AMITABHA

Namo Amitabha Buddha,

       Dear all lay Buddhists,

Today is Memorial Day of Amitabha Buddha.

As you know Amitabha Buddha is always in our minds, and in our bodies.

     So, today's occasion, on the ceremony of Buddha Amitabha I  would like to offer to all of you Dharma talk: " The meanings of reciting the Buddha's Names "

      As you know, today is December 30, 2012, about the end of the old year of 2012 and starts for the New Year.

We have cultivated from the beginning of the year and now the end of the year, we also have a ceremony of Amitabha for us to prepare our energy and to begin for reciting the Buddha's Names (Amitabha).

      Before we listen to this topic, we should recite Amitabha Buddha three times.

Namo Amitabha Buddha (3 times)

Now, can all of you see the board clearly?

     Yes, today I will show you the way for reciting the Buddha's Names.

Since then, we go to the temple many times but we do not know about “The meanings of reciting the Buddha's Names”, or the meanings of reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha.

Therefore, you have to know that:

    We recite the Buddha's Names but sometimes we do not know anything about this meaning, that’s the reason why we sometimes are lazy, today we have the opportunity to learn and to know more about this meaning, so we can recite the Buddha's Names longer and deeper.

     Please practice everyday, every evening and every night at home.

     As you know, on every Sunday, you should bring papers and pens for writing the notes down, after 1 month or 2 months we can make a class, then I will give an example topic " What is The meanings of reciting the Buddha's Names?"

And each of you has a pen, and a paper, then I will give a test topic in 15 minutes. Then within 10 minutes, I will check your papers so that all of you can understand and remember the topic more.

     As you know, in the near future we have a class on every Sunday to hear, and to learn Dharma and to take a test as well.  At that time, if you do not take a review, you will forget the Dharma talk easily.

     So, we know how to recite the Buddha Amitabha? What is “The meanings of reciting the Buddha's Names”? Or what is the meanings of reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha?

Then after understanding all of these, we will cultivate better and better.

     Now I will explain to you about “The meanings of reciting the Buddha's Names”.

First, the word Reciting (Niệm: 念) has two separate word here (Kim: 今) and the word heart (Tâm: 心).

The term of Kim means right here and now, you know?

When I give the Dharma talk I will explain every term, every word so that you know and understand easily.

NIỆM:  念 (Reciting)

KIM: 今

TÂM: 心

1 / Kim 今> right now and here

2 / Tâm 心> heart → reverence, devotion, dedication.

Two these words that go together is called reciting, you get this?

Two words that go together, then it's appearing the word reciting (Niệm).

Kim (今) means now and here.

What is heart (Tâm: 心)? For example, "we see that this nun has a good heart or dedicates, this Uncle really dedicates, this sister really dedicates, this holy assembly really dedicates."

Heart means mind, mind means heart.

It literally means heart.

The word now (Kim:今) and the word heart (Tâm: 心)  combine together, it will become NIỆM:  念 (Reciting).

The word reciting means as I already said above or when a wife asks: "What are you doing today at temple?"

The husband answer: "Today, I went to Linh Son Pagoda where they organized a retreat of Reciting Buddha’s Names"

So the word reciting appears and this concept means reciting Buddha’s Names.

As you know, at first the word reciting (niệm) has a few following definitions:

Contemplatives :

      Let me analyze this word little by little, what is contemplation?

     Contemplation means: for an example, when we go to pagoda, or temple, when we sit in the office, when we drive, when we sit in the bushes, when we go on vacation or we relax  on the couch etc... And whom we remember think of the most.

We remember Buddha and then think of Buddha.

Contemplation (Reciting) means to remember, to think, and to visualize Buddha.

For example, sometimes we sit and remember to recite “Namo Amitabha Buddha”

That means to think and contemplate.

When we contemplate, does contemplation have images?

Anyone who says no, please raise your hands.

Does contemplation have images?

Assembly:

Yes Yes

Yes No

I asked then some say yes and some say no.

Now, who says no?

And Now who says yes?

Assembly: Yes-No

In assembly, four people say No, but more people say Yes.

