When chanting “Amituofo”

and a wandering arises,

which remains in the front of your brain

and which recedes to the back?

Initially, any wandering thought will derail our chanting. With time, as our chanting becomes stronger, the interrupting thoughts will occur less often and go away more quickly. With enough patience and diligence, the wandering thoughts will cease.

Since few of us have reached that level, for now it will be helpful to determine if we’re at least making progress. When that thought arises, observe which recedes, “Amituofo” or that wandering thought? And how soon do we notice what has happened? A few seconds? Twenty minutes? Or even longer.

Good thoughts or bad, it seems they arise from nowhere. One minute “Amituofo” is at the front of our brain and the next that interrupting thought is front and center, and “Amituofo” is gone.

Perceive what has happened and needs to be let go of, then return to the safety—and joy—of “Amituofo.”