General

How to Handle Stray Thoughts When Practising Mindfulness of Buddha

 

When practising mindfulness of the name of Buddha,
once one knows one has strayed away,
return to the name immediately.

Even if the mind has been away for a whole hour,
Even if the mind has been away for a single second.
Even if the mind has fallen asleep for indefinite time.

There might be much toggling
between the name and stray thoughts at first,
but this is part of the practice, the process towards progress.

The more immediately one returns with discipline,
the less will stray thoughts interrupt and multiply,
till stray thoughts eventually fade away.

What left would be
the six senses gathered in with the power of single-minded focus,
the succession of pure mindfulness with the power of continuity.

Amituofo, Amituofo, Amituofo, Amituofo, Amituofo
Amituofo, Amituofo, Amituofo, Amituofo, Amituofo
Amituofo, Amituofo, Amituofo, Amituofo, Amituofo.

(When one chants Buddha’s name sincerely, verbally or silently,
and hears nothing but that name in one’s mind,
there is right mindfulness.)

1 Comment

  • Re: Use Beads. It will help to bring stray thoughts back. 阿弥陀佛

    Reply: That can work to some extent, though needing to move the beads might itself become a stray thought alternating between each chant. Amituofo

Please be mindful of your speech, Amituofo!

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