Now I talk about Yes and about No:

The first is: when our mind arises then Amitabha appears. When we recite the Buddha’s Names mindfully then Buddha is in ourselves, then at the time there is appearance of Amitabha Buddha, this means Yes.

And the reason why is ‘No’ because at the beginning we recite "Namo Amitabha Buddha", the mind we do not think of Buddha and we only remember that we just went shopping at Costco where we bought some wrong things, so we do not recite Buddha’s Names but Costco or Wal-Mart. Therefore, Contemplation (Reciting) means No and contemplation (reciting) appears two words mindfulness and mixed thoughts.

So, when we don’t have mindfulness, we have mixed thoughts.

Mixed thoughts mean reciting in troubles, not mindful.

Whenever we recite exactly, or recite any Buddha’s Name to remember that Name, we recite every word, every sentence in mindfulness and clarity.

Then we visualize the Buddha appearing in our heart.

Thus, either Yes or No is right, but in this case, the meaning of  No is not right more than Yes, because if we recite in mindfulness, the Buddha will appear in our heart.

So, in the absence of mindfulness, there are mixed thoughts. Hence, the word of reciting appears two words of mindfulness and mixed thoughts together.

So, we come to the temple every Sunday at 11:00 a.m, there is also a retreat from 9:00 a.m, on Sunday at 11:00 a.m, after chanting we have lunch, and then do our works; and if we drive car as well and stop at red light, we recite "Namo Amitabha Buddha".

As you see, then the word Mindfulness appears. This means to visualize clearly.

When we visualize, then the second meaning will appear, and whom we think about?

Assembly: Buddha

Yes, please just remember to think of Buddha.

But for example we ask lay Buddhist lady: “when you went to the temple, whom did you often think of?

She answer: Maybe I think of the husband.

Thus, we remember thinking of the Buddha, even though our husbands or our children  were sick, or even our mothers were sick, we remember to think of the Buddha Amitabha.

Or even though our descendants have any problems, we also bring our energy of reciting Buddha’s Names to our husbands, ourselves and our families.

Do you understand? So please always remember, remember to think of Buddha’s Names.

When you know what is meaning of mindfulness and mixed thoughts then you will take mindfulness and get rid mixed thoughts off.

You know that the meaning of reciting (niệm), do you all understand?

Assembly: Yes, we do.

If I ask who knows the literal reciting please tell me about that. Do you agree?

BUDDHA: 佛

PERSON: 人

SWEEP: 弗

Today, you listen to this Dharma Talk and after about 2 weeks we will have lessons. That’s for you to study and to work, and then there will be more advanced classes.

You remember that the idea of reciting is to have mindfulness; Buddha Amitabha will appear, if we do not have mindfulness mixed thoughts will interfere our mind.

As you know, when someone recites, she/he will have Tâm which means heart. If you are people who do not have the heart, I make sure that you will not be present in here. If you do not have heart, I make sure that you do not recite.

As you have a heart, so you are sitting here; instead you all go home then we spend a day and a night (24 hours), a week 7 days, but six days you go to work, and one day you take care of your family, and a few hours you take care of yourself.

You only take care of your husband, care for your children, care for social, to earn money, and you worry this or that, finally, you do not take of yourself then you will be in trouble. If impermanence comes to you, then you have thanks to some Monks for refuge, you need this person’s help or that person’s help to recite Buddha’s Names for you, then you pass away hardly, do you understand?

So all of you, please say after me:

"We're alive, we must know to recite Names of the Buddha Amitabha, from our heart, Buddha’s light will shine, Infinite Light and Infinite Life, Infinite Merits."

So, when you are practicing then at that time, the light of our lamp is always shining, and some people do not recite Buddha’s Names, they do not practice, or each week we do not know to go to the temple, eat vegetarian, recite Buddha’s Names, and do not know to take the time to practice. Although, we also have a lamp but our lamp do not shine.

Therefore, we have our lamp and lit in our mind, in the heart of us, our lamps are always lightened.

Why in this world, in this region, in this locality, so many people that do not light up their lamps?

And we who have the enlightenment, awareness, are present at this place to light up our lamps.Therefore; our lights began to be lit up from our mind, from our heart, right here and now.

Therefore, you understand like that, you will permeate this meaning. And now you understand the word (Niệm) reciting.

