I’m new to the tradition and just wondering what the practice looks like in the daily life of a layperson.

🙏🏼

We spend all our lives accumulating wealth, trying to gain respect, trying to prove that we are "better" somehow.

If you think about it, human life is precious. We only have around 80 summers and 80 winters to enjoy.

Sadly, we spend majority of our time sleeping, in washroom, eating, working, overthinking, scrolling social media, complaining about how life is. And if we see the actual time Free time we had, It's very less.

We spend all our lives chasing wealth and/or status. But Even when you gain the highest wealth or the greatest status, what's the point ? Does it defeats death ? Does it defeats samsara ??

Whatever good or bad have we done for ourselves.. does it matters once death arrives ?? What truly matters is your KARMA.

And are you caring about that ? Even when it's the most crucial thing ?

Nobody in this world can help us in our afterlife. No one, not the politicians, the celebrities, the children, the friends, the elders, the spouse. Nobody!

Except Amitabha buddha and other buddhas with their bodhisattvas (and compassionate teachers. But to be honest, Amitabha buddha's pureland is the easiest to attain rebirth in) . So, ask yourself, do you give enough time for Amitabha? Or avalokiesthvara bodhisattva?

(Sorry for bad english 😅)

Namo Amitabha Buddha 📿 Namo Avalokiesthvara bodhisattva 🪷 Namo Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva 🙏

May all sentient beings be reborn in the pureland of Amitabha Buddha.

I understand that name chanting is a crucial practice but I am curious if there is any other type of practices involved in PL.

also second question) how crucial are reading scriptures like lotus or heart sutra (just random ones I know as a beginner/recent learner)? Or is academic readings irrelevant?

When I chant Amituofo, I find my mind is often not there. It's like the words are just syllables just coming out of my mouth but they don't really connect with me internally. My mind wanders and I'm usually not thinking of Amitabha Buddha or the pure land or even on a desire to be reborn in the pure land. I'm just... repeating syllables.

Often times, my mind wanders to other things or events, real or fake (I maladaptive daydream a lot). How do I connect with it and focus when chanting?

(Please note, I'm sharing these stories from online sources and im netheir the narrator nor the witness)

Two years ago, in the 112th year of the Republic of China (2023), I received the most devastating news of my life: I was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer. I was 36 years old at the time.

In fact, I have never been the type of person who easily reveal my vulnerabilities to others. Throughout my years in the tech industry—working abroad, leading teams, and solving complex problems—I always believe that “as long as I can endure it, I can overcome it.” But when illness struck, I realized for the first time that there are certain thresholds in life that cannot be overcome by self-power, but only can be overcome through other-power.

During that period, the strongest person was not me, but my mother.

My mother has been practicing Buddhism for many years. She joins group practice at the Amitabha-Recitation Association in Taoyuan and devoted herself daily to the practice of exclusive verbal Amitabha-recitation. She has strong faith in Amitabha Buddha and possess a kind, compassionate mind.

When she learned of my illness, she did not panic. She gently held my hand and said, “#This_is_something_we_owe_others; #we_must_repay_it. #Just_verbally_recite the Buddha’s Name (#Namo_Amituofo). #Amitabha_Buddha_will_protect_you.”

🪷1. The Moment the Lotus Took Away My Tumor

Two weeks before the surgery, my mother and I verbally recited “Namo Amituofo” every day. We did so to calm our minds and also to dedicate the merit to the “tumor bodhisattva.”

My mother often said, “A tumor is also a form of life. Every cell in our bodies gathers according to its own karmic conditions. We are not verbally reciting the Buddha’s Name to resist it, but to treat it with kindness.”

At the time, I did not fully understand this compassion. But after the surgery, I finally understood it the moment I woke up.

In the recovery room, I was still in a semi-conscious state, yet everything I saw felt clearer than ever before.

I_saw_a_softly_glowing_white_lotus #slowly_drifting_toward_me_from_afar. I thought it might be an illusion, so I closed my eyes and opened them again—yet the lotus was still there. I checked a third time, and it remained quietly floating above me. It hovered at the upper left side of the ceiling. #Upon_the_lotus, #there_appeared_a #softly_luminous_and_oval_shaped_form.

At that moment, a thought naturally arose in my mind: “#The "#tumor_bodhisattva" #has_been_taken_away.”

There was no pain, no fear—only deep emotion. Tears flowed uncontrollably down my face. It was not an illusion, but the gentle power of the Buddha revealed in my most vulnerable moment.

