To Understand Buddhism

Dedication

This book is dedicated to all the beings in the ten directions. In the present and in the future, who have not yet been born into Buddha Amitabha’s Western Pure Land. 50

The Ten Recitation Method

The Ten-Recitation method is a simple, convenient, effective way to practice Buddha Name Recitation. It is especially suitable for those who find little time in the day for cultivation. Practicing this method helps us to regain mindfulness of Buddha Amitabha and brings us peace and clarity in the present moment.

The practice begins first thing in the morning when we wake up. We sit up straight and clearly recite “Namo Amitabha” ten times with an undisturbed mind, aloud or silently to ourselves. We repeat this process eight more times for the rest of the day. Altogether, we do one round of ten recitations, nine times a day, every day as follows:

1. Upon waking up 2. Before starting breakfast 3. After finishing breakfast 4. Before work 5. Before starting lunch 6. After finishing lunch 7. Before starting dinner 8. After finishing dinner 9. At bedtime Altogether, this method is practiced nine times daily. The key is regularity; disruption of this practice will reduce its effectiveness. Without interruption, the cultivator will soon feel an increase in his/her purity of mind and wisdom.

Diligent practice of the Ten-Recitation Method, together with unwavering belief and vows, can ensure fulfillment of our wish to reach the Western Pure Land of Infinite Life and Infinite Light. We hope everyone will practice accordingly.

Glossary

Aeon. 1,334,000,000 years. Often expressed as the time it would take for a mountain of solid rock of ten cubic leagues to wear down if the tip of a heavenly maiden’s delicate tunic brushed against it every hundred years. A fantastically long period of time.

Affliction. Condition or cause of pain, distress and suffering which disturbs the body and mind.

Amitabha (Sanskrit or Skrt). The name of the

Buddha of the Western Pure Land, primarily meaning Infinite Life and Light. Called Amituofo in Chinese.

Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi (Skrt). Highest, proper

and complete enlightenment.

Arhat (Skrt). One who has reached self-realization, a state in which one possesses no erroneous perceptions, views, speech or behavior.

Attachments. Fixed to certain ideas or objects.

Bodhi mind (Skrt). The great compassionate and sincere mind, with every thought to attain complete self-realization for self and other.

Bodhisattva (Skrt). One who helps others to reach realization after achieving their own.

Buddha (Skrt). One who has reached perfection in both self-realization and helping others to reach realization.

Delusion. False beliefs, wrong views.

Dharma (Skrt). 1) The teachings of the Buddha (generally capitalized in English); 2) Things, events, phenomena, everything; 3) Duty, law, doctrine.

Dharma-ending Age. The Dharma Perfect Age began with Buddha Shakyamuni’s demise and lasted five hundred years, during which Enlightenment was often attained. The Dharma Semblance Age began after that and lasted one thousand years, during which Enlightenment was seldom attained. The Dharma Ending Age that we are now in began after that and will last for ten thousand years during which Enlightenment will rarely be attained.

Dusts. Metaphor for all the mundane things that can cloud our self-nature.

Eight Afflictions. Absence of embarrassment and shamefulness, and the presence of jealously, stinginess, misdeeds, drowsiness, sleep and agitation.

54 Eighth Ground Bodhisattva. There are ten levels or grounds of a Bodhisattva’s enlightenment which summarize the most important steps in a Bodhisattva’s path right before attaining buddhahood. Some say it is at this level that Bodhisattvas reach the stage of Non-regression, the level at which they will never retreat from the Bodhisattva-path.

Four Universal Vows of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. (1) Sentient beings are innumerable, I vow to help them all; (2) Afflictions are inexhaustible, I vow to end them all; (3) Ways to practice are boundless, I vow to master them all; (4) Enlightenment is unsurpassable, I vow to attain it.

Five Desires. Wealth, lust, food-drink, fame and sleep.

Five Guidelines. Following: 1) The Three Conditions;

2) The Six Principles of Harmony; 3) The Three Learnings, 4) The Six Paramitas or Principles and 5) Samantabhadra Bodhisattva’s Ten Great Vows.