Until now, I explain to you the word Buddha. As you see the word Buddha in Chinese.

Buddha : 佛 includes: 2 words

Nhân (person) and Phất (sweep)

Nhân: 亻means a person (human).

You know this word (person) refers to anyone, refers to ourselves. And what does Nhân (person) have? Yes, there is the mind (brain). And if persons do not have mind, they are animals. (You are not persons.) And although they are persons, their minds do not have human hearts.

        Therefore, persons who cultivate, practice, recite, then the word Nhân (person) has tâm (heart) mind, the word heart means that we always remember to think of Amitabha Buddha. So as you see, this meaning is related to other meanings.

        You learn a little by a little permeability. When we are Nhân (persons) then we can be called like that. So, who has the heart, then she/he contemplates to recite the Names of Buddha Amitabha; Or recites Compassionate Mother Quan Yin.

        Now, we learn about the word Phất:  弗 (sweep).

Maybe, since then you hear the word Sino-Vietnamese, but you do not know its meaning. If you do not study, and do not have a class as today, you will not understand this.

Phất:  弗 (sweep), for example, I take the broom, as every morning I or each of our lay Buddhists who see ashes on the Buddhist altar or the altar of our ancestors, what do we do?

Assembly answered: Brush ashes off.

He (Teacher) commended that our assembly are really smart. When we see ashes on desk, we brush them off. It is illustrated on the Buddhist altar, we brushed ashes off.

When the leaves fall to the ground, then what do we do?

Assembly: Sweep.

That’s good. You all are so smart.

When ashes dropped on Buddhist altars, I use the word brushed that means lighter. But when the leaves fall on the cement floor or ground, we sweep. Thus, the meaning of the Phất:  弗 (sweep)is to sweep and to brush.

Phất:  弗(sweep) has two main meanings:

弗 verb / noun is literally liberal sense 

1. Brush (ashes off)

2.  Sweep leaves

Do you all understand that and grasp the literal meaning?

As you see, when you learn, you will know clearly and understand the meaning literally and figuratively.

Now, the word Phất:  弗(sweep), you know that its literal is to brush and to sweep.

      Every morning when we get up, what do we sweep first?

        Assembly:  our face.

        Yes, it’s right. Every morning when we wake up, then we open our eyes to the rest room to wash (sweep) our face, wash (sweep) our body, it is our body first. And after we finish personal activities, meanwhile, now that the Phất:  弗(sweep) appears here. Once our body is clean and then we wear the Budhist robe, at the time we get to our Buddhist room to burn incense or to lit a lamp (a candle) on Buddhist altar or the altar of our grandparents. When we started to light up, we put our hands together to recite "Namo Amitabha Buddha, Namo Lord Original Master of Sakyamuni Buddha, Namo Comppassionate Mother Quan Yin", and then you all understand that.

At that time, what do we sweep? It means that we sweep (brush) our mind (heart), you see that it is so good. Now we sweep (brush) our mind (heart), I show a method that you can sweep (brush) your mind (heart). Please say after me with following sentences:

“Namo Amitabha Buddha! 

Respectful homage to the World-Honored One,

Today is: (every morning, you should read that way, but I just give an example for today), on Sunday December 30, 2012

My Dharma Name is: (say your Dharma Name)

My Name is: (say your Family Name if you do not have Dharma Name)

In front of the Buddha altar

I respectful homage to the Lord of Amitabha Buddha

I respectful homage to the Lord of Buddha Shakyamuni

I respectful homage to the Lord of Medicine Buddha

I respectful homage to the Lord of Comppassionate Mother Quan Yin,

Holy Assembly of Bodhisattvas,

Please bless me, bless my family, my beloved ones with abundant health, body and mind at peace.

At 7: 00 a.m., we go to work, please support, protect, and uphold peaceful energies to me who drive to places and back home safely and securely, eat good food, and sleep well.

Namo Amitabha Buddha!”

Do you see that this prayer is the so practical? It must be such practical, not too theoretical. As you see, so then the word Phất:  弗(sweep) appears the word sweep as in the earlier to wash (sweep) the body, now to clean (sweep) the mind. Do you see that or not? Buddhism is so miraculous.