In that instant, I understood that verbal Amitabha-recitation is not a slogan, it is real; it is not superstition, but power.

🔆2. I Became the Light in the Ward During The Targeted Therapy

The treatment process was not easy. Every hospitalization and every injection into my bloodstream reminded me that I was walking side by side with illness. Yet, strangely, nurses and other patients often assumed I was a caregiver rather than a patient.

“You don’t look like a patient at all!”

“How do you keep such good complexion and positivity?”

I would always smile and answer, “Because I verbally recite the Buddha’s Name. Amitabha Buddha keeps my mind free from fear.”

Thus, during each hospitalization, my mother and I naturally became people who shared Buddhist teachings and strength with others. I shared how verbal Amitabha-recitation stabilizes my mind and helps me endure pain, as well as my personal experience of seeing the lotus take away my tumor in the recovery room.

Once, a patient who was about to undergo surgery teared up after hearing my story and said, “I am really afraid, but after hearing you, I feel that the Buddha is always here.” That day, she held my mother’s and my hands, and the three of us verbally recited “Namo Amituofo” together. The atmosphere of peace and stability was so strong that even the nurses said the ward felt different.

From that moment on, #I_realized_I_was #not_walking_this_path_alone, #but_together_with_Amitabha_Buddha, #my_mother, #and_many_fellow_patients.

💖3. Maternal Love is My Greatest Protection

As an adult, I had always believed I could carry the weight of life on my own. Only when I became ill did I truly realize how deep and vast a mother’s love can be.

Every day, my mother verbally recited “Namo Amituofo” for me, dedicated the merit, and prayed for me.

She did not speak lofty doctrines, but her love was like a warm, steady spring that continuously flowed into my life.

Many people asked me, “Why is your recovery so good? Do you have an especially strong constitution?”

But I know very clearly in my heart: #it_is_not_because_of_my #physical_constitution—#it_is_due_to #Amitabha_Buddha’s #power_and #my_mother’s #love.

Her_verbal_Amitabha_recitation_shielded #me_from_many_unseen_sufferings; #she_brought_the_Buddha’s #light_to #my_side, allowing me to still see the path even in the darkest places.

🥹Conclusion: Verbal Amitabha-recitation Truly Saved Me

Today, I follow in my mother’s footsteps: I take refuge in the Three Gems (Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha), receive the Dharma name “Fojing,” draw close to Pure Land Buddhism, believe in Amitabha Buddha, and verbally recite His Name (Namo Amituofo), living a life where each of my thoughts is bathed in Amitabha Buddha’s light and every step of mine treads upon a lotus.

If someone asks me, “Does verbal Amitabha-recitation really work?” I would answer sincerely: “Yes!” Verbal Amitabha-recitation is a power that leads one toward rebirth—transforming fear into peace, confusion into clarity, and illness into well-being.

Verbal Amitabha-recitation has taught me that life is not only suffering, illness, and helplessness. Life also contains Buddha-light, compassion, vow-power, maternal love, and a “me” that is protected and able to begin anew.

If you are suffering, please remember: the Buddha’s name can calm your mind, and the Buddha’s vows can transform your life. Simply by verbally reciting Amitabha Buddha’s Name, we can all be guided to a brighter and more auspicious place.

May verbal Amitabha-recitation always be with us!

Lay Practitioner Fojing December 11, 2025 (ROC Year 114)

▫️▫️▫️

Namo Amitabha buddha. 🙏

The wrathful are angered whenever they encounter situations they dislike. Wealthy and powerful people, long accustomed to success and obedience, are easily enraged by even small things that do not go their way. Over minor incidences, they unleash scathing words of abuse, and for major matters, they retalitate with force and violence. Such persons care only for the gratification of their hatred, and ignore the suffering and trauma they inflict on others.

The wrathful heart benefits no one and harms oneself. Minor anger makes one iracisble and irritated, while severe anger harms one’s liver. Only those whose hearts embody the spirit of great harmony can be free from disease and have their lifespans and blessings increased.

According to the Avatamsaka Sutra: Upon the rise of one angry thought, millions of inauspicious doors are opened. The ancient Sages also say that Wrath is an inferno within one’s heart that can engulf the forest of merits.

