is called chanting/mindfulness? It is the moment you are in the power and energy of this bright universe. You are it, there is no barrier originally. Why do we need to chant /mindfulness? Because you still have the habit of not getting rid of it, so you have to chant /mindfulness. Chanting /mindfulness is to remind oneself in every moment. Reminding oneself for a long time and when the mind is completely calm you enter Dhyana (Zen) Meditation to Samadhi level. 5. Dhyana (Zen) Meditation to Samadhi level. It is that in the simplest life there will be a kind of power. That is, the ability to overcome all disturbing thoughts as power of mindcontrol which is not shaken by external forces at all. With this power of mind-control, the moral precepts can naturally keep. The “moral precepts” is a state in which there is no defilement in life. It is not the Buddha who wants you to keep the moral precepts, Buddha just divides it into six categories as the Six Paramitas. How many kinds of behavior do these six categories have? It is countless and boundless. It is in your “discourse, silence, motion, and stillness” to cultivate this state successfully. The Chinese character “Dhyana (Zen) 禪” has a word “single 單” on one side, which means to purely reach to without the inside and outside of the mind, then your mind is fixed and undisturbed. This

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

meditative stabilization is neither the general meditation in the world of sensuous desire, nor stated by ordinary people as the “abstract meditation of the Four Dhyana (Zen) Heavens on both Realms of Form and the Formless, totaling eight meditation levels”. The “abstract meditation of the Four Dhyana (Zen) Heavens on both World of Form and Formless (pure spirit), totaling eight meditation Levels”. This is the meditative concentration within the confines of the Threefold Worlds (Triloka)* and not reaching out to the infinite. The Threefold Worlds consist of the three regions of Desire, Form and Formless (pur spirit), a total of 28 Heavens. In truth, within these 28 Heavens, no one is free from the cycle of reincarnation of life and death. Then we are reborn as a human being and not in the world of devas. We are the six realms of reincarnation, so the level of extent is really too far. But despite these huge differences, life is but a dream. If your concept changes to the concept of Amitabha, then you will store this instinct. Ancient people said: Being enlightened in the flash of a second, degenerating also in the flash of a second. People say: A wrong thought on the spur of the moment. This is a wrong thought, which is your concept and way of thinking. If your concept and way of thinking changes, your life changes, so does your fate and luck. “Fate” refers to personality. “Luck” refers to an encountering. If the personality is harmonious across all differences, then encountering would be brighter. Therefore, does Amitabha have a personality? No. Hence his world is called the Bliss world, to enjoy to the ultimate. * Threefold Worlds (Triloka): The universe divides into three worlds of karmic rebirth – desire, form and formless (pure spirit).

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha Therefore, does he have fate? No. Since there is no fate, we then call him “Infinite Light”, “Infinite Life”. What does Amitabha represent? Amitabha represents the original essence and energy of all life in the universe. When we chant (mindfulness) Amitabha, our head is cleared. Just by chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha, the Six Paramitas in all disciplines of salvation of all Bodhisattva cultivates wholly complete. Therefore, the physical and mental can forever be fixed and undisturbed to a pure and unchanging cognitive sphere emerging the incredibly profound Samadhi. When this incredibly profound Samadhi reaches the finest unaltered sphere then it is known as Prajna (wisdom). 6. Prajna. It loosely translates as wisdom; in fact, it includes a higher and more powerful ability than wisdom. It is in our life essence, the superpower that everyone has which is the ability that naturally emerges from the essence. This ability is revealed naturally from the essence which does not require contemplation or thinking. It does not require thinking and does not require meditating. It is not like as humans say about everything, “Let me think about it. Then how to [do]”. One does not need to think at all, it is the state of contact that knows the situation. How big is the range of knowing? Of course, the past, the present and the future all is known, it is omniscient and omnipotent. Since it is all living beings, all living beings is itself, there is no difference. Therefore, your conceptual ways of thinking are clearly visible to it, if you have any discriminations, attachments, and delusional thoughts, it is also clearly seen because it is everyone’s instinct.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

And the person who has developed this ability, telling the truth, one will never show it to you, because an ordinary person’s level has not reached such a high sphere of cognition. There remains “I or other, right or wrong” these “relative opposite” phenomena in your concept. Therefore, not showing is not to offend the whole of society but rather, it is not letting others have misunderstand. People often ask me, “Where is Guan-Yin Bodhisattva (Avalokitesvara)?” I say, "As a matter of fact, he is right here. " How come? He is with super energy, full of wisdom and omnipresent but only you have no feeling of it, that is all. Modern society does not have a lot of science fiction movies? We often see in the movie like Star Wars, there are many strangelooking beings in the universe, in fact, they also have many different extrasensory perception abilities, and their wisdom surpasses humans. Even watching television, you can also practice cultivation. More than 100 TV stations, you can watch each channel slowly one by one. If looking at every station and your mind is unmoved by it, it means that you are starting to have wisdom, to have Prajna. If you have a special show that you like, this means that your mind is lost again. If this station’s program is particularly annoying, then you are lost too. The Prajna true wisdom of Guan-Yin Bodhisattva is eternally without delusions. Therefore, she can be free from all resistance to be infinite mercy and infinite compassion to help people in distress. Even many intelligent beings in the universe beyond the Earth are also in possession of great wisdom and great capability, doing the same in accordance with circumstantial conditioning to enlighten all sentient beings, and at play in the supernatural powers which Buddha and Bodhisattva indulge.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha Yet, the first step of cultivation practice one must let go of the comparative concept of wholesome or evil, reasonable or unreasonable. Without letting go of it, the mind is not purified of defiling illusion which is the big screen and obstruction in practicing cultivation. Therefore, we often speak about if a person chants (mindfulness) Amitabha with a sincere mind, then one also has no need to recite Sutras, also no need to explore and study through Dhyana (Zen) meditation and has no need of anything to be born in Amitabha Pure Land and become Buddha. Why can one perfectly achieve the Six Paramitas in all modes of salvation by chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha? When one chants (mindfulness) Amitabha with concentration of the mind and let go of everything, in this preset life, one can improve self and to enlighten others, cultivating in perfection of the Six Paramitas. For example, when people hear him chanting Amitabha, once it passes through the organ of hearing, it is the seed of the enlightenment eternally. What is the “seed of enlightenment”? It is the seed of “attaining enlightenment and becoming Buddha”, the diamond (indestructible) seed. “Diamond” means that it cannot be destroyed for eternity. Whether you are in the state of laughing, giggling and curse in a rage to call out Amitabha, whether you are intentionally or unintentionally chanting Amitabha, it all turns into the diamond seed. Even if you are reincarnated over the innumerable existence of the worldperiods, this seed will not disappear. In the future, because of this seed you will also chant (mindfulness) Amitabha to become Buddha. You see, in the present life you can improve yourself and to enlighten others. Chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha is exactly what everyone can do. Thereby everyone chants (mindfulness) Amitabha, then does not everyone improve oneself and bring benefit to others? This is truly wonderful! Chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha is the practice of giving the diamond seed of enlightenment. Chanting (mindfulness)

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

Amitabha in sincere mind and purified of defiling illusion perfectly practices the Six Paramitas to achieve the great perfection. Why? Because the body and mind have purified of defiling illusion. Chanting Amitabha is the absolute truth as having no differentiated ideas, non-substantiality of the three wheels and is the illusory nature of all existence of people, all manifested phenomena, and absent of the idea of illusory nature of all existence. One with completely no attachment to phenomenal characteristic, that is the great practice of giving. Chanting Amitabha to be pure and clear, will not interfere with all, that is the great compliance with moral precept. Chanting Amitabha to become selfless, who can insult; that is the great tolerance under Insult. Chanting Amitabha with the joy of tasting the teaching, without fatigue, that is the great proficient diligence. Chanting Amitabha arises mind-control and the mind is fixed and undisturbed everywhere, that is the great Samadhi level. Chanting Amitabha to unfold wisdom to be omniscience, that is the great Prajna. The Six Paramitas in all modes of salvation are all included in the name of Amitabha. This is truly inconceivable! So, the venerable Master Shan-Dao (ĺ&#x2013;&#x201E;ĺ°&#x17D;) of the Tang dynasty said: The reason why Tathagata (Buddha) appears in this world, he is only here to talk about the original 48 vows of Amitabha is deep and wide like the ocean. There is a reason for it. Master Shan-Dao is the transformation body of Amitabha. In this case, these words come from the Buddhaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha own mouth. This has truly given us unparalleled confidence. So, if you are chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha with full sincerity, this self-enlightenment and to help others get enlighten, practicing the Six Paramitas in all modes of salvation and enlightenment—referred to in all disciplines of salvation of all Bodhisattva, can be achieved to the great perfection by the name of Amitabha. Since the name of Amitabha can resolve all, chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha can reach the extent of ultimate perfection in the future is what kind of cognitive sphere? The sphere of perfection is the Great Surangama Samadhi. Surangama represents: All matters are within the Buddha-nature, which is ultimately inexhaustible and indestructible. All matters refer to the Buddha-nature as not-arising and not-ceasing, not-unclean and not-clean, not-increase and not-decrease, through the infinite existence of world-periods is unspoiled. Regarding Buddha-nature, all situations are entirely without hindrance. Even “greed (attachment), aversion, and ignorance” or “killing, stealing, and excessive lust attachment”, are also no hindrance. Why? Because the Buddha-nature can penetrate through all phenomena, it is immovable and immutable. To tell the truth, the Surangama Samadhi is the internal state of tranquility, exempt from all external sensations of Tathagata attainment. After a person becomes Buddha, one will completely be like Amitabha and naturally recover this self-nature eternal Samadhi called Surangama. This kind of eternal Samadhi state only Tathagata has. Bodhisattva of Absolute Universal Enlightenment (SamyakSambodhi) still retains one grade of the unenlightened condition, “the fundamental worry as first thought activation of unenlightened and confusion”, who is unable to have experiential entry into the Buddha truth.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

We speak about the Crown of the Buddha Head is called “the invisible mark on the head”. Buddha manifests his Reward (enjoyment) Body with a red-colored fleshy protuberance on his head, this red fleshy protuberance emits radiance. Emitting what kind of radiance? It emits infinite beams of light of Amita Tathagata—the body of the Dharmadhatu (universal Buddha). This kind of light is called the miraculous transformations of Maha-Vairocana Buddha (Dharma Body of Shakyamuni Buddha) at his Buddha attainment. This kind of light condition none of the Bodhisattva can see. Why? They can never see the Crown of the Buddha Head. It represents a teaching, that expresses that the Buddha has already confirmed in perfection of the universe phenomena. Because this fleshy protuberance emits a light too powerful, it is so bright that even if you use any kind of supernatural ability, are unable to see the Crown of the Buddha Head; therefore, we call it the light of unceasing illumination, the self-nature Samadhi light, the invisible head light, or the incredible light. Ordinarily Buddha and Bodhisattva all exude radiance. Shakyamuni Buddha was also the same. This radiance for some Buddha can shine one Buddha region, some can reach across 20 or 30 Buddha regions, some can reach up to 40 or 50 Buddha regions, and some reach countless and boundless. The radiance of Shakyamuni Buddha usually shines across our tens of billions of Milky Way Galaxies, which is his unceasing radiance. But when he explains the Buddha speaks of Amitabha Sutra or the Infinite Life Sutra, the radiance emitted will shine through the entire universe. How come? Because he has entered the Dharma Body and vow power of Amita Tathagata, therefore this radiance is special vast and boundless. The radiance of Amitabha, only just his unceasing radiance can shine across the entire universe, there is no difference whether he emits radiance or not. His unceasing radiance can penetrate through

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha all spirituality and materiality which encompass all sentient beings and non-sentient beings. This is the power of Amitabha merit gained through Amitabha Great 48 Vows that which to achieve this infinite radiance, also, it is the main reason why all Buddhas of the past, the present, the future and from the ten directions to praise Amitabha. In addition, Shakyamuni Buddha further praises him: Amitabha is the highest revered one in the light, the king (ruler) of all Buddha! This praising statement is really to the extreme. Therefore, I speak the truth here, in respect to “all men are inherently Buddha”, then all Buddha are Amitabha, Amitabha precisely is all Buddha. As for “the merit of vow power”, then Amitabha indeed surpasses all Buddha; indeed, among all Buddha of the past, the present, the future and from the ten directions of the universe, Amitabha is placed first. However, these Buddha all have thoroughly experiential entry into the Great Surangama-Samadhi, who have attained thoroughly there exists no “others or I, right or wrong, kindness or evil, good or bad” the unconditional truth and are disillusioned with everything and let go to the core. This kind of absolute power of meditative stablization of being thoroughly unmoved is called Surangama Samadhi. So today, I explained the Sutra title, and let everyone know the excellency of this Buddha’s name. The excellence of this Buddha name must be revealed by this Sutra title. The ancient Patriarchs and the virtuous one before explains the Sutra, the Sutra title must be absolutely explained. The Sutra title is the general guiding principal of the whole Sutra. If you do not understand the Sutra title, you won’t understand the Sutra scripture.

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Continuing to the word Sutra—the Surangama Sutra, it is a guidebook that I just talked about. The guidebook is the indicator that tells you how to practice cultivation. If you follow what I just said, the state of practicing cultivation by chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha when entering the purified mind in its nature state, then you will truly see the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land. The Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land originally is your pure world essence without defilement. Many people ask me, “Where is the Pure Land?” I also often say, “After the mind has purified, then you will know”. This seems to become a mere formality. The problem is that your mind has purified of defiling illusion truly. If you do not achieve it, it will always be a slogan. Looking at the situation with everyone here, some people come here for the first time, listening with half-understanding, and another person has their unenlightened condition manifests: 1. Dazed, which is dozing off. 2. Restlessness, which is an unsettled state of mind, 3. Delusional thoughts, which is indulging in flights of fancy. There is still a kind of person who listens with full joy of tasting the Buddha teaching. Everyone in the room has a different status. Those who have full of joy tasting the Buddha teaching are indeed emitting radiance, you cannot see the light in the naked eye, but your eye of mind can see it. When the mind has purified of defiling illusion then you know the state of other people’s mind, this is the evidence of practicing cultivation.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha You may look at your neighbors and see if the person is emitting radiance? There is a very straight person here and he is wonderful. He replied, “There is no one”. The purpose is to tell you that the state of life is completely unpredictable because nothing can be seen without knowing. So, why are people not sure about their future? Because one is not sure about oneself, this is big problem. If you are sure of yourself, when you see this Sutra title when you see you would understand. The Chapter of the Surangama Sutra: The Great Strength Bodhisattva (Mahastamaprapta) chants (mindfulness) Amitabha in perfection to become Buddha, again, the title mentions the word Great in the name of the Great Strength Bodhisattva (Mahasthamaprapta). Every time I mention Great, it is very exciting. The word Great can explain countless existence world-periods. The state of Great is the “mind” of Amitabha, also the “mind” of all living beings. The “mind” of all living beings indeed is “ Up to the utmost biggest, the same as the universe has no outer boundary, down to the smallest, the same as one’s true self-nature has no inner boundary. Whether you practice Dhyana (Zen) Buddhism or another school of Buddhism, or the Patriarch of enlightenment, or are a small tradesman, peddler, or confused living being, no one is inseparable from this word Great. This word is the original state of Buddha-nature, but even though Great is immeasurable and boundless, it still does not go beyond the scope of your mind-nature. So, people have a problem. A person with a narrow breadth of mind is unable to learn the Buddha way. The unique condition to learn the Buddha way is to be openminded. If you still have your own way of viewing and thinking, you

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absolutely not benefiting from the Buddha teaching. You can see this check point clearly, 90% of impediments are then resolved and your afflictions have long been gone. The ancients said: A greater man does not make note of a lesser manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s faults. This greater man is not the adult we talked about, do not be mistaken the lesser man is also not called a â&#x20AC;&#x153;hypocriteâ&#x20AC;? but rather, it refers to a narrow-minded person. A person with a broad-mind is called a greater man. This Strength of Great Strength (Mahasthamaprapta) is a kind of energy and situation, a magnificent bearing and category. This Strength is magnificent and widespread measureless and boundless, it is unhindered to the nature of mind. The Great Strength (Mahasthamaprapta) represents the infinite and boundless radiance given out from the nature of Tathagata of all living beings, and all merit reached to your self-nature. The Great Strength also represents using the great wisdom to cross to the Nirvana shore (perfect enlightenment) breaking all afflictions, chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha to become Amitabha. From the discourses of Buddha, wherever this Maha-Bodhisattva goes, the pure mind in its natural state appears with six kinds of strong affects. To affect what? It makes a great impact on people. Therefore, when you see the name Great Strength (Mahasthamaprapta) you need to think what state makes a great impact on people after all? Even if you know that you are obstinately persisting going the wrong way and have difficult seeing the truth, yet you chant (mindfulness) Amitabha with a sincere mind to awaken your own enlightenment nature, make a vow to go to be born in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land to become Buddha in perfection, become

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha self-enlightened and also enlighten others, improve oneself and bring benefit to others, this is exactly called making an enlightenment impact on all living being's mind. This truly has profound significance. To be honest, there is no way for the average person to have impact because they have been numb for a long time. Why is this happening? Because they have been surrounded by “greed (attachment), aversion, ignorance, arrogance and suspicion”. Almost everyone has this condition. The Milky Way Galaxy that we live in is known as the Saha Land, what does it mean? It is called the world of forbearance. Living in the “Threefold Worlds (Triloka – the universe is divided to three worlds of Desire, Form and Formless) as if it is the burning house”, unexpectedly you are able to endure and bear. In addition, you are able to amuse yourself to frolic, find joy amidst suffering, and are so happy that you forget where home really is. Looking from the world of the pure mind in its natural state, this kind of situation is completely insensitive. How to resolve this insensitive situation? This truly requires learning from the Great Strength Bodhisattva (Mahasthamaprapta), by means of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha to become Buddha to cross over to the refreshing shore of the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land, detaching from this burning house of Saha Land. In the life essence of the universe, we consider wisdom as the light and as the great light, and to be the “beams of light”. The beams of light represent a clear head is capable of breaking delusion, to uncover enlightenment, to have omniscient penetrative ability with crystal clear perception of one’s Buddha-nature. Therefore, the Great Strength Bodhisattva (Mahasthamaprapta) represents all sentient beings of the universe who have “broken delusion and uncover enlightenment, to have omniscient penetrative ability with crystal clear perception at the origin nature”, their method of cultivation entirely practices chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha.

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The Sutra title, Chanting /mindfulness Amitabha in Perfection to Become Buddha. In perfection to become Buddha means what? To fulfill the whole, perfect harmony among all differences, being well versed in all teachings and phenomena of the mundane and transmundane. There is a phenomenon in perfection to become Buddha, the Great Strength Bodhisattva (Mahasthamaprapta) represents the 11th Stage Bodhisattva (at 51st of 52 bodhisattva cultivation tiers) the Absolute Universal Enlightenment Bodhisattva (Samyak-Samadhi), who is inseparable from chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha. Before he becomes Buddha, he still has one grade of the unenlightened condition, the first thought activation of unenlightened and confusion has not been eradicated. It does not mean that he does not have the ability to eradicate it instead, he is infinite mercifully and compassionately maintaining this one aspect of the unenlightened condition, so he can manifest to instruct the method of “chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha wholeheartedly”, setting a model for all living beings of the universe, to demonstrate from initial determination seeking enlightenment up to becoming Buddha all are accomplished by chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha. How many different levels are there to chant (mindfulness) Amitabha? One reaches the Pure Land of Amitabha, there are three ranks of superior, medium, inferior, and nine classes—upper superior, middle superior, lower superior, and so forth with medium and inferior ranks. Yet, Bodhisattva, who has eradicated the unenlightened condition, effort is known as the state of “one mind undisturbed in enlightenment”. What level is “one mind undisturbed in enlightenment”? It is “during chanting (mindfulness) there is no attachment, discrimination, without thought arising in the mind but one constantly does the chanting". This is the exact condition of how the Great

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha Strength Bodhisattva (Mahasthamaprapta) does his chanting. Even though he is the “wisdom transformation” of Amitabha, he appears to be mingling with all living beings of the world by hiding his true talent, by means of chanting Amitabha's mind to attain the state of Realization of Nirvana as non-arising and non-ceasing of all phenomena. He then meets and receives all living beings return to the Amitabha Pure Land. In this case, before we choose the method of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha, first we need to understand how to chant (mindfulness) Amitabha. If you chant (mindfulness) Amitabha for 24 hours without initiating one delusional thought, this effort is called unifying with Amitabha in mind. But the afflictions have not ended. The condition of unifying with Amitabha in mind closely resembles “chanting Amitabha Samadhi”, but it is not quite. And “chanting Amitabha Samadhi” is not necessarily worshipping the Buddha or reciting the Sutra daily. The most important thing is to change your concept and become the concept of Amitabha. The concept of Amitabha is purified of defiling illusion, without partiality, enlightenment, compassion and pity, radiance, being the master of oneself, according with conditions, escape from bonds, and obtaining freedom (from transmigration, karma, illusion, suffering). After changing the concept, chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha will gain competence, and this is the fast way to attain Chanting Amitabha Samadhi. This is very important. Many people who chant (mindfulness) Amitabha, after chanting for an hour become restless with anxiety. Why? The concept has not changed, one still has the concept of secular person. Many monks or nuns are the same way. Even at the point of one’s death they are still unable to be competent in chanting Amitabha, one’s concept is still the concept of religion superstitious belief. Therefore, when we view these situations of this world, who qualifies to chant

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(mindfulness) Amitabha? It is someone who can change into the concept of enlightenment. Is it useful for other people who have not changed the concept to chant (mindfulness) Amitabha? Yes, it is useful, just to bond a good connection for future salvation, nothing more. Can they go to be born in Amitabha Pure Land? Of course not, this is impossible. Because one still wants money and also a family, all of this is necessary. In that case, how can one go to Amitabha Pure Land? Does Amitabha have six blood relatives such as, father and mother, wife and child, brothers and sisters plus any other members? None. He bonds with the cause and condition in accordance with the Buddha-nature with all living beings, and certainly does not bond with love affinity because he does not have this secular concept. Why can the Great Strength (Mahasthamaprapta) chant Amitabha in perfection to become Buddha? It is because he can let go of all. Why can he let go of all? Frankly speaking, he is disillusioned with everything, he chants Amitabha all the way to the core with nothing on his mind; therefore, he can complete and perfect Buddha enlightenment. People who really have the intention to chant (mindfulness) Amitabha, do what you should do in this society. Either you are a housewife, student, entrepreneur, or all walks of life do not be hinder. You truly need to learn how to let go of your mind. If you cannot let go of your mind, changing on the surface is useless. Even if you worship 88 Buddha, worship 10,000 Buddha, or kneel and worship for 24 hours it is useless. There is still dualism in concept. The Buddha teaching talks about the truth of the absolute (unconditional) to the extent of absolutely letting go of all.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha Viewing those persons who chant (mindfulness) Amitabha is described in the Biography of Being Born to Amitabha Pure Land, their condition of living are: 1. Life is simple, 2. Have determination and faith, 3. Must change into the concept of enlightenment. Therefore, everyone has foreseen at their time of death, Amitabha comes to meet and receive them. This is the true effort. Chanting Amitabha is chanting enlightenment because Buddha means enlightenment. In China, who was the transformation of the Great Strength Bodhisattva (Mahasthamaprapta)? We all know that is the Great Master Yin-Guang (印光). The life of the Great Master Yin-Guang and his single-minded practice, spread abroad the “method of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha”, to attain infinite nirvana merit and enlightenment virtue. He is the 13th Patriarch of the Pure Land School. Some people say that he was very serious, and some people found it hard to accept, so they were submissive and did whatever they were told. Especially modern people if they were serious with a person, that person would be long scared away. In a modern time, the venerable lay practitioner Lee Bing-Nan (李炳南) was his student and also a very serious person too. The “seriousness” was that he did not casually talk or laugh and was very sanctimonious. He did not address one another with great familiarity or ever laughed or joking. Their purpose of being serious is wanting you to restore your pure life essence. They show that life is inherently illusory, do not waste time in the five desires (wealth, sex, food and drink, fame, and sleep) and the six qualities produced by the

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objects and sense-organs (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch and ideas). One should turn back at once, whole-heartedly chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha to go to be born in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land, escape from the abyss of suffering, and perfectly complete Buddha enlightenment. Their example of seriousness is showing to all living beings of this universe it is an expedient means to enlighten all beings and that is all. If you have landed in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land they will behave differently as if bathing in the warmth of the Spring Breeze, all are overjoyed to welcome you. Since your mind has genuinely purified of defiling illusion, you are never lost again. Buddha and Bodhisattva explain Sutras and expound teaching in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land entirely by way of singing and dancing, unfettered and unrestrained. Can we do it the same way with festive singing and dancing to explain Sutra? Sure, but it will be a chaotic mess, impossible to be enlightened. Especially when the person is giggling and laughing when explaining the Sutra, and where the statement of prior remarks and later discourses do not have connection at all, and it is completely without the effectiveness of self-improvement and enlightenment of others. Therefore, ancient people have said: The person explains the Sutra in truthfulness, he explained once, his merit of his cultivation practice also increased. When he explains once it reminds himself once again, his mind purifies again. Therefore, after he finished the explanation of this whole Sutra, he has also confirmed and realized into the Buddha truth and the audience will have uncovered enlightenment too. Only this kind of Sutra explaining has impact. Then when modern people listen to the Sutra explaining it is really better than nothing. After they listen, could they do it? No, they cannot.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha Of course, the most important thing is for chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha to be implemented in daily life, especially “now”. If you are completely concentrated on now it is known as “chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha”. When there are no your delusional thoughts in your mind, you can then follow the text to enter into thought and study for enlightenment regarding the truth—where the Sutra explanation leads, you will then see that cognitive sphere there. We just talked about the Six Paramitas and you can then see the Six Paramitas. Just talked about Surangama, then you will enter the state of Surangama. We now talked about Great Strength Bodhisattva (Mahasthamaprapta) and you will see Great Strength Bodhisattva. We now explain Chanting Amitabha in Perfection to Become Buddha, you then know what is in Perfection to Become Buddha. Therefore, the person who explains the Sutra and the person who listens to the Sutra explanation are unified together. There is absolutely no situation where he told his way, or I listened to my way. This is impossible. The Great Master San-Tao (善導)said: The reason why Tathagata (Buddha) appears in this world, he is only here to talk about the original 48 vows of Amitabha as deep and vast like the ocean. This meaning is extremely profound. Precisely, all Buddha and Bodhisattva come to this world, must speak about the original 48 vows of Amitabha as deep and vast like the ocean, to persuade all living beings universally to all use the method of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha to go and be born in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land, it is too important to restore the original pure nature.

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〔經文〕大勢至法王子，與其同倫五十二菩薩，即從坐起，頂禮佛足，而白佛言。

[Sutra text] The Dharma Prince Great Strength (Mahasthamaprapta), together with fifty-two Bodhisattvas of the same congener, arose from the seat, prostrated at Buddha’s feet, and reported to the Buddha. Commentary: We explained before, if you want to now the meaning of the Great Strength Bodhisattva (Maha-sthamaprapta) name, you can look it up in the Dictionary of Buddhist Studies. The dictionary only explains the name, but the profound teaching of the meaning of the name, only those who chant (mindfulness) Amitabha sincerely can agree with and experience it. Why address him as the Dharma Prince? The Great Strength Bodhisattva (Mahasthamaprapta) represents the attainment of the Absolute Universal Enlightenment (Samyak-Samadhi) Bodhisattva, who has not eradicated the last grade of the unenlightened condition as the fundamental worry as the first thought activation of unenlightened and confusion. Namely, this is the last bodhisattva status for fulfillment of the Buddhahood is called the Dharma Prince. Son of the Dharma-king, this is an inheritor of the Tathagata. The Dharma Prince represents the highest rank of all Bodhisattva, just like the inheritor of the throne. The Great Strength Bodhisattva (Mahasthamaprapta) represents the Dharma Prince here, it is said that all the seals of the Tathagata mind is passed down by him. What is the seal of Buddha-mind? What is the state of the mind?

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha Why add the word “seal”? 1. “Seal” means verification, that is the cognitive sphere of witnessing attainment of Tathagata so he can be further prove. 2. The state of “mind” refers to Tathagata’s mental functions and original substance is the original vitality of the universe. The Dharma-Prince can further improve in perfection “firm belief, comprehend with wisdom, put into practice, verify into the state of nirvana”. This perfection of “firm belief, comprehend with wisdom, put into practice, verify into the state of nirvana” is enough to let him pass down the universal teaching of the seal of the Tathagata mind. We often talk about the chief disciple of a certain master also commonly referred to as the “disciple of transmitting the teaching” representing inheritance. And these states are now popular in Buddha teaching. For example, Esoteric Buddhism terminology such as the Dharmaraja (Dharma King), the Lama, the Guru, all of these titles all represent one has a certain degree of cultivation and realization into the Buddha-truth. And many of them are fake in their cultivation practice, true liars. The problem is that there is no way for all of us to distinguish between genuine or fake. It is useless to read the introduction on the words and only when you have experiential entry into Buddha attainment, will you know the truth therein. Then what is the “experiential entry into the Buddha truth”? It is when you are seeing the facts of the universe is non-arising and non-ceasing of all phenomena, this is known as “experiential entry into the Buddha truth”. Only then you know what is called the Dharma Prince. Therefore, the Buddha teaching itself emphasizes “the teaching of mind” which is necessary to carry out empirical evidence, it is not related to religious superstition.

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Together with fifty-two Bodhisattvas of the same congener, it is more obvious here. The same congener refers to an aspirational peer. What does “aspirational peer” mean? We know for a fact that the Great Strength Bodhisattva (Mahasthamaprapta) chants (mindfulness) Amitabha since making up their mind to seek enlightenment initially to become a Buddha, all is accomplished by chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha. The same congener also chants(mindfulness) Amitabha and they are all like-minded, all chant Amitabha to become Buddha. This is then called “identical aspiration”. However, how many grades does the Bodhisattva have? There are 52 grades: Ten grades of faith: 1st to 10th of 52 cultivation tiers Ten grades of spiritual characteristics attained: 11th to 20th of 52 cultivation tiers Ten grades of lines of action: 21st to 30th of 52 cultivation tiers Ten grades of dedications (merit transference merits to save all living beings): 31st to 40th of 52 cultivation tiers Ten Stages of realizing intrinsic truth with an unmoved mind: 41st to 50th of 52 cultivation tiers, Plus, additional two stages: 1. Absolute Universal Enlightenment (Samyak-Sambodhi), and 2. The Supreme Perfect Enlightenment (Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi). Within these 52 grades there are different states. Before the eradication of the unenlightened condition, the highest rank is called the “Dry Wisdom Stage” and they are called Bodhisattva of the “Functional Teaching school” meaning to follow a flexible course of action. The cultivation effort of “the Bodhisattva of the Functional Teaching School” represents they are already close to the state of Samadhi.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha Samadhi is the right meditative concentration, so that the mind becomes vacant and receptive. Samadhi is unmoved meditation – an internal state of tranquility, exempt from all external sensations. After the unenlightened condition eradicated, one attains a result of true Samadhi. The Bodhisattva of the Functional Teaching attains the level of “Dry Wisdom Stage” is know as “an alike ranking”, that is resemblance to the “Dharma Body Bodhisattva” who has already eradicated the unenlightened condition and has experiential entry into the true form of things as they are. Even though one is a Bodhisattva but has not experiential entry into the absolute fundamental reality, one has “an alike Dharma Body”. This kind of “alike ranking” has already surpassed the attainment of Arhat and Pratyekabuddha. We know that: Arhat eradicated the “affliction of perceptions and views” can only go beyond the Threefold Worlds (Triloka—the universe divides into three worlds of karmic rebirth—desire, form and formless). Pratyekabuddha who has eradicated the “afflictions through the immense variety of duties in saving all living beings—out of the Threefold Worlds” but has not eradicated the “afflictions of unenlightened conditions”. The Bodhisattva of “an alike ranking” still needs to “eradicate one grade of the unenlightened condition to confirm into one grade of the embodiment of truth (Dharma Body)” to advance to the ranking of the 1st of the ten Bodhisattva Stages to perfect enlightenment and nirvana, and then eradicate the remaining 40 grades “affliction of unenlightened conditions” entirely, to be regarded as Buddha in perfection. For ordinary people, even infinite and boundless existence world-periods is not enough time necessarily to reach the ranking of the 1st of the ten Bodhisattva Stages to perfect enlightenment and

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nirvana, it is as difficult as it is to climb up to the sky. Then it would be better off to chant (mindfulness) Amitabha all the way through, at least in this life we can be on the direct path to be born in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land, and have experiential entry into the Buddha-truth ourself. This way would be more perfect and reliable. Speaking from the order of precedence perspective, the most important point for a Bodhisattva is to “eradicate the unenlightened condition”. If you cannot eradicate the unenlightened condition, to help others enlighten and self-enlighten are both without thoroughness. For example, currently there are many spiritual leaders in many religions and have the intention of a Bodhisattva, but if they have eradicated the unenlightened condition and see the truth of the universe, it would be tremendously different for them to lead the public. Why is it different? Because one would not take you the wrong way. For instance, regarding the concept of practice giving, when you see the truth of the universe, your practice of giving concept naturally is vastly unlimited. Most people are very narrow and stubborn regarding the concept of the practice of giving especially regarding the practice of giving money. Once having a thought about the practice of giving, they only have thoughts of money, or something valuable, and their payback. However, the practice of giving after the unenlightened condition is eradicated is different because one can practice of giving one’s own body and mind completely. How can one practice of giving the mind? There is nothing in the mind because only the mind has purified of defiling illusion to help all living beings, only when there is nothing in the mind then will people get to be enlightened. Either the practice of giving “with attachment to phenomenal characteristics” or “without attach to phenomenal characteristics”,

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha both are equal. The practice of giving “without attach to phenomenal characteristics”, in today’s social phenomenon is very hard to do. It is a big problem. I believe that many people here know this situation. The main thing is that no body can truly eradicate the unenlightened condition, if there is a person who has genuinely eradicated the unenlightened condition in this world, this person is called the 1st of the ten stages Dharma Body Maha-Bodhisattva (great Bodhisattva). That status is the same as Long-Shu (龍樹)Bodhisattva (Nagarjuna) as the Patriarch (the founder of a Buddhist sect) of the eight schools. This is extremely remarkable. Long-Shu Bodhisattva (Nagarjuna) attained the 1st of ten Stages of the Perfect Teaching School called the Bodhisattvas Stage of joy. He can manifest as the Buddha become enlightened in a hundred realms. These hundred realms are more than our Milky Way galaxy, he can manifest across the hundreds of thousands of Milky Way galaxies. His ability has already recovered one grade of the essence. If a person like this leads us to practice cultivation, there is nothing to say. He has seen the true phenomena of the universe, he will never take the wrong direction of all living beings and take the wrong way. But we do not have such person presently, what should we do? Of course, we must practice according to the discourse of the Buddha to practice cultivation, just like we are talking today, The Chapter of the Surangama Sutra: The Great Strength Bodhisattva (Mahastamaprapta) chants (mindfulness) Amitabha in Perfection to Become Buddha. This is the Great Strength Bodhisattva (Mahastamaprapta) at the Assembly of chanting Amitabha, self-stating how he eradicated the unenlightened condition by chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha. The key to attain in Perfection to Become Buddha is wholeheartedly mindfulness Amitabha. Therefore, if you can follow his words to do it, then it is easy. Very soon you can attain Chanting Amitabha Samadhi and become enlightened. This way is the correct path.