Five Pure Land Sutras and One Sastra. (1) The

Buddha Speaks of the Infinite Life Sutra of Adornment, Purity, Equality and Enlightenment of the Mahayana School, (2) The Amitabha Sutra, (3) The Visualization Sutra, (4) The Chapter of Universal Worthy Bodhisattva’s Conduct and Vows, (5) The Chapter on the Perfect Complete Realization of Great

Strength Bodhisattva through Buddha Name Recitation from the Surangama Sutra and55 (6) Vasubandhu Bodhisattva’s Report on the Way to Reaching the Pure Land.

Good Fortune. Happiness, intelligence, wellbeing, prosperity etc.

Good roots. Good qualities or seeds sown by a good life to be reaped later.

Hungry Ghost. One of the three lower realms. Hungry ghosts wander in a limbo-like state in which they can find no satisfaction for their desires, especially but not exclusively, for their hunger or thirst. One is reborn here if he or she has extreme greed. Karma (Skrt). Law of Cause and Effect, results from thought, speech and behavior.

Karmic Result. The natural reward or retribution brought about by the Law of Cause and Effect

(Karma). Mahayana (Skrt). One of the two major branches of Buddhism. Bodhisattva path of helping all sentient beings to attain universal liberation.

Merits. The great benefits (wealth, intelligence, etc.)

of the human and celestial realms; therefore, they are temporary and subject to birth and death. Virtues, on the other hand, are attained from one’s pure mind and enable one to transcend birth and death and lead to Buddhahood. An identical action, e.g. charity, can lead either to merit or virtue, depending on the mind of the practitioner, whether he or she is seeking ordinary rewards (merit) or transcendence (virtue).

Mindfulness of Buddha. Initially the mind remembers the Buddha and does not forget. After further cultivation, one constantly contemplates the

Buddha.

Nine Realms. All ten realms minus the Buddha realm.

Non-regression. One who will never retreat from the Bodhisattva-path, some say it is not reached until the eighth of the ten grounds of a Bodhisattva.

Phenomena. Things, events, happenings, everything.

Prajna-Wisdom (Skrt). Intuitive wisdom.

Pratyekabuddha (Skrt). One who attains his enlightenment alone, independent of a teacher, with the objective of attaining Nirvana for him/herself.

Precepts. Rules set up by Buddha Shakyamuni to guide his students from erroneous thoughts, speech and behavior.

Pure Land. See Western Pure Land.

Pure Mind or Purity of Mind. The mind without discrimination or attachments.

Retribution. Karmic punishment from erroneous thought, speech or action.

Saha world (Skrt). Refers to our solar system, filled with suffering and afflictions, yet gladly endured by its inhabitants.

Samadhi (Skrt). Meditative absorption. Usually denotes the particular final stage of pure concentration and contemplation. There are many degrees and types of Samadhi.

Sangha (Skrt). Group of four or more peoples who properly practice the Buddha’s teaching together, especially The Six Principles of Harmony.

Sanskrit (Skrt). Language of ancient India.

Sastra (Skrt). Commentary on sutras primarily by

Bodhisattvas.

Self-Nature. Our original, true self that we still have, but is currently covered by deluded thoughts.

Sentient being. A living being that is aware of itself and can experience feeling or sensation.

58 Sharira (Skrt). Relics that remain after cremation indicating the person had attained some degree of purity of body and mind.

Six Paramitas or Principles. Giving, precept

observation, patience, diligence, concentration and wisdom.

Six Principles of Harmony. 1) Share the same viewpoints or goals. 2) Observe the same precepts. 3) Live and practice together harmoniously. 4) Not quarrel. 5) Experience the inner peace and happiness from practicing together harmoniously. 6) To share benefits equally.

Six Realms. Three upper realms are heavens, asuras and humans. Three lower realms are animals, hungry ghosts and hells.

Six Senses. Sight, sound, smell, taste, touch and mind object. Six Sense Objects. Form, sound, scent, taste, texture and mind object.

Six Sense Organs. Eyes, ears, nose, mouth, body and mind.

Sutra (Skrt). Teaching by the Buddha, initially given verbally, later compiled and written down by the Buddha’s students. Ten Directions. North, Northeast, East, Southeast, South, Southwest, West, Northwest, above and below.

