“Since Amitabha is so compassionate, 

why doesn’t he come 

and take us to the Pure Land right now?” 

Just as Sakyamuni Buddha cannot enlighten us, Amitabha Buddha cannot whisk us away to the Pure Land just because we wish to go there. Not even a Buddha can go against the natural law of cause and effect.

We need to plant the seeds for something to happen, whether it’s getting a raise at work or being born in the Western Pure Land.

We create the cause for the latter by attaining, at a minimum, Constant Mindfulness of Amitabha through our buddha-name chanting. We also need to let go of our attachments.

Wishing to be born in the Pure Land on its own is not enough, especially when we equally wish for a good job, a loving family, tasty food, etc.

Our only attachment should be to the name of Amitabha Buddha. Until we let go of all worldly attachments and have an attachment to only one thing—to this name—we’re not ready to go to the Pure Land. And he cannot come to guide us to his land.

Learn to have wisdom by observing . . . (Click image for video)

“I know what you’re thinking.” 

Actually, she doesn’t.

And her summation of what she believed I was thinking confirmed that.

But think about it. How can another person really know what we’re thinking? Most of the time, we ourselves remain oblivious to our thoughts. And to further complicate things, our thoughts are so capricious, as are our volatile emotions. Hopefully, with progress in our cultivation we will become less judgmental. Not to mention, thank goodness, our growing realization that we don’t always need to be voicing our opinions.

Thus, while others may have some idea of what we were thinking, we’ve moved on.

Our thoughts have moved on.

So when we converse with others, we too should give them the benefit of doubt—do not try to read things into their words and behavior. Voicing opinions is risky! We could end up misleading those listening to us. And disquiet the one we’re speaking on behalf of. Besides, it’s really not our place—we’re not their Communication Representative.