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However, modern people have a problem, they must know the content before they are willing to do it. From the perspective of seeking scientific proof, it is right. However, the Buddha teaching is the opposite. The Buddha teaching is: One does not know is able to experiential entry into the Buddha Truth; it is difficult to attain for one knows through knowledge way. Why do I say this not know and know? This not know is different from the knowledge way of knowing. Not know means no discrimination, no attachments. It is wisdom that is omniscient, then one can experiential entry into the Buddha Truth. Yet, we just talked about it is difficult to attain for one knows through knowledge way, this know is the knowledge way. The Knowledge way is acquired from discrimination, attachments and comparing. It is the phenomena of knowing what happened, but not the whys and wherefores. What modern people see is only temporary phenomena. For example, the most developed instruments in science for the truth of the universe is what? It is wave motions, non-stop wave motions. But in the eyes of the Buddha, even the wave-motion does not exist. Think about it, if your body and mind have purified to a certain extent, there is no attachment to anything. When you are not attached, your mind is fixed and undisturbed. After the mind is fixed, the state of your seeking knowledge is eliminated, and it is truly called “omniscience”. The problem that our modern people make is “seeking knowledge”. Yet “seeking knowledge” is right in the human society, doing scientific experiments are all correct but you cannot apply this method to the teaching of the Buddha. The Buddha teaching must be completely “not knowing” first. There is no discrimination, no attachment, and then one is “omniscient”. So, it is difficult for ordinary people

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha to do it. In fact, most people do not understand the teaching of the Buddha and also do not want to understand it or want to explore it too. There are many people who say: 1. Chanted Amitabha for almost 30 to 40 years but do not have Buddha moved to respond. 2. Chanted Amitabha for a while, not only did not release the body and mind, instead afflictions manifest. This proves that one’s concept is still the concept of knowledge. I have often referred to the Sixth Patriarch who manifested himself as a person without education, and without education there is no knowledge. Ancient classes of scholars, farmers, industrial workers and tradesman, it is the scholar that ranked the highest. The status of the scholar was considered: Being a scholar is the top of the society, all other trades are low. Regarding to people such as the Sixth Patriarch, they were looked down upon. Modern society can be said to be equal, but this is a superficial quality and there is no equality in the mind. Why? The mind is uncomposed and the mind is defiled. Why? It is a knowledge explosion. As a result, the “not knowing” Sixth Patriarch unexpectedly attained Buddha enlightenment, the modern man broke his head and could not figure out why. The fifty-two Bodhisattvas here all have one thing in common, they are trying to get rid of their function of knowing. Their purpose is to purify their mind first, after being purified only then will they learn the Buddha’s way. Ancient people can easily achieve

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this because their bodies and minds were very simple and did not care what others said. They cannot figure out what they are doing, this kind of person is confused but this kind of person has an advantageous state which is if you give him a method, he would really practice this method and he would succeed. Like the method of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha, many people chanted strictly for 7 days and incredibly, the ancient ones could see with clarity. By continuing to chant, they can also perceive the future. With further chanting, the body and mind are all let go. This benefit is extraordinary, and this is the same as the Great Strength Bodhisattva (Mahasthmaprapta). All have attained this result by being single-minded on Amitabha. The problem is that one may not have eradicated the unenlightened condition, but it does not matter. Although the unenlightened condition has not been eradicated, by making use of the vow power of Amitabha, one goes to be born in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land to become Buddha. The life and death reincarnation are fully resolved. The fifty-two Bodhisattvas represent 52 grades of Bodhisattva and the status of each grade I have explained before, one must eradicate the unenlightened condition. The purpose of learning the Buddhaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s way is also the same way. Without eradication of the unenlightened condition, you have absolutely no way to understand the truth about the universe. Arose from the seat: When a Buddha explains the Sutra, everyone sits on the floor, but those of higher rank such as a king and a minister of the monarchy they sit in a seat if there is seat. Arose from the seat indicates that 52 people are of one mind. The Sutra text of Buddhist scripture expresses phenomena of the universe. It is not like us just reading the Sutra text over and be done with it. What does â&#x20AC;&#x153;express phenomena of the universeâ&#x20AC;? means? It takes all universe phenomena,

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha using “who-people, what-matter, where-places, or how and whythings” to express. When we look at the Sutra, sometimes we overlook with neglect and pass it over however, in fact every single word in the Sutra should be explained for three years because each word has infinite meaning, and the discourse of the Buddha is unintentionally revealed from the self-nature of Tathagata (the original pure condition). Does itself have any meaning? That meaning is not what you can imagine. Its meaning is your mind mixed and undisturbed at a Buddha’s level and then you will understand. So, today we read this paragraph of the Sutra text, and you feel as if we have also entered the live situation of when the Great Strength Bodhisattva (Mahasthmaprapta) arose from the seat when the passage was said that year, this is wonderful. Prostrated at the Buddha's feet, and reported to the Buddha: In ancient Indian tradition where to prostrate at the Buddha's feet is the most solemn of ceremonies to express respect to a Buddha and a Bodhisattva or to a venerable wealthy elder. It is uniformly to prostrate oneself at the feet of the one revered to pay respect by touching the ground with one’s forehead and by stretching both arms forward to indicate the adulate act of throwing the whole body (having both knees, both elbows and the head) to the ground. The Buddha's feet are the surface of the word and the in-depth meaning stands for: All phenomena are manifested from the thinking in the mind. It is to say; all accomplishments are started by grassroots. Here is another question, why do we need to prostrate? This shows that one does not have any egoism exalting the self and depreciating others. Even though modern people prostrate, there is still egoism exalting the self and depreciating others:

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1. One thinks even if you are a monk or nun, why should I prostrate to you. 2. The monk or nun also believe that others should prostrate to them. They often have this kind of mentality. Of course, there is monk or nun who do not accept kneeling and worshipping by people. About 30 years ago when I was in Taiwan, I met a Buddhist nun who you may have heard of. She is Fu-Hui (福慧)Bhiksuni (Buddhist Nun) of the Da-Xing-Shan Temple of Jiu-Hua Mountain, Miaoli, Taiwan, who has now already gone to be reborn in the Pure Land of Amitabha for many years. When we went to see her, for all four seasons she only wore an unlined coat and was bare feet. Her appearance was unattractive. I heard that she does not sleep at night-time, instead sits cross-legged in meditative concentration in the posture of sitting meditation. She sits for meditation in the open. This kind of kung fu, modern people do not have. The only person in modern times with the same kind of kung fu was the venerable Monk Guang-Qin (廣欽). What extent do their kung fu reach? Even during windy or rainy days, their body was not wet. Their surroundings were dry and there was radiance around them. There were many people who had this kind of kung fu in ancient times but in the modern era it seems to be a miracle. In fact, there is nothing to be surprised about because their body and mind has purified of defiling illusion. When we went to see Fu-Hui Bhiksuni, at that time she was keeping the moral precepts. Which moral precepts? They were “no stepping out” and “no speaking”. “No stepping out” means to not go out, do not go beyond her temple ground. “No speaking” means not speaking a word. We must talk about this situation:

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha 1. No stepping out: Telling a modern person to not go out, it is asking for one’s life. 2. No speaking: Telling one not to talk for a day, one is uncomfortable. Why does the School of Buddhism establish these kinds of rules? They want you to collect and control the distracting and delusional thoughts within your mind, let go of your “body/deed, mouth/ speech, and mind/thought”. If you want to go out, your mind attaches to the outside. You need to take it back. You want to talk, that means you still want to find a subject. Even talking to yourself needs to be let go. The method used by Buddhism is overall peace and quiet. When the moment of peace and quiet, it produces what? It does not produce loneliness but joy. This joy is called Dharmanandi—the joy of tasting the Dharma (teaching). Thus, the Great Strength Bodhisattva (Mahasthmaprapta) also expresses that he is completely full of joy tasting the teaching. To what extent? It fills the entire universe with the joy of tasting the Dharma (teaching). People chant (mindfulness) Amitabha have this experience. Someone chanted (mindfulness) Amitabha for 2 to 3 months and when one is not chanting, one still hears the chanting sound of Amitabha daily but also their eyes see all material phenomena is Amitabha, their ear hears all sound is Amitabha, and the six sense-organs (roots) receive simultaneously. The venerable Monk Guang-Qin had this kind of experience before.

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He spoke by himself, “He chanted Amitabha for three months. The sound of chanting Amitabha was uninterrupted. Seeing and hearing all are Amitabha.” However, the Buddhist nun Fu-Hui wore only an unlined cloth through winter and summer and did not sleep indicating that she has already subdued the habit of sleep. When I saw her, it was very simple and when you prostrated at her feet, she would not accept this and instead, she prostrated herself to you. Even me, a man weighing at least 180 pounds, I could not kneel when I wanted to prostrate myself at her feet. It was very strange. She had that special energy force that would prevent you from prostrating to her. However, when she prostrated herself at you, she could. You sat in the seat and she sat on the ground. She was admirable. Then see if the current monks or nuns have such a style? Of course not. This type of Buddhist nun is genuine selflessness. She does not have the concept of “me”, she does not even have a face (dignity). Not only does she not want her dignity face, but she gives full dignity back to the people. She lives in this world and brings herself with all living beings together everywhere. Her body and mind have purified of defiling illusion, no cause of karma from “mental activities”. She also does not speak. Why? So, no cause of karma from “verbal activities”. She does not step out of her Temple boundary, no cause of karma operating in the body. She chants the Great Compassion Mantra (Nilakantha Dharani) daily and she practices of giving the water of the Great Compassion

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha Mantra, it is inexhaustible in supply and always available for use. Therefore, some people say, “She was the transformation body of Guan-Yin Bodhisattva (Avalokitesvara)”. I agree with this very much. The transformation bodies of Bodhisattva are indeed around. She is the most able person that I have seen with my own eyes, it is incredible! But her time in the world was too short, she was gone at the age of 49. I heard that she was in her meditation one day, for 3 days she did not rise from the seat, then she gone. Before, everyone all went there and asked for her chanted Great Compassion Mantra water. That Water of the Great Compassion Mantra still flows inexhaustibly today and has not dried up. How come? It is supported by the power of her grace. What condition is this kind of supporting power? Her mind is already without defilement, totally without duality or distinction with Guan-Yin Bodhisattva. Therefore, is it effective to drink her chanted the Great Compassion Mantra Water? Yes, it is absolutely effective. I have seen a person receive help there: He said by himself, "I used to be a construction worker and fell from the upstairs of a building. My center spine broke, and the hospital announced there was no hope for a cure. The doctors all said that it was impossible to recover. He thought about it, then he started to drink the Great Compassion Mantra water. After drinking for a few days, I could stand up, it did not take long before I was fully recovered." What is this situation? That is, this person has full faith in the Buddha. He is completely without a doubt regarding the Great Compassion Mantra and his master, the Buddhist Nun Fu-Hui. He is ultimate in sincerity. It is this ultimate sincerity of “none distracting

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thought arising”. This “none distracting thought arising” corresponds with the essence of life with the universe—this great pure mind energy is the original Buddha-nature in every man and then it has succeeded. We often talk about a “miracle”, do miracles happen in this world after all? Yes, many of them. The miracles under the sun are happening every day, only we cannot see it with the naked eye, that is all. So, people often talk about chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha. After all, does Amitabha exist? Then you must ask yourself, if you truly have purified mind of defiling illusion, you can then see. And reported to the Buddha: Where the lower ranks report to the higher ranks with respect. In my hand, I have an Explanatory Note of the Surangama Sutra teaching material by Master Yuan-Yin. He used classical Chinese writing to explain these states; however, I did not follow his teaching material. I only looked at the scripture. Why not explain according to his teaching materials? Because people now do not understand classical Chinese writing, but my purpose I hope everyone can understand. To be honest, the average person cannot understand, then is his explanation correct? It is completely correct because he has already allied himself with the absolute fundamental reality. Master Yuan-Yin is not an ordinary person and is the manifestation of a Buddha or a Bodhisattva in human life. If I follow his teaching material, it will be difficult to explain it perfectly in a short time. I hope that when we can explain the Surangama Sutra in the future, we will explain it in detail. So, many of the situations mentioned in this Explanatory Note have been omitted. I did not follow this Explanatory Note before, why should I mention it today? It is to plant wholesome

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha roots in everyone, I hope that there will be an opportunity to have a lecture-meeting to explain the Surangama Sutra in the future.

〔經文〕我憶往昔，恆河沙劫，有佛出世，名無量光，十二如來，相繼一劫，

[Sutra text] I recollect when the past countless existence of world-periods is numerous as the sands of the Ganges, a Buddha called Infinite Light appeared in the world. In that same world-period there were twelve successive Tathagatas* (1. Buddha of Infinite Light, 2. Buddha of Boundless Light, 3. Buddha of Unobstructed Luminosity, 4. Buddha of Non-adversarial and Incomparable Radiance, 5. Buddha of Flaming Brightness, 6. Buddha of Pure Light, 7. Buddha of Joyous Light, 8. Buddha of Wisdom Light, 9. Buddha of Incessant Radiance, 10. Buddha of Inconceivable Radiance, 11. Buddha of Ineffable Luminosity, 12. Buddha of the Light Surpassing the Sun and the Moon); Commentary: “I”: This is a Bodhisattva calling oneself “I”, everyone should pay attention to this “I” which is the key. The average person calls oneself “I”, this “I” is incredible. An average person is called the “provisional synthesis of the four elements which all things are made”, which is an “I” with attachment. All of you need to experience this situation well. For example, you are also the provisional synthesis of the four elements. The “four elements” are earth, water, fire, wind. Truthfully, it should be seven elements: earth, water, fire, wind, space, organs of sense and consciousness.

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Earth: Fixed energy, this is what we are talking about the state of material. Water: The negative as opposed to the positive principle, wet and flowing. Fire: The sun, it is positive, dry and energy. Wind: Swim, flutter. Space: Accommodate, accept. Organs of sense (roots): The Buddha-nature in the six consciousness. Consciousness: The six consciousness in the unenlightened condition state. The human body is carbohydrates, all composed of these elements. The composition of these elements requires conditions which is “a cooperating cause (the circumstantial cause)”. For example, the Buddha said: Obtaining human bodily form is very difficult. Why? It requires assembly of the countless “primary cause and circumstantial cause” (condition) only then one can be human. In that case, do we live pleasantly now as humans? The person you see happy is called “stupidity”. Unpleasant people are called “cognitive distortion”. Anyway, they are all spending their life in an aimless and self-indulgent way because none of them are out of the reincarnation of life and death. Therefore, all living beings within the Saha Land (Earth) all have a self-attachment phenomenon. Everything starts with this “I”. If one does not have an “I” in one’s mind, the fate of “birth, aging, illness and death” will be gone. I think everyone has had this kind of experience:

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha Who gets sick? "I" get sick. Who gets old? “I"get old. Lastly, who dies? "I" die. But all Buddha and Bodhisattva do not have these self-attachments. Why do Buddha or Bodhisattva not die? It is because they do not have this “I”. In ancient times, especially during the golden age period of the Buddha teaching, some people listened to the Sutra explaining, becoming enlightened only after a few words. One did not have delusional thoughts at all when he listened. Today we are unable to uncover enlightenment because we issue delusional thoughts and our minds are fluctuating when sitting there listening to the Sutra explaining. Why has fluctuations? It is because our subconscious cannot act for itself. Yet, ancient people could make one’s own decision and did not issue delusional thought. Regarding this situation, if you truly have a heartfelt experience then surely you can raise the name of Amitabha and never think about worldly things. When a Buddha or a Bodhisattva calls himself “I” honestly, he does not have an “I”. He would never say, “I am a Buddha or a Bodhisattva”. If this is the case, then it is over, and one is surely fake. Nowadays many people claim to be called the transformation of soand-so Buddha or Bodhisattva and I tell you they are absolutely fake because real Buddha or Bodhisattva never attach to this “I”. Why does it say, I recollect when the past? Truthfully, this “I” means a “nominal self” in order to have convenient verbal communication with all living beings yet follows the attachment of all living beings. This is a universal expedient means of the Buddha. Ancient people say:

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Returning to the original pure condition has no two ways; however, to make things easier for people (expedient means), there are many methods. This is precisely the reason. Therefore, calling “you”, “I” or “him” between people everyone also needs to think about it: When one scorns you, is that real? When one says that they like you, is that real? I tell you, all that was past and done with, it is unreal. You must agree from here, then your effort of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha will gradually unify with Amitabha in mind. This “unifying with Amitabha in mind” is for 24 hours you unable to start any delusional thoughts; this is extremely important. You see this kind of “I” is truly troublesome. The Explanatory Note of the Surangama Sutra talks about “outside doctrines” to abandon the pure mind in search of the Buddha truth. Then there are still the more serious one of “the 25 elements, the primary one is the original nature out of which all things arose; from this to begin the intuitive intelligence; from this intuitive intelligence to produce the ego, from this ego produces five sense perceptions—all material phenomena, sound, smells, tastes and touches; from the five sense perceptions to produce five great elements of earth, water, fire, wind and space (air); from this five great elements to produce the eleven faculties – five spiritual faculties and five sensory faculties and one conscious faculty. The last one is the spiritual ego (the supreme spirit), to have the spiritual ego which produces all forms of existence to be omnipotent, this is classified as erroneous understanding and heterodox views.” Christians should listen to this segment carefully. Although we are not Christian we need to think about the last one, the “spiritual ego (the Supreme Spirit)”. In that case, we are there,

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha who is the master? There is a “God” as the Lord, this is why we often refer to God as the master. Truly is there such a person who is the master? I tell you, no. Then who dominates who? Of course, I control myself. Let go of the concept of “spiritual ego (the Supreme Spirit)”, then you are free. Why does he say it as the “heterodox understanding and heterodox views”? Because this is not Buddha understanding and Buddha views, this is not the truth of life. What does “heterodox” mean? It is deviation, complete deviation. Therefore, everyone listens to the Sutra explaining, not only do we need to bring the ear to listen, but also to train this faculty of eyes. Looking at things we must really know how to look correctly, it is not to see them with our eyes, it is using your wisdom to see them. Why do I say this? You use the state of completely selflessness to look at “whopeople, what-matters, where-places or how and why-objects”. People say, chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha should use your tathagatagabha (the inherent transcendent essence residing in a concealed state in every single being—Buddha-nature), absolutely should not use your conscious mind as the three minds of the past, present and future, and the consciousness of discrimination (the 6th) and attachment (the 7th). Why use your tathagatagabha? For example, by using the faculty of the ear to chant Amitabha, when you chant in clarity and listen in clarity, your mind will not wander. Presently, someone here is having mindfulness of Amitabha; however, this mindfulness has no attachment, discrimination, without thought arising in the mind. This person has mindfulness of Amitabha is very determined, very capable of entering the situation however, the

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only thing is they are too busy with matters outside the job and one’s state of mind is restless. All of you here all have enough wholesome roots and blessings arising from good deeds, the problem is that you must cultivate it a little more. How to cultivate? Letting go of worldly affairs more than one grade and then your effort of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha will improve by one grade. I recollect when the past countless existence of world-periods is numerous as the sands of the Ganges, all of you if can visit India to look at the sands of the Ganges, it is fine as the powder of flour. Grabbing a handful inside contains incalculable sand particles, let alone the whole Ganges River. The existence of world-periods represents time. The School of Buddhism’s time calculation is truly voluminous and inconceivable, one great existence of world-period is 1,344 million years here. Imagine how long the time would be of the existence of worldperiods are numerous as the sands of the Ganges. As the past countless existence of world-periods are numerous as the sands of the Ganges, precisely from the far away existence of world-periods in the past which truly cannot be reckoned. At that time a Buddha called Infinite Light appeared in the world. What does it mean here? It is the physical body of a Buddha in the world to teach and enlighten all living beings, just like the Shakyamuni Buddha born 3,000 years ago in our Saha Land to have the physical body. How come this is happening? It is because he has deep-rooted affinity with all living beings. Consequently, he resides in the world for long periods of time then he manifests into a physical human body. The Buddha was not born from a uterus. He was born from his mother’s upper body on the right side above the lung, from there he was born by light transformation. When Jesus Christ entered reincarnation, he also transformed from a stroke of light. Why do they manifest in this kind of manner? Very simple, this shows that they are free to come

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha and go, free from life and death, taking their pleasure of their supernatural ability, and according to circumstances to enlighten all living beings. In fact, when we enter a mother’s womb in preparation for rebirth into this world is also a streak of light; however, our light is not very bright, a kind of grayish mist. This is because one’s own soul is in a daze. I need to make it known to everyone about our condition of entering a mother’s womb in preparation for rebirth into this world. After a person dies, the soul begins to fall. The saying goes, according to Daoism that every living being has a soul structure with “three immortal souls” representing the spirit and intellect and “seven mortal forms of the soul” representing carnal life and desires which begin to disperse and leave the body. How does it disperse? There are several different people. One kind is all kinds of evil people, one is unaware of either leaving or not leaving, gone from fainting and then they descend. To where? Of course, one goes to a bad place. Who made this place? It is self-made. The torture in mind is called “Hell”. The soul of the average person leaving the body is known as hanging on shamelessly, because the soul is not willing to leave the body but has no way of stopping it. So, the contradiction between body and mind is very painful. Hence, those of you who want to be an organ donor need to pay attention. When you are at the end of your life you will be slaughtered. If you cannot let go of your body and mind, then you will feel the pain, and this pain is just like cutting your flesh when you are alive. It is like entering a slaughterhouse. But very strangely, you cannot call it

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out. Why? Because you are already dead, your body is under command. All that left is torture. Which sense-organ breaks down first? It is the faculty of eyes. Why? Because the eyes start to shrink, entering the darkness, and completely cannot see. Which sense-organ is the last one to go? It is the faculty of ear. After a few days of death, you can still hear the crying of family and friends. So, the Chinese people leave their dead relatives in the home make sense. It is not terrible that people die but after one is dead, where to go is more of a headache. Yet one’s intelligent spirit is also called the “soul”, it takes more than 8 hours to leave the body at the earliest. Speaking generally, it is about 36 hours. If you have a place to allow the dead body to remain there for a week, then there is no problem. But it is not easy to do in modern society. The Chinese people’s concept is to look after in life and give a proper burial thereafter, to allow one to leave peacefully and serenely. Like the elders we have now, especially those who live in the country, it is truly good. Why? At the time of one’s death, one can take matters calmly and unhurriedly. The status of organ donation I just talked about, at the time of your death the fly or mosquitoes lick you, the pain shoots through the heart, not to mention being cut. If you have not truly let go, it is impossible to have good thought to be reincarnated, all exists with grudge and hateful thoughts. Shouting, no one can hear, it hurts you to hate, then you surely go to one of the three wretched destinies – animal, hungry ghost, Hell. If you do not believe what I said, you can take a fire and try it yourself now, can you stand it? This is the truth of the universe and not what I said.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha When you die, although the brain wave is dead, your soul has not left. Does the dead have any feelings? Yes, one does have feeling. The ancients were clever, they did not move one when one died, no moved the deceased one regardless of which way one dies either irregularly or normally. For goodness sake, never move someone who is dead or touch them. What thing you do after someone is dead? The secular person burns paper offerings and recites the Sutra, which is the general people’s way of handling the affairs after one’s death. The school of Buddhism is not that way, and very simply will tell the deceased in their ear: You are already dead, do not cling to your body any more, you should hurry chant Amitabha and asking Amitabha comes quickly to meet and receive you. And you should also recite Amitabha loudly to help the dead one to go and be born to the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land. This is extremely important. We sometimes dream, but we cannot move. Older people may have this kind of experience. People who served in the military also has this experience. The troops have lots of haunted incidents, I had personally experienced nightmares of being held down by a ghost. What do you do in that moment? Of course, you chant Amitabha. This loud recitation will smash the evil forces and turn all bad situations into nothing. Therefore, people have stated that “chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha”, you must be capable of chanting in your dreams, precisely knowing that you are having a dream. Just like our life and death is the same, knowing the self is having life and death in a dream, it turns out that this life and death is unreal, then your days will be an easy time. No matter how you die in the future, the fate of life and death has

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already given no thought at all and you will certainly end up in a good place. But this state is very difficult for people to do, and the secular concept is not easy to change. It speaks that there being no “birth, aging, sickness and death”, however when one is sick now, you cannot say that there is no such thing. Therefore, the scripture explains many facts about the universe, precisely it wants you to establish the correct concept of learning the Buddha’s way. Therefore, a Bodhisattva claims himself “I” as an alternative which is called the “unreal—I”. Therefore, once the four great elements “earth, water, fire, and wind” are dispersed, a person is going to enter a mother’s womb in preparation for rebirth into this world which takes 49 days of processing. The most virtuous person does not need to wait for 49 days. A genuinely virtuous mind certainly rises upward. Sometimes we see a genuine virtuous person die with a smiling face and their body does not become rigid, and their family members see some celestial beings come to meet and receive them to the Heavenly world. If you chant Amitabha, you will see Buddha or Bodhisattva come to meet and receive you, this is truly and exceedingly remarkable. These phenomena are manifested by who? Of course, it is all manifested from one’s own mind. If the mind has Buddha or Bodhisattva and has brightness, your mind would correspond with the illumination of the Buddha, this is the reason. Why do the evil people go to Hell so fast? It is because one has already corresponded with the evil path. The average person mixes both in good and bad, which neither very good, nor great evil. In that case most people all become wandering souls. What is a wandering soul? It has no body, it just floats, floats and floats, waiting to enter a mother’s womb in preparation for rebirth into this world.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha When floating, there are many spheres, this sphere is very brief. You will suddenly see a streak of very strong white light. So strong that it dazzles the eyes because you have never seen it before. What is this light? This light is your self-nature light and the light of your original life power. This light we normally cannot see it because there are too many distracting thoughts. Coming to the end of one’s life why does it manifest? When approaching one’s end let go of all, then it surfaces but only for an instant that is all. In that instant, your brain should be super clear that it is the “true me”, then you will be one with the light at once, entering the eternally tranquil light, your phenomena of rebirth and recurring death is no more. In Esoteric Buddhism, the method of Bardo (Tibetan), precisely the salvation method at the intermediate existence (transitional state) between death and reincarnation, has been introduced in detail. Someone has also practiced here, but can one cultivate it successfully? It is very difficult. Granted one is experienced of having the auspicious grass used at religious ceremonials inserted into the top of one’s head is also no guarantee. When the mind has not purified of defiling illusion, the spirit passage is blocked, and the soul cannot go out. However, the time to see the self-nature white light is very fast, only about 1/1000th of a second, you must be able to verify this light. This is a delicate true effort. Therefore, if you currently already have this verification skill, then it is better to use this effort to chant (mindfulness) Amitabha for you to truly be born in the Amitabha Pure Land with the highest class of the superior rank. The illusion is coming, it is windy, raining, thundering, and that feeling is different. It is not the wind and rain that we see, it is the feeling of you virtually being there, that kind of horrible state but not what you can master. Why? You are afraid and would like to escape. If you know this is a dream, then you escape from bonds and obtain

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freedom, and the white light has recovered. This kind of condition starts over repeatedly for 49 days. If you do not have the ability to overcome all disturbing thoughts, then you are already finished. It is interesting after a person dies, if you think of it as a game then it is okay. If you are serious about it, then you are destined to enter a motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s womb in preparation for rebirth into this world. How does the power to be reincarnated from? It is to see you in this life, which kind of habit is rooted the deepest. For example: If you like to scold people, then you may go to a no-good place to scold one another. If you like coveting little advantages, you may go to a place where everyone is greedy and fights. If you like the heavy mentality of debauchery, you will go to the animal world to receive retribution. If there is retaliation in â&#x20AC;&#x153;killing, stealing or excessive lust attachmentâ&#x20AC;?, then you may go to Hell to experience suffering. There are all kinds of mentalities in it depending on what karma is caused when you were a human being: Your habituated tendencies of ignorance are serious, unable to distinguish right and wrong, then you will certainly reincarnate to the animal world. If you are vegetarian, you will become an herbivore. If you are a meat eater, again you are dazzled with combative nature. You may go to the mutual aggression world of meateating, and then become a tiger, panther, jackal or wolf. You examine yourself which habituated tendencies is the most

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha serious and then in the future, you will follow this most serious habit to enter a mother’s womb in preparation for rebirth into this world. We talk about the fact that the average person is neither good nor bad, not too many bad deeds, but small bad deeds are many. One does not have great goodness, but small good deeds are many. One also thinks that oneself is good. Those persons in the future would be reincarnated as a poor person. At best, one becomes a pretty girl of humble birth, does household chores of chopping wood or boils water as a maid or as a servant for the wealthy. So, many people complain about this life is harsh, “Due to bad destiny, God is not fair to me!” You are mistaken, this is called, “as one does, one receives”. But they would never believe this is caused from the ruling of “cause and effect”. More people are bitter, less admit to “self-made cause and effect”. The purpose is to speak about the course of entering a mother’s womb in preparation for rebirth into this world. How does it go? First, the soul floats in the air and if there is a gust of wind, it follows the wind and one has no control over it. People talk, “In this world there are a lot of lonely souls and wandering ghosts”. When one meets a branch, one catches it quickly. Unfortunately, there are already other ghosts on the branch, and they do not let one take it, this is grievance. What does one do next? It floats continually. Suddenly one sees a light and then sees your future parents. If the parents are having sexual intercourse, once a lust intent arises from you, you then enter the womb to become the fetus.

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For example, if you have a love for the woman, you will certainly be the son. If you have a love for the man, you will certainly be the daughter. Everyone reincarnates to different places. When being in the state of a ghost, everyone is the same. But before you enter a mother’s womb in preparation for rebirth into this world, you already know how many days, how many hours, down to the correct minute and seconds, into which family and know the family’s status whether rich or noble. At that time although you are in the ghost world, your supernatural ability has recovered a bit, but you cannot call your soul on your own, you cannot escape in every possible way. Some people say, “I do not want to know about this and all is cancelled after death.” If truly all is cancelled, then our lives would be easily solved. Killing and setting fire would be allowed, when seeing others not pleasing to the eye, you can shoot them down would also be allowed, then there is no cause and effect. Yet, the outcome is not like that: Circulation between cause and effect eventually the karma comes back to you. Good and evil will have their karmic retribution when their time comes. Absolutely no one can escape this law of causality. You must be in full clarity in the situation of this world. Paying off debts must be settled clearly and how to conduct yourself needs to be conducted with clearheadedness. Only then one sees the truth.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha Generally speaking, we have experienced countless infinite reincarnations in the past. People say that it is too rare to be a human being. The Buddha gave an example: To become human is like the dirt on the lion’s claw. Reluctantly speaking, it is like the dirt in our nails which is very scarce and rare. Yet, the portions that cannot be human are as many as the earth’s soil, which is immeasurable and boundless. We are very lucky but, this kind of luck we have not genuinely experienced it, nor have a feeling for it. Therefore, if you cannot see the truth of the universe, there is no way to be enlightened. In that case, being a person is meaningless, and the average person lives like this. Someone said, “Why do we need to have enlightenment after all? Currently I eat well and wear warm clothes. It is enough to be a good person in my mind.” This is truly indulgent in wishful thinking and adhering obstinately to error. If you have seen the truth of the universe and the state of your past life, you never dare to let go of every minute, every second. Because, “life and death are a very serious matter, chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha is important”. Ordinarily, although you are fooling around with the average person, you are also giggling and laughing to abandon yourself to a life of pleasure, yet your mind is absolutely on Amitabha. Others can never see from your appearance, they think you are like them, and this is wonderful. You can integrate with these people, or else they will say you are strange. If they feel you are strange and different from them, in the future if you go to be born in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land, they must have an excuse to say that you are different from them so you can go to the Pure land. If they think you are at the same level as them and also have “greed (attachment), aversion, ignorance,

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arrogance, and suspicion” when you go to be born in Amitabha Pure either in sitting or standing on feet unexpectedly and without any illness, when they see Buddha and Bodhisattva come to meet and receive you then, they will also see these good phenomena and truly believe it. This is called the “Four All-embracing Virtues of Bodhisattva”. Therefore, in the past countless existence of world-periods, all living beings have cognitive distortion and are reincarnated, and beings do not understand the truth of the universe, yet do not know to practice cultivation to chant (mindfulness) Amitabha and cherish the time. When the impermanence happens, re-entering the suffering sea of cyclic reincarnation, it is hard to be a human again. Buddha’s physical body although no longer lives in the world, the Sutra stays in the world which is equivalent to the teaching of Buddha as embodied in words to stay in the world. The teaching of Buddha as embodied in words is precisely teaching by example. Therefore, ancient people regarding the Sutra scriptures shows utmost respect and receive and honor the teachings of Buddha. What is called “shows utmost respect”? It is holding on your head. Their behavior is not a fool and instead it is paying full respect to the scripture regarding Buddha speaks of the truth of the universe. Speaking bluntly, the secular person worships the Buddha and burns incense which is also a kind of paying respect, like paying respect to the self-nature radiance, this we need to understand. When you offer to worship a Buddha, you are not offering to worship him yet, you are offering to worship your own enlightenment nature. Because he is yourself. Only paying respect to oneself can you be saved. Is everyone certain of entering a mother’s womb in preparation for rebirth into this world? I tell you, maybe a person possibly does not have to go through entering a mother’s womb in preparation for

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha rebirth into this world. If you chant (mindfulness) Amitabha and have a purified body and mind, there is no need to enter a mother’s womb in preparation for rebirth into this world. Entering a mother’s womb in preparation for rebirth into this world is too hard, too much trouble, in addition, it is too uninsured because you are dazed entering a mother’s womb. This is all categorized as the state of murky and cognitive distortion. However, other person goes to the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land are alive with mirror-like clarity. Just like we are alive now, seeing Amitabha come to meet and receive us is like, “okay, goodbye, I am leaving”. It is like you do not want this body because the body is just clothes, and it is being thrown away. Going to the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land changes another incorruptible adamantine body, entering immortality. This condition of being the master of oneself and to go to be born in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land is stated very clearly in both books, [Recording the Hearing of Being Born in the Pure Land of Amitabha in the Present Day 近代往生隨聞錄], and [Records of Seeing and Hearing of Being Born in the Pure Land of Amitabha by Lay Practitioner Miao-Yin 妙音居士往生見聞記]. I hope everyone can take a look. I remember that I mentioned before, these facts are more important than the Sutra. The Sutra is the theoretical method, which nothing can compete with but these facts of people going and being born in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land is to provide you with evidence. People in your neighborhood are likely to have a chance to go to the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land in the future and now that opportunities are equal, it is not hard to go. Just like the Great Strength Bodhisattva (Mahasthmaprapta), from the very beginning the Buddha taught him to chant (mindfulness) Amitabha and he chants one by one conscientiously until he attains the state of without the aid of expedients their minds will naturally awake by themselves. Therefore, if we

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think about it, chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha is to remind the self to not come back to have an unworthy illusory dream of life and death of the infinite existence of world-periods. Until then we are not to spend our life in vain. We just mentioned the process of entering a motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s womb in preparation for rebirth into this world of a common person, and there is still a class of people who are Buddha or Bodhisattva that return to this life here. By the way, just like now there are a lot Tibetan Lamas who have returned to this life. Why do I need to make this kind of example? 1. It is a popular thing of our modern time as to where soand-so Dharma-King has returned to this life, or such-and-such Buddhist Monk has now come back again and resides at such and such place. Does this kind of thing exist? It really does but at the same time there are too many however, there are too many who pretend to be. The genuine one is surely true, the fake one is surely false. But do not be too superstitious about one who returns to this life, common folks like us although are not the Dharma-King, yet we were also a so-and- so from our past life returning to this life. This is not different, nothing unusual. Please do not be so superstitious. 2. Life and death operates in your own hand and you are sure to solve your afflictions when you are not lost. Since you are sure, you can influence others and help the public. There are many people who often say, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Why is my destiny so rough.â&#x20AC;? Seriously, it is not rough, but your breadth of mind is not wide enough. The Great Strength (Mahastamaprapta), together with fiftytwo Bodhisattvas of the same congener, their mind states are all wide. They chant (mindfulness) Amitabha and one chant connects with

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha Amitabha, one thought is Amitabha, every thought-moment connects with Amitabha, every thought-moment is Amitabha. Connecting with Amitabha is all over the existence of open space and extends to the universe where the purified mind is in its nature state. What is called “connecting”? It is the shaking and what causes resonance vibrations. This kind of phenomena is what we see in the Sutra often seeing Buddha or Bodhisattva emit light. At the beginning of the Surangama Sutra, Shakyamuni Buddha emits light. How does he radiate? He radiates from the crown of his head, from the flesh protuberance on his crown. When he sends out an illuminating ray, the whole universe—ten states of existence (Hell, ghost, animal, asura, human, deva, sravaka, Pratyekabuddha, Bodhisattva, Buddha), the six realms of reincarnation and all the Buddha and the Bodhisattva lands are with clarity, which means having mirror-like clarity of the conditions of the activities of all living beings in the universe. It is during the emission of light that he has finished the explaining of the Surangama Sutra. Due to the favorable circumstance of all living beings already mature results in the Buddha explaining the Surangama. Yet, the emission of light is precisely “when a living being is moved or touched, the Bodhisattva does interaction of empathy and response”. This is connecting, and precisely called the “resonance vibration”. The Buddha explains Sutras to heavenly beings but does not use language, and only by the emission of light. When the light is emitted, heavenly beings see and then understand the meaning. Even more, let alone the Assembly of Surangama are Maha-Bodhisattva entirely. When we talk about “Maha”, it means that they have eradicated the unenlightened condition. Do they still require language or words? No, there is no need. However, as commoners we must via language and writing to see the truth of the universe.

