June 23

Jun 23, 2017
慧淨上人法語
念佛方法

Extract from the Accounts of Amitaba-recitation (1)
There was an ironsmith called Huang Datie. He recited Amitabha’s name while forging iron. As he was heating and hammering the metal by the side of the furnace, he should feel hot and fatigue. However, since he recited while forging, he took no notice of the heat and weariness because he was always mindful of the Buddha.

So, we can practice Amitabha-recitation where there is a will. The most convenient way of reciting is moving our lips. Apart from moving lips, we can sit quietly, and recite the Buddha’s name mindfully. It is because “all are created by mere mind, and are manifested by mere consciousness”.

If a person is mindful [in Amitabha-recitation], he will express his will in words, and show it in behavior. If he weighs Amitabha-recitation and rebirth heavily in his mind, he will naturally recite Amitabha’s name, except when he is busy in other mental works. However, once he finishes the works, his mind will be back to Amitabha-recitation naturally.

《念佛感應錄》（一）有一位黃打鐵，他一面打鐵，一面念佛，本來在火爐旁邊打鐵，又熱又累，自從一面念佛一面打鐵，這顆心在念佛裏面，忘記了熱，也忘記了累。
所以，只要有心，都能夠念佛，最方便的就是動嘴巴念佛。除了動嘴巴念佛號，也可以靜坐的時候，心中默念佛號。因為「一切唯心所造，唯識所現。」
只要有這個心，他就會流露於語言，顯現在行為上；他心中所看重的若是念佛、往生，不知不覺，他自然就會念佛，除了動腦筋的時候，可是腦筋一動過了，就會自然地回到佛號上來。

Namo Amitabha!