[1] Top Ten Personal Niànfó Practice Obstacles
十大各人念佛障碍
The following is not in order of occurrence, frequency or severity.
[01] Lack Of Faith And Aspiration: Immediately ask Buddhist teachers with relevant knowledge to clarify doubts and increase Aspiration. With proper courses and books, keep learning and practising Niànfó (念佛), as sincerely as possible, as sincere learning and practice can increase Faith and Aspiration (信愿).
Study ancient and contemporary examples of those who have reached Pure Land (净土) too: https://purelanders.com/testimonies. Remember that with utmost sincerity mindful of Buddha’s name (Āmítuófó: 阿弥陀佛), he will definitely come to receive one to his Pure Land, where there is no more suffering from rebirth, ageing, sickness and death; with bliss and immeasurable life instead. These are immeasurably surely worth aspiring for.
[02] Boredom (Tiresomeness): There is boredom or feeling that Niànfó is tiresome only when there is lack of Dharma bliss (法喜) from Niànfó, in terms of peace and bliss (安乐), thus not looking forward to practice with enthusiasm. The more sincere practice there is, with sincere learning, the more Dharma bliss there will be.
[03] Stray (Distracting Or Wandering) Thoughts: Once there are stray thoughts detected, return to the Buddha’s name immediately, reciting it (verbally or mentally) sincerely and listening to it just as sincerely. This will retain focus, thus with stray thoughts staying away. The more stray thoughts are thought about and fretted over, the more stray thoughts there will be.
[04] Drowsiness (Tiredness): First ensure that one is not really physically exhausted, perhaps by practising when reasonably fresh, such as right after washing one’s face and/or bathing. If still dozing off, prostrate thrice before the Buddha’s image to express repentance and sincerity, before resuming practice. Recite verbally and louder too, using this extra exerting of energy to be more wakeful.
[05] Discipline (Regularity): Make a sincere vow before the Buddha to practise daily, at a fixed time for a fixed duration (e.g. after showering nightly, for 15 minutes). If unsure of whether one can maintain the practice, vow to do so for a week first, before extending it to be a month and every day. More sessions can be committed too, such as having another one in the morning.
[06] Pain (Discomfort): Once there is pain or discomfort detected, return to the Buddha’s name immediately, reciting it (verbally or mentally) sincerely and listening to it just as sincerely. With connection to the Buddha’s blessings, pain or discomfort will disappear, and be replaced by peace and bliss. The more pain or discomfort is thought about and fretted over, the more pain or discomfort there will be, which are also stray thoughts.
[07] Tension (Excitement): Once there is tension or excitement detected in the body or mind, return to the Buddha’s name immediately, reciting it (verbally or mentally) sincerely and listening to it just as sincerely. If difficult to do this immediately, take one to three deep breaths to release any tension or excitement, before returning to the Buddha’s name. The more tension or excitement is thought about and fretted over, the more tension or excitement there will be, which are also stray thoughts.
[08] Busyness: Remember this – If one is busy all the time with something else, when it is time to depart from this life, one might have no more time to practise Niànfó sincerely. Also, since death can come at any time, that most urgent, with the highest priority to do is Niànfó practice. Thus, time should be set aside for it, before other less pressing matters.
[09] Lack Of Progress (Results): There can be substantial progress or results only when there is substantial practice, that is not interrupted or given up due to the challenges listed here. It is also natural that progress is not steady but gradual, also with occasional ups and downs too, reflecting the state of mind in the moment. With substantial progress, there will be substantial stability and more fruitful results.
[10] Lack Of Sincerity (Motivation): Remind oneself that practice can (and should) be for the benefit of all beings, not just oneself. With sincere practice, there will be meritorious virtues (功德) created, that can be dedicated to everyone, including loved ones, for their welfare, and to support their births in Pure Land. Practising with this attitude is to practise with the Bodhi Mind (菩提心). This is the greatest spiritual motivation possible. It is with sincere practice that the Pure Land can be personally reached for further guiding all other beings to the Pure Land too.
Solution: For steps on how to start Niànfó practice, see https://purelanders.com/2016/02/17/how-do-i-start-nianfo-practice. With sincere practice, there will be connection to the Buddha’s blessings via the twelve aspects of his light: https://purelanders.com/2022/10/30/the-twelve-lights-thus-come-one.