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You look at the beginning of the Sutra, Buddha sends out an illuminating ray and all Buddha simultaneously send out an illuminating ray. What does this mean? It just declares all Tathagata’s original intention: The reason why Tathagata (Buddha) appears in this world, he is only here to talk about the original 48 vows of Amitabha as deep and vast as the ocean. So, all the people at the assembly are using the method through the sense-organ of ear for the sound of chanting Amitabha to become Buddha, it is the most important main idea of this Sutra. When we explain the Sutra Title, we first talked about the Crown of the Great Buddha’s Head. What is the Crown of the Great Buddha Head? It is Amitabha, who is the infinite of infinity, all is infinite. “Chanting Amitabha Samadhi”, the “Samadhi of Shakyamuni Buddha” is the Samadhi of “unsurpassed and extremely profound and subtle Samadhi”. It is certainly not a small teaching in between Heaven and Earth. The Sutra text, A Buddha called Infinite Light appeared in the world. Infinite Light is one of the Buddha’s titles out of 84,000. Amitabha is referred to as the Infinite Light. A—means infinity, Mita—means quantity or capacity, Bha—means enlightenment, the function of enlightenment is “light”. Just a moment ago we talked about Tathagata radiates a light, which is the function of enlightenment. The function of enlightenment is without defilement in the mind, it is bright. This Infinite Light can be said to be Amitabha. Yet, the unceasing radiance of Amitabha shines all

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha over the existence of open space and the universe. Therefore, he does not need to radiate a light; his illumination shines the entire universe because he has infinite and boundless connection with all living beings. In that same world-period there were twelve successive Tathagatas; I need to talk about the twelve successive Tathagatas. Originally, I was going to pass over this, but afterwards I thought it over and decided I need to illustrate them in detail. Let me read out the names of the twelve successive Tathagatas first: 1. Buddha of Infinite Light 2. Buddha of Boundless Light 3. Buddha of Unobstructed Luminosity 4. Buddha of Non-adversarial and Incomparable Radiance 5. Buddha of Flaming Brightness 6. Buddha of Pure Light 7. Buddha of Joyous Light 8. Buddha of Wisdom Light 9. Buddha of Incessantly Radiance 10. Buddha of Inconceivable Radiance 11. Buddha of Ineffable Luminosity 12. Buddha of the Light Surpassing the Sun and the Moon

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1. Buddha of Infinite Light refers to the true wisdom with penetrative ability into the universal truth; therefore, it is unlimited. The term wisdom, why add the word true? It means the truthfulness of all wisdom. Wisdom divides in many kinds. Why speak about the true wisdom? The Infinite Life Sutra mentions three truthfulness. The major point is the truthfulness of all reality, the truthfulness of all wisdom and the truthfulness of all benefit. What is “all reality”? It is the truth about the life of the universe. What is “wisdom”? The omniscient penetrative ability with clear perception in all truth. Then, the true wisdom with omniscient penetrative ability into the universal truth, where the term of “truth” is using the infinite and boundless “true wisdom” to comprehend all principles of the mundane and transmundane. This is the true benefit to escape from the bonds and to obtain freedom, this is called “benefit”. We, the ordinary people, do we have wisdom? Yes, we do, it is also infinite and boundless, we are also called future Infinite Light Buddha, also known as a deluded Infinite Light Buddha. Why are we deluded? Because now there is a habit of “greed (attachment), aversion, ignorance, arrogance, and suspicion”. In that case, are we not Infinite Light? No, we are. Last time I mentioned, everyone thinks that you are the Infinite Light then this person is shining. We do not think we are the Infinite Light. In fact, the Infinite Light is the vast energy of the universe original life entity, which is omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresent, everywhere. From one’s own mind expands all the way to the outside world and all is the state of this Infinite Light and Infinite Wisdom. Yet,

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha if this energy of Infinite Light was arranged in a different equation, then the world manifestation would be totally different. Therefore, the “truthfulness of all wisdom” can penetrate all the confusion, manifest the “truthfulness of all reality’s Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land”. It lets all living beings under the aid of Amitabha’s vow power to attain Buddha enlightenment speedily, this is the “truthfulness of all benefit”. That is the teaching and significance of the Infinite Light.

2. Buddha of Boundless Light refers to the expedient wisdom with penetrative ability into all phenomena; therefore, it is boundless. This is amazing, Infinite Light talks about energy constantly. Boundless Light talks about omnipresent. Expedient means to adapt to circumstances. Wisdom means true wisdom. Talking about it is to get along with all living beings, every minute and second with no mistakes. Anything handled by his hand will be done in perfection. Therefore, what does the penetrative ability do? The penetrative ability into all phenomena is the phenomenon, and all is to be absolutely overjoyed. Our ordinary people are not doing anything completely. Why? Because there are attachments and discriminations like, I like this person, I hate this person, or this person is average. Buddha and Bodhisattva because they are without “you, I or he” and all living beings are himself, the Buddha’s mind is completely without hindrances. Therefore, when Buddha does things, truly it would not be for himself. This is truly worth learning from. We modern people must be selfish, this person speaks: Every man for himself, when man stops looking out for oneself that would be the end of the world.

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Chinese people are wonderful, the invention of these idiomatic phrases in particular, are not the same as other countries, if you can get enlightened from these phrases seriously, you also have the opportunity to be thoroughly enlightened. Some people say that being Chinese is very sad, they have lived in this circle of struggle for a lifetime. Some people also say that being Chinese is very fortunate, because they are called a “Middle” Kingdom. The “middle” means to not offend either side. The people of this country all have dual personalities. But think about it, the state of wisdom of the ancient sages of China is not comparable to other countries. The state of the Chinese is “neither sticking to both extremes, nor positioned in between”, this is a masterstroke and is the teaching of the Buddha. Therefore, in China, the three schools of Daoism, Buddhism and Confucianism are one. Here talking about the expedient wisdom with penetrative ability into all phenomena, Chinese are the sharpest people like a razor, always employing the most extreme ingenious way but all phenomena are also seen through by them. In Chinese society, what kind of person do you want to be? To be a person of Infinite Light, who absolutely will not set oneself opposite to all living beings and you never want to be a hypocrite (a person who appears one way but thinks another way with no integrity). The Chinese are very interesting and are very polarized, if they are not in opposition to others, then they are a hypocrite and a hypocrite would not be confrontational. Why would one be a hypocrite? It is because one still has “greed (attachment), aversion, ignorance, arrogance, and suspicion” in mind and still have expectations. If the mind is without expectation, you have surpassed the Middle way. Being Chinese has one great advantage, which is having the opportunity to undergo personal experience “the illusory nature of all existence” from “whopeople, what-matters, where-places, or how and what-things”.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha A famous ancient poem: 滾滾長江東逝水，浪花淘盡英雄，是非成敗轉頭空, 青山依舊在，幾度夕陽紅。

The surging Yangzi River runs to the east; wave currents have dredged and exhausted all heroes; right or wrong, succeeded or defeated, are written in water; Green mountains remain standing, setting sun glows as each day moves on. This poem which has “the expedient wisdom with penetrative ability into all phenomena”, because the sincere mind has no boundary. Like Zhuge Liang (諸葛亮)* of the Three Kingdoms period, he bends himself to the task unto death and he achieved “selflessness”. In Chinese history all conditions are related with “killing”, where can you find a ruler that had “no killing”. Can you find in history a ruler with a benevolent administration without any killing, there is no such thing! If you can use “the expedient wisdom with penetrative ability into all phenomena”, then there is no killing. It is because there is expectation then there is killing, without expectation then there is no killing. Therefore, without expectation is precisely having “wisdom with omniscient penetrative ability”, without expectation then one can be boundless, only then one can “know thoroughly the expediency to succeed”. People need to reflect deeply about this.

3. Buddha of Unobstructed Luminosity refers merciful radiance to give joy, therefore, free from obscuration. The mercy of Buddha Bodhisattva is: Having unconditional mercifulness to all, even one without circumstantial condition; great compassion based on sameness (Buddha-nature) in essence.

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The “circumstantial condition” is the criteria. The secular concept is conditional mercifulness because one is my younger brother, or my parents, or my older brother or sister, so, I want to be nice to him. I am acting against my will. Those non-related to one, has their life or death anything to do with me? Sweeping the snow from my own door step, do not worry about the frost on your neighbor’s roof. Or sometimes one overdoes it like decorating things that are already perfect, like adding flowers to a brocade! So, there are conditions between people, because he is my son I need to take good care of him, you are wrong about this. Buddha and Bodhisattva know he is you and is supposed to take care of all living. Within this care there is no affection attachment. If there is affection attachment then it turns into reincarnation, again throwing yourself into the phenomena of “birth, aging, sickness and death”. Speaking about merciful radiance to give joy, we did not just say “you are me”; this is precisely “great compassion based on sameness (Buddha-nature) in essence”. “Compassion” means to have sympathy for all beings, seeing one so bitter and hurry to save one from the sea of suffering, this is the meaning of it. Yet, to give joy means giving joy to one. This kind of joy is not temporary joyfulness as in the fast passing kind, it is the joyfulness of tasting the Buddha teaching and it is eternal relief and never reincarnating”. In that case, we treat our parents with filial piety, we should hold dutifully in this “joy of hearing Buddha teaching”. It is not to give your parents two pounds of meat, and then for them to be very happy and done. I tell you, they will soon be entering a mother’s womb in preparation for birth in this world again. You bought good clothing for them to wear, a nice car to ride, live in a nice house, they are also happy

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha but this grows their greed. Then how can you save them? Save their “wisdom life”, of course, also attentively taking care of their life. Did not Confucius state: The young disciple shall bear the burden in work, if there is food and wine then the elders shall enjoy the first choice. Basically speaking, providing good food, clothing, and good health is all that is needed to take care but it is important to take care of their “wisdom life”. Encourage your parents to chant (mindfulness) Amitabha, detach from the cycle of rebirth and recurring death, and go to be born in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land and become Buddha in perfection. You must be sincerely persuaded, then this is called filial piety practice in completion and only until then is it merciful radiance to give joy. Chinese people pay attention to “filial piety”. When parents have some illness or are aching from disease, you can use filial devotion to move Heaven and Earth. These stories are all recorded in the book, Twenty-Four Stories of Filial Devotion. For “Filial piety”, Buddhism not only accomplishes basic filial piety, it is not just to be looked after in life and given a proper burial thereafter. It is also to have more hope that the parents can be disillusioned with everything and let go of all, chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha to become Buddha. One can still complete the practice of filial piety in the end. “Being disillusioned with everything” is seeing the truth of the universe composed of illusory dreams. “Letting go” is letting go of one’s inner worries and afflictions. This is to nourish and enjoy a natural life span. “Nourish” means to being leisurely and carefree. “Enjoy” means without pressure and free from care. In the meantime, encouraging them to chant (mindfulness) Amitabha wholeheartedly, to go to be

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born in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land, free from the bonds of life and death is known as the “natural span of life”. From “basic filial piety” all the way to complete “great filial piety”, direct access to the highest cognitive sphere of enlightenment, finally all returns to the essence of the universe. Only relying on this name of Amitabha then all is in perfection is truly called free from obscuration. You are filial to your parents, you owe them in past lives. In this life if they owe you, you are rebellious against them. We all have four predestined affinities “to demand repayment, paying off debt, repay a kindness, getting revenge”. If to start out from the view of the Buddha teaching, then it is truly no obstruction. Merciful radiance to give joy, therefore, free from obscuration; you neither bond a bad affinity nor a good affinity with all living beings; instead, you bond a pure affinity– a completely pure without defiled Dharma (pure) affinity. In that case, this connection is much better, no involvement with each other, no affection attachment. Otherwise this life you be my parents, in the next life I will be your parent; there is no ending. All of you think about it, I explained before the Buddha of Infinite Light, Buddha of Boundless Light, Buddha of Unobstructed Luminosity, these three statuses represent the “essence of wisdom” and the “function of wisdom”, plus the “wisdom reaction to people”. This is known as the essence, phenomenal characteristics, and function of the unconditional rationality which is 100% rational body and mind and the state of living. This kind of living state is truly not all seriousness, but also not boring. It is also not a kind of unreal discourse or making something out of nothing. Each of you truly need do self-introspection properly and learn through experience.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha Free from obscuration has a few situations. It is expressed after you comprehend the phenomena of the universe then you can let go of life and death. The way of letting go exists many different levels. For example, The Arhat attains the 9th graduated meditative concentration considered as the level of Samadhi (the stillness of mind control), who has let go of rebirth and recurring death in the Threefold Worlds (Triloka) as the universe divides into three worlds of karmic rebirth consisting the “world of Desire, world of Form, and world of Formless”. 1. After going beyond this level, one attains the state of “Unobstructed between all manifested phenomena”. 2. “Unobstructed of the essence (Buddha-nature)” is the cognitive sphere of Mahasattva with the embodiment of truth (Dharma Body) who has eradicated one grade of the unenlightened condition and has attained one grade of the Dharma Body. 3. “Unobstructed interaction between the essence and all manifested phenomena”, is the phenomena which refers to the myriad universe phenomena which has produced “mountains and rivers of the Earth”, and “people, matters, places, things”. In this respect, you are seeing deep fluctuation phenomena, and you are fully aware of the infinite cosmic phenomena and the conditions within. You truly understand that nothing is to be attained called “Maha-Bodhisattva of Non-retrogression Stage”. 4. “Unobstructed absolutely in all” is you can completely integrate the fundamental truth of life and the cosmic phenomena. After integration, in order to reach a “hundred-foot pole, still progress further to reach even higher levels of success, one needs to persevere” you must eradicate the last grade of the unenlightened condition as the first thought activation of unen-

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lightened and confusion. Then you will have another view of life of the universe. What view? It is completely being the master of yourself, acting in accordance with affinity, being disillusioned with everything and letting go of all. Entering the cognitive sphere of “all wonderful phenomena in the universe manifests from our mind and it truly is absent of the inherent existence”, this is known as the ultimate attainment of the Supreme Perfect Enlightenment to be the Buddha in perfection of the Eternal Peace and Tranquil Light Realm. This is what the Flower Adornment Sutra describes as the “Four Unobstructed Phenomenal Realms”. Therefore, Unobstructed Luminosity is the Eternal Peace and Tranquil Light, of course it is “therefore, free from obscuration”. This masterly cognitive sphere, can we humans achieve it after all? People often said that, “The Buddha teaching is too high and most people cannot do.” However, like the examples of the different degrees of letting go as I just talked about, it can be done practically by the method of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha, and other methods are not easy to achieve. Why is it? 1. The other methods are from a purified mind to enter. 2. Must not cling to phenomenal characteristics, meaning no mark or impression in your mind. These two points, people are surely impossible to achieve. Yet, the method of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha is the easiest. You then attach to one Buddha, and precisely attach to Amitabha and the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land. You fully rely on the Universal 48 Vows of Amitabha’s original vow power to inaugurate his assistance, to meet

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha and receive you at the point of death, to go to be born in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land and surely become Buddha. This method of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha absolutely can be attained in this life, therefore, free from obscuration. When you go to the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land, you then have experiential entry into the Four unobstructed realms of phenomena described in the Flower Adornment Sutra “Unobstructed of the essence (Buddha-nature), Unobstructed between all manifested phenomena, Unobstructed interaction between the essence and all manifested phenomena, Unobstructed absolutely in all”, which is the realization sphere of all Buddha and Bodhisattva and you obtain it all in perfection. This is the easiest and the only supreme method to become Buddha in the present life. Yet, only the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land has the Four Realms integrated harmoniously: 1. Realm of Eternal Peace and Tranquil Light: The stage of realization of Amitabha Tathagata’s cognitive sphere. 2. Realm of Permanent Reward and Venerability: The cognitive sphere of Mahasattva has attained the Dharma Body above the one has eradicated a grade of the unenlightened condition to confirm a grade embodiment of Dharma Body. 3. Temporary Realm: The cognitive sphere of improper nirvana attained by the Arhat and Pratyekabuddha. 4. Realm Where All Classes Dwell: The cognitive sphere of both mortals and saints are in one place. Just like our planet is the “Realm Where All Classes Dwell” there are Buddha and Bodhisattva Bodhisattva.

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In that case, have you seen a Buddha or a Bodhisattva before? Of course, most people say no. In the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land, Buddha and Bodhisattva and you become a harmonious whole. In the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land, you and Guan-Yin Bodhisattva (Avalokitesvara) are classmates every day, maybe one who sits to the right of you is Pu-Xian Bodhisattva (Samantabhara), and one who sits to the left of you is Amitabha. You and all Buddha and Bodhisattva are classmates and are on equal footing, which the realm of the purified mind in its nature state is full equality. That is impossible on our planet. Here there is no way it can be done. This is called the “Four Realms integrates harmoniously”, which is the most perfectly expedient way of meeting and receiving. It is a perfectly integrated physical universe of Unobstructed Absolutely in All achieved by Amitabha’s vow power, it truly is merciful radiance to give joy, therefore, free from obscuration. Speaking bluntly, Unobstructed absolutely in all, the table is not separated from the chair, the table is integrated into the chair, the chair is integrated into the table, and the mountains and rivers of the Earth are merged together this state is called “non-arising and non-ceasing of all phenomena”. Yet, the phenomena of the worldly all exist and the phenomena of arising and ceasing there is birth, death, aging and sickness. You see, this is like stainless-steel will there be rust after 100 years? Yes, it would rust. That plastic bag, some people say for 100 to 100 years will not be bad but I tell you, wait until that day is up, anything will be destroyed. Therefore, the world of ours is called “impermanent”. It changes according to circumstances, the blue sea turned in mulberry fields—the transformations of the world.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha Yet, the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land is called “permanent” and is eternal. The Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land is described in the Flower Adornment Sutra as the pure realm of Unobstructed absolutely in all. Just by using a name of Buddha or Amitabha, one can attain the pure state of Unobstructed absolutely in all, only this unique method of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha. Other ways cultivating Esoteric Buddhism or exploring and studying through Dhyana (Zen) meditation will not work. The school of Dhyana (Zen) Buddhism emphasizes: There is not a single thing originally, where can dust be provoked. What kind of cognitive sphere? It is called Unobstructed of the essence (Buddha-nature), or Unobstructed interaction between the essence and all manifested phenomena, or Unobstructed absolutely in all. All sages use the “unconditioned (asamskrta) phenomena” so it is not alike. Speaking bluntly, there are enormous distinctions between the eradication of one grade or two grades of the unenlightened condition. Just one grade of difference for a person is difficult and takes countless existence of world-periods for a person to reach it. It is too far apart in time, space, and cognitive sphere. Then, an ordinary person in a lifetime if practicing either Esoteric Buddhism or exploring and studying through Dhyana (Zen) meditation and wants to achieve the state of Unobstructed of the essence (Buddha-nature), this is harder than going to Heaven, let alone to attain the state of Unobstructed Absolutely in All. However, people who go to be born in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land attain the lowest class of the inferior rank, like our group of unenlightened ones. Even if attaining the status of the lowest class of the inferior

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rank, truthfully, one gets the same enjoyment as the Absolute Universal Enlightenment (Samyak-Sambodhi) Bodhisattva, equal to the enjoyment of the highest class of the superior rank in the sphere of the “Realm of Permanent Reward and Venerability”. How come? It all relies on the assistance of Amitabha power and his vow power. Yet, other methods do not have the aid of Buddha power, only relying on the self which is too dangerous. For example, in Dhyana (Zen) Buddhism, a thought cannot arise, can ordinary people do it? No, one cannot do this. Do not talk about ordinary people, even the most virtuous of Zen Buddhism also cannot achieve this. If one can do this, then one’s fate of life and death is no longer an issue. For many modern “eminent monks” in the end there are two situations: One is sick or one is stalling for time. We often say that we are sick and holding to the concept of the ego not letting go. “Stalling for time” is holding to things as reality and not letting go. Has this kind of phenomena existed among eminent monks of the past? Very few. There is another kind which is the manifestation of a Buddha or a Bodhisattva. For example, when the Great Master Tan-Xu (倓虛) went, he was chanting Amitabha. His main thesis in teaching was the Surangama Sutra and he practiced cultivation by chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha. He manifested with an illness, why? That he was like the average person. His disciple asked him, “Master, are you not chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha? How do you lie in bed now, what should we do?” The Master said, “Am I really lying in bed?” Then he sat up, crossed his legs, felt his pulse at the wrist and said, “The pulse is already irregular, I have to go back to the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land.” Then he left.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha This was exactly like the Great Master Yin-Guang (印光)at the time of his leaving, his mind was very clear, he was sitting in a chair and explained a few words to his disciple, then said, “Amitabha is here to receive me, I am going.” These two Patriarchs truly are to enlighten and help with the salvation of all unhindered, to go to be born in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land freely, keeping a playful attitude towards life, making an elegant and unrestrained tour. Like going to be born in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land leisurely and free from all resistance, it is less for Buddhist monks or nuns in the modern society but more for the lay practitioners at home. If you read the book Recording the Hearing of Being Born in the Pure Land of Amitabha of Recent Times those people who went to be born in the Pure Land of Amitabha all could not get sick, have a clear mind, and no hindrance. These people are not monks or nuns, they are very ordinary people, even people who do not know how to read. Why? Because their brains are very simple. Tell them to chant Amitabha and they chant very sincerely. If you talk to one, “Tomorrow the department store is having a big sale, let us go shopping?” One then said, “I need to chant Amitabha.” One also has no interest in shopping. They said that these people are boring and have no fun. It looks bad and annoying. Are there such people around us? Yes, there are. I have seen such a person, he said in a few days, “I am going home.” People asked him, “Where are you going back to?”

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He said, “I am going back to the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land.” When he left, he was energetic as he is now, finishing his words with clarity and then he closed his eyes and left. This condition is also known as “boundless” which has the same meaning as Unobstructed. Since it is merciful radiance to give joy, merciful radiance means infinitely merciful and compassionate, expressing the infinitely merciful and compassionate vow power of Amitabha. Radiance expresses all-embracing; it is the wisdom. When a person at the time of going to be born in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land and sees Amitabha come, Amitabha radiates light to assist. At the moment of assistance, wisdom penetrative ability goes through your body and your mind arises with joy called the “enjoyment of the truth”. This is different from happiness, where happy means fast- passing. The “enjoyment of the truth” does not have any hindrance and one can attain anything without any obstruction. What does “without obstruction” mean? It is seeing everything in the universe clearly. The capacity of the mind is boundless and unhindered, omniscient wisdom with penetrative ability has no barrier, and no expectations. Only having the “boundless capacity of mind” is to be “unobstructed merciful and compassionate” precisely, Unobstructed Illumination and only then you can be Unobstructed absolutely in all. For example, like ordinary people working in this society, some people work with a purified body and mind, and without defilement. Is there such a person? I have observed, that there is really. This kind of person has two phenomena: 1. One rarely speaks very often;

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha 2. Maintains a very impoverished lifestyle and is very simple. People do not misunderstand, I do not want you to learn from him. If you have wealth and a respectable social status, you should feel content with being wealthy and have a social position. If you are poor and low social position, you should feel content with being poor and have a low social position. If a person is poor and has a low social position, does a person rely on this to run their life? No. I often see a lot of workers doing odd jobs in North America, and I have seen some Americans living with difficulty, but a person should not think about this society, they should think about the universe phenomena. When I was in the United States, I ran into an American: He himself said, “I usually see some extraordinary phenomena.” I told him, “It does not matter, you can chant (mindfulness) Amitabha and after 3 days you will definitely see more.” After he chanted for 3 days and indeed saw more, he felt very strange after seeing it, he said, “Why is the power of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha so great?” I said, “Chanting Amitabha is your original ability. It is the totality of your inherent universe energy and mind power. Therefore, the strength is super.” If he truly makes a vow to chant (mindfulness) Amitabha wholeheartedly, he will inevitably be born in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land, to become Buddha surely is without a problem. How do we say this? Amitabha in the Bliss World of the Pure Land, the

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founder of the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land. Does he have anything to do with us? Yes, he does. What does Amitabha represent? He represents the whole universe, the source of all life. Chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha is equal to chanting (mindfulness) one’s own original Bliss World, in the same way as chanting (mindfulness) one’s own original cosmic-energy. The power of concentrating one’s attention to chant (mindfulness) Amitabha is infinitely broad and incredibly strong, penetrating all and directly into the self-nature Amitabha. If the mind is dedicated to chant Amitabha, you will surely become Buddha. Some people say, “Practicing cultivation should pay attention to the thoughts”. This “a wrong thought on the spur of the moment” will make you into a different cognitive sphere. One must pay attention, chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha needs to be single-minded. This life, whether you have money or not have money, you should have the phenomena of “birth, aging, sickness and death” or have mental pain or material dissatisfaction. How did these “things” come about? It comes from your “thought”. That is, you do not understand this human world, and you produce this illusion. This illusion makes you worry, this worry is what everyone thinks is true. Furthermore, have you ever thought whether you slept at night, while you were in such a deep sleep would you not know if someone knifed you? Just like at the time of our death, we do not know at all. In general, sleeping is called “falling unconscious”. If your head is clear, then you truly do not need sleep. I have seen some people sleep for the sake of performance of everyone to see. If you are overly special in this world, others will say, “you are a special person, your achievements are different from ours

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha so we have no way to do it because you are not the same class as us.â&#x20AC;? Therefore, the Buddha and the Bodhisattva manifest themselves in this world to be the same as everyone, also having bad temper moments, with the habit of â&#x20AC;&#x153;greed (attachment), aversion, ignorance, and arroganceâ&#x20AC;?. But the last moment before he goes, he shows his real effort. When he leaves, his mind does not cling to anything, the thoughts are not chaotic and there is no cognitive distortion, the heart does not have hinderance and the body does not have illness. Up to that instant, only then will we know that he is not an ordinary person! I have also encountered this kind of transformed being and normally, when talking with him, you cannot see it because he is giggling and laughing and being incoherent. You would feel very strange, how did he learn this skill? In fact, he was acting with you. This is a very important revelation. This kind of status is known as being free from obscuration. We speak about having no obstacles not because we want to live a good life. If you live well, there is no life and death affliction right? No. This is how the way the human world thinks. What is the Buddha way of thinking? It is: 1. Do not put all phenomena in the mind. 2. I can control all phenomena. It is the meaning of: There is not a single thing originally, where can dust be provoked. For example, the chef cooks every day, is the food good? It is good. But there is no such thing in the mind, this is difficult. For the average person, it is truly difficult. Especially everyone all has the problem of the burnout syndrome. Not only is this annoying, if you do not have a job you would also be bored at home. Why? You are unclear about your original life essence.

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What is the original living condition? It is Buddha’s statement of “pureness, equality, and enlightenment”. Then, are we purified of defiling illusion now? No, we are not. Are we enlightened? No, we are not. Then, what should we do? Some people started looking for answers, some people are looking for religion, some are looking for philosophy, some people are looking for “food, drink and fun”, and some people are looking for ways to forget their afflictions, but these are useless because these are all conditioned phenomena (vicissitudes of life or perpetual change caused by karma). This has two phenomena: 1. One will be tired and will doze off. 2. One will arise afflictions. After a long time your livelihood becomes unstable, your mind is weighed down with anxiety and if you want to live in the future, you may not be able to go on. This is the case with most people. I rarely see a person laughing. People on Earth are not laughing much. Why? They cannot laugh. Asking a person why they cannot laugh? They said: “I have a lot of afflictions. I worry about this, I worry about that, I want to be like this, to be like that.” What causes this trouble? It is this “self-I”. People just cannot have “selflessness”. We talk about merciful radiance to give joy, therefore, free from obscuration, the Buddha does not have “self-I”. How to be “selfless”? He does not think about others and does not even think about

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha himself. The three minds of himself are also none to be attainedâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; the past, the present and the future (the past is gone, the future has not arrived, the present does not stay) none can be attained. Buddha and Bodhisattva help all living beings, and they have never had a thought that livings beings are hard to help or a real headache. This is because: In fact, there is no living being to be helped. In the Diamond Sutra: All conditioned phenomena (vicissitudes of life) as if they are dreams, illusions, bubbles, and images. If your daily secular ideas can become this concept of enlightenment, then you would be happy with anything you do. For example, I explain the Sutra never thinking about how to explain it. When a person is â&#x20AC;&#x153;No thinkingâ&#x20AC;? they correspond with the enlightenment. What is enlightenment? It is when you are corresponding with the truth of non-arising and non-ceasing of all phenomena in the universe. If you think about how to explain it then it is over because you incorporate discrimination, delusional thoughts and attachment and in the end however, when you do the explanation it is not the truth. I trust that all of you here possess complete virtuous roots, blessings that arise from good deeds, good predestined affinity from previous lives but you are only lacking one thing. You just do not know: Where are you from? What are you doing in this life? Where you go in the future? You have absolutely no idea of what is going on. Previously encountered an elderly gentleman, and he was very wonderful:

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He talked with me, “Young man, when I was young like you I did not know about anything. But today I am 95 years old, I still do not know anything! Look at me and tell me where I will be in the future?” I said, “I also do not know.” This person is very long-lived and has a clear mind. He does not sleep much, about 2.5 hours a night. What does he normally do? He does nothing. Because he is wonderfully blessed with karmic reward and has a house full of descendants. I asked, “Have you not enjoyed family happiness?” He said, “Yes, yes, yes, I have”! He had already been through it all. I asked, “What are you looking for now?” He said, “I am looking for the answer about my future life.” This is a person with a clear head. Average old folks are sitting and waiting for food and death, and worry about things every day, and there is no end to the worries. Yet if they do not worry about something then there is nothing to do. Giving a thought to it, is it not so? Nowadays almost all young men behave like old men. Modern generations are well blessed with karmic reward and just like the old folks, have nothing to do. So, the ancients had a statement: When a person lets go of one’s butcher-knife, immediately one becomes Buddha. Butcher-knife represents “who-people, what-matters, whereplaces or how and what-things”. Let go is without pressure and afflictions in mind.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha Immediately means in this instant. It only requires you to let go then you are the same as Buddha. Trying to do what you need to do, but to do is not doing with delusional thoughts and attachments but getting your essence Buddha-nature back and then you immediately become Buddha. This is chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha in daily living, that is mindfulness enlightenment. Is enlightenment not Buddha! Chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha is chanting the truth about the universe. How to chant (mindfulness)? It is to remember Buddha. Every day you need to think about your own days identical as the Buddha and the Bodhisattva, turning your concept to become Amitabha concept. What is the concept of Amitabha? It is infinitely merciful and compassionate, and there is no “self-I”. This concept is truly great and helps you solve all your afflictions. In future, you will run into your old enemies and creditors. You will look at them as if they and Amitabha are no different because you are already selfless. Of course, the best way to attain the state of selflessness is by chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha sincerely. How to be “sincerely”? It is letting go of everything and not thinking about anything. Chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha does not mean there is nothing you can do, instead you can do anything. It is using the Buddha’s enlightenment concept to get along with people that is called “chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha”. “Buddha” cannot chant with lip-service as “chants but without intent”. One must be enlightened from the mind, until then it is truly chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha. If you want to have no hindrance in life first change the concept and turn to the Amitabha concept. After turning, strangely everything will go well later. Regarding this, I have deep feelings about this. When I was young there is nothing in my mind, I just wanted to sightsee among

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the hills and up and down rivers. The interesting thing is when I got to the mountains and rivers, I became selfless, becoming the mountain and the water. Later I thought this was the same principle of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha, but now I do not go on scenic tours and think about Amitabha now. This is when you become Amitabha. What does the average secular people think about? They think about greed, stealing, excessive lust attachment, or daily necessities like, firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar and tea. Where do those things take you? It goes to the six realms of reincarnation. If you think about the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land, then it takes you to the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land. People say, May you succeed at whatever your heart desire. It is often said, Good things probably would not complete by one intention; bad things will be fulfilled by a thought. What is the reason? This is because “greed (attachment), aversion, ignorance, arrogance” are easily to manifest. Then, you should cultivate wholesomeness, your mind must able to be purified of defiling illusion, but it is difficult for the average person. Since the concept cannot be changed, then there is hindrance. This hindrance seems to be unbreakable and is always in opposition to each other. Just like one attaching to “being a vegetarian”. In fact, there is truly no difference between being “vegetarian” or a “meat eater” but rather that your mind has attachment like the mind attaching to manifested phenomena. In fact, “sour, sweet, there is no difference between being “bitter and spicy hot, which are the joys and sorrows of life” and the “four types of human emotions—happiness, anger, sorrow, or joy”. Your attachment makes it different. Buddha and Bodhisattva are infinitely merciful and compassionate, they cannot bear to eat the meat of the living. But they do not have attachment to it. While it seems that vegetarianism is amazing, there is absolutely no such thing.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha 4. Buddha of Non-adversarial and Incomparable Radiance refers to the compassion radiance can remove suffering; therefore, it is without opposites. If this mind has no attachments it is not in opposition to others, then this is Non-adversarial and Incomparable Radiance. Non-adversarial and Incomparable explained in the secular way means there are no enemies and opposition. One has already detached from “dualism”, right or wrong, kindness or evil, good or bad, beauty or ugliness, reasonable or unreasonable. After becoming detached, one can be the compassion radiance to remove suffering and “great compassion based on sameness (Buddha-nature) in essence”. Since we are the same source and the joint body of life as all living beings, then everyone should really think about the true meaning of do not do to others what you would not have them do to you. This true meaning is to have no confrontations and non-opposites. Is this principle, right? It is totally right. The question is how to resolve the opposition (antithetical)? In that case, use your absolute enlightenment concept to resolve. Since using the absolute enlightenment concept to resolve, then you cannot be opposite to all living beings. To be opposite to all living beings makes life difficult for yourself, there is no enlightenment. Looking at the turmoil in this world of the modern era, it is from competition and struggle with war. All tragedy is caused by opposing each other. Even the disasters of nature are also human beings who want to overcome Heaven and Earth and are opposed to nature. From this, we can see that “no opposition” means turning the enemy into a friend is compassionate radiance can remove suffering. The “absolute” means no opposition. “Absolute” is one who has attained being the master of oneself.

