Mindfulness As ‘Magnetisation’

To make a piece of iron a magnet,

it can be stroked with a stronger magnet,

until it becomes magnetised.

This has to be in one fixed direction,
and it has to be done sufficiently,
with the right effort and patience.

If it is stroked occasionally in other directions,

or not stroked adequately,

it will never become magnetised.

To retain and grow its magnetism to be a permanent magnet,
it has to be kept away from disruptive elements
like heat, radiation, electricity, and reverse magnets.

Part 2: Mindfulness

To become a Buddha,

we are best inspired by a Buddha,

through mindfulness of him until Buddhahood is attained.

This is best done with wholehearted single-mindedness,
and it has to be done sufficiently,
with the right effort and patience.

If we are mindful occasionally in other directions,

we will never become connected (to the Buddha or our Buddha-nature).

To retain and deepen our affinity with Buddha to eventually become a Buddha,

we have to stay away from distracting elements

like craving for sense pleasures (when it is time to nianfo).

Even a piece of iron will become a perfect magnet

when going towards a perfect magnet,
when always with a perfect magnet,

eventually also able to attract others,
to also become perfect magnets.

Until then, strive on!

Even we will become Buddhas
when increasingly mindful of Buddha.
when always with a Buddha (in Pure Land to learn from him),

eventually also able to guide others,
to also become Buddhas.