        We recite Buddha’s Names, bow and pay homage to the Lord Buddha, you know how to bow to the Buddha? Now I instruct you.

Assembly are practicing to bow and to pay homage to the Lord Buddha... as the Master show: “your hands across your chest should not be high on the chin, also should not be too low, you should make it comfortably.”

        When every morning we finish washing (sweep) our body, now we have the time to clean (sweep) our mind. We bow and pay homage to the Lord Buddha three times, then to the ancestors altar, then we go to work.

        Now, you know the word Phất:  弗 (sweep), that means to wash (to brush) body and heart.

Figurative sense this word Phất:  弗 (sweep) is

Brushing / dusting defilements of greed, hatred and delusion...

Sweep / Brush off defilements of lust, Anger, Delusion, etc.

Now we refer to the word Buddha: Phật 佛. As you can see, so these two words person and sweep (Nhân: 亻 and Phất: 弗) coupled with each other to become the word Buddha (Phật 佛). As before until now, you have heard from other Masters, and you have known that the word Buddha means: The first is awakening, and the second is enlightenment.

Buddha:

1. The Enlightenment

2. The awakening

You usually go to the temple as some uncles/ants, if someone asks: what Buddha means, and then you will know the answer. A lot of more meanings but here I only give some examples etc…

Buddha means awakened. Common persons that are not awakened, only the Buddha. After awakening, the Buddha ordained to become a monk and got Enlightened.

You see the Buddha is real, but He left all the life’s surroundings. At that time, by removing all around, the Buddha was from a Man who got Awakened and Enlightened.

When we have two these things awakening and enlightenment, then everyday, we are working with mindfulness and we are always awakening. And awakening always goes with enlightenment. These are only three factors, but also many other factors. But now, I just say the basic elements. At that time, we understand who is Buddha? Mindfulness, Enlightenment, peace, joy, happiness.

Whom does that refer to? That refers to the Buddha Amitabha as well as Sakyamuni Buddha, because Buddha is the same. For example: Buddha of Medicinal Master etc…, the Buddha is meant like that.

Do you know all? From this these meanings, as before until now you listen to Dharma from Monks, Nuns or you have been heard that the Buddha said: “All sentient beings have the Buddha nature.”

All of us, living beings have the Buddha nature.

3 / All the Buddhas have enough senses above

The relationship between the Buddhas and us

“All sentient beings have the Buddha nature”

As above, I illustrated to you to know these meanings. If on Sunday, we do not go to the temple. Instead of going to monastery, we were at home to open the movie players, or other ones to watch. At that time, we were not awakened. I give practical examples to you, the Dharma teachings have to be realistic. Instead, on Sunday we recite the Buddha’s Names, then we stay home to watch TV, to open other players to see, is that called to be awakened? Thus, this meaning is called not awakened. Also, there are those who go to the Temple with us, but we do not know the reason why they go home early, so now we are awakened. The other people are not yet awakened.

As you see, because we are awakened, our lamps are light and we recite: “Namo Amitabha Buddha!”

When our communities are awakened, we bring this energy of reciting Buddha’s Names to ourselves first. Therefore, you are awakened persons.

You see, that is so wonderful! But, we always think only Lord Buddha is the Awakened One. But we do not know whether we are awakened or not? If you say like that, this is not true.

So, we know that we are awakened as well. And when we are awakened, that means we are listening to Dharma right here. And if we are not awakened, now instead of sitting at right away here to listen to the Dharma, we go to the kitchen to get food or something. At that time, we called that this person is not mindful or awakened yet. We say that this one does not have the awakened yet, it is better than we say that this one does not have mindfulness (yet is better than no). You have to know clearly. You will permeate. Do you know the word permeate? For example, as you know that when you eat jackfruit instead if you eat, you will know that it is sweet, and if you eat sugar, it is so sweet, and you eat salt, you know it is salty. Therefore, we are the same, those who are now and here, can taste (permeate) the Dharma as well. So, our heart (our mind) is sweet, peaceful and happy. You see, it is so miracle.

You must understand that element. You will taste this peaceful Dharma. Because Dharma is also a dish (food), it is eaten by thought (mind) and spirit, of heart, of feeling and of our conception. You all understand that clearly.