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5. Buddha of Flaming Brightness, responsive manifestation in accordance with the needs of all sentient beings through light and sound, therefore, one has attained being the master of oneself. Flaming: Bright illuminated flame. Brightness: The king of light. Flaming Brightness: It is the Infinite Light. Brightness is the function of enlightenment. The “enlightenment” then is life’s joint body. All phenomena use a rational state to see it. When you attain being the master of yourself in all phenomena you must not use emotion, this is “enlightenment”. But most of the people act impetuously (on an impulse) and remain obstinately fixed in a delusion. While being delusional and lean on the feeling, one surely takes the wrong road. Why? It is because of greed and one is called “lost”. After becoming lost, the original pure function does not work. Then what works? This greedy mind functions. Why do we have greed? For example, when you are just eating, you think the dish is good and delicious and this is called “greed”. Although this is a trivial matter, this little greediness will become a big affliction and furthermore, this kind of affliction is inherent because no one teaches you, you just naturally know. This kind of affliction, we often say: The rivers and mountains are easy to change, the essential nature of men is difficult to turn. This sentence does not know how many people have been harmed. In fact, this concept of greed can be turned in the next five minutes. The public often ignores it not taking things seriously and it ends up being out of control which is a big problem. Therefore, a person

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha who can correct mistakes and change to the goodness by awakening and chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha will surely correspond with enlightenment and interact with the self-nature Flaming Brightness. Attaining the state of being refreshed and cool, and being the master of oneself. Sound refers to gathering the Buddha-nature of all beings. Manifestation in response means to be in accordance with the needs of different beings, and they shall manifest in that form. Just like Guan-Yin Bodhisattva (Avalokitesvara) who has thirty-two transformations, which are thirty-two types of manifestations to help all living beings. The transformation body can manifest into each type of being infinite and immense by using the light and sounds to gather the infinite and immense living beings. This kind of gathering, receiving and leading, obtains what result at the end? One attains the sphere of advancing and regressing without obstacles, a mind free from afflictions, being the master of oneself completely free. This is the portrayal of Amitabha therefore, he has attained being the master of oneself, who uses his illumination and sound of chanting his name to help all living beings according to circumstances and taking infinite kinds of material shapes.

6. Buddha of Pure Light, confusion and unenlightened conditions then go away, therefore, shooting forth the pure light. Confusion is not knowing about the future, not knowing about the past, and being confused about the present. Confusion then forms a kind of defilement and in fact, it is the unenlightened soul. After being confused for a long time, a person falls unconsciously. There are many phenomena of falling unconsciously such as, being ill, not being in a good mood, unable to see things clearly, all can be called falling

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unconsciously. This kind of falling unconsciously condition can be cured by a purified mind. After your mind is purified, the condition of falling unconsciously and the defilement will vanish. In fact, it is your concept that has turned, this is very important. Shooting forth the pure light, where pure is without defilement and light is an endless function of wisdom. Thus, Amitabha is known as “pureness, equality and enlightenment” because confusion and unenlightened conditions have vanished. The mind radiates the light of endless wisdom with omniscient penetrative ability all over the universe as the purified mind in its nature state. Therefore, the pure light is the undefiled original self-nature’s wisdom insight, and pure light pervades everywhere. Everyone possesses it inherently. As long as one chants (mindfulness) Amitabha single-mindedly, they will naturally correspond with the pure light of Amitabha and have experiential entry into the state of the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land. It is to everyone's delight and satisfaction.

7. Buddha of Joyous Light, to cause all to have benefit and enjoyment, therefore, arising with great rejoicing. Joyous is very important to all living beings of the Saha-Land. The living beings here are neither joyous nor delighted. Happy is brief and pasts very fast. Why? Because the sphere follows the ups and downs of mindfulness to manifesting therefore, Joyous is very brief. An ancient poem: One's life on Earth to laugh heartily is hard to come by, Chrysanthemum (yellow daylily) fills the eye to aid the joyous spirit.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha Ancient people already experienced this firsthand, but the issue is whether they found the way to resolve it. Just like being overjoyed, this kind of joyous is not only for yourself to be joyous but also to let all living beings be joyous. When others see you, they instantly will have a joyous mind. Truthfully, the first move of joyous begins with a smiling expression. If you always have a serious face, even if you are a Buddha or a Bodhisattva it will not work. Previously, I saw a friend who was a lot of fun and he was famous for being funny. He even walked in a funny way. One day, he walked and walked and hit the pole. Everyone laughed but he did not care and laughed. He said, “Today is truly and extremely marvelous! Yesterday I hit this pole, and today I hit it again on the same spot. Life is truly marvelous.” This person is real, not a joke. One day he walked, slipped and tumbled. Other people said, “Strangely, walking with you it is that you are unlucky.” He replied, “I am not unlucky, I am so happy every day. I do not know even if starving to death after couple days.” People with severe afflictions look at him and think he is an idiot, a fool. But then you are mistaken because he is happy. This person was also very funny when he died because he slept to death. Everyone laughed more, I believe that he would also laugh in the coffin! Although it looks like a joke, but this is not because his mind does not have afflictions and he always had a joyous mind to cause all to have benefit and enjoyment, therefore, arising with great rejoicing.

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These people were many in ancient times, but do not exist in modern era. Modern people because of too much pollution such as, information pollution and all kinds of pollution. There was no pollution in ancient times, the ancient village men and women were very simple. The “who were only qualified to fill the gully”, were all unwise blind-insight people. There was the ancient saying about “dancing accompanied by singing”, meaning that the harvest was good, the village folks were happy to play and dance together. Although these people were unwise, they have a very happy life. Just like a wild bred chicken, when it was born it roams outside freely. When it was killed, it suffered with one slash of the throat and then went to reincarnation again. Modern people are not wild bred chickens, modern people are raised and fed by modern technology. They are born to live in a cage, then they engage in the struggling mold of society. One lives this way of life every day, you ask one to laugh, they also cannot laugh. For example, in the United States we all develop a habit and when we meet people, we say hello and smile. One time I saw a person greet someone, they told me, “What is there to smile about? What is good about greeting each other?” I said, “Nothing, it should be that the other person is in a good mood.” He said, “He is in a good mood, but my mood is not.” I give examples of these phenomena which means one is vague regarding life in the universe, and constantly making life difficult for oneself. Since one makes life difficult for oneself, then how can one have any kind of joyous. Therefore, learning the Buddha’s way, the first thing we need to learn is the concept of the Buddha of Joyous Light. After learning the

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha Buddha’s concept then you can be happy, even let go of your own life and death, moreover you can let other beings receive great benefit by attaining Buddha enlightenment, therefore, arising with great rejoicing. Why not be happy and go ahead with it.

8. Buddha of Wisdom Light, using the great wisdom (Prajna), therefore, conquering all afflictions. Wisdom in Sanskrit is Prajna. “Prajna” cannot be fully represented by using the word wisdom yet, it merely represents a tiny portion of it. “Prajna” is the most important function of Buddha-nature. What function? It sees through the Infinite and endless phenomena (as 84,000 phenomena) of the universe and at first glance is called “Prajna”. Using the example of the Sixth Patriarch, when the Sixth Patriarch went to see the Fifth Patriarch; The Fifth Patriarch asked him, “What are you here for?” He replied with one statement, “I am here to become Buddha.” This is the difference. When average people see the Master, the Master asks, “What are you here for?” Most people would say, “I am here to help, to do etc.” and say a whole bunch of garbage. The Sixth Patriarch stated, “I am here to become Buddha.” Other people speak, “You are a savage from the barbarian region of the south, and you think of becoming a Buddha?” They looked down on him.

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The Sixth Patriarch said, “People have north and south, there is no difference in Buddha-nature.” There are numerous kinds of people, yet there is no difference in Buddha-nature. There is no defiled energy and ability in the life essence, there is no difference. Therefore, he said to the Fifth Patriarch, “The disciple’s mind (the Sixth Patriarch himself) often emerges wisdom.” We are the contrary, our mind often merges afflictions. Why does he often emerge wisdom? Because he can clearly see “who-people, what-matters, where-places, how and what-things” and not put it in his mind, it is as simple as that. In fact, there is no mystery with the Buddha teaching, it is a wonderful method of “leave no impression” but for the average person, it is extremely difficult. For example, you saw a person today as your debt collector and it was especially annoying. How can you say that you do not leave an impression? If a person has good natural affinity, everyone is delighted to see each other, how can they not leave an impression of it? The method of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha has a good advantage and helps you to turn all the impressions to either good or bad in the name of Amitabha and only mindfulness of this Amitabha. After thinking for a long time you will become Amitabha. The reason is very simple. Therefore, conquering all afflictions: “Conquering” means let go, let go of all afflictions in the mind. Using what to let go? Wisdom. Wisdom is rationality. Some people say applying rationality to everything and life is very boring. I tell you, when using rationality for

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha a period, emotion and feeling are both not needed. You act every day and play without hindrance. When you encounter anyone, you know how to play with them at a glance, acting exactly the same as if it were real, and helping them “conquer confusion to uncover enlightenment, chanting Amitabha to become Buddha”. If everybody can attain this cognitive sphere, then should not our world be called the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land? This is precisely using the great wisdom (Prajna), therefore, conquering all afflictions.

9. Buddha of Incessant Radiance constantly radiates body light; therefore, it is unceasing. Incessant is the unceasing pure mind. When people sit here, one minute has 60 seconds and their delusional thoughts and attachments are more than 60 seconds likely to arise 70 to 80 delusional thoughts in a second, and they cannot detect it. If one does not arise delusional thoughts then one begins to sleep. So, one either has attachments or afflictions. An ordinary person is incessant about past karma. Yet here, incessant refers to incessant chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha. Chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha is incessant chanting enlightenment, the enlightenment condition which has never been interrupted because of this karmic-hinderance. This state is precisely constantly radiates body light. “Constantly” means incessant. Light is an energy. When your body and mind has purified of defiling illusion, your energy then radiants. Describing it in a secular way, you look especially good. I used to look at a venerable Master and when he got off the stage his complexion was not good, but the moment he spoke on stage to explain the Infinite Life Sutra, I could see the top of his head beamed with light. This kind of light condition has obtained the support power

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of all Buddha and Bodhisattva of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;past, present, and futureâ&#x20AC;? from the ten directions of the universe. All the space fills golden light that is when all Buddha and Bodhisattva energy assembles, this golden light is particularly powerful shines on everywhere of space of the purified mind in its nature state. Therefore, the Buddha of Incessant Radiance constantly radiates body light precisely shines everywhere. Why is Buddha constantly radiate light? It is because he wants to gather all living beings to chant (mindfulness) Amitabha wholeheartedly, to escape suffering and attain happiness, and to return to the way of enlightenment. Amitabha is always within the state of Samadhi (stillness of mind control), the mind has purified of defiling illusion and radiance. His all-pervading illumination is never unceasing; therefore, Incessant Radiance is exactly Infinite Light and is also addressed as Inconceivable Radiance simultaneously.

10. Buddha of Inconceivable Radiance, incredible function without limit, therefore, it is inconceivable. Incredible function without limit, incredible means inconceivable. Incredible function is chanting the name of Amitabha to turn the six roots (eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body and mind) into supernatural ability and wisdom power, that is: 1. Turning the 8th consciousness to become the Great Perfect Mirror Wisdom. 2. Turning the 7th consciousness to become the Wisdom regarding All Things Equally and Universally. 3. Turning the 6th consciousness to become the Wisdom of Marvelous Observing Cognition.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha 4. Turning the 5th consciousness to become the Wisdom of Perfect Achievement. After recovering the “Four Wisdoms” and the “Three Bodies (Dharma Body, Reward Body, and Transformation Body)”, that is the pure essence of self-nature called inconceivable which means chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha is inconceivable. This is not the cognitive sphere from using the deluded concepts in an antagonistic way, it is all due to chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha to detach from all things in relative opposition and to recover the essence. Only then is it incredible function. This kind of incredible function owes itself to the mindfulness of the pure mind which occurs this major function of becoming a Buddha. Therefore, some people address Amitabha to be the Buddha of Inconceivable Radiance because he is of utmost brilliance, and with this brilliance to help all living beings universally. In the Sutra, they refer to Amitabha as: The light emission of the highest revered one, the king of all Buddha. Why is he the king of all Buddha? Because the vow power and illuminosity are the utmost convenient and pure; furthermore, it is the incredible function without limit. An ordinary person only needs to use one method of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha and they must not make use of expedient means, and naturally open the mind to attain the state of never receding. Such supreme benefit for which, no methods from other schools have the hope of catching up to. Yet, this kind of pureness and incredible function, speaking truly, everyone can attain after reaching the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land. Indeed, therefore, it is inconceivable.

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11. Buddha of Ineffable Luminosity, completeness with all moral excellence, therefore, it is indescribable. Ineffable is praising to the extreme and cannot praise higher which is the supreme incredible functions. Why? It is completeness with all moral excellence. Completeness means to possess with good fortune and wisdom perfectly. All moral excellence refers to the boundless power of merit gained through cultivation practice, the power of one’s original vows, the power of wisdom, the power of supernatural ability, etc. of selfnature abilities. Moral excellence is the function of enlightenment, the illumination, supernatural power, the power generated through the practice cultivation, mercy and compassion, Prajna, and so on. It is the infinite self-nature being used. Until then this time it is called “the genuine ubiquitous supernatural power”. “Attaining the Six Supernatural abilities” as spoken generally by the ordinary person, for example, the ability of divine vision, the ability of divine hearing, and so on, are very limited. Yet, the supernatural ability of Amitabha can assist all living beings of ten directions of the universe to chant (mindfulness) Amitabha and become Buddha (Amitabha). Thus, the Buddha of Ineffable Luminosity has possessed all moral excellence of Buddha and Bodhisattva of the ten directions and their most excellent vow power. Even more, obtaining extreme praise by all Buddha it is indescribable. In that case, this ubiquitous supernatural power is completeness with all moral excellence and also is called the Buddha of the Light Surpassing the Sun and the Moon.

12. Buddha of the Light Surpassing the Sun and the Moon, observing Heaven and Earth (means sure of the whole outcome and reflect on the universe), therefore, it surpasses everything.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha Buddha of the Light Surpassing the Sun and the Moon surpasses all the radiant self-nature merit enlightenment body. Sun and Moon represents daylight and the moonlight, both are the brightest illuminators in our world. Why can he surpass it? Because he has completely revealed the original vow power of Amitabha and his pure radiant essence. Since his pure essence has been revealed, then he can observe Heaven and Earth, therefore, it surpasses everything. Very simply, observing Heaven refers to the wisdom with omniscient penetrative ability of all unhindered and observing Earth refers to reflecting on the enlightenment nature. If the living beings are shined upon by this wisdom, penetrating everything, and with unhindered the Light Surpassing the Sun and the Moon, instantly, this Light can evoke your Buddha-nature, so you become Buddha quickly. This is like what we often say: a person who is about to be reborn to the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land sees Amitabha to come to meet and receive them, once the Amitabha’s light shines upon them, then their skill upgrades one level again. Originally is one born to be at the lowest class of the inferior rank and is upgraded to the highest class of the superior rank. This kind of inconceivableness, therefore, it surpasses everything. This is the unexcelled nirvana merit and enlightenment virtue of Amitabha’s original vow power of “self-surpassing and surpass others” and “Self-surpassing one” who has surpassed the ordinary person’s self-power. “One surpasses others” is one who has surpassed any sect. Also, “self-surpassing one” has surpassed one’s own selfnature merit. “One surpasses other” has surpassed the original pledged vows of all Buddha. The incredible Amitabha, surpasses everything incomparably! Mentioning this “self-nature light” is what condition after all? It is the emanating light of all living being’s inherent life essence. Since we

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are very strange to it, if you see this light now you will surely be scared and afraid because it is too strong, and it surpasses the sun a thousand of billion times than the sunlight. At the point of your death you will see this light, but it appears very briefly. And everyone can see it, except one who is “greatly deceitful and wicked” and does not go through “the intermediate existence (transitional state) between death and reincarnation” and immediately drops down to the Avici Hell. Otherwise, the average person will all be able to see this self-nature light. The moment of seeing it you will need to confirm instantly, only then you can detach from the reincarnation of rebirth and death; if not, it disappears. How to confirm? If once you see it and say that light is me, then it is successful. Then you will stop having the illusory dream of life and death, and you will not enter the cycle of reincarnation. But there are too few people who have this effort. In that case, the method to call upon is “the salvation method from the state of intermediate existence”. “Salvation from the state of intermediate existence” mostly relies on others to remind you. “The salvation method from the state of intermediate existence” is explained in detail in The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying. This way of confirming and the steps are the very basic function of knowing how to practice Buddhism, but very few people understand and follow. However, the method of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha is different because the condition of chanting Amitabha is supported by Amitabha’s majestic power, and every living being has no fear and directly enters the utmost pure radiance of the universe. At that time, you will immediately understand self-essence is Amitabha, it is without duality or distinction. Furthermore, the luminosity of Amitabha is stronger than your self-nature’s luminosity a thousand times more. Precisely it surpasses all radiance, but it is not harsh to the eyes and is instead gentle and free from resistance, and it is refreshing and

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha serene. Every living being turns toward him at once, feeling friendly and very close, merciful illumination to awaken the mind, compassion and wisdom without delusion, and completely without regression of mindfulness and having attained enlightenment. This is a supreme incomparable method of reaching the sky in a single bound. Therefore, I say Amitabha’s original vow is indeed to call self-surpassing and surpassing of others, and surpasses everything. This is truly helping all universally. Talking about in that same world-period there were twelve successive Tathagatas, appearing in the world makes sense. The name of the twelve successive Tathagatas, each one indicates the preceding Tathagata’s meaning and also connects with the next Tathagata meaning. All the “words and language” explained in the Buddhist Sutra are all revealed unintentionally from the natural capacity of Tathagata. All are the true features of Amitabha. It is absolutely not like the novel story written based on your conscious mind. Therefore, each word and phrase from the discourse of the Buddha all contains infinite meaning. We must understand the Sutra concept truly and then we can practice cultivation. Today most of you are beginners. For a beginner to sit here and listen without feeling vexed and impatient demonstrates you already possess past wholesome roots. However, you have not turned your secular concept because if this concept turns then you are in the unity of knowing and cultivation practice. The Buddha teaching is “difficult to know but easy to practice”. Some people stated, “Letting go is easier said than done, being disillusioned with everything should be very easy. Being disillusioned with all that we are already disillusioned with, but to let go is extremely difficult.”

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Truthfully, you are not disillusioned with everything. Letting go is to be disillusioned with all, and vice versa. What are you disillusioned with? It is to really be able to see the phenomena of the universe. For example: This body is composed of carbohydrates and the new replaces the old daily; is it real? From childhood to adulthood and until death, at the end of life one says, “Life is but a dream”. Is that real? If you can truly experience this now, then your secular concept has changed. The concept turns to “non-arising and non-ceasing of all phenomena” or turns into “without rebirth and without recurring death”. What is “without rebirth and without recurring death”? It is regarding being bothered by gain and loss, which should be knocked out by the feet, cancelling it once for all. The real hero is the one with supreme enlightenment who clearly sees the cosmic phenomena. Looking at the statue of Amitabha in the Grand Hall in the temple, the hall is named the “Jeweled Hall of the Great Heroes”. Adding the word “Great” means he is the hero of all heroes who can end the fate of rebirth and recurring death, can subdue afflictions, can see the entire truth of the universe and only then, can they lay claim as being the “Great Hero”. Today we chant (mindfulness) Amitabha, not chanting (mindfulness) for the “Great Hero”. We chant (mindfulness) for the way of being disillusioned with and letting go of the “Great Hero”. Yet, if you practice cultivation for a long time and are not disillusioned with everything and have not let go, truthfully, it is a waste of time. Life is impermanent. Think back when you were young right in front of your eyes, sometimes I think am I dreaming? In the dream I was back to childhood and having a good time. In the morning, I am

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha woken up by hunger and at first sight, it is only halfway through the day. In another few days I will enter a mother’s womb in preparation for rebirth into this world once again. The two aspects of the universe truth are “Life and death are surely unreal and life is absolutely but a dream”. If you can experience this, then it indicates you are starting to uncover enlightenment.

〔經文〕其最後佛，名超日月光，彼佛教我，念佛三昧。

[Sutra text] The last Buddha was called the Light Surpassing the Sun and the Moon. That Buddha taught me chanting Amitabha Samadhi (BuddhaMindfulness Samadhi). Commentary: Over the distant existence of world-periods, the last Buddha is the Buddha of the Light Surpassing the Sun and the Moon. All Buddha in that same world-period, one world-period is equivalent to 1,344 million years here. Currently, our Bhadrakalpa is called the “Good world-period which has 1,000 Buddha”. Shakyamuni Buddha is gone and the Mi-Le Bodhisattva (Maitreya) is currently in the inner court of Tusita Heaven and has not yet descended to be born on Earth to become a Buddha, therefore this duration of time is called the period of Degeneration and Extermination of Buddha teaching, which is the interval time before the (Maitreya) Buddha appears in this world to restore all things. The teaching span of Shakyamuni Buddha is 12,000 years and both periods of the “Right Dharma (teaching)” and the “Semblance Dharma (teaching)” were gone. Presently it is the period of “Degeneration and Extermination of Buddha teaching” which still has 9,000 years remaining. Buddha says:

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In these 9,000 years, only relying on the method of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha can be helped and enlightened. This is because it is very hard to reach attainment through the other methods. Chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha is chanting (mindfulness) at that self-nature condition without affliction. Nowadays living beings are very interesting, telling oneself to chant (mindfulness) that condition of the self-nature without affliction, but one says that they cannot find it. Why? Because one has affliction in bundles. Great Strength Bodhisattva (Mahasthmaprapta) states: The Buddha taught me chanting Amitabha Samadhi (Buddha-Mindfulness Samadhi). That Buddha refers to Buddha of the Light Surpassing the Sun and the Moon. The Buddha of the Light Surpassing the Sun and the Moon is the transformation body of Amitabha Tathagata and is precisely Amitabha. “A” means infinite, “Mita” means quantity or capacity, “Bha” means enlightenment. The Infinite Enlightenment is the Infinite Light and is the Light Surpassing the Sun and the Moon, which are all manifested by Amitabha. Since he is the manifestation of Amitabha, then all Buddha of the past, the present, and the future from ten directions of the universe certainly teach all living beings: By means of chanting (mindfulness) to become Buddha’s “ef-

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha fect” is the “cause”. By means of chanting (mindfulness) this “cause” to become Buddha is the “effect” of self-nature Amita. This uses Amitabha to be the “cause” of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha, yet the attainment of self-nature Amita is the “effect”. Therefore, chanting Amitabha is the “cause”, so attainment will naturally be Amitabha. This is “reversing the effect to be the cause” is chanting Amitabha. Then “reversing the cause to be the effect” is becoming Buddha. It is straight into the “nature of reality” (as the essence). It is truly the original vow merit of Amitabha’s “real wisdom” (as the phenomenal characteristics) and crossing over speedily to the enlightenment shore’s “real benefit” (as the function). This is because chanting Amitabha is endowed with the true cause and effect of the above mentioned three “realms”. This method of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha is extremely wonderful! All phenomena are the absent of inherent existence in nature, but the Law of Causality governs everything in the universe as every cause has its effect, as every effect arises from a cause. Why do all phenomena are the absent of inherent existence in nature? All phenomena are constantly changing every second, momentarily arises and momentarily ceases. In that case, are there any phenomena? Yes, simultaneously having both the absent of inherent existence in nature and the manifested illusory phenomenal characteristics. If you can experience this, then it is already quite uneasy.

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If you can experience simultaneously having both the absent of inherent existence in nature and the manifested illusory phenomenal characteristics, your way of living starts to transform beyond comparison. For example: To be on the scene and seeing a person explain the Sutra, this person is simultaneously having both the absent of inherent existence in nature and the manifested illusory phenomenal characteristics. How should I put it? A person is composed of carbohydrates, and when the ions assemble we say that the person is in the state of “existence”. If the ions dissipate, do we say that this person is in the state of “non-existence”? Wrong. The moment of assembling or dissipation of ions, are both the same – the absent of inherent existence. Assembling or dissipation is merely phenomena and that is all. In fact, the essence is basically has no movement. Like the Pacific Ocean water, that there are piles of water bubbles. The water bubbles symbolize all the many living beings. We are all water bubbles, which is infinitely boundless. I ask you, “Are these water bubbles not the Pacific Ocean?” But because you are obsessed with this water bubble you think that it is the Pacific Ocean, and that Amitabha is he, and not I. Do these have any relation with me? This is wrong, you and I have the same fundamental nature. If you can apply this concept in your daily life, you can detach from the habits of “greed (attachment), aversion, ignorance, arrogance, or suspicious” and detaching from the desires for “fame, wealth, food and drink, sexual love, or sleep”. Once you detach from it, you can start a normal life that does not have the karmic transmigration of rebirth and recurring death.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha Our present reincarnation of life and death has the various karmic transmigrations divided into segments where one dream finishes and then you go to another dream. These six realms are the meaning of the six different categories of dreams. The realm of “Heavens” is when someone wants to be rich and have a high position, where one longs for the realm of Heaven in mind extremely, starts doing good deeds until they achieve the state of pure wholesome. Then one ends up in the realm of Heaven. The realm of “Hell”: When one is indecisive daily, and full of hatred for this world. After hating to a degree then one ends in the realm of Hell. Of course, there are still states when a person becomes unconscious and ignorant, and they end up in the “Animal” realm. There is another state of greediness, when someone is greedy for this or greedy for that and who is very narrow-minded, then one ends up in the realm of the “Hungry Ghost”. There is also a kind of “fighting”, when a person continually fights to the end they go to the Realm of the “Asuras”. These are the illusory dream phenomena of the six realms. Buddha does not set the six realms; it is through the observation of universal phenomena by the Buddha and his summary. Today if there is any such phenomenon in the mind, the kind of phenomenon that is the strongest then you will reincarnate to that realm in the future. If your ability to chant Amitabha is strong, have mindfulness of Amitabha daily even when you sleep, I guarantee you will end at the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land. So, it does not matter if you sleep, being greedy does not matter, being ignorant does not matter, it all

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does not matter. What is important is your mindfulness on Amitabha? If you want to go to the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land, this mindfulness is truly what you want to be effective. It is not lip service when chanting Amitabha all day long. In that case, we must thoroughly understand going to be born in the Amitabha Pure Land. If one sincerely wants to go and sincerely see this world clearly, then you will succeed such as, how one interacts with the outside world or what business one does; all of these are not important. Like in the realm of animal where many roosters, ants, or mice have gone to be born in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land by chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha. I used to have a friend who was very special. His girlfriend was killed in a car accident, her face was completely unrecognizable and laid in the freezer at the funeral home. When he opened it, at first glance, he said, “Sigh! It is so ugly, even there was no smile; come, come, come, I chant Amitabha to help your soul find peace”. When he did it there was no crack on her face, but a smiling expression appeared. Even her body would have been stiff, it immediately became soft. Hey! He has this kung fu. Also, he saw a bird in a cage, and he talked with the bird, “I think your living is no better than dying.” The bird also nodded. He said, “Then how about I chant Amitabha to help your soul find peace?” After he did in a short while, the bird left immediately. This is genuine people and true events, he has such great supernatural ability. How does he get it? His mind has purified of defiling illusion.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha I met this person who was only in his twenties at this time and his appearance was not good, and the average person looked down on him but he did not mind. Having said that, this ability is not just for him, you and I have it inherently. Like when we recite the Sutra, we recite it to the state of selflessness. I have a friend who does Sutra recitation and from the moment he starts to the time he rises from the seat many days have already passed. I have an elder family member, when he sits for meditative concentration, 27 days have passed and he does not have to eat. Where does his ability come from? He said, "I do not think about it. When I feel hungry and wake up, 27 days was already gone." If he did not have the idea of being hungry, he merged with the universe into one. This ability is available to everyone, the question is whether you have developed it. Here Great Strength Bodhisattva (Maha-stamaprapta) says: This Buddha taught me the chanting Amitabha Samadhi (BuddhaMindfulness Samadhi). What is Chanting Amitabha Samadhi? I am going to have good talk about this today: We often hear people say, “What do you usually do?” Reply: “I chant (mindfulness) Amitabha.” Asking again, “How does the chanting Amitabha go?” Reply: “No good, too many afflictions.” Again, I asked, “How are you doing?”

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Reply: “I do not chant anymore.” Asking him again after six months or a year later, he said, “Now I have converted to Christianity.” Christ says: Whoever believes in me shall have eternal life. Be not afraid, just believe. I can escape from bonds and obtain freedom from transmigration, karma, suffering and so forth." If you think about it, is there such a way to let people off so lightly? If there is such a good way that is simple, all people put trust in yourself and is it likely quicker to escape from all resistance than trusting others? In fact, speaking about Christianity the true meaning of the “Lord” is to be “able to decide their own”. Modern people have all misinterpreted this. The Bible represents the undefiled guidebook, which is precisely the mind in charge. The word “pure” from the Pure Land Buddhism implies the mind has purified of defiling illusion. How is the mind purified? Where is the mind? Is it not the faculty of thought in your head? No, it is not because that thing cannot be controlled by itself, therefore, it is not the mind. Is the mind in the head? No, that is wrong. Is the mind inside the heart? It is also wrong. After death, where does the mind go?

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha What does the mind look like after all? If explaining further, if the mind has a form, what form is it? Your delusion is even more serious. For example, this cup that everyone sees; what is it? It is water and a cup. Yet Buddha and Bodhisattva do not look at it like this. Buddha and Bodhisattva see a bunch of ion combinations. If you look at it, this is a cup with water in it. You did not know that it was a wrong read, then you truly do not know. Why? Because you are obsessed with the external image which means you are taken by the phenomena. The “Buddha vision” sees this cup the same as the existence of open space. There is not a single thing originally. The Buddha or the Bodhisattva connect with and speak the language of all beings, but he sees the minds of all beings clearly. What kind of mind do all living beings have? They have three minds and two mental consciousness. The three minds are the minds of the past, the present and the future. The two mental consciousness are like this, like that, all in confusion, and the mood fluctuates tens of thousands of times a day. If you see people who have become enlightened, there is no emotion. They do not have a rigid face but are rather giggling and laughing however, their mind is unmoved by any phenomenon and is clear. You think this is a cup, seriously, it is misperception. Our eye vision is entirely a misperception, the “heavenly eye” vision is also a misperception. The misperception of a “heavenly eye” is better than a “physical eye”, but it is still a misperception. The “wisdom eye” vision is still a misperception, but better than a “heavenly eye”. The “(Bodhisattva) dharma eye” vision is not a misperception. To see by “(Bodhisattva) dharma eye” vision one must has attained the 8th Stage Bodhisattva (at the 48th of 52 Bodhisattva cultivation tiers) and beyond

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because one is seeing the truth. The 8th Stage Bodhisattva sees the movement in the Alaya consciousness described by Quantum Mechanics as the phenomena of the “photon’s fluctuation”. We now only know that there is a 6th consciousness, and there are the 7th, 8th, and 9th consciousness in the Buddhist Sutra. The 8th Stage Bodhisattva can perceive extreme subtle movements in the 8th consciousness which are extremely subtle thoughts. Yet, after a person becomes Buddha with “Buddha vision”, then they possess five kinds of perfect vision, the physical eye, the heavenly eye, the wisdom eye, the Dharma eye and the Buddha eye. All seeing the original truth about life in the universe. Thus, Buddha and Bodhisattva see this cup and water, they see the non-arising and non-ceasing (nothing has been created and nothing can be destroyed) of all phenomena, and they also see the coexistent of arising and ceasing at the same time of all phenomena. Therefore, the hardest part of the Buddha teaching to comprehend is this point. It is not hard, but your head cannot be turned around. In other words, chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha is chanting (mindfulness) what? If speaking about the “mind”, it cannot be found. The “mind” is the delusional thoughts and attachments of humans. The three minds of the past, the present and the future cannot be attained, then where is the mind? The true mind is spread all over the existence of open space and everywhere in the universe. The true mind is the essence of the universe. For what reason is the essence of the universe possibly lost? The Buddha says: All living beings are Buddha originally. Since we are Buddha originally, for what reason are we lost?

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha We are Buddha originally means we have Buddha-nature and that is all, just like a gold mine whose content is gold with impurities, but impurities need to pass through cultivation then it can be removed. What is impurity? It is the delusional thoughts, discriminations and attachments, namely the unenlightened conditions. After the moment all unenlightened conditions are eradicated and you have recovered your pure enlightenment nature, only then are you a genuine Buddha. In that case, how to eradicate all the unenlightened conditions? First, you need to have selflessness, you need to have a concept of “no-self”. No-self then there is no mind. No mind, then there is no false view of others or I, right or wrong. Seriously, you can be at play amongst the supernatural power everyday. Like being together with others: Someone said, “He is bad.” Then they ask you, “Is he bad?” Then you smile. Again, someone said, “He is very good.” You smile too. How good or how bad he is you know it well; however, these phenomena have no way to affect you. Everything needs to propagate the truth on a large scale to transform the whole world. The large scale is to what extent? The large scale needs to have no life and death, no unenlightened conditions; thus, all afflictions are then resolved. Therefore, Buddha and Bodhisattva want to help all living beings to eradicate the unenlightened conditions and attain Buddha enlightenment. The most reliable and convenient, the fast and direct method is to achieve Chanting Amitabha Samadhi, to have full self-confirmation of the supreme enlightenment. When the measure of your mind extends large to the infinite boundless, then it is truly all in perfection.

