Buddha Chanting

The chanting of Amitabha Buddha's Name can be practiced by both the young and old, and those in the prime of life. It is suitable for everyone.

When Amitabha Buddha achieved buddhahood, he made 48 magnificent vows to benefit all sentient beings. These vows involved the manifesting of the Western Pure Land and the saving of all sentient beings.

Amitabha's 18th vow is the most significant - He vow to save all sentient beings who called upon him and chant his name and bring them to the Western Paradise : -

"Provided I become a Buddha, if the beings of the ten quarters who after having heard my name, and thus awakened their highest faith and aspiration of re-birth in that country of mine, even they have recollected such a thought for ten times only, they are destinated to be born there, with the exception of those who have committed the five deadly sins (Anantarya), and who have blasphemed the orthodox Law (Dharma), otherwise may I not attain the enlightenment."


Sick people can recite the Buddha's name. These people suffer from the pains of disease because of karmic obstacles. You should hold the Buddha's name in order to lessen these obstacles.

Those who are healthy should take advantage of their health to recite the Buddha's name and dedicate their recitation to insure their perpetual good health.

Old people who are approaching the end of the road should follow the good path to the end. They should recite the Buddha's name.

Young people whose road ahead is filled with limitless light should recite "Na-mo A-mi-tuo-fo" to make the light appear.

Thus, the Dharma-door of Buddha Recitation is suitable for every type of person.

You can chant while walking, standing, sitting, or reclining.

The busiest people can recite the Buddha's name, and people who are the most at leisure can also recite the Buddha's name.

How do you practice recitation when you are very busy?

You practice the Morning and Evening Dharma Method of Ten Recitations. In the morning and the evening do ten recitations. Recite for the length of a single breath, "˜Na-mo A-mi-tuo-fo" repeatedly and that is one recitation.

Ten such breaths are called ˜ten recitations.

In the morning when you get up, wash your face and brush your teeth. Then face the West, or better still face an image of Amitabha Buddha, join your palms together very respectfully and bow three times. Chant "˜Na-mo A-mi-tuo-fo" for the length of ten full breaths. Do this ten times in the morning and ten times in the evening.

Don't deliberately stretch out the length of your breath or cut it short. It should be very natural.

Do this every day without interruption; it will only take five or ten minutes.

Can you recite at other times during the day? Of course you can. The more you recite, the better. With the skill derived from your practice of this Dharma you can be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Suppose someone says, "I'm very stupid. Probably it's useless for me to recite."

In using this technique, the more stupid you are, the better! The wiser you are, the better! No matter how wise you are you cannot exhaust the method of Buddha Recitation. No matter how stupid you are, you are still included within it and it can be your guide.

This method of Buddha Recitation is one of the most expedient Dharma door.

Amitabha Buddha, in his infinite wisdom, know that a lot of sentient beings may not have the necessary skills, mental faculties, time or a guru to teach them the various Sutras. Therefore, He has opened up this Dharma door so that every sentient being can rely on His Vows to achieve enlightenment without having to go through endless rounds of reincarnation.

This is the expedient way to attain enlightenment.