Ten Good Conducts. No killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, abusive language, backbiting, seductive words, greed, anger or ignorance.

Ten Great Vows of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva. 1) Pay respect to all Buddhas. 2) Praise “Thus Come One.” 3) Make offerings extensively. 4) Repent of Karmic obstacles. 5) Be joyful over others’ meritorious deeds. 6) Appeal to the Buddha to turn the Dharma wheel. 7) Request the Buddha to reside in this world. 8) Constantly be a diligent follower of the Buddha’s teaching. 9) Accord with all sentient beings.

10) Dedicate all merits.

Ten Realms. Six realms plus those of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Pratyekabuddhas and Sound-hearers.

Three Conditions. The first includes being filial and respectful to one’s parents and teachers, being compassionate and not killing any living beings and the Ten Good Conducts. The second is following the Three Refuges, precepts, laws and customs, and conducting oneself in a proper and dignified manner. Third is generating the Bodhi mind, deeply believing in the Law of Cause and Effect, reciting and upholding Mahayana sutras, and encouraging others to advance on the path to Enlightenment.

Three Learnings. Self-discipline, concentration and wisdom.

Three Poisons. Greed, anger and ignorance.

Three Refuges. We take refuge in the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. When we take refuge in the Buddha, we are returning from our deluded state of mind and relying upon an awakened, understanding mind. When we take refuge in the Dharma, we are returning from deviant views and relying upon proper views and understanding. When we take refuge in the Sangha, we are returning from pollution and disharmony and relying upon purity of mind and the Six Principles of Harmony.

Transliteration. To represent (letters or words) in the corresponding characters of another alphabet, so the original sound is retained.

Virtues. See Merits.

Way Place. Usually called a temple, a place where Buddhist practitioners come to practice.

Western Pure Land. World created by Buddha Amitabha. An ideal place of cultivation, those who are born there are no longer subject to reincarnation.

61 “Wherever the Buddha's teachings have flourished, either in cities or countrysides, people would gain inconceivable benefits. The land and people would be enveloped in peace. The sun and moon will shine clear and bright. Wind and rain would appear accordingly, and there will be no disasters. Nations would be prosperous and there would be no use for soldiers or weapons. People would abide by morality and accord with lows. They would be courteous and humble.

Everyone would be content and there would be no injustice. There would be no thefts or violence. The strong would not dominate the weak and everyone would get their fair share.”

The Sutra of Amitabha’s Purity

Equality, and Understanding

Dedication of Merit

May the merit and virtues accrued from this work Adorn the Buddha’s Pure Land, Repaying the four kinds of kindness above, and relieving the sufferings of those in the Three Paths below. May those who see and hear of this, All bring forth the heart of

Understanding, And live the Teachings for the rest of this life, Then be born together in The Land of Ultimate Bliss!

Homage to Amitabha Buddha!

Verse for Transferring Merit

I vow that this merit will adorn the Buddha’s Pure Land repaying four kinds of kindness above aiding those below in the three paths of suffering may those who see and hear all bring forth the bodhi heart and when this retribution body is done be born together in the land of ultimate bliss.

Places to contact:

DALLAS BUDDHIST ASSOCIATION 515 APOLLO ROAD RICHARDSON, TX. 75081

U.S.A.

TEL: (972) 234.4401 FAX: (972) 234.8342 Email: dba@cyberramp.net Website: www.amtb-usa.org

THE PURE LAND LEARNING CENTER 21730 STEVENS CREEK BLVD. #202 CUPERTINO, CA. 95014

U.S.A. TEL: (408) 255.5258 FAX: (408) 736.3389 Email: info@amtb-usa.org Website: www.amtb-usa.org

AMITABHA BUDDHIST ASSOCIATION OF QUEENSLAND

11 TOONA PL.

CALAMVALE, BRISBANE QUEENSLAND 4116 AUSTRALIA TEL: (07) 3273-1693 FAX: (07) 3272-0677

AMITABHA BUDDHIST SOCIETY (SINGAPORE)

No. 2 LORONG 35

GEYLANG SINGAPORE 387934 REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE TEL: (65) 744-7444 FAX: (65) 744-4774 Email: abss@amtb.org.sb Website: www.amtb.org.sb 64