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This Chanting Amitabha Samadhi, the first, one knows how to do the chanting (mindfulness). The Chinese character for the word “chanting (mindfulness) 念” is combined by two words. On top is the word “present 今” and on the bottom, is the word “mind 心”. The “present mind” means “now, at this moment, in this instant”. The word “Buddha” means enlightenment, and after enlightened then one has selflessness, forgetting the self and others. “Forgot” does not mean you become an idiot, it is after forgot you become clearer. To be subtle, there is no such thing as forgetting and clarity. One needs to let go of forgetting, let go of clarity too. It is all knocked into one. The lowest level of Chanting Amitabha Samadhi brings you and Amitabha together in mind. It is the state without delusional thought for 24 hours, and your mind is fixed and completely undisturbed for 24 hours but you are very clear about all. In this state you can surely go and be born in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land. This is the basic effort of Chanting Amitabha Samadhi. If you want to chant (mindfulness) Amitabha for 24 hours, then it depends on your natural affinity. Master Shan-Tao (善導) once stated: All living beings, whether one can go to be born in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land, all depends on encountering one’s predestined affinity, yet each one differs in its extent. This predestined affinity, for some people before the end of the dying manifests: An ancient person named Chang San-Ho used to be a butcher. In the end, the phenomenon of Hell manifested before him. Encountering one’s predestined affinity a Buddhist Monk passing by his door saw him screaming, “This is disastrous! A lot of

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha cows have come to collect debts from me, do not be this way, I do not want to go with you.” The Monk heard this and immediately pushed the door open and told him to chant Amitabha. The butcher chanted for less than 10 seconds and he saw Amitabha come to meet and receive him instantly, he followed Amitabha and left. This is encountering one’s predestined affinity, yet each one differs in its extent. Like King Ajatasatru of the Magadha Empire in north India (491BCE–461BCE), he repents to the end when dying. To what extent? After he went to be born in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land to attain the middle class of the superior rank. The power of his repentance was too great. The power of repentance depends entirely on whether there is sincerity at the time. If there is sincere power when repenting, your Buddh-nature manifests instantly. And a misleading mind does not exist after repentance, after having selflessness you are then in charge. Therefore, the importance of Chanting Amitabha Samadhi are: 1. Every moment no thought of “greed (attachment), aversion, ignorance, arrogance, suspicious”. 2. Every moment, the organ of hearing is focused on listening “A-Mita-Bha”, hearing it clearly, chanting it clearly. The mind does not focus externally, every thought is all focused on the name of the Buddha. This power is tremendous. For some people, only chanting the name of Amitabha once a day is enough, this power of chanting can make a person become purified of defiling illusion all day long. Externally, one socializes by laughing and giggling with others, as if they are in a daze but to be honest, one’s mind is clear regarding the roots of all living beings are well known.

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One knows the skill to face different persons to use different manners and different techniques to carry on the communication. This way of playing with one’s supernatural ability, if you can sincerely repent and chant (mindfulness) Amitabha then everyone can do it. Samadhi is “an internal state of tranquility, exempt from all external sensations”, achieved after the eradication of unenlightened conditions. If you chant Amitabha and go to the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land, you attain Chanting Amitabha Samadhi. In the human world, you can also chant Amitabha to attain a similar state of Samadhi. The similar state of Chanting Amitabha Samadhi refers to 24 hours without delusional thoughts. Why? Because you have not eradicated the unenlightened condition. If you have eradicated the unenlightened condition, you have attained the state of “one mind undisturbed in enlightenment”. Chanting Amitabha Samadhi has three levels: 1. The highest level is called one mind undisturbed in enlightenment. 2. One-pointed concentration without scattering to all phenomena. 3. The lowest level is unifying with Amitabha in mind for 24 hours without distracting thoughts. Attainment of one-pointed concentration without scattering to all phenomena is the concept of “self-I” being broken. Chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha to the similar state of Samadhi then attachment of the illusory self is broken; yet the attachment to phenomena (holding onto things as realities) has not been broken then one has only attained the status of Arhat. If the Arhat uses his 9th Stage meditative concentration effort as Samadhi to chant (mindfulness) Amitabha, it

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha can be incredible. When one sees Amitabha radiate a light on him, his efficacy can be upgraded from the “Realm of Temporary” to the “Realm of Permanent Reward and Venerability”, which is the cognitive sphere of one mind undisturbed in enlightenment, that is the status of Mahasattva with Dharma body (like Guan-Yin Bodhisattva’s level). There used to be an old lady from the Chiang-Chun Township in Tainan County, Taiwan who chanted Amitabha normally. She was chanting Amitabha standing on feet and saw Amitabha came to meet and receive her, then she left to be born in Amitabha Pure Land. With this effort, someone speculated that she may have attained the sphere of one mind undisturbed in enlightenment. Others who chant (mindfulness) Amitabha has manifested one’s Six Supernatural ability, but they do not speak about it. Why? He stated, “Throughout my life I am an under achiever, my appearance is ugly and uneducated. If I say that I have recovered my Six Supernatural abilities, I fear people may slander the Buddha’s teaching. Slandering causes a person to have retribution for evil acts and also, let all living beings fallen. Therefore, I never show my supernatural abilities.” He would rather perform for everyone at the end of his life that he truly let go all and was disillusioned with everything. He was on his feet and said, “Amitabha is here already; good, I need to go.” In that instant, he left standing. This is called “teaching by his own example”. It was truly elegant and unconventional. Before, Master Di-Xian (諦閑)and Master Tan-Xu (倓虛) both mentioned there was a craftsman who fixed leaking pots, and who chanted Amitabha on his feet and left standing.

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This man used to look after a small temple in the countryside of Ning-Bo in China, he was uneducated and spent his lifetime repairing pots. He felt that life was too bitter and he could not bear to be bitter any more, so he wanted to become a monk. But he was quite old aged and could not handle many things so he went to seek help from the Master. Master Di-Xian was very compassionate and said, “Do not stay in the Monastery to avoid others making life difficult for you. You should go to a small temple at the countryside of Ning-Bo, sincerely chant (mindfulness) Amitabha. When you get tired from chanting then rest and after resting, then chant again.” He did not understand, but he followed the instruction of the Master. Knowing nothing, he chanted Amitabha daily. He chanted until one day he spoke to his helper who was an old lady, “Tomorrow you do not have to cook for me.” She asked, “Why?” He said, “I have something to do, no need to cook for me tomorrow.” After the old woman left it did not take long, he was on his feet and went to be born in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land. In addition, he still stood there for 3 days waiting for his Master to help him with his funeral arrangements. The old woman, his helper, returned after 3 days to check on him. She entered the door and at first glance, saw him standing there, strangely, his breathing had already stopped. She was startled and hurriedly went to tell Master Di-Xian. The venerable Master Di-Xian came and looked at him and said, “This is exceedingly and extremely wonderful. Even the emi-

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha nent monks were not as good as you with such an elegant and unconventional way to go to be born in Amitabha Pure Land! Really you have not wasted your monk life.” This is the best proof of attaining Chanting Amitabha Samadhi. Everyone please think twice and think again. This kind of example has been around recently, I have talked a lot before. There are also people who go to be born in Amitabha Pure Land in the 21st century, most are sick, but it does not matter if you get sick. Why? These kinds of sicknesses, speaking bluntly, is not a sickness. Before, there was one practitioner who chanted Amitabha, and he was sick for more than 10 days and did not eat. Others asked him, “Are you not hungry?” He said, “How can I be hungry? Guan-Yin Bodhisattva (Avalokitesvara) has given me sweet dew water to drink daily.” People did not believe it. There is no need to be in disbelief about this. Just like many miracles of Christianity and Catholicism, people get help from the Holy Mother Mary or Jesus Christ. What is this? Phenomenon stems from the mind such as, thinking about the Buddha in mind, then Buddha manifests and thinking about “greed (attachment), aversion, ignorance”in mind, then “greed (attachment), aversion, ignorance” manifest. Chanting Amitabha Samadhi is difficult to know but is easy to practice which is still the same old statement. Why is it difficult to know? Knowing the cosmic phenomena is unreal, knowing life is but a dream is difficult. Why is it difficult? One’s concept cannot be turned over, even being told not to be bothered and worry every day, one just cannot help it. One cannot change it. If the concept changes, it changes to the concept of Jesus Christ, or changes to the concept of Amitabha, then you will be successful.

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In other words, religion should be education. Education itself is to educate you how to comprehend the unknown world. Chanting Amitabha Samadhi is educating you to understand the living style of Buddha and Bodhisattva. The Bliss World of Pure Land is the living style and enjoyment of Amitabha, that is the original pure radiance life body of everyone. All kinds of teaching and all phenomena is an education. Life, most people are confused living out one’s days. To be honest, all are like a school of silver carps moving down a stream. The wise one sees there is no time at all. Does space exist? No, there is no space at all. Time and space both do not exist, how is there life and birth? No life and death is called Samadhi, the right meditative stabilization to overcome all disturbing thoughts is also called the Samadhi of the Buddha-nature inherent in all living beings. This is the immovable truth within the original life energy of the universe. It is totally not subject to any influence. That is: All matters are within Buddha-nature which is ultimately inexhaustible and indestructible. That to be the Great Surangama Samadhi. Presently, we explain Sutra as “doing large-scale Buddha-work of transforming all beings in a dream”, this is all being “in a dream”. Some people are in a dream and are still having another dream “having a dream of dreams in a dream”. A dream is unreal, if you want to take it as real then you are dreaming again. The ancients had a poem: All flowers will fall out eventually, however spring germination is endless, Mountains are naturally high, rivers naturally deep. All flowers will fall out eventually expresses that phenomena are constantly changing. However, Spring germination is endless

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha expresses Buddha-nature will never be disturbed by life and death; it is eternal and everlasting. Mountains are naturally high, rivers naturally deep, means according to circumstances free from resistance, letting things take its course; yet, not only to integrate harmoniously with this world but also being unhindered mutually. This is wonderful, learning the Buddha’s way starts from here, then you have success. Therefore, Chanting Amitabha Samadhi is turning your concept then corresponding with the action. What is the action? It is when chanting Amitabha, you hear it clearly and chant it clearly. Everything is according to circumstances. When seeing an enemy who is an illusion assembled by ions and when viewing something you like, all are unreal and then the whole world is at peace. Even sleeping, one is not truly sleeping. I have seen people who have not slept and radiates light for 24 hours. He has no idea of sleeping and does not eat too. Just like the venerable Monk Guang-Qin (廣欽), he basically does not need to eat. He ate fruit for the sake of showing people that he eats. Does he need sleep? He does not sleep, he chants (mindfulness) Amitabha one by one silently. I have seen this person, body and mind has purified and without defilement, no delusional thoughts and no attachments. Whatever you ask him anything, he knows it all. The thing is that he never puts it in his mind and he said: When people come to the world is living in vain and dying in vain, do not know anything; it is better to chant (mindfulness) Amitabha to recover your original pure true self is more crucial. This is the true attitude of learning the Buddha’s way. A true and honest practitioner who is a good example of all living beings learning the Buddha’s way and chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha.

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This time to meet again is hard to come by, a few out of town practitioners are a rarity to come once. They have exhibited many different conditions, some people like to fall asleep, listen to Sutra explanation while sleeping, some listen very conscientiously, and some is their first experience and do not know what the Sutra is driving at. Of course, these are the deep-seated wholesome roots of the past it is just this circumstantial cause (predestined affinity) now manifested. In that case, you have not completely become enlightened but, so long as you have Amitabha and the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land in mind, even one second before dying, there is hope to become Buddha. So, everybody counts on going to the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land in the future.

〔經文〕譬如有人，一專為憶，一人專忘，如是二人，若逢不逢，或見非見。

[Sutra text] Suppose there was a person who recollects wholeheartedly about someone, but that someone who recollects has wholeheartedly forgotten about the other. If two such people were to meet, even if they were to see each other, they would not take notice. They would not recognize each other. Commentary: The major emphasis in this section is about the living beings in the six realms (the heavens, asuras, humans, animals, hungry ghosts and hells), or the Ten States of Existence (as the heavens, asuras, humans, animals, hungry ghosts, the hells, sravaka, Arhat, Pratyekabuddha, Bodhisattva, and Buddha).

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha Before we talk about the six Realms, why do we need to include the Realms of the Four Sages (Sravaka, Pratyekabuddha, Bodhisattva and Buddha)? It is because all the Ten States of Existence are caused by delusional thoughts. The only exception is the One Reality Dharma Realm (the inherent pure nature world of all living beings), whereas all have delusional thoughts. Yet, Buddha and Bodhisattva within the Ten States of Existence have not yet eradicated the unenlightened condition. Without eradicating the unenlightened condition, then it means one still initiates delusional thoughts. Today, if you have “eradicated one grade of the unenlightened condition, to self-confirm the truth with one grade of Dharma Body”, then you will see your true nature and essence and no delusional thought arises. I trust the older practitioners know about this aspect already. The newcomers have not quite developed a deep understanding and do not comprehend. The Sutra scripture seems very simple, and is easy for everyone to understand; however, its implied meaning is very profound. What is the extent of its profundity? At a minimum, only those are the same level as the Buddha Tathagata can truly understand it. All Buddha Tathagata there are 41 levels of “Mahasattvas with Dharma Body”, one must cultivate to the level of “eradicating the unenlightened condition” to be able to advance into the significance of the Sutra. This is because the outward appearance of the Sutra scripture seems simple, however, the implied meaning of the Sutra contains profound truth. Yet the essence of the universe is absolutely without delusional thoughts. This state of no delusional thoughts is precisely the eradication of unenlightened condition. If you have delusional thoughts and attachments, you cannot be called wholeheartedly. So, to attain Chanting Amitabha Samadhi one must be wholeheartedly. The Infinite Life Sutra states:

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The mind fixed in one direction undistracted and wholeheartedly chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha. Wholeheartedly refers to one’s mind is occupied by nothing. The purified mind of defiling illusion is “non-arising of distracting thought means sincerity”. “Thought” is the present mind, which is at this very moment. Wholeheartedly chanting (mindfulness) means that at this very moment the mind has purified and is without distracted thought. Just chant (mindfulness) Amitabha. The purpose of wholeheartedly chanting (mindfulness) is calling your body and mind to immediately enter the world of Amitabha Tathagata. Where is the realm of truth for Amitabha Tathagata? It is everywhere, all over the existence of space, extending to the universe where the purified mind is in its nature state. All is Amitabha Tathagata. Speaking from the aspect of science, “the realm of truth” is the ultramicrowaves. Like the X-ray, infrared ray, short wave, or long wave, these all belong to a coarse kind of wave motions. Yet, the Buddha himself is the ultra-microwaves of the universe, to have neither phenomena nor consciousness. In that case, we have talked about the “three minds of the past, the present and the future” and “two consciousness of discrimination and attachment” it also does not have however, there exists the state of “non-arising and non-ceasing of all phenomena”. The explanation from the scientist perspective about “nonarising and non-ceasing of all phenomena” known as “the original non-being from which being is produced” is the essence of “Prajna”. It is the primary driving force and vitality (life power) within the universe of “neither light nor materiality”. Then do we, the ordinary ones, have this essence? Of course, everyone has it but we have not put it to use yet. Why not? When people have delusional thoughts, it becomes the unenlightened condition called the “distracting thought” instead of wholeheartedly mindfulness.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha Even if you are an apprentice in the phenomena of humans, you must also be wholeheartedly. After wholeheartedly in learning for a few years then you finished your apprenticeship, which means to attain the quintessence of the Master and become his successor. Then you can be a pinnacle of virtue and ability and be able to undertake the task alone. Thus, wholeheartedly chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha is to chant (mindfulness) at this “life essence of non-arising and non-ceasing”. This is extremely important. All of you should not misinterpret the original intention of the method of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha. The last Buddha was called the Light Surpassing the Sun and the Moon. This Buddha taught me (Great Strength Bodhisattva), by using wholeheartedly chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha, recollects wholeheartedly on Amitabha to attain the Chanting Amitabha Samadhi. The meaning of Samadhi is to express that it transcends time and space, transcends materiality, spirituality, immateriality and non-spirituality, and advances into the sphere of non-arising and nonceasing of all phenomena. This sphere of non-arising and non-ceasing of all phenomena surpasses the “Realization that nothing really arises or perishes”. You have advanced to the last cognitive sphere of the inferior rank of the “Realization of Nirvana”. What attainment of the “inferior” rank of “Realization of Nirvana”? It is the 10th Stage—the Cloud Doctrine Bodhisattva who covers the universe with wisdom and compassion like a great cloud (the 50th of 52 cultivation tiers). Great Strength Bodhisattva (Mahasthmaprapta) is the 11th Stage (the 51st of 52 cultivation tiers), to be an Absolute Universal Enlightenment Bodhisattva (Samyak-Samadhi) whose attainment is “the medium rank of the Realization of Nirvana” and one’s cultivation effort is profound. In that case, the attainment of Tathagata is the “superior”

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rank that has attained an inconceivable perfect sphere then. Buddha, is precisely the function of the “six sense-organs” without discrimination and attachment. Dhyana (Zen) Buddhism states: At the gates of the six sense-organs (eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body and mind), the pure self-nature sends out an illuminating ray and moves the Earth, which brights independently and brilliantly in the whole universe. This speaks about the state of “non-arising and non-ceasing of all phenomena”. In ancient times there was not enough scientific terminology to illustrate this so the average person thought it was: 1. Too abstruse, 2. Too profound, 3. Cannot feel with the hand, cannot hear with the ear, cannot smell with the nose, cannot make contact, cannot imagine in the thought. It was extremely difficult! Today science has proven it to some extent. Like the X-ray, if nobody discovered it and used the machine on the human body to examine by fluoroscopy, who would know? For instance, the “heavenly eye” relates to the pineal gland, a function of the optic nerve. There is nothing mysterious about it. If nobody does the research, then no one would know this is the original ability of humans. The teaching of the Buddha is the same way, it needs to pass through “cultivation wholeheartedly and practice wholeheartedly” and only then can a person develop the unlimited and infinite capabilities in our six sense-organs, to cause the Buddha-nature to appear, to escape from worldly afflictions and obtain freedom, to surpass the transmigrations of rebirth and recurring death, and to ally oneself with the incredible cognitive sphere of non-arising and non-ceasing of all phenomena. Some people say, when you bring yourself and Amitabha together in the mind for 24 hours, that is wholeheartedly.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha One who is wholeheartedly is light emitting. What is light emitting? It is too abstract, light-emitting is when the mind has no distracting thoughts and the “power of thought” recovers to normal to no fluctuation, then the most powerful force arises which can break through all materiality and penetrate through all spirituality. Even better is that it can change the phenomenon of facts. For example, material things can turn into the spiritual condition, and then move it to the minds of all living beings. This is just like Guan-yin Bodhisattva (Avalokitesvara) with 32 responsive manifestations in accordance with the nature or needs of different beings, yet each responsive manifestation is infinitely boundless. Since this is the case, directly explaining, that is like the role of a general nuclear explosion, the elements are constantly reacting to cause energy. However, the Buddha uses his pure mindfulness to take all elements such as atoms, electrons, neutrons, and others, etc. and the quark (the most recent discovery of the tiniest molecule) and, also the paramanu (a micro-dust molecule smaller than a quark) as described in the Surangama Sutra, changing it to light-emitting equation, letting these elements change and vibrate. When that happens, it carries electricity to have light, this is called light-emitting. We all know about thunder and lightning, in fact, there is no such thing as thundering. It is the change of the electromagnetic field itself; it is elements in the space of the universe producing different friction and collisions. It is the result produced from different attachments and delusional thoughts. Just like the elements in a nuclear explosion are constantly being pushed, powerful energy and light happen. Yet, the difference is, Buddha’s light-emitting is purely luminous with the feeling of being refreshed and free from resistance, peaceful and serene. A super wonderful energy can let people’s feeling interacts with Buddha and Bodhisattva moved to respond at once. This is vastly different than the light of a nuclear explosion. One is pure radiance; the other is the energy of affliction. Surely it cannot speak of the two things with the same term.

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Therefore, the Buddha teaching absolutely does not appear as how we see it now by burning incense and worshipping the Buddha or making offerings to the Buddhist Master. Those are all external appearances; it is the teaching of the Buddha. Regarding the doctrines as we have just mentioned when one has genuinely comprehended the truth about the universe, then you can ally yourself with its doctrines, otherwise learning the Buddha’s way is ineffective. If today your mind is fixed and undisturbed, then at once you will see the truth about the universe. Right away you correspond with the energy of all Buddha Tathagata’s original Samadhi nature. This “original Samadhi nature” regards all the elements absolutely without barriers, yet it can drive all the elements. You can do things according to circumstance and are free from resistance, nonexistent of any hindrance. Some people can correspond with it in one minute, some can only correspond with it in one second. Like the venerable Monk Xu-Yun (虛雲), his time of correspondence was very, very long because he was wholehearted and had an unadulterated intellectual function of consciousness, absolutely no movement of thought. When I explain the Infinite Life Sutra about Buddhism arises from conditional causation, Shakyamuni Buddha stated: The Samadhi Wisdom of Tathagata is ultimately freeflowing and limitless. In this case, how long can the Buddha live in his body? He can live for countless millions of existences of the world-periods. Why? It is because of his unmoved mind, which means that he is not affected by fluctuation and equations of any elements. Then our physical body and mind are surely controlled by the combination of equations and fluctuations. How do these combinations and fluctuations form? It is caused by delusional thoughts. The school of Buddhism states:

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha It is the act from oneself that suffers the consequence. This is correct. To activate what kind of delusional thoughts to become what kind of equation, then you will receive the same kind of karmicresult. Your karmic-result is not influenced by anybody else it is all caused by your own equation and it is you who transmits it into your computer. As a result, it might not be quite to your expectation; however, all is done by your own hand. What does the term â&#x20AC;&#x153;smart personâ&#x20AC;? mean? It is a person who sees clearly the cosmic phenomena. Then one absolutely does not have the action of causing any karma. What means not have the action of causing karma? His mind and universe are merged into one and his being in this world is to laugh and giggle with everyone. What is his purpose? There is no purpose. You wonder if his mind has the idea to help all living beings? No, he does not have this idea. Without the idea of helping all living beings, he has already helped all living beings. The energy field of a meditative concentration mind has an inconceivable effect of purifying, of imperturbable stillness of mind control, and upholding. In that case, you pass by him and your disturbed mind stops for a rest, and your body and mind have smooth and steady attainment. This is the wonderful power of upholding the great enlightened one who has the same great wisdom, infinitely merciful and infinitely compassion as Guan-Yin Bodhisattva (Avalokitesvara). Sometimes we appeal to Guan-Yin Bodhisattva (Avalokitesvara), when the manifestation of Guan-Yin Bodhisattva (Avalokitesvara) reveals herself, and disasters vanish. It is her energy that passes though your mind thought reaching your 8th consciousness, her presence appears on the 7th consciousness and the 6th consciousness. Her presence

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appears for a certain extent, depending on your ability to overcome all disturbing thoughts. If your ability to overcome all disturbing thoughts can last for a month, your state is called the “joy of hearing the teaching”. If it only lasts for one or a few seconds, it is “moved to respond through feelings”. But it does not take too long after she reveals herself, when new afflictions come again. If you do not move to respond through feelings, then does the energy of Buddha and Bodhisattva remain on you? Yes, it is eternally there only you do not feel that is all. Therefore, Buddha and Bodhisattva can transform the equation of disastrous-karma plus your mind power of sincerity. Working on two tasks at the same time, then it reaches perfection. Suppose there was a person who recollects wholeheartedly about someone: the lowest level of recollecting is to bring you and Amitabha together in mind for 24 hours without delusional thoughts, there only exists the name of Buddha which is the superficial condition of Chanting Amitabha Samadhi. Because the Sutra text keeps the consistency with the preceding: This Buddha taught me the chanting Amitabha Samadhi (Buddha-Mindfulness Samadhi) therefore, when summarizing, one needs to classify recollects wholeheartedly to Samadhi. But that someone who recollects has wholeheartedly forgotten about the other, it is then all over. All living beings has precisely wholeheartedly forgotten about the other and specifically engaged in the six realms of reincarnation. What is the six realms of reincarnation? It is delusional thoughts and attachments. To have attachment does not matter that much; the main problem is the delusional thought. Today, if there are no delusional thought, how can one have attachment.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha Why have so many delusional thoughts? We cling to manifested phenomenon. Why we cling to manifested phenomenon? Because we do not understand the truth the universe. All is: There is not a single thing originally, where can any dust be provoked. During that time when Dhyana (Zen) Buddhism was predominant, this Gatha phrase was fully correct and closely linked with the realm of the purified mind in its nature state. A practitioner absolutely must experience entry into this. But, this kind of explanation for today’s average person in modern society feels there is no sense of belonging and reliance. How to explain to modern people: 1. There is not a single thing originally, they need something and need to have “non-arising and non-ceasing of all phenomena” to exist, to have an essence of self-nature to rely on and only then one can have a sigh of relief. 2. Also, to show them how to behold one’s Buddha-nature, Tathagata appearing in the world to explain the Twelve Divisions of the Mahayana Canon Volumes, is all about the truth of beholding the Buddha-nature within oneself. Needing to use a variety of methods to inform, how can one see the absolute fundamental reality of the universe. After all what is the absolute fundamental reality? I trust everyone sees it daily. You also see it now, when you go home to sleep you also see it and you still see it regardless any world you have fallen. Therefore, to “see”, you need to “see the Buddha-nature within yourself”, which is certainly not seeing by the physical eye, heavenly eye, wisdom eye, or Dharma eye. It is seeing by the Buddha eye—perfectly

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bright on five kinds of vision (physical, heavenly, wisdom, dharma and Buddha), then you see the complete undefiled phase of the universe. Namely one needs to have cultivation and realization to the highest class of the superior rank of the “Realization of Nirvana” to have effectiveness. This is because the Absolute Universal Enlightenment Bodhisattva (Samyak-Samadhi, the 51st of 52 cultivation tiers) still has one last grade of the unenlightened condition not eradicated yet, as the first thought activation of unenlightened and confusion. Even it is distinguished by the difference of one grade, there is a vast difference when compared to the attainment of Tathagata (completion of 52 cultivation grades), never mind the other status below this level. There is truly no comparison. We have often mentioned the Immovable Stage or the 8th of the ten Stage of Maha-Bodhisattva (the 48th of the 52 cultivation tiers) is already extremely remarkable. Then this “extremely remarkable” is compared with us, the ordinary people. However, from the 9th Stage Bodhisattva looking at the levels below, seeing the 8th Stage Bodhisattva is misery; and from the 10th Stage Bodhisattva looking at the levels below, seeing the 9th Stage Bodhisattva is also misery. From the perspective of Tathagata to look at the levels below the 11th Stage —Absolute Universal Enlightenment Bodhisattva Stage, all levels are misery. The Buddha has often stated: Living in the Threefold Worlds (Triloka) is like living in a burning house (a world of suffering). This is telling everyone that before you see the cosmic truth, you absolutely cannot let go of all. Never mind abiding by the moral precept. Honestly speaking, asking you to abide by the precept of no killing of the living; ask yourself has the thought of killing been in you mind? You do not even know yourself. The images of your 8th consciousness manifest

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha daily before you. For instance, eating a meal, dish after dish of meat, but you still have the image of meat in your head, then all is finished. This matter cannot be resolved here. Where can it be resolved? It needs to get resolved in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land. The Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land has no phenomena and there are no names of things so it is without the situation of arising confusion to act, causing karma. From the very beginning through the transformation from the lotus to the perfect attainment of Buddha, all have no phenomenon. Although there is no phenomenon, there exists the most excellent objects of the five sense-organs, that manifests from the pure mind becoming the extraordinary experience such as, “eyes, ears, nose, mouth, body and mind” to have “sight, sound, scent, taste and touch, and thought”. Yet, on Earth we do not have a purified mind of defiling illusion instead it functions from the delusional mind and attachment mind. Our experience is called “interruption and annihilation”, as the life span has various karmic transmigrations of rebirth and death, things happening in fragments, it exists with arising and ceasing. When is the state of arising and ceasing occurring? Every split second, right this instant. Therefore, arising and ceasing occurs simultaneously. If you can truly see “arising and ceasing occurs simultaneously” in your state of Samadhi (meditative concentration to attain an internal state of tranquility, exempt from all external sensations), you become Buddha and you will unlikely dream of the six realms of reincarnation again. Therefore, the Sutra constantly mentions: To become Buddha can happen every moment. Knowing the condition of Buddha is extremely difficult; however, “knowing is difficult but practicing is easy”. Even though I talk about this continuously for infinite existence of world-periods,

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becoming enlightened are very few. This is because one’s old concept does not change and one obsesses with one’s own concept. You tell them, “You are not human.” One does not believe it. Because one has the concept of being human. What is this human concept? It is the phenomena of being in opposition, such as right versus wrong, kindness versus evil, beauty versus ugliness, good versus bad, reasonable versus unreasonable, etc.; In that case it is all over. You ask Buddha Bodhisattva, “Does reasonable or unreasonable exist?” He replies, “No”. You ask, “Are you Buddha?” He is silent because he does not have this concept. Here we talk about wholeheartedly forgotten about the other, which shows that living beings here are accustomed to forgetting their own self-nature. Do not worry, they are unlikely to forget anything else, but only to forget their self-nature and forgetting that the self is a Buddha. The Sixth Patriarch himself exclaimed: Who would have thought that self-nature is intrinsically pure! Who would have thought that all things are manifestations of self-nature! The Fifth Patriarch asked him, “What are you here for?” He replied, “I am here to be Buddha”. All their actions are an educational display. The Sixth Patriarch also stated, “I, a disciple, constantly merge wisdom from my mind”.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha Because the Sixth Patriarch’s concept differs from all living beings, therefore a person who recollects wholeheartedly about someone, but that someone who recollects has wholeheartedly forgotten about the other. If two such people were to meet, even if they were to see each other, they would not take notice. They would not recognize each other. Speaking unkindly, we are not even able to recognize the presence of Amitabha when he appears before us now. Truly speaking, you are Amitabha, but you do not recognize and absolutely would not admit this. This is because we are unclear what is becoming Buddha is about. Some people research the Sutra their whole life, turning the Buddha teaching into the knowledge of Buddhism. It is all over! Dr. Hu Shi (胡適)is the best example. Becoming enlightened in the Saha Land (Earth) is very simple. This simpleness is to what extend? You can see for yourself the relationship between you and others. 1. Humans certainly have illness, either mentally or physically. 2. Humans all have some sort of involvement, regardless of having either good karma or bad karma, and all are here to collect their debts. In other words, not only are others your debt collector, but you are also here to pay off your debts to others. 3. Humans are bound to die. Death is merely the exchange of time and space. Frankly, is there is no time and space, then death does not exist. Therefore, if you cannot be disillusioned with everything and let go of the above three points, with even the Buddha at your side daily, still is even if they were to see each other, they would not take notice. They would not recognize each other.

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Then what is Buddha or Bodhisattva? One who is not subject to rebirth and recurring death, also does not detach from life and death. If one is still frightened by death and wants to run away from it, then it is all over. One is not a real Buddha or Bodhisattva, one is still an ordinary person. The ordinary person uses dualism as a way to divide; they insist that birth is birth, death is death, and they do not know that birth is precisely death. Getting back to the topic, life and death is only a concept, if you are using concept of dividing, then you are bound to die. Buddha teaching is the concept of “absolute—unconditional” where life and death originally are one; you would not die and also would not be born. Buddha says unborn and undying, everyone should not be mistaken about this, it is not a game of words; instead it is the truth of reality. A moment ago entering this door up until now, how many thoughts have arisen and ceased? It is infinitely boundless. There are atoms in a cell and the electron circles around the atom. The electron is eternally inextinguishable and revolves on its own axis and orbital revolution. Our Earth revolves around the sun and on its own axis. One world unit is 10 billion Milky Way galaxies. Who manifests it? It is manifested by us. Based on deluded perception and the strength of shared karma, a seed is drawn into the womb and hence, the genders of male or female. Returning to our topic, if there exists living beings then there are Buddha and Bodhisattva, if there are no living beings then Buddha and Bodhisattva do not exist. If you can see yourself as the condition of “non-arising and non-ceasing”, then you are successful. I just provided all of the concepts such as, the concept of phenomena, and you within the phenomenon to enter enlightenment. What is enlightenment? It is instantly not having any distracting thoughts and discrimination and then you will see the ultimate essence of things.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha Even if they were to see each other, they would not take notice, mainly speaks about “self-nature”. If one’s self-nature arises discrimination and attachments, it is known as not take notice and when self-nature does not arise discrimination and attachments, it is known as take notice. Does not the school of Buddhism speak about all phenomena dissolving and returning to self-nature? Whether you are studying Sutras, Sutra recitations, chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha, worshipping Buddha, undertaking the regular confession service, or during daily “walking, standing, sitting or lying down”, you can dissolve and return to your self-nature. What is dissolving and returning mean? It is precisely returning to the state of “non-arising and non-ceasing of all phenomena”. After you have established the enlightenment concept for a while, you are no longer lost. After not being lost, your cells will turn into light. Where is the light from? When your cells have no wave motions, only Prajna drives and functions in the condition of “nonarising and non-ceasing”. The driving image consists of atoms which carry electricity and once the electricity discharges it generates light. We know the orbit shape of the uranium ion is like a “lotus flower”. For instance, over 200 some electrons form the orbit in the shape of the Lotus. The sign of the school of Buddhism「卍」represents the infinitely boundless nebular planetary system of the universe. 1. Speaking of “outward appearance”: Represents the solar system, As Heaven maintains vigor through movement, a gentleman should constantly strive for self-perfection. This is the harmonious unification phenomena of humans in the universe. 2. Speaking of the “external activity phenomena”: Billions of Milky Way Galaxies represents the education and enlightenment region of a Buddha.

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3. Speaking of the “intrinsic nature-fundamental essence”: Represents the whole universe, the Buddha-nature which drives all. The large or small radiant scale is expressed by the large or small scope of one’s mind breadth. An ordinary person has a narrow mind and Amitabha has a broad mind. If you truly want to learn the Buddha way, you need to open your mind-capacity to recollect wholeheartedly on Amitabha. As time passes, you will gradually attain Chanting Amitabha Samadhi and enter the Amitabha Ocean of Vows and you will be titled the same as Amitabha’s virtuous title of Infinite Light, Infinite Life. You can shine across the universe where the purified mind is in its nature state, to teach and enlighten all, this would be joyful! They would not recognize each other, means seeing is equivalent to unseeing due to your inattentive mind. This is all living being’s confused and cognitive distortion phenomenon. Everything is uncertain. You ask him, “Have you become a bit more purified?” He replies, “I do not know”. After a couple of days, you ask him again and his answer is, “It is getting a bit better”. All answers were not certain. Therefore, relationships between people often have misunderstandings because their heads are unclear, even during conversation words fail to convey the idea. There is a problem with “you, I, and he” are different in concept. Since everyone does not have know and view things like a Buddha, therefore they cannot unite a common understanding. This is because one has delusional thoughts and attachments all day long. He is deluded in his concept, you are deluded in your concept, how can it be united. Modern people talk about a “common

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha understanding” only referring to sharing common benefits. In this case, is their understanding united? Of course, it is not possible. The thought of ordinary people arises and ceases instantly, how can this possibly be united. Therefore, Buddha and Bodhisattva radiate light to shine on all living beings means they constantly keep in mind their original pledged great vows to help with the salvation of all living beings. However, all living beings refuse to come to their senses and forget Buddha and Bodhisattva. Buddha mindfulness of everyone, yet everyone forgets the Buddha. Chanting Amitabha by mouth without an enlightened mind, how can one move Buddha to respond? This truly is even if they were to see each other, they would not take notice. Therefore, they would not recognize each other, is indeed a vivid description of modern people.

