Like Looking Through a Gauze Curtain

People generally do not understand the meaning of Amitabha Buddha and thus disparage this practice. They think that chanting “Amituofo” is too easy and that anyone can do this, even a three-year-old child. No one understands the profundity of the name Amitabha Buddha. Who can fully understand it? Only Buddhas can fully understand the inconceivability of this name! In other words, even Equal-enlightenment Bodhisattvas cannot thoroughly understand it.

The understanding of Equal-enlightenment Bodhisattvas is compared to one’s looking at the moon through a gauze curtain. A person can see the moon through the gauze curtain, but there is still something between the moon and this person. To Equal-enlightenment Bodhisattvas, understanding the profundity of Amitabha Buddha is like looking at the moon through a gauze curtain. That is why this nianfo method is called a method that is hard to believe. One who truly believes has good roots and good fortune. It is aptly said in this sutra: “One cannot be born in this land with few good roots, good fortune, and favorable conditions.” Good roots, good fortune, favorable conditions, and belief—it is very difficult for one to have [all four].

~ Based on Ven. Master Chin Kung's 2003 lecture series on the Amitabha Sutra

 

Comments

[chee wah kuan]

Dear Venerable Wu Ling,

Yes , I agreed that the teaching of Pureland Buddhism is hard for many to believe in the first place. I have been listening to Master Chin Kung's tape in cantonese dialect for some time now.

I find myself very fortunate indeed as I accepted and believed in Pureland teaching and chanting of amitoufu without questioning.

I therefore like to say that everyone who are in the Pureland school must alway have believe, vow, and diligent practice .