What is Amituofo ?

Amituofo Buddha, known as Amitābha in Sanskrit, is also known as the Infinite Buddha, the Buddha of Infinite Light, the Buddha of Infinite Life, and so on. According to the classics of Mahayana Buddhism, Amitabha Buddha had made a great wish in the long past to establish the Western Pure Land in order to ferry boundless sentient beings, and had accomplished immeasurable solemn merits and virtues. The belief in Amitabha Buddha is especially prosperous and important in areas where Mahayana Buddhism has spread, such as China and Japan. In the Pure Land Sect of Chinese Buddhism, the Western Pure Land of the former Amitabha Buddha’s birth is practiced exclusively.

This sutra not only describes in detail the beauty of the Elysian world, but also instructs sentient beings on how to achieve rebirth in the Elysian world by chanting the name of Amitabha Buddha.

What are the benefits of chanting Amitabha Buddha’s name?

Chanting Amitabha Buddha’s name is a practice in the Pure Land Sect of Buddhism, and its benefits are mainly understood on a religious and psychological level. The following are some of the benefits that believers believe chanting Amitabha Buddha’s name may bring:

• Purifying the mind: by constantly chanting the Buddha’s name, it can ‘help the practitioner to reduce distracting thoughts, purify the heart, and achieve peace and tranquility of mind.
• Accumulating merit: In Buddhism, chanting the Buddha’s name is considered an act of accumulating merit, which helps to eliminate karmic obstacles and accumulate sustenance for rebirth in the Pure Land.
• Cultivating Compassion: When chanting the Buddha’s name, practitioners usually initiate the great wish to benefit all sentient beings, which helps to cultivate compassion and bodhicitta.
• Enhancing Faith: Continuous chanting of the Buddha’s name enhances faith in Buddhist teachings and Amitabha Buddha, and strengthens the practitioner’s religious experience.
• Psychological comfort: When facing difficulties and challenges in life, chanting the Buddha’s name can give devotees psychological comfort and support.
• Sense of community belonging: Participating in group activities of chanting the Buddha’s name can enhance the connection with the Buddhist community and increase the sense of community belonging.
• Health benefits: Some studies have shown that religious practices such as meditation and chanting of the Buddha’s name may be beneficial to physical and mental health, such as lowering stress and improving sleep.
• Rebirth in the Pure Land: According to the teachings of Pure Land Buddhism, chanting the name of Amitabha Buddha is an important practice for rebirth in the Western Blissful World, which believers believe will bring them future liberation and peace of mind.
• It is important to note that these benefits depend very much on the individual’s beliefs and practical experience. For non-believers, these benefits may not be as obvious. In addition, the effects of chanting the Buddha’s name are also affected by one’s attitude and approach to practice and one’s personal life circumstances.

How to chant the name of Amitabha Buddha? Here are some basic instructions:

• Purity of mind: Before chanting, one should initiate bodhicitta, i.e., the wish to attain supreme equanimity for the benefit of all sentient beings.
• Purity of body and mind: Before chanting, try to keep your body and mind as pure as possible. You may choose to wash your hands, organize your clothes, and find a quiet place.
• Posture: You can adopt a sitting posture, keep your back straight, and put your hands together to show your respect.
• Concentrate on one realm: When chanting, minimize distracting thoughts and focus the mind on the holy name of Amitabha.
• Recite out loud: You can recite “Namo Amitabha” (“Namo” means to convert, to pay respect) out loud, with a clear and steady voice. 6.
• The voice should be clear and smooth. Mindfulness: While reciting orally, the mind should also recite silently, so that the voice is consistent with the mind.
• Consistency: Chanting Amitabha’s name should be done consistently, regardless of the length of time, but for quality, preferably every day.
• Return: After chanting, one should return the merits to all sentient beings, wishing that all sentient beings will be free from suffering and be reborn in the Pure Land.