Therefore, two these meanings are present, so that we are here and now the meaning enlightenment is present as well. Buddha was enlightened and got Energy. And we pray “Namo Amitabha Buddha! Respectful homage to the World-Honored One, Your Enlightenment is so huge, but we only have a little enlightenment. Therefore, Respectful homage to the World-Honored One, please bless us and give us some energy, and at the same time, we try to cultivate ourselves, so we are sitting now and here during the day (from the morning until now) to chant Sutra, and to recite Buddha’s Names. Respectful homage to the World-Honored One!”

Therefore, at that time the meaning of enlightenment appears, did we know the meaning of Buddha: Phật 佛? Did we know the meaning of the word Reciting? Did we know the meaning of the word Sweep: Phất: 弗?  What is the meaning of Person (Nhân: 亻)? But now we learn and know clearly, we should strip off the ones that we did not know aside.

Now, we all know clearly, then knowledge comes to our mind, as before we did not know what the word Person (Nhân: 亻) was, what the word Sweep (Phất: 弗) was, but now we know the Sweep (Phất: 弗) is to sweep, to brush. When we already know two things, then we understand the meaning of Sweep (Phất: 弗) clearly, the word heart (mind) clearly, we have knowledge so that enlightenment will appear. We are enlightened, so we recite “Namo Amitabha Buddha!”

You understand like that, your Dharma knowledge will be broad. This topic need be explained fully in at least two hours, but now the time is running out. Well, now I tell some more.

When you know the word Sweep (Phất: 弗), Buddha (Phật: 佛). Now, I continued to explain more about the sentence ‘Namo Amitabha Buddha.’

A / Namo 南无

Now I say Namo Amitabha Buddha, Pali or Sanskrit is the same. I recite Namo Amitabha Buddha, in Vietnamese “Nam Mô A Di Đà Phật !” and in Chinese “Namo A Mi Ta Fo!”

If you meet other people in countries such as Burma, South Korea, etc., you read after me “Namo Amitabha Buddha”. The reason why is that I give an example of many languages, ​​so you can know them. Later we can learn the original language of their meanings. When we meet the people from other countries, then we say, "Oh! In Vietnamese I know, "Nam Mô A Di Đà Phật!",

 in Chinese " Namo A Mi Ta Fo ! " or Pali or Sanskrit ' Namo Amitabha Buddha ', Sanskrit I read Bud-da. I will explain the basics gradually like that. You already have understood it, in Sanskrit you read Bud-da, I will say about it to you much more later. 

  Namo 南无

1 / Return

2/Respect

   3 / Dedicate

        4 / Watered     

Now, I say the first meaning is to return. For example, when we were born as kids, but even in this locality, at that time we have never known to go to temple yet, never known about Dharma, the teachings of the Buddha. We have been wandering, “We are wandering somewhere for fatigue life.” At that time, we just wandered, but today we get enlightened, then we return. Now, we are Buddhists, who understand the Dharma. At that time, we come back (return). Do you understand?

Therefore, as you know, for example, there are two children in your family, but when you learn the Buddha’s teachings, and then you understand to return the Temple, but one of them who knows to go the monastery, and she/he understands the Buddha's teachings and practices them, in other hand, one of them does not know to go to Temple and even she/he does not know to visit her/his families. Instead of every month, she/he should visit her/his parents, visit family, but she/he refuses to visit family, or her/his parents. The one who know about Temple will visit her/his family, or parents, and the other one who does not go to the temple does not visit family, or parents. Then the meaning of returning family does this one have in heart?

Assembly: None.

Now, every month the kid knows the human duty with the family, then she/he comes back to visit family. And now, we are Buddhists, so every week wherever we go, but every Sunday we should come back to (return) the Temple, it means to return. But every day, every night if our minds wander, do not have mindfulness, do not know the Dharma, do not know the awakening and enlightenment that means our minds wandering, and now we return to recite Buddha’s Names. Now, we understand that meaning of to return. For example: we have mixed thoughts in mind, but when we are mindful, we go back (return). And our mind to recite Buddha’s Names. Before we recite Buddha’s Names, then we put our hands together that is the meaning of respect, so the meaning of respect appears.