〔經文〕二人相憶，二憶念深，

[Sutra text] If two people recollect each other until they develop deep memories for one another, Commentary: This is correct. For instance, two people represent delusional thought and attachment and these two mingle with each other daily. Why do they mingle with each other? They recollect each other, to a level that they already do not have the feeling of each other’s presence. Arising with a delusional thought, the attachments follow. The attachment comes, then the delusional thoughts produce; knocking

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all into one. Here two people recollect each other is also the same way. When you chant (mindfulness) Amitabha, you correspond with Amitabha because you are Amitabha and is also called bringing you and Amitabha together in mind. Only until then is it called chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha. The ultra-microwave of Buddha and Bodhisattva in the universe penetrates through your body eternally and enters your 8th consciousness and penetrates everywhere. After your mind has purified a bit, you can sense it. When your mind starts to be tranquil, you will sense more. Your mind will enter the state of Samadhi, then you would be clearer about it. If your mind has eradicated the unenlightened condition, you truly see this ultra-microwave. After attainment beyond the Immovable Stage as the 8th Stage Bodhisattva (48th of the 52 cultivation tiers), you will see the movement in the Alaya consciousness. After you have attained the “Realization of Nirvana”, you will then know the state of “non-arising and non-ceasing” also does not exist. Does not the Surangama Sutra state: After attachment to the illusory nature of all existence and attachment to neither arising or non-ceasing of all phenomena ceased, then Nirvana manifests before one. It is exactly such a sphere. Therefore, chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha one time or up to ten times, one then attains perfect accomplishment. When chanting Amitabha, the Six diversities of “movement, stillness, faculty of organs, awareness, non-existence and annihilation of existence” are solved. Last time we explained the Surangama Sutra and these six diversities are excessive annoyance. An ordinary person mistakes this through infinitely boundless existence of world-periods is still impossible to experience entry into the Buddha truth.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha Why? Those are unimportant details. Amitabha is the root, the fundamental. By means of the fundamental Nirvana is the “cause”, therefore, an ordinary person chants the “cause” to become the “Nirvana effect”. Ancient people stated: The fundamental cause of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha which comprises Amitabha’s ocean of enlightenment, Amitabha’s enlightenment of the resulting ground can penetrate our mind which is the source of the cause; the cause is the result (effect), as an ordinary person now chants his name, one then attains Amitabha’s Supreme Perfect Enlightenment. This is the principle behind it. If you understand this, it is easy to handle. Becoming Buddha is precisely this one chant (mindfulness). When elderly ladies and elderly men chant Amitabha, why do we add the word “elderly” to it? It is because they think their life is close to an end and there is no need to have any more delusional thoughts. Why do we not speak of the young? In their youth, the delusional thoughts are many. There are also young people about 14, or 15 years who chant Amitabha very successfully. This kind of person is a Bodhisattva who has manifested as a human being, and in their past live already chanted Amitabha to a certain extent until this life to let go of all and be disillusioned with everything, and then they will be gone. This kind of person is very few. Yet, some people reach old age and find everything is dull, and nothing can arise one’s delusional thoughts and attachments, so they quiet the mind to chant Amitabha. When one quiets the mind, they get Buddha moved to respond and enter the Surangama Samadhi of Amitabha Tathagata: All matter is within Buddha nature which is ultimately inexhaustible and indestructible.

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This is Surangama. This is extremely remarkable, one becomes Buddha. It is inconceivable! In the past, there was an old lady from the Chiang-Chun Township in the Tainan county of Taiwan, she chanted Amitabha on her feet to be reborn in Amitabha’s Pure Land. This person directly “confirmed into the Realization of Nirvana”. This confirmation means that she attained through insight of one’s self. This is absolutely not a miracle. It is very simple. Just chant Amitabha conscientiously then ally yourself with it. What is conscientiously? It is precisely without distrust, uninterrupted and not mixing it up. Humans are intriguing and have: 1. Distrust: Today they listen to that, and tomorrow they will listen to this. They are confused and distrust everything. 2. Interruption: They consider everyday routines more important than chanting Amitabha. They must take care of sons, or grandchildren, or other matters of this and that, etc. They are constantly interrupted by everyday routines, then it is all over. 3. Mixing up: We all have this, which is precisely having too much delusional thought. The best is to let it be, then there are no more hindrances. Although all phenomena are illusions, you must know that all living beings are attached to these phenomenal characteristics. In this case, when you are in contact with people, you must perform: He says, "Wearing a yellow robe shows more dignity,” then you let one wear the yellow robe.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha Only to go with him, following the same stream and joining in the wrong doing. Truly speaking, we spoke about this before, “Follow in the same stream, yet do not join in the wrong doing”. Do not practice that way to the core. “Follow the same stream and join in the wrong doing” means, if a person playing the card game, you play the card game with him. If he enjoys dancing, you also go to dance but your mind is not marked with this. The effort emphasized by the school of Buddhism is this and the merit is also this. You say that you do the Sutra recitation but after you become sanctimonious, and once you are out to the world, it only takes a couple of people to brush you off and you crash. Why? You are not reciting in sincerity. Because: 1. Your mind is easily influenced by the external environment; 2. You have not changed your secular concept. In that case, learning the Buddha’s way, you must first learn the concept of Amitabha. To behold the concept of Amitabha when you are playing cards, then you are truly doing Buddha’s work. There is nothing wrong with money. “Fame, wealth, food and drink, sexual love, and sleep” are all not sin and evil. Some people say it is Hell’s five afflictions however, it is you who is deluded by it. This is torture. “Hell” is called “torture”. Today, if you clearly see all phenomena are assembled by ions, how is it possible for you to be lost? Therefore, until they develop deep memories for one another to chant Amitabha, that is “you are uniting with Amitabha every thought-moment, thought after thought is Buddha”. Wonderfully, the skill becomes more and more reaching the extent of “profound esoteric teaching”. People should not be mistaken with this “profound esoteric teaching”, we often talk about the Esoteric Buddhism which is not mysterious at all, do not get this wrong. Esoteric Buddhism is a profound

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teaching method, it is for someone who has attained the 8th Stage Bodhisattva (the 48th of 52 cultivation tiers) and beyond in cultivation. Can an ordinary person cultivate? No, of course not, it is not possible. One who has attained Arhat status and beyond is barely enough to do the cultivation because one has not beheld the Buddha-nature within oneself. Only a person who beholds one’s own Buddha-nature can practice esoteric cultivation. What is esoteric cultivation practice? “Esoteric” is precisely the Realization of Nirvana”, one sees “non-arising and non-ceasing of all phenomena” is called “esoteric (profound teaching)”. Of course, it is not talking now about Esoteric Buddhism. Nowadays people emphasize the aspect of the theoretical study of Esoteric Buddhism like Gelug, Nyingma, Bon, Kygyu, etc., all are the teachings of a sect. Our generation civilization, since human beings existed for more than 10,000 years until now, is there anyone who has confirmed into the Buddha truth? Yes, there are some, most of them have attained Arhat status. Those who “behold the Buddha-nature” within oneself are almost all transformation Buddha returning to this life or the living embodiment of Buddha or Bodhisattva. People should not have superstitious believe. All the Patriarchs of Pure Land Buddhism are one of the manifestations of the Three Saints of the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land like, Amitabha, Great-Strength (Mahasthamanparata), and Guan-Yin (Avalokitesvara), taking turns. If you are truly a good sport and devotedly chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha, there is no need to have confirmation. Just go straight to the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land and you will experience entry into the Buddha enlightenment. The different aspects about them: Esoteric Buddhism relies on self-effort, Dhyana (Zen) Buddhism also relies on self-effort. If you cannot behold your Buddha-nature then it is impossible for you to have attainment. About develop deep memories for one another, means a

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha person’s cultivation skill has already entered the state of while cultivation into the profound Prajna Paramita (perfection of wisdom). It enters unconsciously for a person. I have seen a person chant Amitabha who was very outstanding and he foresaw the time of his death. For instance, he knew the day after tomorrow morning at 8:00 that Amitabha would come to meet and receive him. I asked him, “How do you know?” He replied, “I clearly saw Amitabha and he told me!” You asked him, “How come you do not eat for the past ten days?” He replied, “Amitabha gave me things to eat.” You asked him, “Why is it this way?” He replied, “I do not know.” Why? Because the name of Amitabha is the manifestation of countless merits. Within the merit, either being hungry or having desires, they are all long gone. In addition, what other attachments are there? The school of Buddhism explains two kind of persons who can foresee the time of one’s death: One kind relies on self-power, knowing when one escapes from the bonds and obtains freedom – freedom from transmigration, karma, illusion, suffering and so on. People like this are very rare like the feather of a phoenix and the horn of a unicorn. Still, there is another kind who chants (mindfulness) Amitabha, chanting (mindfulness) to the maturation of favorable circumstances. By then one has already recovered one’s Six Supernatural ability. Why does one recover? It is because they obtain the supporting power of Amitabha.

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Even though one has recovered the abilities, one does not reveal this. Why does one do not show? One knows other living beings do not believe. Why? 1. One was of low birth, 2. One did not have education, 3. Have common features and there is nothing attractive about one’s appearance. Therefore, to have mercy and compassion a person does not reveal this and dreads to cause the evil karma produced by the mouth of all living beings. I have also seen someone like that, you see him in the world being bullied by others, inconceivably the company of spirits respect him. Why? His full body illuminates with golden light, without defilement, Buddha and Bodhisattva all respect him. When Guan-Yin Bodhisattva (Avalokitesvara) sees him they exclaim, “Wow! Amitabha!” He becomes Buddha just relying on the name of Amitabha, therefore, all Buddha of the past, present and future and from the ten directions of the universe are all pleased to praise Amitabha, it is not without reason. Why do they not praise another Buddha and insist on praising Amitabha? It is because of Amitabha’s vow power is inconceivable! So, it turns out this name of Amitabha is the whole universe and is the “cause”, therefore the “effect” is the whole universe. This is brilliant!

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha 〔經文〕如是乃至，從生至生，同於形影，不相乖異。

[Sutra text] Then life after life, they will be together like a form and its shadow, and they will never be dissimilar. Commentary: Then life after life, means the effort penetrates straight ahead. They will be like a form and its shadow, to have form naturally has shadows so to have shadows, then it must have form. It can be said that the underlying principle (intrinsic nature) and the manifested phenomena are perfectly integrated. The “underlying principle (intrinsic nature)” is the essence of form. Shadow is the manifested phenomena. After the intrinsic nature and manifested phenomena are perfectly integrated, then advancing to a cognitive sphere of “perfectly integrate in all” as Unhindered absolutely in all is precisely one of the Four Unhindered Realms described in the Flower Adornment Sutra. By chanting this name of Amitabha you will enter the sphere because Buddha’s name, Amitabha, is the whole universe. Since he is the whole universe then they will never be dissimilar, devoid of contradiction, there is no difference. Since self-nature and Buddha-nature are unified together, originally it is like this: The self-nature is the Buddha-nature, the Buddhanature namely is the self-nature. Therefore, the rivers, mountains, and the great Earth are the manifestation of our self-nature. I trust everyone understands this. All the living beings manifest from your own mind. In fact, this theory is easy to understand, then the question is whether you can apply this concept in your daily life?

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For example: Living together with your debt collectors and enemies of the past, you always feel something is wrong. Why? Like the shadow following the person, it can also be said to be inseparable. This is all made by yourself, the “cause” and “effect” made by you manifests at the same time. As it happens, past enemies must still be together and under the same roof, still engaged with each other for the coming decades, is there such a thing? Yes. Where? It is in your mind. If your mind has these kinds of afflictions for sure it causes and moves these kinds of karmic-retribution, these are the “Laws of the Universe” which is not lectured by Buddha. The Buddha just explains the Laws of the Universe, that is all. He did not stipulate “cause and effect” or “moral precepts”. What are “moral precepts”? “Moral precepts” regulate you to a normal lifestyle of the universe. However, modern people cannot keep moral precepts. Why can they not keep them? They do not understand the truth about the universe, how can they keep it. When talking with them, to take the life of a living creature receives karmic-retribution, but they do not think so. One says, “I did not see any departed spirit demanding vengeance for grievances yet.” When one sees it, it could be too late!

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha 〔經文〕十方如來，憐念眾生，如母憶子。若子逃逝，雖憶何為？

[Sutra text] Out of pity for all sentient beings, the Tathagatas of the ten directions are tenderly mindful of them just like a mother recollects her child. If the child runs away, what use is the mother's regard? Commentary: This scripture talks about the phenomena of external activity. Yet, speaking from the intrinsic nature is to take pity on all living beings. Even out of pity for all sentient beings, there is no attachment, Buddha and Bodhisattva have completely nothing saved in their mind. When you ask Buddha or Bodhisattva if they are being infinitely merciful and infinitely compassionate? He does not have this in mind. To be infinitely merciful and infinitely compassionate, genuinely does not have being infinitely merciful and infinitely compassionate exist in the mind, but exists with the phenomenal characteristics of being infinitely merciful and infinitely compassionate. When you ask the average person, what are you doing lately? They would say: 1. Helping to enlighten all living beings, 2. Doing some wholesome deeds, 3. Helping a Buddhist Master propagate the Buddha’s teachings. I tell you, doing these things neither have merit nor the blessing reward. One only gets happiness mixed with annoyance which is having anger with enjoyment. The modern man is entirely this way,

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regardless of Buddhism, Catholicism, or Christianity. In this Period of Degeneration and Extermination of the Buddha teaching, this is normal. In that case, if you encourage a person to chant (mindfulness) Amitabha, one does this all the way through, one does according to your instructions, that is abnormal. This is truly a great merit. In general, one who encourages others to do wholesome deeds, they a problemâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;that is the mind has not purified of defiling illusion. In this case, does one still need to do wholesome deeds? Yes, they must do it, but one does not do it by encouraging instead, one teaches by oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own example. What is wholesomeness? It exists with no thought during thought arising in the mind. When people are hungry and they sending something for a person to eat, is this wholesomeness? This is a wholesome deed from the aspect of phenomenal characteristics or a wholesome deed from the aspect in action. Your mind still has it that this person is very hungry, and you must provide food for him. This is the phenomenal characteristics of mercy and compassion, not the essence of mercy and compassion. Modern people either do good deeds, do merit, attend an assembly for worship, or lead a group who practice Buddhism at home without becoming a monk or nun. Regarding contribution to Buddhism, you must have a clear head, if you are unclear then your actions surely will cause karma. Causing what karma? Even you do not know what kind of karma you have caused. If your mind still has discrimination, attachment, kindness or evilness, then it is all over and it is ruined. Why does the Sixth Patriarch have a pure mind? He does not have goodness and also no evil. He knows: There is not a single thing originally.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha But the Sixth Patriarch is very interesting, even knowing “there is not a single thing originally”, he still did hard labor under the Fifth Patriarch for 8 months to make offerings to all masses. This means to give rise to thought in mind as to have no attachment to give rise thought, so the mind initiates naturally and uses freely, this state is greatly different from us. The condition and concept of Buddha and Bodhisattva is unlike a common person. Thoughts rise, but does not truly have a thought in mind. He services the public with selflessness but does not get sick. Many modern people seemingly act with selflessness but get sick, this is the trouble. Being sick means a person still maintains the “self-I”. Asking him, “How is everything recently?” He replies, “Not so good, I am sick”. This means that he still has the “self-I” and being sick, this “self-I” has not thoroughly let go. The Buddha teaching of this modern world is called the Buddha teaching of emotion, human emotion Buddhism. Does the true Buddha teaching exist? Yes, it does. Except for the transformation Buddha lectures the teaching of the Buddha, the other one is hard to do the true Buddha teachings; indeed, it is very difficult. Can the genuine Buddha teaching be accepted by people? It is also very difficult. I have often heard people comment, “If people do not have emotion, then it is all finished.” One does not realize this “emotion” has prevented one to go beyond the cyclic existence for countless existence of the worldperiods. This shows one has a very serious deluded mind. The ancient eminent monks who built the place of enlightenment in the deep mountains, if you do not have the genuine intention to end your

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affliction, you would not go. Moreover, ancient transportation was inconvenient; many animals such as the jackal, wolf, tiger and jaguar around, walking up the mountain was not an easy task. However, the modern era is different, where the temple has radio, television, and newspapers delivery; the original pure community of monk or nun are all been defiled. Their language is all mixed with discrimination and attachments. I think all of you must have visited many Temples before, You ask them, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Can you be certain of escaping from bonds and obtaining freedom from transmigration, from karma, from illusion, from suffering?â&#x20AC;? Yet, they fundamentally do not know how to answer. Let alone when you truly ask him about the Buddha truth. Your movement of thought, he is totally unaware and in a daze. Why are they muddled? It is because that is not the teaching of Buddha, that has become a form of knowledge and a form of community activity. Speaking more directly, it becomes a waste of time. The Buddha teaching originally wants people: To detach from the Threefold World (Triloka), everyone becomes Buddha. This is the original intention of Buddha. Nowadays, people have turned it into Humanistic Buddhism. Nowadays, how can the human world have the genuine School of Buddhism? How can the human world to have a Pure Land? If the Pure Land is here, then why does Amitabha Tathagata

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha need to create another Pure Land to meet and receive all living beings? We truly need to think this over carefully. What is the impact of the Buddha teaching in this world? If it is only having an assembly for worship, or regular confessional services, or making offering, or building temples; then this is not the Buddha teaching, this is leading all living beings to the six realms of reincarnation. Building a Temple needs contributions from the communities, once you start asking for contribution from communities, then you have bound the involvements with all living beings for countless existence of world-periods. This is absolutely inescapable. Because all living beings cling to phenomenal characteristics, their discriminations and attachments are already too many and you increase their discriminations and attachments. They are already quite at a loss regarding this society, looking to entrust their soul; instead, you have increased oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s affliction. Some people whose mind is set for enlightenment and would like to be the president of either this club or that committee, head of either this activity or that event, then all is finished. Originally, one gives rise to good intention, eventually one is dragged down by the erroneous concept of the Buddhism monastic community of monks and nuns of modern times. In the future, one will fall to the Hell world and still not know the reason why. Why do I want to talk about this today? I must speak out the truth. The Sutra is a guidebook and has no human emotions. Therefore, when explaining the Sutra, it is very dignified and with all seriousness. To say some not nice words: If one does not want to listen to the Sutra explanation they certainly would not come because one

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does not want liberation. Nowadays society is not. The Buddha teaching anti-ethics does not exist among all living beings, but: Buddha is unable to help person who without affinity (cannot help those unwilling to enter, because one will not listen and accept his teaching). What is the affinity? It is when you speak, one listens. However, in the modern era there are too many evil-spirited ones. What is an evil-spirited one? They give you the benefit (advantage), the priority of everything is to give you the benefit. For instance: If you practice money giving, he then tells you, “You will be outstanding in the future, this supporting pillar of the Temple is donated by you, your future merits are the biggest”. So, the person thinks about it, “Right, I will come to enjoy my great blessed reward in the future world”. This is foolish. Is this not a trick to deceive a person? Therefore, we live in this state everyday, this kind of mentality is wonderful. A moment ago we talked about the Buddhist phenomena, now we are going to talk about the secular phenomena. The secular phenomena is nothing else but general objects such as firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, tea, or to demand repayment, to settle a debt, to repay a kindness and avenge a grievance. The world is bitter, and religion is even more bitter. Most people have fun in their hardships. How to have fun? By means of greed mainly. You ask, “One has built the temple, is there merit?” I said, “How can one have merits?” Therefore, there is nothing unknown to a Buddha or a

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha Bodhisattva about the intention in the mind of an ordinary person. This is not Tathagata’s undertaking, it is called the “action of causing karma”. Why does Tathagata not have the action of causing karma? Because they do not have karma, the pure mind does not make karma. If you have the mind purified of defiling illusion now, then you are in full clarity on how to propagate the Buddha teaching and what all living beings need to do. Why did the Shakyamuni Buddha transmigrate to extinction a few thousand years ago? It was because nobody listened to his preaching of the True Dharma (teaching). The True teaching is not a bit of bigotry or prejudice, it talks about the truth about the universe. Nowadays, explaining the truth about the universe to the living beings, one will not listen. For instance, I am sick, you need to cure me fast. Regardless of where you are from, or from what kind of religion, quickly cure my illness. It is because of these kinds of opportunity that the evil-spirited one enters. An evil-spirited one has Supernatural abilities, even after your death and they help to manifest your Buddhist relics (Sarira - a cluster of crystallized bone fragments after cremation) which we have seen before. How can we expect an ordinary person to distinguish this? There is no way to distinguish. Then why do the evil-spirited one give you benefits? He is setting the bait for you to bite. Truly speaking, the Chief Mara (or Papiyas) who dwells in the 6th Heaven of Kamadhatu Heaven and his followers absolutely do not do this thing. Deva-Mara only respond to those who really want to become Buddha; then he is interested. About average people, all are handled by less powerful evil-spirited one, who have you tasted the sweetness of benefits, which is enough for you to eat. In this society,

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Buddha himself has also said: Heterodox Masters who do not follow the Buddhist doctrine and expound the teachings are as numerous as the Ganges River sand. What is a Heterodox Master? It is a person who has not experienced entry into the Buddha truth, has not entered the purified mind in its natural state of the universe, and has not truly beheld one's own self-nature. Of course, where can we find an enlightened person today? An enlightened person is not going to tell you that he is enlightened, this is not possible. He knows your level, he knows he cannot tell you. If you are the same level as he is, have you not also confirmed the Buddha truth? Then one does not tell you, what to do? Therefore, Amitabha with infinitely merciful and infinitely compassionate, he left the method of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha which is the ultimate method out of the 84,000 methods to help all living beings after all. You can feel relieved that chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha with sincerity has no interruptions from an evil-spirited one. You have the support of the original vow of Amitabha, all your enemies or creditors have no way with you. Some people chanting Amitabha fall ill at the end of life, again one saw the past departed spirits came for him and he firmly believed and thought, “I only want to see Buddha, only until seeing Amitabha’s presence I then follow him, all the others have nothing to do with me”. Was he right about this? Yes. He is truly free now. Moreover, there is another phenomenon, many people want to make cultivation easy for people. What is called “making cultivation easy

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha for people”? To make cultivation easy, there is only one kind of qualification, one must be an enlightened person to make cultivation easy for people only then it does not have mistake. We often listen to people talk, “All living beings need to be this way or that way; you should follow good advice naturally as a river follows its course, to keep up with their will, etc.” That is right. You must experience entry into the Buddha truth, then you are unlikely to lead people to the wrong direction. If you have not experienced entry into the Buddha truth, then it is not possible. For instance, the repentance ritual, we often hear people speak of “The Jeweled Repentance of the Emperor of Liang”, “The Repentance of Compassionate Samadhi Water”, and other ritual services such as “Feeding the Starving Ghosts”, “Meng-Mountain Chanting Ritual Service”, or “Recitation Ritual of Amitabha Sutra in Three Sessions”. Truly speaking, these all cannot deceive all living beings. If you do not have true solid skills, there is nothing to do and you carry out “The Assembly of Great Compassion Water and Land”, supernatural spirits will mark you for one fault, protecting-deities of the Buddha teaching will also mark you for one fault, ancestors, the lonely departed souls and ghosts of the fields will also mark you for one fault. Why? Because you do not have the skills to release their soul from purgatory to find peace, you have deceived all living beings. In modern times, the venerable Monk Guang-Qin (廣欽)has the skill. When he helps the soul from purgatory to find peace, there is no need to perform any ceremonial service, he did by emitting-light, then all the lonely souls and lost souls were all being helped. Except for those with severe attachments and do not want to go, however most of them all have left.

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The Buddha teaching strives for four steps in cultivation as “firm belief, comprehension with wisdom, put into practice, and self-confirm into Nirvana”. In the end “one must confirm into Nirvana”. If you do not have skills, once you wear the yellow Kasaya (outer patchwork robe worn by a Buddhist monk), you are in big trouble. Who is the first one who wants to bully you? The supernatural spirits. You can be relieved now that the reaping of what you planted in your previous life in the human world has not yet ripened so, the supernatural spirits are the first to give you a hard time. Ancient people often mentioned that a master has ordained with vows to follow the complete precepts who at least has attained the level of the 4th grade of Arhat (saintship) and beyond. He is selflessness, his affliction arises from things seen and thoughts have completely been cut off, only then to have a way to help all living beings. The Sutra constantly explains about a person without wholesome roots and blessed virtues has a kind of problem of falling unconsciously. Why does one fall unconscious? Even though one worships Buddha and chants (mindfulness) Amitabha every day is also no use because one is running in the opposite direction. Why run in the opposite direction? One's profane concept is unbearably serious. Why unbearably serious? Because one cannot stand it oneself, the self suffers. Out of pity for all sentient beings, the Tathagatas of the ten directions are tenderly mindful of them; he takes pity exactly on these phenomena. You also worship Buddha, also chant (mindfulness) Amitabha, give donations, and do this and that; but strangely you cannot escape from bonds and obtain freedom from transmigration, karma, illusion

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha and suffering called “the pitiful one”. You advise one and one does not listen, moreover one has a firm belief in one’s own opinions. Almost everyone of our Saha Land has this flaw. Everyone of us needs to ask ourselves, whether “I believe myself infallible”? It is a certain yes. Since this is the case, the Sutra text later explains: If the child runs away, what use is the mother's regard? Now we are not talking about those who do not recite Sutras or do not worship Buddha, we are speaking about a person who recites the Sutra and worships Buddha, this person is precisely the one who runs away. What does runs away mean? One cannot face oneself and does not understand the Buddha teaching and is without faith. We often hear people say, “When you get to the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land, make sure to drop a rope down to pull me up!” This type of person is called runs away. To be more direct, like this condition, one will surely fall into the Three evil destinies of animal, hungry ghosts or Hell. One has this kind of mind, the six realms mind. What is the mind of the six realms? It is classified into the six categories of delusional thoughts and attachments. If the infinite mercy and infinite compassionate Amitabha helps everyone by dropping the ropes down, if everyone already went to the Pure Land, would we still be waiting until now. The enlightenment within Buddha-nature must be self-beholding Buddha-nature. Speaking bluntly, when you chant Amitabha, you must be self-seeing the Buddha or Bodhisattva, whether seeing through the aspect of phenomenal characteristics or fundamental essence. If you do not have the skill, recollecting Amitabha what does it for?

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You ask him, “Do you have recollect thought about the Buddha?” He said, “Yes, I have done my daily morning and evening homework, in between I also chant (mindfulness) Amitabha." Does he truly recollect the Buddha? No, he does not. The word “recollect” means to focus the mind with one intention, yet he is with a mixed mind with mixed intentions, which means he is not honest. A person chants (mindfulness) Amitabha honestly would not be mixed.

〔經文〕子若憶母，如母憶子，

[Sutra text] But if the child recollects his mother in the same way that the mother recollects the child, Commentary: This statement is correct. The condition of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha must be same as the child recollects his mother in the same way that the mother recollects the child, naturally and without artificial fabrication. Chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha needs to reach this extent. Speaking bluntly, even practicing Esoteric Buddhism also requires one to be at this level where “bodily unity in the form of worship, oral unity in chanting, mental unity in faith” these three correspond with the Buddha and stay in an internal state of meditative stabilization all the time. About “Dhyana (Zen) as wisdom”, one also shatters the existence of open space (all doubt) all the time. People come to listen to the Sutra explaining have problems of falling asleep or being dazed, it means one’s wholesome roots is incomplete. A person possessing complete wholesome roots can comprehend the fundamental true meaning of Tathagata’s saying. When wholesome

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha roots are incomplete, the body starts to become dazed. Because the ultra-microwave has entered above one’s “Perineum (acupuncture point)”, one cannot generate the electrical discharge from the spine. One step further, this means one’s inner vital current (vital energy) is blocked. What does this mean? One is not in control of the 6th consciousness and the 7th consciousness. Therefore, all kinds of method practicing cultivation used from the practice theory of the Esoteric Buddhism School, exercising cultivation and balance life energy theory, the Dhyana (Zen) Buddhism School, and the Pure Land School. All schools have only one main condition, to experience entry into Buddha understandings and Buddha viewings, using various ways to confirm. Therefore, a person truly knows how to listen the Sutra explaining, once one hears the explaining Sutra sound, only this thought-moment enters one’s faculty of ear, then one has confirmed into the Buddha truth. Whoever knows how to listen to the Sutra explanation, after one session of Sutra explaining finished, everything has already let go. Letting go, after returning home one becomes more outstanding, being a housewife is more perfect than before, being an entrepreneur is more admired by others than before. This is not the same enormously. Why? The mind has no hindrances. When engaging in every matter, without defilement in the mind; this is not impossible. You must think, our concept has transformed thoroughly in that instant, old concepts are completely shattered, this is called “shattering the existence of open space”. The new concept arises. What concept? It is the concept of “non-arising and non-ceasing of all phenomena”. Even this state of “non-arising and non-ceasing of all phenomena” to the last has also let go. In this state one has attained status as the Bodhisattva of Supreme Perfect Enlightenment of the Perfect Doctrine Teaching (sect of Mahayana). One surely becomes Buddha,

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becomes Buddha in perfection. It is the same status of the 13th Stage Bodhisattva of the Differentiating School Teaching. In Esoteric Buddhism, its name is the Adi-Buddha. Other people say, “Cultivating on top of Mahavairocana Buddha’s head (means surpassing all and no more attachments in all)”. It is exactly this reason. Modern people need to communicate in the modern language way, but the language of the modern era is very difficult to describe the condition of experiential entry into the Buddha truth. This is because the implied meaning of the modern language is too narrow, whereas even one word in ancient times had infinite meanings. Especially the Buddhist Sutra is “dreamy illusion and empty bubble” which unintentionally reveals from the pure mind of Tathagata. All of you to think this over: All phenomena are dreamy illusion and empty bubble. Although it is a dreamy illusion and empty bubble, from the dreamy illusion and empty bubble you may see the essence of “neither arising nor ceasing of all phenomena”.

〔經文〕母子歷生，不相違遠。

[Sutra text] Then life after life the mother and the child will not be far apart. Commentary: Then life after life the mother and the child will not be far apart, this is known as life after life; what does it mean? It is from generation to generation without end, experiencing through phenomena of “birth, aging, illness and death” it would not break. Just like our past

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha wholesome roots, the blessing arises from good deeds, and predestined relationships which has not broken through all eternity. But, do we recollect wholeheartedly? No, we have not wholeheartedly. We do recollect, but without wholeheartedly. Therefore, this method of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha manifests before us again, what should we do? We need to experience entry into the Buddha Truth, in short: Focusing on wholeheartedly to chant (mindfulness) Amitabha. Why do I advocate for the method of the Pure Land Buddhism? Because: The three grades of rootsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;superior, medium, or inferior of all living beings are covered universally; regardless of oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s potential is either sharp or dull, all will yield results. This is certain. However, Zen Buddhism has limitations, and if one explains Zen in the end, the audiences are gone, and the listeners are not there also. Why? One does not understand. Explaining Esoteric Buddhism, the cases of being enchanted are many because one goes back and immediately demands to get the effect. You explain to one about this mudra (mystic positions of the hand) or that mudra, how to position the hand correctly, and how to visualize. One follows it accordingly, the result after the visualization and the one that appears is not the true Buddha, then it all ends.

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Learning Esoteric Buddhism, the lowest base level one must have is a “heavenly vision”. If you do not have it, then it is not possible. When the protecting deity of the Buddha teaching manifests, you do not even know who he is. Sometimes even the “heavenly vision” is not enough, only beyond the “wisdom vision” then one can see. What is the “heavenly vision” and the “wisdom vision”? You must use red infrared or short-wave, which is the condition of your body and mind to transform your body’s equation then these phenomena appear. It is just as simple as that, there is nothing mysterious about it. All is the instinct among the six sense-organs we are endowed with, therefore this is called “the supernatural abilities”. To practice that way is extremely dangerous, unless you were brought up from childhood in that kind of enlightened environment. Also, you have received full guidance from an enlightened one, only then will you have a way to certify otherwise, it is useless. The rest of the Buddhism sect’s method are really not easy, and it entirely depends on one’s own nature of epiphany. Only the method of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha everyone can cultivate, including ants and mosquitoes, however the effect is a thousand times better than those methods. Even if you go and be born in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land at the lowest level of the inferior rank, you have the appearance the same as the Absolute Universal Enlightenment Bodhisattva (Samyak-Samadhi) and Amitabha: 1. All have Buddha appearance. 2. All your personal realization through cultivation lets you become Buddha instantly. One of Amitabha’s vows states: All living beings who go to be born in the Pure Land attain Bodhisattva of Aparivartya, stage of nonregression.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha Bodhisattva of Aparivartya refers to the 11th Stage (51st of 52 cultivation grades)—Absolute Universal Enlightenment Bodhisattva (Samyak-Samadhi). This kind of admirable state absolutely cannot be imagined and experienced by an ordinary person. Why do I say it this way? Why do I use the name of “ordinary person” to address you? The mind of the ordinary person is too rough. Even if they read the Buddha speaks of Amitabha Sutra or recite the Buddha speaks of Amitabha Sutra, even reciting the Sutra till it decomposes is useless. Why? One does not understand its meaning In fact, the Buddha speaks of Amitabha Sutra is the king of all Sutras. That kind of deep-seated meaning absolutely cannot be comprehended by the Bodhisattva of the Smaller Vehicle (Hinayana) or the Functional Teaching school. Even they have problems to understand, then how can we understand? In that case, it takes a Mahasattva with Dharma body who has beheld Buddha-nature within oneself then can see and truly understand. The purpose of passing down this Sutra is extremely wonderful. Its purpose is to tell you: There is a Buddha named Amitabha, chant his name Amitabha, then you can go to the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land to become Buddha in perfection in this lifetime. This is what it is all about. But this Sutra itself has supporting power. When we talk about the supporting power, its energy pervades the existence of open space and the purified mind in its nature state of the whole universe. It is distinctive. Do not think that the picture image of the Buddha massively printed by machine is no big deal, you are wrong. Even though it is printed by machine, it has already been transformed by the vow power of Amitabha and becomes an energy.

