Chanting Amituofo - Great Good Fortune

The general guiding principle for practice in this sutra is belief, vows, and mindful recitation of the Buddha-name. Belief and vows are the practice of wisdom, or signs of having good roots. Mindful recitation of the Buddha-name is a sign of having good fortune. One who mindfully chants “Amituofo” has an abundance of good fortune. One who would not mindfully chant “Amituofo” has little good fortune. Indeed, there are many people who just will not chant “Namo Amituofo” or “Amituofo.”

One who is able to mindfully chant “Amituofo” all day long has wondrous good fortune. We see many impoverished people who chant “Amituofo” all day long. Those who are diligent mindfully chant “Amituofo” one hundred thousand times every day. I heard that Mr. Huang Nianzu mindfully chanted “Amituofo” one hundred and sixty thousand times every day during the last two or three months of his life. He was a Vajra Master of Esoteric Buddhism. He set an example for us by single-mindedly chanting “Amituofo” before he passed away. We should know that he did this out of great compassion.

There is no one in this world or beyond who has as much good fortune as a practitioner who mindfully chants “Amituofo” all day long. Why? Because this practitioner will be reborn in the Western Pure Land and attain Buddhahood in one lifetime. Who can compare with this person? No one! Even Brahma or Shiva, who reside in heaven, cannot compare with this practitioner, let alone humans. Brahma and Shiva are still ordinary beings in the Six Paths; they cannot transcend the Six Paths as they do not mindfully chant “Amituofo.”

One who would mindfully chant “Amituofo” will be reborn in the Western Pure Land. When one is truly awakened, one will mindfully chant “Amituofo”; one will not be interested in any kind of glory or pleasure of this world. This person is only interested in according with conditions and honestly[1] chanting “Amituofo.” Only a truly awakened person can do this.

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

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[1] Honestly means “no doubt, no intermingling, and no interruption.”



Well That was Frustrating—Thank You!

Things were not going well. It was one of those situations where no matter what you say, it ended up being heard the wrong way.

Since I first saw the person that day, everything I did was wrong. The other person was convinced they were right and was clearly becoming very upset with me. It looked like there was no end in sight, that the day was going to be extremely unpleasant. For both of us.

And then it hit me.

Wow! This was a wonderful opportunity to work on my paramita of patience. This wasn't a bad situation, it was a good one!

And with that I smiled. And thought "Thank you."

Klissa's Moment of Truth

When we speak, honesty counts the most.

Deceit and lies are unacceptable.

Klissa never had her hair done before. But then she had never graduated from school before either. Her long year of studying had paid off—she was getting the Lioness of the Year Ring! Her parents said that as a special treat, she could go to the You Grow It, We Style It Beauty Shop to have her hair done.

Thrilled, Klissa poured through all the latest magazines and found several with layouts on lions! She found a hairdo she fell in love with and, wanting to surprise everyone, she hid the magazine. 

On graduation day, her mother drove Klissa to the beauty shop. She asked if Klissa wouldn’t like her to stay, but Klissa rolled her eyes and said, “Mommm! I’m graduating today; I’m a big lioness now. I’ll catch a bus from here to school and meet you and dad there.” Her mother kissed Klissa on the cheek, which got another eye-roll and then a giggle from Klissa who quickly kissed her mother back.

Klissa entered the shop and was taken to the shop’s most popular hairdresser, a monkey named Esmeralda. Esmeralda looked at the magazine and then at Klissa. “Honey, this is a pretty funky hairdo. And I mean funky. You sure you want this?”

“Oh, yes ma’am!” Klissa’s turquoise eyes sparkled.

Esmeralda exclaimed, ”Well then, let’s get to it!” And she began to wash, cut, color, blow-dry, brush, and band Klissa’s hair. When she was all done, she handed Klissa a mirror.

Studying herself, Klissa asked, “Do you like it?”

“Sure. It’s just like the photo,” Esmeralda replied.

Klissa left the shop and caught the bus to school. Getting off, she saw her friends. She ran up to them and asked, “Do you like my new hairdo?” They looked at each other and mumbled, “Ah, sure.” “Great hairdo.” “Love it.” 

Next, Klissa saw her lion friend Trislan. As he looked at her hairdo, she asked “Do you like it?” Trislan swallowed and paused for just a second before saying “Very nice.”

Klissa saw her parents and ran over to them. “Do you like it?” Her father seemed at a loss for words. Just as her mother began to speak, the principal called out for everyone to take their seats. Klissa ran to her chair without hearing her mother’s reply.

Soon the speeches were finished and it was time for the students to go onstage to receive their diplomas. Klissa was shaking the principal’s paw and accepting the ring when suddenly one of her rubber bands broke. Then the other two snapped as well! Klissa’s hairdo was out of control with hair going in every direction! Horrified, she ran off the stage.

As Trislan and her friends came up to her, she cried out, “Why didn’t you just tell me it was a stupid hairdo?” They all said they didn’t want to hurt her feelings. “Well, being embarrassed in front of everyone in town is a whole lot worse! Next time, tell me the truth. Please!”  

Klissa’s friends and Trislan apologized, her mother brushed out her hair, and her father said, “Thank goodness. Let’s go eat.” 

When others ask us what we think,

we should honestly—and politely—tell them.

Living in a Grateful World - To Me

Some things I'm grateful for:

Three weeks of mild summer weather and some rain! (I live in Australia in a time of severe drought.)

People I can email and ask "Can you help me with some work?" and always get a "Yes" in response.

Strong coffee that I finally drink black! (Okay I still add sugar...)

Having had parents who encouraged me to choose my own path and who were always there for me. A father who taught me about integrity and honesty, and to have a strong work ethic. A mother who taught me about humility and being grateful, and the importance of laughter and the magic of a smile.

Having found the best practice for me—Pure Land Buddhism. Having found the best life for me—being a Buddhist nun.

Chanting "Amituofo"

Living in a Grateful World - In Prison

The following came from David, the inspiration of Taking it for Granted. David is in a correctional facility, a place we don't ordinarily associate with gratitude. He had not yet seen my Living in a Grateful World series when he sent this to me on Christmas Day...

Amituofo. I hope all is well with you this Holiday Season, I'm doing pretty well. This is my 11th Christmas in places like this, and this is not the best time of the year to be here so this year I'am trying to reflect more on the positive than the negetive, and I have many positive things to be thankful for, such as I'am not yet old, sick, or dead, I have a clear thinking mind, I get around pretty well, I play ping-pong, and the guitar real well, and all though I don't eat any flesh I can pretty much eat other things that I like so I'am blessed much more than billions of others who might not get to eat at all!

But my bigest blessings are I am fortunate to be able to study and even more important to practice the Buddhadharma. Thank you. Yours in the Dharma, David.

Amituofo David.

And thank you.