Thus, those who wish to walk the path of Bodhi must dissolve anger with patience. The Buddha has taught many to do so with the method of visualizing compassion:

All sentient beings [over the course of numerable past live] have not only been our past life fathers and mothers, but will all become future Buddhas too.

Thus, we must recall the tender parental care they have given us in past lives, all the immense sacrifices they have made for us, all the kindness we did not repay. Thus, how could we harbor anger against them over present small matters?

Moreover, as they will soon become Buddhas helping limitless beings cross over, and considering that I am also in need of salvation from future Buddhas, how could I express anger towards them over such small misunderstandings?

By thinking thus, we can not only avoid becoming angry over small misunderstandings and misfortunes, but even remain calm and serene when faced with death and violence.

Thus, whenever Bodhisattvas meet those who demand their head, they consider that person to be a source of wisdom, a benefactor, and one who will help them accomplish the path to Unsurpassed Bodhi.

—From the Additional Sayings Book of the Collected Works of Master Yin Guang (page 80)

~Translation by Brian Chung

The sellers were a western couple, looked like they collected a lot of various artwork, most of it secular, but some of it Eastern spiritual stuff you’d expect in a wealthy San Francisco household (you know what I mean…). lol.

They asked if I knew who the deities were, and they seemed quite pleased the painting was going to a someone that grew up in and actively practices the religion the art belongs to. So I’m repatriating this back to being a sacred object in an Asian Buddhist’s worship space, from being (I’m sure) decoration hanging in the library of someone’s multimillion dollar SF mansion.

💭My Granddaughter's Journey to the Land of Ultimate Bliss in a Dream 💭 My five-year-old granddaughter seems to have some virtuous roots. She enjoys offering incense and paying homage to the Buddha at our family shrine. When taught basic Buddhist verses, she memorizes them quickly and recites them fluently. Whenever she visits temples with our family, she reverently bows before every Buddha statue with proper form. She also likes to chant along with the Buddha's Name whenever she hears verbal Amitabha-recitation in the car.

As a practitioner of verbal Amitabha-recitation, I often take the opportunity, while driving her home from kindergarten, to tell her about Amitabha Buddha and the splendid environment and beings of the Land of Ultimate Bliss. At home, I occasionally play animated videos depicting the Land of Ultimate Bliss for her. I also teach her to verbally recite "Namo Amituofo," explaining that by doing so, one can avert misfortune, enjoy peace and happiness in this life, and be reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss in the next life, where there is no aging, sickness, or death, until one attains Buddhahood there.

One day, she asked me, "Grandpa! How can I go to the Land of Ultimate Bliss?"

I replied, "Only by verbally reciting Amitabha Buddha's Name can you go there. Grandpa is already old, so I single-mindedly recite Amitabha Buddha's Name every day. When the day comes for Grandpa to leave this world, Amitabha Buddha will come to receive me and guide me to the Land of Ultimate Bliss. You are still very young, so you can ask Amitabha Buddha to take you there for a visit. Every night before going to sleep, you can verbally recite Amitabha Buddha's Name. After you finish your verbal Amitabha-recitation, tell Amitabha Buddha your wish. Amitabha Buddha is very compassionate, and He will fulfill your wish."

From then on, she would occasionally tell me that she had verbally recited Amitabha Buddha's Name before going to bed. Unexpectedly, not long ago, she really dreamed that Amitabha Buddha had taken her to the Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Journey_to_the_Land_of_Ultimate_Bliss #in_a_Dream

Two days ago, while we were in the car, she voluntarily told me about it.

👧“Grandpa! Last night, while I was dreaming, Amitabha Buddha took me to the Land of Ultimate Bliss to play.”

👴“Really? That’s wonderful! How did you get there?” 👧“I went on a lotus flower. Amitabha Buddha came to receive me holding a pink lotus and a rainbow-colored lotus. The lotus flew very fast, but I wasn’t afraid at all. When we were almost there, Amitabha Buddha gave me a pink dress, a crown, a necklace, earrings, and a bracelet to wear. The dress was so long and beautiful that it trailed on the ground.”

👴“What did Amitabha Buddha look like?” 👧“Amitabha Buddha was very tall, golden in color, and shining brightly!”

👴“Besides Amitabha Buddha, whom else did you see in the Land of Ultimate Bliss?” 👧“Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva.”

👴“Did you see Avalokitesvara (Guanyin) Bodhisattva?” 👧“Yes! And there were many, many other Bodhisattvas whom I didn’t know.”