As you see, this literal meaning is related to other words. We recite Buddha’s Names, then we have the mind (heart), then our mind have with respect, when we have respect then we have dedicate (true heart), you understand clearly. So this meaning is related to other meanings. We clearly see that when we have to return, we have to respect, and we have to dedicate.

As in the morning we return (come back) to our mind, before we have been wandering now we come back to our mind. We do not know wherever we have been wandering. When we come to this local, thanks to Buddha’s Bless for our family (from old to young people of our family), we are peaceful to arrive this country, then we have the mind of returning to this place, and our hearts are close to the Buddha’s light, close to Pagoda, close to Masters, Monks, Nuns, and Dharma friends to practice together. So, the meaning of return appears.

You all understand the meaning of return and this is very important. As you say that you live in this local. But if you are Buddhists, but you are not close to Pagoda, close to Masters, Monks, Nuns, and Dharma friends at the time you are wandering, you go here and there, but now you have learned the teachings of the Buddha, you return to the temple to recite Buddha’s Names, then the meaning of return appears.

Return (Go back) to the place, as each month we return (go back) home to visit our parents, and we ask 'How are you, Dad or How are you, Mom!' Or we see our children, our brothers and sisters; we should send our regards to them by asking: “Oh! How are you doing? Hello, how are you!” then the meaning of return appears.This is very good, simple but very practical.

       

        Today, we go to the monastery, when we meet to greet each other, 'How are you!' That means to return literally, in meeting is the meaning to return to a place. A place or our mind is the same, too. Every morning we wake up, instead we sleep in this place, and there in the East, in the West, in Vietnam, in New York, in many different places, etc. And now every morning we wake up, after finishing personal activities, we come back to our mind, then we burn incense, we bow to the Buddha. At the time, meaning of to return comes back. You understand the meaning of to return then it is so good. When we return, then we refuge as well. Namo means to return, and also means to refuge. Namo also means to refuge, Namo also means to respect, Namo also means to dedicate, and do you get that? When you understand the meanings, then you can permeate.

Someday you have the chance to summarize, after finishing I have time to review, and then you will remember easily. Well, you just remember something to write something about this, every five minutes, if you do well, and I will define the word Namo Buddha Amitabha and give the blank in two rows, and then you write, I check them again. You rewrite in such above meanings.

The word Amitabha appears in three meanings. Amitabha means A Di Đà 阿彌陀.

B / A Di Đà 阿弥陀 - Amitabha

1 / Infinite Light

2 / Infinite Life

3 / Infinite merit

First is the letter A (Infinite, Unlimited), Infinite means unlimited, finite means limited quantity, Infinite is not limited to the quantity, and no frontier, or no boundary is called infinite.  Mother’s Love always is for her children, it is called infinite. And whoever loves children just enough, and when the child needs to eat but the mother eats before giving her child, then this presence of love means limited love.

I will tell a funny story to you "as I was young, each week my Mom told to feed my younger brother with a bowl of rice. But every time I feed the rice for him each day, instead of one bowl was only for him but another bowl for me as well. This means that I fed him a bowl, and I ate a bowl ", so unlimited meaning is not like that. At the time, that means limited. Limited means narrow, but when the limited love does not refer to the love between the mother and children, between the brothers and sisters, or the love between the father and son.

        What does Light mean? Light refers to the organic light, material light, sunlight and moon light which are immeasurable light, but this Light means natural light. Now, those who have to cultivate, to practice, and then the Light in your heart (mind) will be bright by your practicing.

You must understand like that, now I will explain more details to let you know. Where does our mind (heart) come from? The mind (heart) comes our practice, and when we have mind (heart), then we will have peace, optimism, enlightenment, and we will have Light. And when the light from our heart emits, thanks to such light we always love our family, always love husbands, and for example, if the husband is go away, you (the wife) cook at home. If your children go to school, you take care home, then your father, mother, spouse, children take care together. When you take care of the life of your family, parents, and children like that, your light will emit, and then your love or your light is never limited. When you have light, it will spread out to others. So it is called infinite light.

“Namo Amitabha Buddha!” We know that the Lord Buddha said, 'All living beings have the Buddha nature', so we have the light shining from our hearts as well.