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Therefore, the Buddha often states: The place the Sutra at, that to be where Buddha is. This is correct. Only those people who are muddled-headed and spin around daily and live with the phenomena of external appearances would clasp the Buddha’s feet when danger arises. However, clasping the Buddha’s feet when danger arises (making a hasty last-minute effort) does have its effect sometimes. You have entered a little and correspond to the energy, the suffering from illness has resolved, difficulty has resolved, and one thought was effective. One holds the Sutra up high, to enshrine it highly to worship, and then it is over, that is superstition. The purpose of the Sutra is leading you to experience entry into the Buddha Truth. It is not for you to enshrine and worship there. What usefulness to just enshrine and worship the Sutra? If you enshrine and worship the Sutra, it would be better that you enshrine and worship yourself. It would be better that you learn the Buddha way, you learn each move of Tathagata, to behold your Buddha-nature to become Buddha. The Diamond Sutra states by the Elder Subhuti (one of the ten chief disciples): The World Honored One, the uncommon. He has seen every action and every movement of the Shakyamuni Buddha who goes with the monk’s alms bowl trailing from door after door, his mind in every movement is entirely with no attachment, so the mind arises naturally and used freely. He has completely eradicated “Four ejects of the ego” and the “Four attached perspectives to the Four ejects of the ego”. Subhuti is number one in the exponent of illusory nature of all existence, and the number one of having wisdom, thus, he can tell.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha Therefore, the Scriptures must not be tampered or modified, absolutely must not be in accordance to the viewpoint of the modern man to temper or modify because they have not confirmed into the Buddha Truth, completely do not know the true intention of the Sutra. Yet one states, “It is okay, let me add a comma here or change a word here”. They do not know that the word has energy. The original idea of each word has been through the certification by all Buddha of the past, present, and future from the ten directions of the universe. Only then it appears, it is not invented as one pleases. In ancient times, the eminent monk who translates the Sutra, they are all the manifestations of the Buddha and Tathagata. Only between Buddha can they understand the truth. Like the Great Master Xuan-Zang (玄奘), those people are ancient Buddha who have returned to this life. Master Kumarajiva (鳩摩羅什) is absolutely not an ordinary person, his translation was done amazingly wonderful. Why? He has beheld Buddha-nature within oneself. That type of literary work let alone to recite it even once, when you are in touch with it, your body and mind already are refreshed. Like the Buddha Speaks of Amitabha Sutra, this kind of Sutra is rare. Currently, we explain The Chapter of the Surangama Sutra: The Great Strength Bodhisattva (Mahastamaprapta) chants (mindfulness) Amitabha in perfection to become Buddha, which is rare. Shakyamuni Buddha explained the Sutras of Hinayana (small vehicle) constantly, naturally acting against his will. He had no choice to explain the Human vehicle and the Deva Vehicle because he was unable to express the real intention of the Buddha fluently. The Sutras can fluently express the original intention of Buddha, spoken voluntarily by Buddha and are not in reply to questions or appeals. Shakyamuni Buddha knows that the potential and condition of becoming a Buddha for living beings has ripened. Those Maha-Bodhisattvas are unaware,

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but only the Buddha knows. Like the Infinite Life Sutra and the Buddha Speaks of Amitabha Sutra, all are spoken voluntarily by Buddha and not in reply to questions or appeals. All of you must think about, I have been talking until now: Have any of your conditions changed? Have you seen the nature of Tathagata? Have you seen the original vows of Amitabha Tathagata? Have you let go of your faculty of hearing? Have you experienced “listen without attachments, delusional thoughts, and discrimination to do the listening”? This is extremely important. Originally, I should not ask you this and just finish explaining and then go, but I feel that all of your training is not enough, especially the training of listening to the Sutra. Someone even fell asleep; this is truly a miracle! Why do I say it is a miracle? One’s delusional thoughts and attachments have covered one’s wholesome root in the 8th consciousness entirely, so the effect does not occur. Instead, it produces the effect of delusional thoughts, attachments and being dazed. Because I have a feeling, since I am explaining the Sutra, I cannot lie; I need to speak the words of truth. Since I need to speak the words of truth I will put it bluntly. I feel that: 1. Nowadays many people who explain the Sutra do not speak the truth, they only echo what the Sutra says, hampering a student’s progress. 2. They have not yet gotten into the swing of things, nor have they experienced entry into the Buddha truth.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha 3. They totally ignore all living beingsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; natural capacity and opportunity. After finished explaining, they take their money and say good-bye. They like to build temples, but building fake temples, does it work? No, there is no use. The most precious thing in life is to believe in yourself that you can absolutely become Buddha, that you can see the truth about the universe, and that you can let go of your own views. This is practicing true cultivation. Where do you practice cultivation? Practice when thought arising in your mind. There is no need to have a Buddha room. Where is the Buddha? Buddha is an ultra-microwave that I just spoke about, then where is the Buddha? Are you not the one yourself? Why do you not admit this? Based on your earthling eyes, what a pity. Therefore, it says here: Taking pity on the confused people.

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〔經文〕若眾生心，憶佛念佛，現前當來，必定見佛。

[Sutra text] If the sentient being’s mind recollects Amitabha and chants (mindfulness) Amitabha, Amitabha who comes to manifest before one, one certainly sees the Buddha. Commentary: This statement truly says it thoroughly. The sentient being’s mind does not talk about the mind of the Buddha. It speaks the mind of the six realms of reincarnation, which is the concept, and the mindset of the transmigration through the six kinds of rebirth. It does not matter, switch it over and convert it to recollect Amitabha and chants (mindfulness) Amitabha, this is superb. Recollecting, I just spoke of wholeheartedly as wholeheartedly thinking of Amitabha. For instance, when sleeping, think about the time coming when you will go and to be born in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land. Your eyes closed, the faculties of the six sense-organs begin to be disorderly. The visual consciousness will be the first to go. The next is the “body, mouth, the faculty of thought”. In the end, the pulse becomes irregular. We talked about this condition earlier when we spoke about the salvation at the intermediate existence (transitional state) between death and reincarnation. Who can be the master at this time? Chanting Amitabha is the master of your affairs. How to chant? Risk your life to chant. For what reason to risk your life? If you date to even risk your life, then Amitabha manifests. This “life” is the most serious attachment of ours. The root of life

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha of all sentient beings is the “self-I”. Throw away the “self-I” and replace with Amitabha Tathagata, then you can certainly go and be born in the Amitabha Pure Land. Practicing this way every day is to recollect Amitabha, it can be done at any given moment. Chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha at this very moment is called chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha. When the mind does not drift out, the faculty of hearing does not move away from the mind, and your attention is fully concentrated it is called chanting (mindfulness). The present mind is now, chanting (mindfulness) this Amitabha is what? It is enlightenment. A person is in full clarity to be called Buddha. In your mind, there is no doubt at all, fully let go, and then it is called Buddha. It is the state of “one mind undisturbed in enlightenment”. Then the state of “concentrating wholeheartedly without scattering to all phenomena”, is knowing there is a Buddha in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land, and then you continuously chant until all afflictions have ceased. The state of “unifying with Amitabha in mind” is 24 hours chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha without interruptions, and you will subdue your afflictions. I trust none of you have chanted (mindfulness) Amitabha to the state of “unify together with Amitabha” for 24 hours. If you do integrate with Amitabha, then your body and mind start to be transparent. This method to enlightenment has a condition: Do not do any evil deeds, pursuing all good deeds. This is for you to purify your intention. Do not do any evil deeds, do pursue all good deeds is the teaching of a sect. Doing by following what comes according to circumstances externally but the focus

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is not about doing the wholesome deeds, and being so obsessed until there is no pure mind left of you. Unless you have experienced entry into the Buddha Truth, then doing wholesome deeds can be in perfection. First, you need to: Purifying one’s own mind; this is the teaching of all Buddha. In this case, if you have not purified your mind in advance, the wholesomeness is also gone. Purifying is precisely without defilement. Mind refers to the three minds of the past, present and future which none can lay hold of, and the two consciousnesses which are discrimination and attachment, which are also none can lay hold of. When the three minds and the consciousnesses do not exist, you have purified your mind. This mind is known as “effortlessly achieve enlightenment leading to nirvana”. What doe it means? “Effortlessly” means no more attachments. “Enlightenment” is the life essence of the universe. The merit is the function of enlightenment, speaking from the aspect of phenomenal characteristics using “light” to represent. Therefore, within the “Great Perfect Mirror Wisdom”, there is the “Wisdom of Marvelous Observing Cognition” to observe the mind of all living beings. Plus, the “Wisdom of Perfect Achievement” uses the “prior five sense consciousnesses” to make all the world’s things perfectly complete. Infinite compassion and mercy, and full equality for all beings that is the “Wisdom of Equality”, turns the 7th Munas (mentation) consciousness, turns the “self-I” into equality. Here it speaks to precisely eliminate the “self-I” completely. Referring back to “effortlessly achieve enlightenment leading to nirvana”, one naturally attains the Four Wisdoms to have the Dharma Body, Transformation Body and Reward Body in perfection. It is just by wholeheartedly with the name of Amitabha; this truth is really unfathomable. You recollect Amitabha and chant (mindfulness) Amitabha, this “self-I” is then no longer there. After there is no “self-I”, Amitabha who

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha comes to manifest before one, that is when a person’s potential and condition of becoming Buddha has matured. Amitabha who comes to manifest before one means your effort of chanting Amitabha has been brought to the perfect degree, and you see Amitabha now. Who comes that means in the future one certainly sees the Buddha, also it might happen in the next minute? Then one certainly sees the Buddha is seeing your self-nature Buddha and seeing Amitabha. All of you think, this method to enlightenment is truly inconceivable. If you truly advance into the name of Amitabha, the Ten States of Existence does not exist, the Infinite Light appears completely within your self-nature, then you merge together with the authoritative power of Amitabha’s original vows. Today’s talk is precisely about the word wholeheartedly. When you are wholeheartedly then you behold your own Buddha-nature. After you behold your Buddha-nature, then you will surely chant (mindfulness) Amitabha, it is inevitable. If you know you are a Buddha, every thought-moment will be unseparated between yourself from Amitabha, showing you have experiential entry into the Buddha-truth in every thought-moment. Then people who have predestined affinity next to you will also have experiential entry into the Buddha-truth, which is Amitabha who comes to manifest before one, one certainly sees the Buddha. Hope everyone chants (mindfulness) Amitabha properly.

〔經文〕去佛不遠，不假方便，自得心開。

[Sutra text] One will never be far from Amitabha, without the aid of expedients their minds will naturally awake by themselves. Commentary:

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One will never be far from Amitabha; never be far away refers to you have obtained the authoritative supporting power of Tathagata, and also you may say that you have attained the ambience aura of Tathagata. Yet that kind of feeling is like sitting closely to a ball of fire, like the warm air from a winter electrical heater. If you chant Amitabha with a sincere mind, you will also feel the heat direction of the electrical heater, which is very close to the cognitive sphere of Tathagata. This certainly shows this method of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha is correct. So, hurry up and put more effort to move along the course, unadulterated progress chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha, that means you nearly have enlightenment to be Buddha. Without the aid of expedients, needs to be illustrated in detail; this is very important. Without the aid means not making use of any expedient means and these expedients, in the school of Buddhism there is a statement: There are no two ways to return to oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pure condition, however there are many expedient means to help and enlightenment all living beings. At first listening, hear of it and let it pass but realistically the meaning is not shallow at all. There are many expedient means, numerous to what extent? There are about 84,000 but speaking bluntly, the methods are countless and endless. These countless and endless methods handle delicate afflictions to rough afflictions all inclusively, precisely consisting of all methods able to understand all phenomena of the universe is called expedient means. Expedient, who is providing whom with being expedient? It is Buddha and Bodhisattva providing expedient to all living beings. What is expedient? Using the simplest methods to help and enlighten all

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha living beings to detach suffering and to achieve happiness. In the past, Shakyamuni Buddha explained Sutra and expounded the teaching for 49 years. He spent 22 years just to explain Prajna (wisdom). Why did he spend such a long time to explain “Prajna”? People did not understand it and it was very hard for them to ally themselves with it. The rest of the time he lectured the expedient, even using expedient to explain Prajna. The living beings of the Saha Land (Earth) are very interesting because they do not understand when you speak the truth. Instead, you need to guide them and explain using a lot of analogy, and only then will they have some interest. This aspect is very important. All living beings here, speaking directly about the universe truth with them, some people will get offended because they do not believe in the teaching of the Buddha. But, when you point out his afflictions in their mind, providing him with a method to help him to resolve it, it is called expedient. After one hears it and feels that it really makes sense, then one slowly starts to change. For example, recently I read some books and one book mentioned that you should refrain from killing animals and free captured animals. The book was about the reincarnation of all living beings caused by nothing else but one’s deed of killing. Of course, the primary is greed, but roughly speaking, it is caused by the deed of killing. The book also mentioned that meat should not be eaten. But, nowadays eating meat has become a custom. From early historical times to the present, during the physical science era of aeronautics and space, almost everyone eats meat. Eating meat has become the proper and expected way. Did those articles speak the truth? Of course, it is true. However, to request all living beings to not eat meat, Buddha

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Bodhisattva first needs to provide expedients, but it needs to be a gradual process. During Shakyamuni Buddha’s time, he also stated: Matters can have gradual progress. Honestly speaking, gradual progress requires one to slowly remove one’s current habits and concepts of eating meat and changing it to eating three kinds of “clean” meat. Therefore, the Buddha said: The three kinds of clean meat are when one has not seen the creature killed, has not heard of it being killed for one, and has no doubt there on. But all living beings are unable to follow this. Instead they begin to cling to “three kinds of clean meat” again. Later evolving to, some country regions cannot change their habit of eating meat, then they say, “Buddha allows them to eat three kinds of clean meat. “ Why do I want to mention this? It is because more and more war is happening in our modern era, it is the karmic-retribution from eating meat. Those situations, what kind of expedients can be used to resolve after all? The karmic-retribution follows the ruling of cause and effect surely: 1. While you eat it, other people stated: After you ate 4 ounces of it, in the future you will have to pay 4 ounces back to it. You may need to pay back 8 ounces instead because there is interest accrued, almost doubling the amount in return. This is a truth and fundamental reality of the universe. But when we have thought arising in the mind is also the truth and fundamen-

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha tal reality of the universe. You cannot say, "I do not think so!" Currently, we are in the illusion of rebirth and recurring death, but everyday all living beings still are want thought arising in the mind. This kind of condition regarding individuals like us really exists an immediate concern. 2. People become vegetarian. They eat vegetables but are disgusted with others who eat meat. This book I read today also mentioned this kind of situation. I do not know whether this writer personally had any resentment; however, reading between the lines it appears so. Why do I say that he has this resentment? Although it is persuading people his mind does not approve others to eat meat. Before, I recalled in Taipei that I had run into a reputable and elderly lay practitioner, and one day a week in his house he would welcome and guide people. He proposed refraining from killing and freeing of captured animals and his attitude was very firm and forceful, towards the end no one dared to go to his house. So much that when fellow practitioners went there he would scold them. Why use the way of scolding? He saw others eating meat, he was not happy. Although he was earnest and gave well-meaning advice, talking about the truth of the universe, he forgot to open an expedient door. Yet, all living beings must able to accept the way, and then it is expedient. Expedient cannot come from your own way of thinking. You must know the natural capacity of all living beings, to facilitate with an expedient mean according to oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s natural capacity. It is oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s habit to help one to resolve oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attachment. To refrain from killing, freeing captured animals, and protecting lives, there are too many articles; does it have any effect on the human world? In truth, it does not achieve any big effect.

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Then you tell a person, “Meat is not so good to eat.” One would not agree. Frankly speaking, meat truly tastes good. I am not lying to you. Why does it taste good? It has a different kind of flavor. Especially the Chinese who always want to eat live animals, thinking about live fish and live shrimp. Tonight, I happened to have an invitation for dinner. Then I said right away, “Before anyone has eaten too many live ones, it is better to eat less today. The best way is to not order the dish.” Eating live animals (such as live crab, fish, shrimp, etc.) for a long time, one then has the retribution of karma. What retribution of karma? Poisoning from the corpse, this is called karmic-retribution. Furthermore, you ask that chicken, “Do you let me eat you?” It surely says, “No, why should I give myself for you to eat?” This is the poison of resentment (enmity). These two poisons all induce retribution. A person who is learning the Buddha’s way, the first thing you need to understand is expedient. Buddha and Bodhisattva set so many rules and disciplines, which are not to hinder you. They want you to gradually settle your habit within the discipline precepts, and after removing your affliction gradually, only until then will you have the power of mind-control. Only until then you can achieve none-thought arising in the mind. So, can we eat meat or not? I am urging all of you that you cannot have this attachment. Why am I mentioning this again? It is whether you have thought arousal in the mind. Truthfully, some people do not arise thought in the

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha mind to many matters, but regarding food one arises thought in the mind. I ask you, as an ordinary person, when eating meat do you have the concept of meat? Yes. Mahayana-Bodhisattva stated: If you have the concept of meat, then you have broken the moral precepts. Therefore, Buddha wants us to see, All phenomena are illusion. All phenomena are assembled by elements, all phenomena manifests from the self-nature of Tathagata (original utmost pure condition). In other words, can vegetables be eaten then? It also cannot be eaten. This is because vegetables also manifest from the self-nature of Tathagata. Therefore, you cannot cling obstinately on top of this “eat or not eat”. You need to treat it as a kind of concept of “all as nonexistent (illusory nature of all existence), all as unreal, and the middle way”. To put it in a not so pleasant manner, just do not even think about it, and with all your might chant (mindfulness) Amitabha is more effective. As soon as you think about meat, you then plant the “cause”, and to have the “cause” leads to “co-operating cause (conditioning cause)”, and to have “conditioning cause” leads to “consequence”. Do not think of meat, think of Amitabha because within Amitabha exists neither the concept of meat nor the concept of vegetable, even no concept of either good or bad, it only has the concept of pureness. Since the ancient times, the Patriarchs and the most virtuous one also tells everyone that they cannot eat meat, and

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have a lot of talk of this and that but in the end, they still teach you to chant (mindfulness) Amitabha. Chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha can extinguish grave crimes for infinite millions of existence of wold-periods. Why? The self-nature is originally pure, neither meat nor vegetable exists. By means of this kind of powerful chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha energy to resolve the inner attachment, to resolve the attachment of “eat it, or you we be eaten by it”, to resolve the attachment of “past enemies and creditors”; this is the fundamental reality of the universe. This is by means of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha to pave the expedient way. Here we speak about without the aid of expedients and the “great expedient of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha”. Hence, all the understandings and viewings, either the “right understandings and viewings”, or the “heterodox understandings and viewings”, are included in Amitabha name which is exactly the essence of the universe. Since it is the essence of the universe, then their minds will naturally awaken by themselves. Naturally means it is not made. The mind naturally has no more attachments and begin to realize the reality of the fundamental universe. I have seen a lot of people who have a serious habit of eating meat before and can they go to be born in Amitabha Pure Land by chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha? Of course, they can. The question is how does one go to be born in the Pure Land of Amitabha? One had eaten so much meat, they were followed by many past enemies and creditors. I saw this in an elderly lay practitioner’s home before, which I can report to everyone: There were some young people, and I

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha saw a very young girl who was only 25 years old at the time, they all said that she was clairvoyant (extrasensory perception) with “heavenly vision” which meant that she could see many things, surpassing the “astral vision” where one could see ghosts. She could see some phenomena, if she did not learn the Buddha way, then she could not truly understand the phenomena. She could see cancer cells, but she did not know that was a cancer cell. She did not know what to call it. However, everyone cannot have superstition in this situation of supernatural ability too. This superstition means that you completely rely on this kind of supernatural ability, which is of no use. Unless she is trained. What kind of training? 1. Scientific and medical knowledge training, 2. Go through the guided practice training by Buddha, Bodhisattva and a person well acquainted with the truth. 3. Chanting Amitabha training. Chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha until attain Prajna wisdom and everything is understood naturally, of course one is clear about all the matters of this world and the world beyond this. These are the three kinds of Buddhism cultivation training. Thus, if one cannot cultivate to achieve great discernment and apprehension and their mind has attained enlightenment, then one is not considered to have supernatural ability truthfully. At that time, there was a person who told me a gong-an (caserecord): He said the owner of a company specializing in dried pork and beef jerky had a brother, the moment this young girl saw his brother, she then said, “You only have 7 days to live”.

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The brother did not agree with her, there were several sister wives who sat next to him and they exclaimed, “How can our husband die? He is in the prime of his life, his health is so good, and his business is so successful, do not talk nonsense.” The young girl said, “It is the truth, your life will end in 7 days because there is a long queue of cows and pigs behind you.” The brother asked, “How do you know I am in this kind of business, I specialize in dried pork and beef jerky.” The young girl said, “Yes, you are in this kind of business. Therefore, the slaughter house has to kill a lot of cows and pigs to supply your dried pork and beef jerky quantities.” Was she right about this? She was correct. She said again, “You only have 7 days left.” Later, I heard that the brother died suddenly after 7 days and those cow and pig ghosts were on him and took him away. There is another example regarding the venerable Master Guang-Hua (廣化). The venerable elderly Guang used to be a soldier and was the Commander-in-Chief of the Penghu Islands’ (Pescadores) Ministry of Defense where he had a service soldier assigned for his daily chores. The venerable elderly Guang told the service soldier to kill a chicken daily to cook soup for him. One day he asked the service soldier, “How come there is no chicken soup today?” The service soldier replied, “All of the chickens on this island have been used up, and there are none left.” Later, the venerable elderly Guang wanted to learn the Buddha way and left home to be a monk. One day when he was taking

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha a bath in his Monastery, he suddenly saw those chickens lined up in his Bath Hall all the way to the far distant train station in town. He was scared out of his skin and slipped, causing him to be partly paralyzed. After being partly paralyzed, he had the willpower and repented. When the power of repentance was not enough, he chanted (mindfulness) Amitabha. I heard that he left peacefully in his final moment, but I do not know the details of the situation. I heard that a fleshy bump exhibited on the top of his head precisely known as “ushnisha”, one of the ten unique features of the Buddha (symbolizes his attained wisdom and enlightenment). Perhaps he was chanting Amitabha and mindfulness Amitabha every day, and it was related to “the appearance stems from the mind”. The bump on top the Buddha crown is called the “invisible mark on the head”. What is it? It is that “invisible mark on the head” which you are unable to see, it emits light and the light is super strong. Before Shakyamuni Buddha was alive, there was Bodhisattva who wanted to see the crown of the Buddha, using one’s supernatural ability to fly into the sky and tried to look at the crown of the Buddha but one could not see it. The light was too strong, the eyes cannot open, and even using the supernatural power one cannot see it. There is another way of saying this, it is that the Buddha crown is tall and lofty and there is no way to go beyond it by any supernatural ability, and also one cannot see it either. The example of the venerable Master Guang-Hua is he experienced retribution from the killing of live animals. Eating so many chickens, does he need to pay? Yes, in addition he must face his own retribution from it. He chanted (mindfulness) Amitabha without the

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aid of expedients. If you think about it, if he can appear with such an “auspicious sign” it is certainly not an ordinary state. We can touch the crown of our head; do we appear with any “auspicious sign”? No, there is none. This means that he truly chanted (mindfulness) Amitabha, and this kind of sincerity transformed him to become the same as Amitabha. Even though I have never met the venerable Master Guang-Hua, I have a very good friend who was close to him. Master Guang-Hua had mirror-like clarity when my friend’s mind activated with any delusional thoughts or any ideas. He still scolded him every time, but after he received a scolding he would call me. I said, “It does not matter, if you let him scold a bit is it not a good thing also? Ok, yes? After scolding, you should be better.” “Be better” means one knew that oneself had done wrong. During these times, he often told me many things about the venerable Master Guang-Hua of course, there were some things that I am not convenient to say here. There were a lot of things about Master GuangHua’s supernatural abilities because it was not confirmed, but I do not want to talk about it. The third example, I knew one of the Buddhist Masters in Taipei about 20 years ago. When I first met him, I had a feeling: 1. This person surely is not an ordinary person, 2. He practices real cultivation; he has really corrected himself, and really chants (mindfulness) Amitabha. Later he was sick was very ill, and did not have any strength. For instance, before he could still explain the Sutra, later he could no longer do so and just rested in his living quarters and engaged in rehabilitation. I remembered many years ago, when I went back to Taiwan and went to see him once, I looked at his painful look truly being vigilant. But

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha strangely, he counted prayer beads in his hand non-stop and his head was mirror-like clarity. There was just no energy and that was all. I do not know whether he went to be born in the Pure Land of Amitabha now. Once, I asked another Buddhist Master about his situation: He replied, “This person still has the self-I; so, there is still pain.” I said, “But he chants (mindfulness) Amitabha.” The Master replied, “Right, but he has not attained the state of selflessness.” This statement is directly pointing at the will of the people. Everybody think about this, without the aid of expedients, this expedient is “self-I”, when still there is a little bit of “self-I” then all is called expedients. Buddha as you would wish, he said, “If you eat meat, it does not matter you cannot strictly adhere to the disciplinary precept; you eat three kinds of clean meat where you do not see it killed, you do not hear it is being killed, and it was not killed especially for you.” But, is this killing? Yes, it is killing. Anyway, it is killing for you to eat. Is this called expedients? Yes. It is very convenient. But it still has the “self-I”. So, their minds will naturally awake by themselves expresses when there is a state of selflessness, and your mind corresponds with the “fundamental reality”. The “fundamental reality” of course is Amitabha. If there were mistakes made, it is unuseful to repent. Repentance is also useless, you should chant (mindfulness) Amitabha with all haste to extinguish hindering your attainment of bodhi (enlightenment), and then no longer make mistakes. That is “true repenting”.

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Ancient people lectured about “repentance”, one needs to repent until Buddha or Bodhisattva manifest to lay the hand on the top of your head, only then it counts to extinguish the hindrance of past karma. What does this mean? The statement of a moment ago is correct, if you are not entering the fundamental reality, then how can Buddha or Bodhisattva manifest before you? After entering the fundamental reality, only showing your hindrance of past karma has extinguished fully. This is true according to the Buddhist Scripture, but it sounds too difficult for us to achieve. Have any of you repented to the end and see a Buddha or Bodhisattva? No, let alone having them lay the hand on the top of your head. Why I do not advocate for you to go repent? In truth, if you repent and you would perform it again. When you think of repenting but still enter the plot of performing your karma caused action at that time such as, “I stole an egg at that time and regretted it”. Thinking over again the shape of that egg and how to steal it, there was another impression in the head and performing another karma caused action again. This kind of constantly recreation of the impression of performing karma caused action is indeed very troublesome. Yet, it would be better if you change the concept to think of Amitabha. Not thinking of anything, only the thought of Amitabha. Although the karma remains a bit, at least it would not manifest now. Yet, thought after thought it does not manifest, then you can attain the state of “foreseeing the time of your death”. When you are approaching your death, Amitabha will come to meet and receive you to the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land and this is called “taking along one’s karma to go to be born in the Pure Land of Amitabha”. “Taking along one’s karma”, is the hindering your attainment of bodhi (enlightenment) so it does not manifest activities. Cultivation with the other method, surely manifest activities to disturb you, you

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha are surely inescapable. Only the method of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha can allow a person to take along one’s karma to become Buddha because of gaining the majestic support of Amitabha’s vow power plus maintaining mindfulness by all Buddha. Yet one goes to be born in the Pure Land of Amitabha without regression, to attain enlightenment in perfection. Therefore, In the Period of Degeneration and Extermination of Buddha teaching, the only way relies on chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha can be helped and be enlightened. It is not without reason. I just talked about the example of the venerable Master Guang-Hua, and how he took along his karma to be born in the Pure Land of Amitabha. The souls of those chickens have no place for compensation because within the Threefold Worlds (Triloka – the universe is divided to three worlds of desire, form and formless) they could not find him. He exited the Threefold Worlds to the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land. What can be done about the souls and hates of these chickens? This needs the venerable Master Guang-Hua to be available himself to come again in accordance with his vow or in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land and use his supernatural power to help and enlighten these chickens instantly. Thus, regardless of what methods used to help and enlighten all living beings, that it is all done in accordance with conditions and free from resistance. It is inconceivable! All of you think, we have caused countless karma through infinite existence of world-periods. This countless karma, it also means that if you do not become Buddha then there is no way to resolve it. In other words, when can you become Buddha?

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If it was not for having this extraordinary method of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha, honestly speaking, we are also unable to become Buddha through infinite existence of world-periods of the infinite existence of world-periods. Other people talk without this extraordinary method to enlightenment, it is impossible for us to detach from rebirth and recurring death, also impossible to eradicate the unenlightened condition, to experience entry into our true origin in perfection. Therefore, this point is very important. Great-Strength Bodhisattva (Mahasthmanparata) has identified this main point; truely it is without the aid of expedients; their minds will naturally awake by themselves.

〔經文〕如染香人，身有香氣，此則名為，香光莊嚴。

[Sutra text] Like a person who has been near scented incense will carry the fragrance on one’s body; it is the same in this case. Such is called glorious fragrant light. Commentary: A person who has been near scented incense refers to ancient times when making incense was a fine workmanship. Incense uses all different raw materials such as minerals or plants, etc. to make. People who made incense worked in the incense room daily, their entire body covered by the fragrant scent and so were their minds. The six senseorgans began to transform after contact with the fragrant scent for that duration of time, even their internal organs were all fragrant. There is an internal state, if our internal organs have the fragrance of sandalwood before we are not so seriously defiled. Some people practice life vital energy exercises and called it the fragrant exercise. I heard people say they would emit a fragrant scent during their exercise. This is nothing special, this is precisely the original and normal operation of the body, inherently has a fragrance.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha Nowadays if we go 3 days without washing, we will stink. The venerable Monk Xu-Yun (虛雲)may not need to wash for over 18 months, and his body still maintained a light fragrance. His body and mind had purified and did not secrete toxins. Unlike us when we finish eating, if we ate bad food, we will pass gas– bad smell. It is the toxins that make it smell bad. The body of the venerable Monk Guang-Qin (廣欽)had a delicate fragrance, I felt it. I saw him personally; he was around 90 years old in very good spirits and in very good health. His whole body aura was golden and released a fragrance. His golden aura, truly speaking, even the physical eye could see it. You could immediately feel that this person was surely a real practitioner. Honestly, it is beyond words to describe. Just like when the flower is about to bloom in the condition of a delicate fragrance and clean. While he was so old, there existed no afflictions. Talking about will carry the fragrance on one’s body, body also represents the Dharma Body therefore, it is a metaphor for this person who has been near scented incense and one’s self-nature fragrance merged as one. The Sixth Patriarch states: Self-nature has five kinds of fragrance (morality, concentration, wisdom, liberation, liberated insight). Self-nature carries the fragrance and this fragrance represents the virtuous attribute of the Dharma Body. The attribute of the virtuous is represented by light. Therefore, later speaking of the glorious fragrant light. Without the aid of expedients, their minds will naturally awake by themselves, the minimal attainment is the Maha-Bodhisattva of the 1st Stage of the Perfect Teaching School, same as the 1st Stage of the Distinctive Teaching School, who has already eradicated the

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unenlightened condition “the mind gets enlightened”. From the Infinite Life Sutra: The mind become enlightened genuinely. It means one has truly beheld the brilliance of one’s self-nature. This fragrant expresses the teaching. Light expresses the virtuous function to mean glorious. The place of enlightenment of a Buddha and Bodhisattva all are glorious fragrant light. Once you enter, the air fills with a fragrant scent. Every Buddha Realm’s fragrance is different. The fragrance of the Amitabha Pure Land is beyond the description, however the condition of that fragrance, once you are in contact with it you attain your “Five Visions” that is “the Buddha eye-omniscience, Dharma eye, Wisdom eye, Heavenly eye, and human eye”. The five kinds of vision are perfectly clear. Do not talk about the supernatural ability first. Even a person with this shallow degree of Prajna wisdom who is in contact with this fragrance, their original self-nature’s Prajna wisdom is entirely revealed. This is indeed inconceivable! This kind of inconceivable phenomena, the other Buddha Realms do not have. An ordinary person in other Buddha Realms is unable to smell the Buddha fragrance. We know the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land is Four Realms are perfectly integrated, people like us go there regardless of the rank difference never mind, when smelling this fragrance then one attains Buddha’s enlightenment. The fragrance of Amitabha and the light pervades all over the ten directions of the universe, this kind of glorious does not exist in other Buddha Realms it only has in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land. The materialistic enjoyment of many other Buddha Realm surpasses the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land; however, the other Buddha Realms are far more inferior for an ordinary person to have attainment of Prajna wisdom in comparison.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha Truthfully, the other Buddha world is like the world we are in now. How can an ordinary person attain Buddha enlightenment? It is impossible. How can an ordinary person attain Buddha enlightenment refers to you as an ordinary person with no way to contact the insight (or wisdom condition) of Mahasattva with Dharma Body (Bodhisattva who has attained the realization of embodiment of truth). The wisdom condition can also be referred to as fragrance, because fragrance expresses inconceivable wisdom. How about the light? Our physical eyes also fail to see. In that case, how can we attain Buddha enlightenment? But in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land, the physical eye is the “Buddha eye, wisdom eye, and heavenly eye”, interoperability between the five visions, its Four Realms are perfectly integrated. Therefore, in terms of: Smelling the fragrance and wisdom opens, seeing the light attains enlightenment; The Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land is exclusively for the “ordinary person to become Buddha” to establish this super wonderful world. It has won the praise of all Buddha and they are also promoting and expounding endlessly. It is impeccable! All beings there have the same features, all have Buddha characteristics, with a golden body, which is the purple golden body. The “purple gold” is the supreme golden body (Buddha), it is the great brilliance within the self-nature. How to describe the purple golden body? A normal person’s light closest to the head is a white light, outside of the white light is a halo of a light golden color, gradually it becomes deep gold, it radiates into the universe beaming. Outside of the deep gold there is green, then red, and the last turns into a purple color, therefore it is called the “purple golden light”, which is the normal light of self-nature. In the

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Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land, all are “purple golden body”, also “purple golden light”. This thing still has color to speak of, but when one has truly attained the “Realization of Nirvana”, there is no color, and light is not light. This kind of glorious of the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land is the education place praised by all Buddha of the past, present and future together. It is the place to educate all living beings to attain the Buddha-nature in perfection, it is not the place for seeking pleasure. Right, it has happiness and has the most excellent objects of the five sense-organs as “eye sees sight, ear hears sound, noise smell scent, tongue can taste, body feel the touch”; yet it is not based on these mainly. It is based mainly on all living beings attaining the state of Buddhahood perfectly; this aspect is completely different from other Buddha worlds. Someone said, the world of the Lion’s Roar Buddha (Simha), or the world of the Bao-Sheng Buddha (Rantanasambhava), or the world of the Immovable Buddha (Akshobhya) are all glorious, but they do not have the environment like the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land. Their vows are different. Buddha and Bodhisattva are very smart; Amitabha established this Bliss World, and all Buddha send everyone there, this is called “just right (hit the spot)”. This is because the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land pervades the existence of open space and extends to the universe everywhere the purified mind is in its nature state. It is eternally imperishable to meet and receive all the living beings until forever. Therefore, what is glorious fragrant light referring to? It refers to a person chant (mindfulness) Amitabha who has a purified body and mind. It is the situation of seeing the fragrant light attains enlightenment.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha A person who has been near scented incense refers to person who chant (mindfulness) Amitabha. One will carry the fragrance on one’s body is one's body and mind all entering the fragrance of the Tathagata nature. This is only the highest joy and incredible glory of Amitabha's original vows and is also beyond all Buddha. This, however, is unprecedented.

