Real Buddhists Sit in Meditation. Right?

Question: Could you please send me an explanation as to why, as Pure Land Buddhists, we should always be Mindful of Buddha (Nien-Fo) and why we should chant the Buddhas name as much as possible. Our little Sangha thinks that I must be crazy to chant the Buddhas name. Real Buddhists sit in meditation. Maybe they will listen to you, they sure do not listen to me on this subject. :-)

Response: It takes three great eons—billions of billions of years—for us to become enlightened through personal practice. The Buddha attained enlightenment through meditation because he had practiced for those billions of years and had finally reached the point where he was just one breath away from enlightenment. He was able to let go of all attachments—all attachments—and to perfectly calm his mind. Perfectly and continuously. He was able to slip the boundaries of space and time, and perceive universal, unchanging truths.

This was something even the two most highly accomplished meditation masters of his time had not been able to accomplish. If even they were unable to match the Buddha's achievement, how can we be sure we can?

And what if we cannot?

We will continue to be reborn in the cycle of rebirth, to continue suffering. Unable to help ourselves. Unable to help others.

The Buddha knew this. And he taught the Pure Land method, taught us to single-mindedly chant "Amituofo" to end our suffering and that of others.

To attain lasting happiness and help others attain it as well.

So we're not crazy...we're doing what the Buddha wisely and compassionately advised us to do.