十大各人念佛障碍
[1] Top Ten Personal Niànfó Practice Obstacles
https://purelanders.com/2022/11/02/top-ten-personal-nianfo-practice-obstacles
引导临终者往生净土之十大障碍
[2] Top Ten Obstacles When Guiding The Dying To Reach Pure Land
https://purelanders.com/2022/11/02/top-ten-obstacles-when-guiding-the-dying-to-reach-pure-land
十大丧礼助念挑战
[3] Top Ten Wake Support-Chanting Challenges
https://purelanders.com/2022/11/02/top-ten-common-wake-support-chanting-challenges
十大念佛共修挑战
[4] Top Ten Niànfó Group Cultivation Challenges
https://purelanders.com/2022/11/02/top-ten-nianfo-group-cultivation-challenges
十大佛学班挑战
[5] Top Ten Buddhist Class Challenges
https://purelanders.com/2023/01/17/5-top-ten-buddhist-class-challenges
十大以弥陀圣号助念的原因
[6] Top Ten Reasons For Using Āmítuófó’s Name When Support-Chanting
https://purelanders.com/2023/02/15/6-top-ten-reasons-for-using-amituofos-name-when-support-chanting
十大对净土教理的误解
[7] Top Ten Misconceptions About The Pure Land Teachings
https://purelanders.com/2023/02/20/7-top-ten-misconceptions-about-pure-land-teachings
十大修学助念之利益
[8] Top Ten Benefits Of Practising Support-Chanting
https://purelanders.com/2017/11/25/10-reasons-to-practise-support-chanting-for-the-dying-deceased
十大念佛利益
[9A] Top Ten Benefits From Mindfulness Of Buddha
https://purelanders.com/2019/04/19/does-mindfulness-of-buddha-only-benefit-last-moments
十大念佛之今生利益
[9B] Top Ten Benefits From Mindfulness Of Buddha For This Life
https://purelanders.com/2018/07/21/ten-great-benefits-in-this-present-life-from-mindfulness-of-buddha
十大秽土与净土难易之分别（一）
[10A] Top Ten Difficulties In This Defiled Land Vs Ease In That Pure Land (1)
https://purelanders.com/2012/01/17/ten-comparisons-of-the-suffering-of-samsara-vs-the-bliss-of-pure-land
十大秽土与净土难易之分别（二）
[10B] Top Ten Difficulties In This Defiled Land Vs Ease In That Pure Land (2)
娑婆十难与净土十易
Sahā World’s Ten Difficulties And Pure Land’s Ten Easinesses
https://purelanders.com/2023/02/20/ten-great-easinesses-in-pure-land
十大净土法门兴起之因缘
[11] Top Ten Great Causes And Conditions Giving Rise To The Pure Land Dharma Door
https://purelanders.com/2020/03/05/ten-great-causes-and-conditions-giving-rise-to-the-pure-land-dharma-door
十大临终念佛障碍
[12] Top Ten Obstacles Of Mindfulness Of Buddha When Approaching Death
https://purelanders.com/2022/02/26/when-approaching-lifes-end-with-ten-matters
《净土十要》
[13] The Pure Land Tradition’s Ten Essentials
https://purelanders.com/shiyao
《净土十疑论》
[14] The Treatise On Ten Doubts About Pure Land
https://purelanders.com/shiyi
《普贤菩萨十大愿》所启发之《至心念佛偈》
[15] ‘Verses On Mindfulness Of Buddha With The Sincere Mind’ As Inspired By ‘Universal Virtue Bodhisattva’s Ten Great Vows’
https://purelanders.com/2021/11/20/verses-on-mindfulness-of-buddha-with-the-sincere-mind
《十大碍行》/《十不求行》(跋)
[16] (Afterword On) ‘Practices With Ten Great Obstacles’ Or ‘Ten Kinds Of Non-Seeking’
https://purelanders.com/shi
十念记数法与晨朝十念法
[17] The Method Of Ten Recitations With Counting & The Method Of Early Morning’s Ten Recitations
https://purelanders.com/2019/08/31/the-method-of-ten-recitations-with-counting-n-the-method-of-early-mornings-ten-recitations
十信
[18] The Ten Faiths
https://purelanders.com/2012/06/25/the-ten-faiths-%e5%8d%81%e4%bf%a1
十大阿弥陀佛如此受欢迎的原因
[19] Top Ten Reasons Why Āmítuófó is So Popular
阿弥陀佛第十七愿的意义
Significance Of Āmítuófó’s 17th Vow
https://purelanders.com/2011/12/10/top-ten-reasons-why-amituofo-is-so-popular-significance-of-the-17th-vow-of-amituofo
十大陀罗尼被（往生被）须知
[20] Top Ten Facts To Know About The Dhāraṇī (Rebirth) Blanket
https://purelanders.com/2023/02/25/top-ten-facts-to-know-about-the-dhara%e1%b9%87i-rebirth-blanket
