为何至心比一心重要
Why Wholeheartedness Matters More Than Single-Mindedness
Question: How important is it to cultivate single-mindedness (or single-pointedness; one-pointedness) and how should it be done?
Answer: Pure Land practitioners (净土行者) should aim for wholeheartedness (一心 in terms of the heart). This is not exactly the same as single-mindedness (一心 in terms of the mind).
With wholeheartedness, which is sincerity (至心) in Faith (信) and Aspiration (愿) in the Practice (行) of mindfulness of Buddha (念佛) to reach his Pure Land (净土), single-pointedness in terms of concentration (定) will arise naturally upon connection to Āmítuófó (阿弥陀佛). (Sincerity binds the Three Provisions [三资粮] of Faith, Aspiration and Practice together.)
This great boost, as empowered by the Buddha, is one of the factors that make mindfulness of Buddha the ‘unsurpassable profound and wonderful meditation’ (无上深妙禅).
If however aiming for single-pointedness only, wholeheartedness will never arise. Wholeheartedness (or sincerity) is crucial for connecting to Āmítuófó, for blessed peace and bliss (安乐) of body and mind (身心) to arise.
This explains why many older and simpler folks who neither learnt nor practised conventional self-powered (自力) meditation (that aims for single-mindedness) can still reach Pure Land, as they knew how to be sincere, thus connecting to Āmítuófó’s immeasurable Other-power (他力).
This is while younger and more complicated folks who tend to worry about concentration miss the point to be sincere first. The Pure Land Tradition’s 13th Patriarch Great Master Yìnguāng (净土宗十三祖印光大师) also taught about the above principles in his teachings below.
有信愿，未得一心，亦可生净土
Having Faith [And] Aspiration, Yet [To] Attain Single-mindedness, [One] Also Can [Attain] Birth [In The] Pure Land
念佛法门，注重信愿，有信愿，未得一心，亦可往生。得一心，若无信愿，亦不得往生。
The Dharma Door Of Mindfulness Of Buddha [i.e. recitation of Āmítuófó’s name (阿弥陀佛)] emphasises on Faith and Aspiration [i.e. Vow]. Having Faith and Aspiration, if yet to attain single-mindedness [i.e. concentration in Practice (行)], one also can attain rebirth in the Pure Land. Having attained single-mindedness, if without Faith and Aspiration, one also cannot attain rebirth in the Pure Land.
世人多多注重一心，不注重信愿，已是失其扼要。而复又生一既未得一心，恐不得往生之疑，则全与真信切愿相反矣。此种想念，似乎是好想念。
The world’s people are with extremely many emphasising on single-mindedness, not emphasising on Faith and Aspiration, who are already missing these essentials. Yet, again and again giving rise to the one doubt of fear that since they have yet to attain single-mindedness, they cannot attain rebirth in the Pure Land, then completely with true Faith and sincere Aspiration contradicting one another. This kind of thinking, seems to be good thinking [but it is not].
实则，由此而益加信愿，以致一心，则是好想念。由此而益加信愿，以致一心，则是好想念。
Actually, due to this, it is then beneficial to increase Faith and Aspiration, with this leading to single-mindedness [as wholehearted (i.e. utmost sincere) Practice with Faith and Aspiration naturally leads to it]. This then is good thinking.
若由因不得一心，常存一不能往生之心，则成坏想念矣。不可不知！
If due to not attaining single-mindedness, constantly retaining the one mind of not being able to be reborn in the Pure Land, this then becomes bad thinking. This must not be not known!
净土宗十三祖印光大师
Pure Land Tradition’s 13th Patriarch Great Master Yìnguāng
《复朱德大居士》
(Reply [To] Layperson Zhū Dédà)
Namo Amituofo : Translation by Shen Shi’an
相关教理
Related Teachings:
念佛是无上深妙禅门
Mindfulness Of Buddha Is The Unsurpassable Profound And Wonderful Meditation Door
https://purelanders.com/2023/04/05/mindfulness-of-buddha-is-the-unsurpassable-profound-and-wonderful-meditation-door
Buddha Mindfulness Is Supreme Meditation
https://purelanders.com/2012/01/16/buddha-mindfulness-is-supreme-meditation
How Do Niànfó Practitioners Reach Āmítuófó’s Pure Land?
佛人如何得生阿弥陀佛的净土？
(The True Meaning Of Wholeheartedness Without Being Scattered)
(一心不乱的真实义)
https://purelanders.com/2016/09/24/how-do-nianfo-practitioners-reach-amituofos-pure-land
往生净土的三资粮
The Three Provisions For Rebirth In Pure Land
https://purelanders.com/2015/12/30/the-three-provisions-for-rebirth-in-pure-land
摄心三要
Three Essentials For Gathering The Mind
https://purelanders.com/2023/11/07/three-essentials-for-gathering-the-mind
有诚自定偈
Verses On Having Sincerity Naturally Having Concentration
https://purelanders.com/2026/03/17/verses-on-having-sincerity-naturally-having-concentration
