Old Friends, New Friends

Neither ignore old friends

nor take delight in only new ones.

Jack and Ryan had been best friends for as long as they could remember. They were always together. In fact, their parents joked that they might as well move in to one or the other’s house since they spend so much time together.

One day at school, a new boy named Owen was brought to class and given the desk next to Jack. After class, Jack introduced him to Ryan. When Ryan went to the library, Owen told Jack that he had seen him on the playground and that Jack was great at sports. Owen praised Jack so much that when Owen asked Jack to be his partner in the games that weekend, Jack agreed without thinking.

Jack’s head was swimming with Owen’s praise until he saw Ryan coming down the hallway from the library. Then he remembered that he and Ryan always played in the games together. Not knowing what to do, Jack said the first thing that came to his mind. He told Ryan that their teacher had asked him to help Owen feel welcome and to partner him in the games.

Ryan was hurt but didn’t want to make Jack feel bad, so he said okay. He then turned to walk home, alone. Jack was about to go after him when Owen came up and started saying how great Jack would be at the games. With all the praise from his new friend, Jack forgot all about Ryan.

That Saturday, Owen and Jack were in the rope-climbing contest. Jack had never been very good at this, but Ryan never minded. During the contest, one team of climbers competed with another team. Owen was much better than Jack, but even so they lost to the other team.

Owen said no problem, that he was going for some water. When he didn’t come back, Jack went to look for him. He saw Owen talking to another boy and was coming up behind them to apologize to Owen when he heard him say, “I figured if I asked that klutz Jack to be my partner, I could always blame him if I lost. Pretty smart, huh?” And both boys burst out laughing.

Jack froze. This was who he had dropped his best friend for! Ryan had never called him a klutz. Ryan would never call anyone a klutz! Miserable, Jack turned to leave when he saw Ryan coming toward him. At first, Jack didn’t know what to say. Then he knew he had to tell the truth. After admitting that the teacher had not asked him to play with Owen, Jack stopped talking. He was terrified that Ryan would never forgive him and he’d have lost his best friend.

Ryan looked at him and was silent. Then he smiled and said, “Forget Owen. Let’s go play ball!”

Do not ignore old friends in favor of new ones.

Sincerity is...

People often ask me what I mean by "sincerity." Applying the usual definitions doesn't help a great deal when we're using the word in a Buddhist context.

Merriam-Webster's Online Unabridged Dictionary defines sincerity as "the quality or state of being sincere." They define sincere as:

"marked by genuineness: as a: free of dissimulation : not hypocritical; b: (1) free from adulteration : not mixed (2) : not containing any foreign element; c : marked by truth; d : motivated by a desire for meaningful expression."

Ven. Master Chin Kung gives a much simpler—and for us a much more helpful—definition:

Sincerity is no wandering thoughts.

Sincerity in helping others means no wandering thoughts, no selfish thoughts.

Sincerity in listening means no wandering thoughts, no thoughts of "I" or "me" or "mine."

Sincerity in teach others means no wandering thoughts, no thoughts of self-benefit.

Sincerity in chanting means no thoughts other than "Amituofo."

Effective Buddha-name Chanting Method

When one feels it is difficult to concentrate while chanting, one should first collect one’s wandering thoughts and chant sincerely with serious effort. Then one’s mind will be unified. To unify one’s mind, one must first be sincere and serious. If sincerity and seriousness are lacking, it is not possible for one to collect one’s wandering thoughts. If one is sincere and serious, but the wandering thoughts persist, one should attentively listen to one’s own chanting.

Whether the chants are silent or voiced, every chant must arise from one’s mind. The voice exits one’s mouth and enters one’s ears.

Giving rise to the Buddha-name clearly with one’s mind, chanting it clearly with one’s mouth, and hearing it clearly with one’s ears will help unify one’s mind and the wandering thoughts will naturally stop. If one’s mind is still flooded with wandering thoughts, then one should use the ten-chant-and-count method, and devote all one’s energy to chanting the Buddha-name. Even if the wandering thoughts still exist, they will not be able to function.

This is the ultimate method to unify one’s mind and one’s chant.

Those who expounded the Pure Land school in the past did not mention this method because their faculties were considered sharp enough and they were able to unify their minds without it.

I had problems collecting and controlling my wandering thoughts and then realized the effectiveness of this method. I have used it many times and never failed. I am not sharing this information lightly or by imagination. I want to share this method with everyone as well as those in future generations so that anyone who practices this method can successfully attain rebirth in the Pure Land.

What is the ten-chant-and-count method?

When chanting, one chants ten times in a single breath. Every chant must be clear, and one must count and remember where one is and stop at the tenth chant. One then repeats the process, but never counts to the twentieth or the thirtieth chant. One must count and remember while chanting, and not rely on moving the chanting beads. Counting and remembering must be in one’s mind.

If it is difficult to complete ten chants in one breath, one can chant for two breaths. The first breath is for the first five chants, the second breath for the remaining five chants. If two-breath chanting is still difficult, one can break the ten chants into three breaths. The first through the third, the fourth through the sixth, and the seventh through the tenth chants complete in three breaths.

If one can chant clearly, count and remember the chants clearly, and hear one’s own chants clearly, wandering thoughts will have no place to step in. Over time, the state of one-mind undisturbed can be attained naturally.

~ Great Master's Yin Guang, Thirteenth Patriarch of the Pure Land school

 

True Confessions

I have wandering thoughts when I chant.

Phew! What a relief. I feel much better now, thank you.

(Wow. I don't write blog entries for ten days and my writing personality changes! It's either the stories I've been writing about Rufus and Ethel and the rest of the crew or it's that blog I just stumbled across. Anyway, before my occasional rare-treat cup of coffee kicks in with it's caffeine and my mental state erodes even more...)

My only consolation is that most people I talk to admit that they too have wandering thoughts. In fact, we were just talking about this after the Saturday night lecture. It's a dilemma that people frequently raise—"I try to meditate, but my mind is all over the place. What can I do?" 

I've been trying out a method that I recently learned of. I had been asked to edit a translation about a method Great Master Yinguang recommended for modern-day people. And here I must sincerely apologize. I thought I had posted it already, but clearly I did not. So I will post it tomorrow. (There is no way I can include writing from the Pure Land school's 13th Patriarch in this entry!)

So consider this a "teaser." (In the nicest sort of way. :-)) Great Master's Yin Guang's method is very simple but extremely effective. I have been using it to calm the wandering thoughts before I move on to simply chanting "Amituofo." 

And for those who do not practice Pure Land or chant "Amituofo," this method can also help you in your meditation.

I invite all of you to come back tomorrow. This method is ideal for all of us who—alas—continue to have wandering thoughts when we try to still the mind.

Only We Can Do It

do not resent the heavens for one's fate.

do not blame our problems on others.

realize the negative cause

lies within us,

was created by us,

can only be transformed by us,

resolved by us with

understanding,

diligence,

love.