〔經文〕我本因地，以念佛心，入無生忍，

[Sutra text] My original state of practicing Buddhism leads to the resulting Buddhahood by mindfulness of Amitabha and the beginning to understand the Realization of non-arising and non-ceasing of all phenomena. Commentary: Great Strength Bodhisattva (Mahasthmaprapta) states that, my original state of practicing Buddhism leads to the resulting Buddhahood, I was originally in this state of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha is the “cause, becoming Amitabha is the effect”. The “cause'” is the first arousal of the aspiration for enlightenment. Original state of practicing the Buddhism leads to the resulting Buddhahood that is his initial determination to seek enlightenment then chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha all the way to the end. His way of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha is called recollects wholeheartedly on the Buddha, which we have explained very clear

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above. The meaning of recollecting wholeheartedly means the glorious fragrant light, precisely is without the aid of expedients, their minds will naturally awake by themselves. By mindfulness of Amitabha and the beginning to understand the Realization of non-arising and non-ceasing of all phenomena needs to pay special attention to mindfulness of Amitabha, this mindfulness is without distracting thought, without delusional thought, without attachment, without interruption and without doubt, and only then is it called mindfulness of Amitabha. If there is interruption, doubt, or a mix, then it is not mindfulness of Amitabha, it is mindfulness of assortment. The initial determination to see enlightenment on his Causal Ground is focusing oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s energies to mindfulness of Amitabha, this is stated in the Infinite Life Sutra: To focus single-mindedly in chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha. This is important. It is because his mindfulness of Amitabha is 100%, so he understands the Realization of non-arising and nonceasing of all phenomena. Everyone think about it, his rank of the Realization of non-arising and non-ceasing of all phenomena, strictly speaking, should be the 9th (as 49th of 52 cultivation tiers) Bodhisattva Stage. Yet the Stages of 7th (inferior class), 8th (medium class), and 9th (superior class) are all ranked the Realization of non-arising and nonceasing of all phenomena. If one uses the mindfulness of Amitabha way into the state of Realization of non-arising and non-ceasing of all phenomena, without doubt the attainment is the superior rank of Realization of non-arising and non-ceasing of all phenomena. Other people say: Enlightenment blooms when one beholds Buddhanature within oneself, one perceives and enters

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha the state of non-arising and non-ceasing of all phenomena. I am here to say: In the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land one perceives and enters the realization of non-arising and non-ceasing in all phenomena. In the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land one perceives and enter the realization of non-arising and non-ceasing in all phenomena, needs to still add enlightenment blooms when you behold Buddha-nature within yourself, then you attain the Bodhisattva status of Aparivartya. This kind of benefit no-other Buddha lands have. “Aparivartya” means non-receding to the lower status. “Non-receding to the lower status”, in general sense means the attainment of the 7th Bodhisattva Stage (as 47th of 52 cultivation tiers) and above. However, in a narrow sense it is the attainment of the Absolute Universal Enlightenment Bodhisattva (as 51st of 52 cultivation tiers). Beginning to understand the Realization of non-arising and non-ceasing of all phenomena, in a general sense it is the attainment of the 7th Stage Bodhisattva; however, in a narrower sense it is the 9th Stage Bodhisattva. Therefore, when we read the scripture, do not ignore it. It is very deep inside, there are very profound meanings. Why can a person attain this realization? By means of mindfulness of Amitabha only then a person can attain enlightenment. If you are “mindfulness of all living beings” then it does not work, you must be chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha, only then can you become Buddha. Many people say chanting (mindfulness) of any Buddha is all ok in any case. This is incorrect. The original vow of Amitabha was pledged after he became Buddha, he will re-manifest because of his vow to do

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universal salvation. He has longed to become a Buddha before the far away existence of world-periods. This is because of his pledged vow to save all beings and then initiates this all-embracing vow. So, his great vows are by means of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha, and only then can a person correspond with the excellent method to enlightenment. Someone said, “Can I chant Guan-Yin Bodhisattva instead?” Buddha and Bodhisattva opening wide expedients, then say: "Ok, since you have attachment, you will chant Guan-Yin Bodhisattva sincerely, then you can dedicate all the chanting merit to the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land. With an earnest vow to go to the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land to become Buddha.” Can you go to be born in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land this way? Of course, you can. For instance, in the recitation of the Medicine Buddha (Bhaisajyaguru) Sutra, the Medicine Buddha has also made a vow: If there is a sentient being who chants his name, in the future if one wants to go to the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land, he will send eight of his MahaBodhisattvas to accompany one and directly lead one to the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land to become Buddha. These are the facts about all Buddha Tathagata helping all living beings to go to Amitabha Pure Land. They have all put their vow power together to lead and return to the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land, jointly to accomplish this magnificent vow of helping all living beings. Truly is:

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha When one Buddha brings to perfection of a supreme excellent vow, all Tathagata endorses and power bestowed. This indeed is: The reason why Tathagata appears in this world; he is only here to explain the vow of Amitabha is deep and wide like the ocean. This has truly shown selflessness to the extreme. We must think about it, beginning to understand the Realization of non-arising and non-ceasing of all phenomena, this is just preliminary. If you have eradicated the unenlightened condition, which is only the preliminary and that is all. After going to the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land, the outstanding is not the same. If you chant (mindfulness) Amitabha and begin to understand the Realization of non-arising and non-ceasing of all phenomena, when the radiance of Amitabha shines on you, then you advance to the next level of “Realization of Nirvana”. This is not known to most people. We generally say, “We thought that we would go to the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land ranked exactly as the lowest class of the inferior rank. We go over there and stay that way, we recultivate continuously.” This is where your mistake is, even though you are in the “lowest class of the inferior rank”, however after Amitabha’s light shines on you, that ability at least beyond the inferior rank and is up to the “medium rank”. Someone said, “In the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land to become Buddha, it probably takes three to four existence of world periods.”

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The three to four existence of world-periods are what we talk about here three to four great existence of world-periods (one worldperiod is calculated to last 1,347,000,000 years). One day in Amitabha Pure Land is equivalent to our time here of one great existence of world periods. Therefore, in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land you can become Buddha within five days, this is extraordinary. One second in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land, we must go through hundreds of thousands of years here. Therefore, everyone should not blame those people who went to the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land and have not come back yet. I am telling you; it is not that they not coming back; one second there is our hundreds of thousands of years here. It is impossible for us to see it. However, Buddha and Bodhisattva have majestic powers can penetrate time. A lot of people go to the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land, and when going one manifests the ubiquitous supernatural power, then returns, but there extremely few. Another problem is that they come back every day, but you do not know. All of this must be fate by which people are brought together; otherwise you will not meet face to face. There are many situations mentioned in the Sutra that is distant from us. What distance? We have too many unknowns because we have not experienced entry into the Buddha-truth. Other people speak about Bodhisattva as such, or Arhat as such, and we have no clue. The Arhat is selflessness; what is selflessness? Explaining for a long time, we still fail to experience. For example, his afflictions arise from things seen and thoughts are thoroughly ended. Then what kind of cognitive sphere has one attained? He also has no hunger feeling; how does he see things so clearly about things?

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha But we can only imagine but cannot enter. These are the differences in concept. Speaking more directly, if you only have the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land, and only Amitabha in your everyday concept then you have entered now. Why could you not enter before? It is because there are too many distractions, distracting thoughts in the subconscious that you have no way to detect. Yet the cognitive sphere after the Great Strength (Mahasthmaprapta) begins to understand the Realization of nonarising and non-ceasing of all phenomena, did not mention this and it only talks about his original state of practicing Buddhism leading to the resulting Buddhahood, how to eradicate the unenlightened condition. In this case, waiting for you later go to the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land then you really know the profound and meticulous thinking of Buddha therein. Right now, it is only chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha single-mindedly.

〔經文〕今於此界，攝念佛人，歸於淨土。

[Sutra text] Now in this world I direct all those who chant (mindfulness) Amitabha and bring them back to the Amitabha Pure Land. Commentary: This is the cognitive sphere after understanding the Realization of non-arising and non-ceasing of all phenomena. What is the cognitive sphere? He returns on the boat of compassion to help all living beings that he has predestined affinity. This means that he has recovered his ability. After recovering the ability, now in this world I gather in all those who chant (mindfulness) Amitabha and bring them back to the Amitabha Pure Land.

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Great Strength Bodhisattva (Mahasthmaprapta) has the connection with our world. In this world, the Milky Way and the Solar System is exceeding, and the big universe is not what we can imagine. So many dimensions of space are not what we imagined. The issues are: 1. Some people still worried say, “I am chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha this way, and in the future when Amitabha comes to receive me, I do not know where the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land is, how can I go?” Truly speaking, many people have this idea. 2. What does the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land look like, I do not even know. How to think of it? 3. What does Amitabha look like? You show a person a picture or give a painted Buddha to them and they doubt. This is the reason for coming back after Buddha Bodhisattva experiences entry into their Buddha-nature (Tathagatagarbha). It is because they want to help all living beings to eradicate the confusion by becoming enlightened, yet the simplest and most direct method is teaching you chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha. All of you think, if the Buddha’s name in you is uninterrupted, surely you understand the Scripture because that Scripture is your own statement. If the Buddha’s name is interrupted, then your six internal bases (roots) and six consciousness then manifest activities. This means that your habit starts to be in charge, and that is trouble. We are now calling for a change of concept. It should be replaced; you must not let your habit be in charge. I suggest that all of you, when you are genuinely chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha to practice cultivation, you should turn off the telephone, television, and computer. Choose a few days at home in a

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha month to chant (mindfulness) Amitabha. I remember I said this before, I do not think everyone really did it. Everyone commented that there are too many chores, being busy with this or that. It is very difficult to let go. I direct all those who chant (mindfulness) Amitabha and bring them back to the Amitabha Pure Land; this word “direct” is very important. The meaning of direct is to teach you a method. If you do not know the way to practice cultivation, how can you unadulteratedly progress in the good and eliminate the evil is of no use. Therefore, just providing that method of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha, it is effective for modern people. How effective? Like the Method of Ten Recitations (where each recitation session contains 10 chants of Amitabha is the way of having no alternative to give people who work in the office. Most people attend the session here are not busy at home and have semi-retirement status. What is semi-retirement? Partly retired from work. One half is where one is dozing off or doing nothing and the other half is being busy with six realms of reincarnation affairs and is getting plenty of action. Every day, either this activity or that mental activity, there are too many activities of delusional thoughts. I direct all those who chant (mindfulness) Amitabha and bring them back to the Amitabha Pure Land, this is truly chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha to become Buddha. However, chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha must have the concurrent occasion of an event. First change the diet—a diet can affect a person’s mental activity. Diet of course: 1. The lighter the better. 2. The more you can handle by yourself the better. If the family cannot cooperate, then it is up to you with how to cooperate with them.

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After the diet has changed, your body condition begins to return to normal. Then the mental is changed with the diet, mentally is precisely chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha. What is called chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha? That is mindfulness of enlightenment to remove your delusional thoughts. If you are truly chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha, there is a phenomenon which you are thoroughly disillusioned with many things in the world. The most important thing is that there is no problem of “face (as in losing face)”. A person’s name, the nickname of a person is all called “face” and no one can escape this. After the face problem has been removed from your mind, then you are 80% lighter. The “Face” is that you must face yourself, not face others. Some people misunderstood and think that “face” is: “Oops! This is really embarrassing; I truly lose face.” Of course, it is not like this, it is facing yourself, not facing others. It is because others are tired, you are tired too. After the diet changes, let go of the face (pride), there are the distracting thoughts that is easy to handle. The distractions are your own habit which others cannot manage, there is no way to manage it, and you need to solve it by yourself. For instance, your own mind you know best and you just need to remove your most heavy habits, that is also a kind of illusion and that is all. I direct all those who chant (mindfulness) Amitabha, just talked about “teaching you method”, in fact you can absolutely teach yourself. Think about it, after reading the Sutra text, one is going to digest and return to one’s own self-nature, do introspection and have self-reflection at once. The Great Strength Bodhisattva (Maha-sthmaprapta) is without the aid of expedients; therefore, his mind will naturally awake by himself.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha How can his mind will naturally awake by himself? He recollects wholeheartedly on Amitabha. Recollecting wholeheartedly precisely means that he does not have problem of the face (pride), no habits. We cannot see him and regard him as the Great Strength Bodhisattva (Mahasthmaprapta), and we are the ordinary people. No, you must not look like this; you must see that he is the same as you. From the Sutra text, you seem to have a distance from him, you think you cannot do it and we all have this kind of shortcomings. For instance, speaking about Amitabha, we feel that the distance is too far. Therefore, I suggest to you, no matter when and where in the future, you must look at this society from the concept of Buddha and Bodhisattva, and then you can chant (mindfulness) Amitabha. From the aspect of principle, you know it well yet, when practicing then you input the principle. In that case, everything is perfect. Bring them back to the Amitabha Pure Land, bring them back means recovering your pure self-nature. After recovery, a condition appears which is “perfectly unimpeded”. “Perfectly” is you beholding the Buddha-nature, and “unimpeded” is penetrating the fundamental truth of all things in the universe as non-existent and existent as the material and immaterial all are of the one Buddha-nature, and real and unreal exist simultaneously. You see all completely.

〔經文〕佛問圓通，我無選擇，

[Sutra text] The Buddha asks chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha to become Buddha, I select none other. Commentary:

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The Buddha asks me, “how can I see: the truth of the fundamental reality, the truth about the universe, the truth about Buddha-nature? Using what kind of method can one to become Buddha?” Yet I select none other, I do not want other methods, or I would not choose another method again. Yet, I choose only chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha. The Buddha asks chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha to become Buddha: I use chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha to enter the Great Surangama Samadhi, and already ally myself with the state of becoming Buddha.

〔經文〕都攝六根，淨念相繼，得三摩地，斯為第一。

[Sutra text] Than laying hold of the six sense-organs (roots) entirely through continuous pure mindfulness to attain chanting Amitabha Samadhi. This is the foremost method. Commentary: What kind of effect does the name of Amitabha have? It can lay hold of all the six sense-organs entirely. Entirely means the whole. Laying hold of means to be fully in control. The six sense-organs (roots) consist of the “eye, ear, nose, tongue, body and mind”. All the six senseorgans (roots) are laying hold by chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha. Sense-organs (roots) is the Buddha-Nature, when without thought arising in the mind is called sense-organs (roots); arising the thought in the mind is known as the “six discernments”. It plays a role in the six qualities produced by six organs of sense “sight, sound, smell, taste, touch and idea”.

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha In the Annotation of the Surangama Sutra, the Great Master Jiao-Guang (交光) explained: Abandon discernments and apply with one's senseorgans (root). If you know how to use sense-organs (roots), it is without discrimination and without attachment, then everything is solved and then you see the truth of the universe. The meaning of laying hold of the six sense-organs (roots) entirely is due to chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha in moment-to moment continuity, every thought-moment uniting with Amitabha and Buddha-nature (Tathagata-garbha), you do not have time to initiate delusional thoughts. The six sense-organs (roots) entirely are within the name of Amitabha and none can get away. Life and death are gone, the unenlightened condition is gone, the condition of an unrecordable mind (Avyakhyata) is gone. The “condition of an unrecordable mind” has delusional thoughts. So, no more delusional thoughts, the feeling of nothingness and loss is also gone. Because when chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha, do you chant clearly? Yes. But are you chanting? You chant constantly without the thought of chanting. Chanting phenomena exists, do you mark this in mind? No. Chanting constantly without the thought of chanting is pure mindfulness. If there is thought, then it is not pure. If there is none, then you are under the condition of making a futile effort. Chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha, chants each line of verse clearly. Have you done this? Yes.

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Without attachment, this is the “right mindfulness” and is precisely pure mindfulness. Through continuous pure mindfulness, it is uninterrupted, every minute and second are all filled with the Amitabha name, your body and mind unite with Amitabha. This is the real phenomenon of the universe. Laying hold of corresponds, especially after we go to the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land in the future, you have seen all kinds of situations in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land, then relook at this Scripture again, and by then you will fully agree. This Scripture reveals from the self-nature of Great Strength Bodhisattva (Mahasthmaprapta), and it is not the literal meaning of the words. This Scripture has infinite radiance, you relook at this Scripture in the future, not only will you see the word but also the light; however, you do not have attachment. This is the difference. Currently, we are unable to see these phenomena, but we believe in it. Therefore, ancient people have said: Firm belief is the origin of the truth and the mother of meritorious virtue. This is the reason. To attain chanting Amitabha Samadhi. This is the foremost method, Samadhi is a Sanskrit word, an internal state of imperturbability exempt from external sensations, when a person attains that state it is to be addressed Samadhi. This Samadhi is “calming (when the physical organism is at the rest) and has insight (when the mind with wisdom is seeing all clearly)”; the two-reach equilibrium. This Samadhi is not an ordinary kind of meditative stillness, and your mind reaches a certain level of tranquility and enlightenment. “A certain level” that you have already lay hold of the six sense-organs (roots) entirely. The six sense-organs (roots) are already completely controlled by you and by

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha your Buddha-nature, to let the pure and undefiled Buddha-nature be the master of your own affairs. In ancient times, it was translated many languages when it crossed to China, why did they not translate it into Chinese instead of using the original text? Due to the original text it contains infinite meaning, our Chinese sometimes cannot cover its full meaning. For instance, Prajna, why do they not translate it into Chinese? Prajna is more than just wisdom, it is comprised of all wisdom of mundane and transmundane. In fact, “Prajna” is equal to immense and limitless marvelous function of one’s supernatural ability. But this supernatural ability is not blind, it has supreme perception power like the great wisdom of marvelous observing cognition, the great perfect mirror wisdom, and the wisdom of equality, the state of these great wisdoms. So, looking from this perspective at Samadhi, you should not nail it down as one straight way only. Some people think that it is the average meditative concentration of the worldly, it is not. The Samadhi of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha is different. Chanting Amitabha Samadhi is the great Samadhi of Buddha-nature’s essence, in fact it is the Great Surangama Samadhi—the Samadhi nature of Tathagata (the essence of all things). During the state of chanting (mindfulness) there is no attachment and discrimination to enter the state of Surangama Samadhi completely—a complete state without any phenomena. Yet chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha can chant to attain the great Samadhi of Tathagata. This is truly inconceivable. In the Buddha Speaks of Amitabha Sutra which states: Shakyamuni Buddha in this evil age of the five defilements (refers to this time on Earth) practiced this inconceivable method in this Saha Land.

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This inconceivable method is precisely referring to chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha. Most people have overlooked this, they do not know the importance of this name Amitabha. Which Buddha name does Shakyamuni chant? Of course, he chants Amitabha. Amitabha has double meanings, one is the “narrow sense” and the other is a “general sense”. The “narrow” sense refers to Amitabha and the Bliss World of Pure Land. The “general sense” refers to the cosmic life original energy and ability, and also the Buddha-nature of all Buddha and Bodhisattva, all living beings of Threefold Worlds (Triloka), six realms of reincarnation, and ten states of existence. It pervades all over the existence of open space and extends to the universe where the purified mind is in its nature state and it is eternally inexhaustible. This is the foremost method which means the method of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha has the foremost Buddha attainment. The foremost chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha can enter the Tathagata’s nature of Amitabha is the essence of Surangama. This is the foremost method for all Buddha and Bodhisattva of the “past, present, and future” from the ten directions of the universe to help all living beings to attain Buddhahood simultaneously to get all Buddha’s protection and supporting, praising and compliment, expounding and widely to proclaim, forever until the end of time. Therefore, chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha is mindfulness of your self-nature, yet mindfulness of self-nature is namely mindfulness:

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha All matters are within Buddha-nature which is ultimately inexhaustible and indestructible. That is exactly mindfulness Surangama. So, it wonderfully surpasses all methods to enlightenment, truly and fluently expresses the Buddhaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s original intention. The condition of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha of The Chapter of the Surangama Sutra: The Great Strength Bodhisattva (Mahastamaprapta) chants (mindfulness) Amitabha in perfection to become Buddha will mention again when we explain the Surangama Sutra in the future. Then we would explain according to the Explanatory Notes of the Surangama Sutra by Master Yuan-Yin. He is very detailed inside, at that time, we can slowly discuss it again. Today, I have finished the explanation of this Chapter of the Surangama Sutra perfectly. Amitabha!

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The Chapter Of The Surangama Sutra: The Great-Strength Bodhisattva (Mahastamaprapta) Chants (mindfulness) Amitabha In Perfection To Become Buddha, calligraphy by Master Yinguang

印光大師親書大勢至念佛圓通章

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

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Postscript: The Valued Piece Calligraphy By The Great Master Yin-Guang Today of course, after finishing the explanation of this chaper reaches a conclusion but next, I will put forward the signed inscription: Constantly ashamed Buddhist monk Sheng-Liang (聖量 holy teachings and inference, the Dharma name of Great Master Yin-Guang) on the calligraphy of the Chapter of Surangama Sutra: The Great Strength Bodhisattva (Maha-stamaprapta) chants (mindfulness) Amitabha in perfection to become Buddha. Everyone must pay attention, we know the Great Master YinGuang is the Transformation Body of the Great Strength Bodhisattva, and this courtesy name of Sheng-Liang (聖量 holy teachings and inference) refers to the Great Strength Bodhisattva. We often hear people speak about “words of holy teachings and inference”, it is the words spoken by a person has already attained Buddha enlightenment. In addition, he had written Constantly ashamed Buddhist monk, and everyone must pay attention this person is only then the mindfulness Amitabha. Adding the word constantly to ashamed, this constantly ashamed really means that he is modest. But in fact, ashamed is speaking to us. The ancient people stated: One who constantly ashamed in mind would not lose the vision of seeng the truth. The vision of seeng the truth refers to the Dharma vision which can see the truth of the universe. Constantly ashamed is constantly correcting one’s own mistakes, and unadulteratedly progress in chanting Amitabha. Buddha and Bodhisattva help all living beings every movement and everywhere;

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha even the inscriptions on the calligraphy is meaningful, this precisely is the great Buddha-path and wondrous principle therein. Therefore, even the Great Strength Bodhisattva (Mahasthmaprapta) is so modest. To be more detailed, he inscripted, Buddhist monk ShengLiang (聖量 holy teachings and inference, the Dharma name of Great Master Yin-Guang) representing he is the genuine disciple of the Shakyamuni Buddha. Sheng-Liang (聖量 holy teachings and inference), means that there is absolutely nothing wrong with what he said. Why? His sphere is the direct inferences from the direct perceptions from the senses. What are the “direct inferences”? It is obviously seeing the fundamental reality of the universe in the middle of his Samadhi (an internal state of tranquility, exempt from all external sensations); it impossible to be wrong. In that case, in our present state ordinary people have “inference based on rationality and logic” which is making the comparison with this or that, is this not so? Let me further study and investigate this, it is all over; you will never see the truth. Eminent monks that reached Buddha enlightenment of ancient times were all named as holy teachings and inference. Holy teaching shows without delusional thoughts and attachments, purified and without defilement. Inference is telling you the truth about the universe. The Great Master Yin-Guang has already hold such a high rank and he still constantly ashamed. To have this courtesy name, truly speaking this is Buddha and Bodhisattva with infinitely merciful and infinitely compassionat to perform and show this before us. This calligraphy is written in the “Yan style”, which was personally written by the Great Master Yin-Guang when he was around 79 years old. Other people say that:

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The Ancient Buddha left us with one word, or one phrase all have infinite causes and conditions. Today we see his calligraphy writing, The Chapter of the Surangama Sutra: The Great Strength Bodhisattva (Maha-stamaprapta) chants (mindfulness) Amitabha in perfection to become Buddha, and this is also his original fundamental cause of practicing to become enlightenment. This was written after he attained Buddha enlightenment and manifested as the Great Strength Bodhisattva in human form as the Patriarch Yin-Guang to our world. This kind of cause and condition is so rare and extraordinary. Today, to my surprise, we talk here about the original cause of becoming Buddha, thus, we and him were together as fellow trainees on the enlightenment path before. What is a “fellow trainee”? It is a classmate or teacher of practicing cultivation. And yet he already became a Buddha first, he made-up the mind in the same way as us to chant (mindfulness) Amitabha. But he attained Buddha-hood before the infinite existence of world-periods, after the infinite existence of world-periods we will become Buddha too. If this life term is not going to the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land you will see, after through the infinite existence of world-periods you still must become a Buddha. Everybody also takes their time; it is not bad to enjoy the life slowly in the six realms of reincarnation. Having said that, a lot of pain and suffering are not what you can imagine, otherwise why do Buddha and Bodhisattva need to manifest so many transformation bodies daily to help us? They know when we face suffering, it is like this, “when coming across it, one calls to Heaven and Earth utter cries of anguish, after one forgots all about it.” The meaning of Buddha or the Bodhisattva is to not want to have a nightmare again. Having a nightmare again, everyone is not peaceful. So, I wish you go home, and can take a good look again at The Chapter of the Surangama Sutra: The Great Strength Bodhisattva

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha (Maha-stamaprapta) chants (mindfulness) Amitabha in perfection to become Buddha. After reading it, you follow it accordingly and you will surely become a Buddha. An the most important thing of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha is: Laying hold of the six sense-organs entirely through continuous pure mindfulness. This is the most essential. The key of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha is right here. Either you chant by mouth, or chant in the mind, that is not important. The importance is whether you can lay hold of the six sense-organs entirely, this is the prerequisite. If you are successful with the prerequisites, there is absolutely no problem of through continuous pure mindfulness. If one can lay hold of the six sense-organs, it is absolutely continuous pure mindfulness. After purity, then one can be without the aid of expedients, oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mind naturally awake by oneself. It does not say, having a distracting thought then the mind naturally awakes, there is no such thing. This is called an â&#x20AC;&#x153;unawaken mindâ&#x20AC;? which is impossible to attain. Think about it, the key of chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha is to recollect wholeheartedly on someone which is Amitabha. Presently, not only mindfulness Amitabha but we also need to recollect Amitabha. Every day seeing the statue of Buddha, just thinking that I am going sooner or later to the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land to become Buddha, this is surely not wong. You need to concentrate your efforts on this, if you do not devote your time and energy to this, fooling around with family relatives every day, in the future in your last hours of clinging to phenomenal characteristics there is a part of them. After reincarnation you are involved with them again, then it is all finished.

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Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

Why did the ancient people take a Buddha Statue with them, they took it out and looked at it when they had free time? The theory is that they did not want to mark other things in their mind. They only looked at Buddha, so they could go to be born in the Pure Land of Amitabha and become Buddha. Like the venerable elder Guan-Hua, why did he appear with the red fleshy protuberance on the crown of his head, the same as the Buddhaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mark? Because he looked at Buddha daily, this was the reason! You should not pay attention to the image of all living beings around. Look at them for a period and after a long time, the trouble is big, then you will attach that phenomenal characteristics in mind. Sometimes a family looks very alike, what is the reason? They all cling to the same phenomenal characteristics (same attachment). There are also twins, I have seen that they look identical to each other; they truly have serious attachment. Speaking here, we truly need to learn from the Great Strength Bodhisattva: Laying hold of the six sense-organs entirely through continuous pure mindfulness, remembers wholeheartedly on Amitabha, entering the Realization of non-creation and non-extinction of all pheomena, self-confirm into chanting Amitabha in perfection to become Buddha, one surely becomes Buddha. This is the purpose of us to be human being, only until then and in this way, we do not let down our own soul. Namo Amitabha!

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

The Secret Of Success In Cultivation Practice All of you should know about the practice of the Buddha teaching, to be valuable in this word of “wholeheartedly”, and a word of “enlightenment”; if there is no “wholeheartedly” then it is difficult to have “state of enlightenment”. Because if cultivation practice without enlightened point, then there is not achievement in all the methods. Therefore, if practice the cultivation to get state of enlightenment, then it must be arosen from “wholeheartedly”. When you can be “wholeheartedly” then you surely have state of enlighenment. Everything it goes without saying exactly in this way, it is the normative coherence of how things should be. Now taking the chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha as an example: If usually you cannot chant (mindfulness) Amitabha wholeheartedly, to remember Amitabha, then it is difficult to have state of enlightenment; less merit to be attained. If you truly can wholeheartedly chant (mindfulness) Amitabha and remember Amitabha, again can make vow to go to be born in the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land; it will not take too long you will be met and received by Amitabha, to be enlightened into the Realization of non-creation and non-extinction of all phenomena. At once straight enters the true nature of all reality, you to see yourself-nature Amita. You attain the Buddha enlightenment in perfection too. Then this nirvana merit and enlightenment virtue is huge and great. This shows why “wholeheartedly mindfulness and remembering” Amitabha completes the supreme merit as: The name of Amitabha agrees implicitly with the true nature of all things, chanting Amitabha sincerely and one ingeniously enters the Realization of non-creation and non-extinction of all phenomena.

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Its accuracy and important are entirely at wholeheartedly and enlightenment. This is known as “wholeheatedly”, then one chants (mindfulness) Amitabha and remembering Amitabha uninterruptedly and without mixed, that is sincerely chanting Amitabha. That is laying hold of the six sense-organs entirely through continuous pure mindfulness, and so to have enlightenment; then no doubt and constantly unadulteratedly progressing. That is to agree implicitly with the true nature of all things” and “ingeniously into the Realization of non-creation and non-extinction of all phenomena. That is without the aid of expedients, their minds naturally awake by themselves. So, naturally one chants Amitabha in perfection to become Buddha. People who chant (mindfulness) Amitabha shall quickly reflect on this, this is also the most important point for practice all cultivations, you cannot be unawared. Its marvelous function and clear proof, even through the endless existence of world-periods and still much more to say, it is inconceivable. The Sutra states: All Buddha of the past, the present and the future from the ten directions of the universe all become Buddha by chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha, to have attainment of the supreme Nirvana. This is so we know when all living beings and Buddha wholeheartedly chant (mindfulness) and remembering Amitabha, merit is naturally complete; immediately having wondrous enlightenment to the “Realization of non-arising and non-ceasing of all phenomena”, skillfully enters the light of wisdom, the “eternal peace and tranquil light”. This is really called a profound secreat compass of “chanting Amitabha to become Amitabha”, it is so incredible!

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha Here, I cordially invite all of you to consider extreme carefully about my words. If you truly can wholeheartedly chant (mindfulness) and remembering Amitabha, naturally and surely very fast to enlightenment and becoming a Buddha. You are fully deserving to be congratulated!

Tai-yi Shen-long Recording at the Worry-Free Poolside The year of Pure Land

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Praising The Marvellous Sound Of Chanting Amitabha The marvelous sound of chanting Amitabha is free and unfettered, it is neither to come nor whether to go, unmoved and immutable, non-arising and non-ceasing of all phenomena. To be the virtuous assumed name inherently possessed by all beings, which is the original enlightenment of all Buddha and primary origin of all sentients too. Dharma does not have fixation; when the circumstantial cause ripes then it appears, ther is no existence of then or now, and accommodates to all circumstance. Constant mindfulness Amitabha, hearing the selfmarvelous sound of chanting Amitabha, to save and enlighten according with circumstances, ramble on the Earth. Gatha: 妙音人，逍遙遊，眾生本具之德號，諸佛如來之本覺，一切含靈之元辰！

Chanting Amitabha person who roams freely and unfettered, the inherent virtuous name of all living beings; It is the original enlightenment of all Buddha and Tathgata, the primary origin of all sentient.

君不見十世古今一剎那，過去未來即當下。

Do you not see: Ten eras of all ages pass in an instant, past and future that is this moment!

眾生煩惱無邊際，輪迴生死何時斷，何時斷，當下斷！

Afflictions of all beings are boundless, when would the reincarnation of birth and death end; when will it end, it ends this moment!

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

若要剎那了生死，一句彌陀作了斷，作了斷，心上斷！

If you want to finish the cycle of life and death this instant, chanting Amitabha breaks it off; breaking it off is to cut off from the mind!

句句彌陀安心上，安心上，最穩當！念佛功夫真通透，預知時至佛來迎，

Keeping Amitabha on your mind, on your mind, it is the most reliable way! Effort of chanting Amitabha reaches overall penetration, to forsee the time of your death ahead and Buddha comes to meet and welcome to the Pure Land.

佛來迎，放光明，蓮花化身金剛心，摩頂授記三昧行！

Buddha comes to meet and send out an illuminating ray, transforming through the lotus flower with adamantine mind, Buddha’s hand on your head to mark assurance of future enlightenment—the attainment of Chanting Amitabha Samadhi.

十方供佛在當下，顯密圓融無不精，無不精，入妙音！

Making offering to all Buddha of ten directions of the universe in an instant, perfectly integrated the teachings of Exoteric and Esoteric to master all, mastering all and awaken to the marvelous sound of chanting Amitabha.

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恆自心念阿彌陀，自性彌陀成彌陀，返聞念佛微妙音，念佛成佛號妙音！

One’s own mind does mindfulness Amita always, the self-nature Amita become Amitabha; returning to hear the exquisite sound of chanting Amitabha, chanting Amitabha becomes Amitabha assumed name as the Marvelous Sound!

無量無邊微妙法，全是彌陀真實心，真實心，遍一切，原是眾生本來心！

The infinitely boundless sublime teachings, all is from the sincere mind of Amitabha; the sincere mind is universal, it originates from the root of all being’s original mind!

Aged Monk Yue-Xi Yin-Kong salutes and praises In the year of existence and non-existence

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

Four Incredible Teachings The teaching of the Buddha is true teaching practice, transmitting the truth and dispel confusion, recovering our original pure nature, genuinely put into practice the original meaning of life. Chanting (mindfulness) Amitabha is true scientific revelation, every thought-moment with enlightening illumination, to break delusions and uncover enlightenment, and genuinely revealing the original enlightenment nature of life. Becoming a Buddha is true empirical evidence of philosophy, to finish and detach from life and death, to attain perfect enlightenment, the genuine evidence of the origin of life. To deliver all living beings from suffering is true execution of the enlightenment study, unimpeded and access to everything, to enlighten all without hindrances, genuinely executing the original duty of life. Gatha: 佛法教學，實踐本義！

The Buddha teaching is education; practices the original meaning. 念佛科學，實顯本覺！

Chanting Amitabha is science, reveals the original enlightenment nature. 成佛哲學，實證本源！

Becoming a Buddha is philosophy, evidence of the origin.

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渡眾覺學，實行本務！

To save all beings is the enlightenment study, executes the original duty. 教學科學，哲學覺學，融一切學！

Education, science, philosophy and enlightenment study; integrating all ways of teaching. 實踐實顯，實證實行，盡一切法！

Practicing and revealing, empirical evidence and execution, to the utmost on all phenomena. 本義本覺，本源本務，何其妙哉！

The original meaning and the enlightenment nature, the origin and duty; how marvelous is it. 佛法念佛，成佛渡眾，何可思乎！

The Buddha teaching to mindfulness Amitabha, becoming Buddha to save all beings; how inconceivable is it.

Tai-Yi Shen-long Xiao-Yao

Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha

The Dedication Of Transmitting Merit To All Wishing with this nirvana merit and enlightenment virtue of explaining publicly The Chapter of the Surangama Sutra: The Great Strength Bodhisattva (Maha-stamaprapta) chants (mindfulness) Amitabha in perfection to become Buddha, transmitting to all living beings with the purified mind in its nature state of this universe, so that all can by the name of Amitabha to recover one’s inherent Prajna (wisdom), by making vows to go to be born in the Bliss Word of Amitabha Pure Land, to attain one’s self-nature enlightenment in perfection. All were overjoyed, and all return to the state of nothing to be attained.

Tai-Yi Shen-Long

Xiao-Yao with two palms together in Buddhist salutation in homage to all

Gatha: Wishing with this merit, to glorify Amitabha Buddha’s Pure Land. Repaying four great kindnesses above and relieve the suffering of those in the three realms below. May those who sees and hears of this, all bring forth the enlightened mind, Devoting to the Buddha teaching till the end of this retribution body, born together to the Bliss World of Amitabha Pure Land.

Pay homage to Amitabha

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Chant Amitabha Become Amitabha