How to Recite 

Amitabha Buddha?

 


Important Matter

Whether we are masters or laypeople, we all must recite Amitabha Buddha one million times.​ This is important, very important.

 

Three Supremes 

How to recite Amitabha Buddha? The Three Supremes are required to recite it. What are the [Three Supremes]? That is Supreme Motivation, Supreme Deeds, and Supreme Dedication of Merits and Vow.

  

Supreme Motivation

1)   Taking refuge in the Triple Gem 

The essence of taking refuge is to swear, that even if I am killed, I will not give up the Triple Gem. This is a strong vow. With such solid intention and a solid vow in your mind, you have truly taken refuge in the Triple Gem from your sincere mind. If there is no such strong intention, just say "Take refuge in the Grand Master, take refuge in the Buddha, take refuge in the Dharma, take refuge in the Sangha", even reciting it a hundred thousand times, it may not be truly taking refuge in the Triple Gem. So, our motivation is very important. This is the real liberation. Even if I am killed today, I cannot lose the Triple Gem。

 

Without the Triple Gem, our lives would have no meaning. Because if our body is not killed today by others, it will die soon too. So it doesn't matter. We must take refuge in the Triple Gem in life after life. Because we really need the Triple Gem. If we really have this very strong intention in our mind and make this vow, this is called truly taking refuge.

 

Although we often say "Take refuge in the Grand Master, take refuge in the Buddha, take refuge in the Dharma, take refuge in the Sangha", taking refuge lies in our hearts, and the essence of taking refuge is what we need to do in our mind. Have we really done it now? We should always observe our own mind, and then truly take refuge in the Triple Gem in a rational and dharma-like manner.

 

2)  Generate Bodhicitta 

The next step is to generate Bodhicitta, the object is all sentient beings, and visualize all sentient beings. What is the situation of sentient beings? They are all suffering and no sentient being can be found without suffering. Therefore, we need to think carefully about the suffering of sentient beings. For example, if our child is sick or our mother is sick, we feel very sad and we are also in pain. We often worry about how they are sick and what will happen next.

 

Similarly, after knowing the situation of all sentient beings, we must feel very uncomfortable. After having such a feeling, we slowly develop compassion. When can all sentient beings be free from suffering? This kind of thinking is called compassion, and our compassion slowly develops.

  

I do not have the ability to help them now.  I must practice the Dharma well and become a Buddha quickly.  If I achieve that, we will be able to help sentient beings. Since I want to become a Buddha, I must now recite Amitabha Buddha and practice the Pure Land Dharma diligently. Having such thoughts is called Bodhicitta. We need to observe whether we have cultivated ourselves according to the Dharma, and have aroused Bodhicitta. We must observe our own mind.

 

There are two conditions for the generation of Bodhicitta: Firstly, having a compassionate mind and a strong desire to help sentient beings. Secondly, to help it succeed, I need to become a Buddha. Then in order to become a Buddha, one needs to practice the Dharma well and quickly. Having such thoughts is called Bodhicitta. Both conditions must be met, then Bodhicitta will naturally arise. This is very important. This is the intention to take refuge.

 

Supreme Deeds

1)  Dependence of merits and happiness 

Our mind cannot be distracted when we visualize Amitabha Buddha. What does Amitabha Buddha look like?  We clearly visualize the image of Amitabha Buddha. Visualize Amitabha Buddha one cubit above our heads. Have great faith in Amitabha Buddha and visualize Amitabha Buddha in our deep of mind and remember his virtue.

 

2)  Accumulation of merits and purification 

Then you cannot speak other things, concentrate on reciting Amitabha's name, "prostrate, make offerings, and take refuge in Amitabha Buddha." This is the accumulation of merits and the elimination of obstacles. Whether you are taking refuge or prostrating, you must do all seven things: prostrate, make offerings, take refuge, repent, rejoice, pray, and dedicate offerings to Amitabha Buddha. The chant is "Prostrate, make offerings, take refuge in Amitabha Buddha."

 

Our prostrations, offerings, and refuge are the representatives of the seven-branch offering, followed by inner repentance, rejoicing, prayer, and dedication, which must be visualized together and thought about in our mind. There are no such terms when reciting, but you must visualize carefully in your mind and make all seven offerings. This is the most extraordinary thing about right conduct. Recite it seriously in this way, don't let your mind wander, don't talk idle words, and be sure to stop talking and recite it. This is called the supreme virtue of upright conduct.

 

Supreme Dedication of Merits and Vow

1)  Dedication of Merits 

What is dedication? We need to dedicate the good deeds that we have done to the path of enlightenment and our accumulated merits and purification immediately. Dedicating ourselves and all sentient beings can be reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss and eventually become a Buddha. It is okay to dedicate in this way. If I immediately dedicate my merits, may I quickly escape reincarnation, be reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss, and eventually become a Buddha.  This is okay.

 

2)  Make a Vow 

To make a vow is to make a vow in your mind. Why? Because I didn’t do any good deeds before, I didn’t have any merit at all. Now I just have to make up my mind to do it. But in front of our very extraordinary Buddhist statues, sutras, very extraordinary virtuous grand masters, and extraordinary eminent monks, it is easier to achieve your vows after doing good deeds. It is better.

 

So, after we do good deeds, we make wishes in return. The same goes for making vows. I wish to dedicate this merit to all sentient beings to escape reincarnation, be reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss, and ultimately become Buddhas. This kind of dedication is good. This is called dedicating vows. What we just talked about was firstly making vows, then do good deeds, then dedicate merits to the original vows. This way will achieve great results.