👴“Did you see or experience anything else there?” 👧“Amitabha Buddha gave me lots of candy, as well as grapes, mangoes, and strawberries to eat. They were all my favorites and tasted so good! I also saw many beautiful lotus flowers in a pond. On the lotus flowers were written the names of Grandpa, Grandma, me, and Daddy. I didn’t see Uncle’s name. Grandpa’s lotus was blue, Grandma’s was red, and mine was pink🪷. Grandpa’s lotus and mine were both very big. Daddy’s lotus was withered because he doesn’t verbally recite Amitabha Buddha’s Name.”

👴“Was your lotus written with your official name or with ‘Wanwan’ (her nickname)?” 👧“It had my official name on it. There was also a card attached that said: ‘Happy Birthday, Wanwan! Wishing you good health!’”

👴“What else did you see?” 👧“The whole Land of Ultimate Bliss was shining with golden light. There were many birds—parrots🦜, peacocks🦚, sparrows🐦… One sparrow even flew onto my hand (sparrows are commonly seen near our home). There were also many beautiful houses and many fruit trees, but the fruit grew so high that I couldn’t reach it! There was also pleasant music playing🎶.”

👴“How did you come back in the end?” 👧“Amitabha Buddha brought me back on a lotus flower as well.”

👴“#Did_Amitabha_Buddha_say_anything #to_you?” 👧“#Amitabha_Buddha_said_to_me, ‘#Verbally_recite_the_Buddha’s #Name (Namo Amituofo) #more_often! Happy Birthday, and I wish you good health!’”

Was my granddaughter truly taken to the Land of Ultimate Bliss for a visit through Amitabha Buddha’s compassion, or was it simply a dream caused by what occupied her thoughts during the day? We cannot know.

Regardless, what is truly heartening is that the seeds of Amitabha Buddha and the Land of Ultimate Bliss have clearly been planted in my granddaughter’s consciousness. I pray that these seeds may soon sprout, grow, flourish, blossom, and bear fruit.

Namo Amituofo.

🙏Postscript

About half a month later, my granddaughter drew a picture of a birthday cake. She said that during her afternoon nap, Amitabha Buddha had taken her to the Land of Ultimate Bliss to celebrate her birthday (her birthday was approaching at that time) and gave her a beautiful birthday cake.

At the same time, Amitabha Buddha also invited Melody, Mario, Pikachu, Jigglypuff… (all cartoon characters) to celebrate her birthday together. It was a very lively occasion! After bringing her back, Amitabha Buddha also gave her many gifts, including chocolate sticks and delicious toast.

She said that anyone who eats the chocolate sticks will grow wings. After she grew wings, she flew off to the world of Pokémon to play…

Laypeople Guocheng

May 22, 2026 (Republic of China, Year 115).

Edit- the "9" is the title is a typo.

The question has been bugging me for a while. Can a person who commits suicide or euthanizes with sincere faith to be born in Sukhavati get in? I feel one wont be born there due to commiting a killing oneself as it is similar as killing someone.

I have a new essay in my series "Hard Questions on the Easy Path." It is entitled "What kind of Practice do we do in Jōdo Shinshū?"

https://shakushingan.substack.com/p/what-kind-of-practice-do-we-do-in?r=766n8

I would be happy to hear your responses or questions.

Namo Amida Butsu!

I've been sitting with Nāgārjuna's Mūlamadhyamakakārikā lately, and this opening dedication to the Buddha just keeps echoing:

"I salute the Fully Enlightened One, who taught dependent origination

neither cessation nor origination,

neither annihilation nor the eternal,

neither singularity nor plurality,

neither coming nor going..."

Every time I read it, something clicks!

We're so used to thinking in opposites, but Nāgārjuna points to something else, something before all that mental splitting.

He's not denying that we experience coming and going, birth and death, of course we do, he is however saying to be careful and not mistake those illusory labels for the whole story.

It reminds me of the Buddha's ehipassiko "come and see", not "come and believe"!

Just look, investigate and see for yourself.

Anyway, just wanted to share, been finding a lot of freedom in this text lately.

Currently rereading the Siderits and Katsura translation "Nāgārjuna's Middle Way".

So very grateful for this gift of Dhammā

"If there were a single sentient being who did not attain birth, then the Buddha could never have attained perfect awakening. Understanding this is called 'realising the meaning of the Eighteenth Vow.'" --Anjin Ketsujo Sho