When we have light from our heart (mind), this light is no longer limited. Then when the light was not limited, it will be durable, long-lasting, so we call infinite life; the age of our light, the age of our mind, and the age of our cultivation and practice, then the lifetime is unlimited. You understand and grasp this meaning clearly.

Now, I refer to the lifetime of our merit. When those who practice will have merit. And please remember that when you have merit, you should always have happy faces, and those who practice, will always lit up. That means there is light in this person’s face. When your Light comes out, you will love everyone, your Mother (Momy), Father ​​(Daddy), your brothers, sisters and children. Those who always practice, we will like to stand by them, and then we want to contact, to discuss, and to talk about Buddhism with them.

Let me tell you about the reason why we do not dare to stand by people who do not practice. Do you see the butcher? Those who kill animals, then they also have light but their light is blurred, so those who do not practice, they also have light but their light is dim as well, so if we approach to them, we are in trouble. Then I say 'Namo Amitabha Buddha I do not want to see that person'. Also, if the deers meet practitioners, do the deers or birds come near to them? They will come near these practitioners who have light. Light which has no boundary will have lifetime, and have merit as well.

As hunters, do deers and birds dare to stand near them? If they stand near these hunters, they will be killed immediately. So, they do not dare to stand by hunters, because these people do not shine the light of compassion, then if they stand near hunters, they will be in troubles.

So, you see that when you have light, you will have lifetime, and merit. Then you have these three characters, whatever you do, everyone will respect and love you so much. The Buddha’s teaching "You should be close to good friends, and stay away from the bad people" means like that.

A Di Đà 阿弥陀- Amitabha means:

1 / Infinite Light

2 / Infinite Life

3 / Infinite merit

Now, “Nam Mô A Di Đà Phật, Namo Amitabha Buddha” means like that, and today you have grasped the meaning of this clearly. Since then, you will practice very permanently, very long, and very permeately. As I just say above, if we do not eat jackfruit, we do not know how sweet it is, and if those who do not taste salt, how they can know that salt is salty, and those who practice will taste the Dharma and then know Dharma which is wonderful, taste the Dharma pleasure. Peaceful Dharma comes from our heart, from our body, from our own practice.
  Today, I have presented this topic to you to learn and to understand the meaning of reciting Buddha’s Names (Namo Amitabha Buddha. There is Amitabha from outside and at the same time from within our minds (our hearts). We have the light, we have merits, we have Infinite Light, we have lifetime of light, our merit, and then each of us will be a Buddha in our mind in our heart. Therefore, when we are healthy, our lives are comfortable, we go to the temple, we practice, and then impermanence comes to us, we still feel peaceful or calm.

      So today, I (Ven. Thich Trung Sy) explain the meaning of Infinite Light, Infinite Life, Infinite Merit and “The Meaning of Reciting Amitabha Buddha’s Names” to you, and Pali is “Namo Amitabha Buddha.”

According to the Indian people, they read Bud-da. Gradually, I will explain this meaning more later. And today you understand “The Meaning of Reciting Amitabha Buddha’s Names” like that. Again, today's Dharma talk I offer to all of you “The Meaning of Reciting Buddha’s Names”. You know and understand the basic meaning, after the the next Dharma talk, I will invite one of you up here, because when you learn, you should practice to speak out your understanding, or to write down the meaning in five or ten minutes. You learn in this world, whatever you learn, there is nothing better than to learn Buddhism, whatever you learn, there is nothing better than to practice Buddhism, and whatever you learn, there is nothing better than that we work together and bring the light energy for each other. It is to bring the present life and the future life of ourselves.

I tell you to know “The Meaning of Mindfulness Namo Amitabha Buddha”. There is “Amitabha Buddha” outside and inside our mind as well. And each of us is a Buddha Amitabha. Each of us is a Buddha Maitreya, and then we have Dharma Pleasure, we are always happy, Happiness is Maitreya Buddha, well-done practice is Sakya Buddha. So, we all have a Buddha in our heart.

Do you understand and permeate? Do you get enlightened? Do you have Light? Do you have Lifetime? Do you have merit? All of us have these. Since now the meaning of reciting Buddha’s Names begins to appear.

Now before finishing my talk, I let you to ask me two questions, as you say something about your feeling, your thoughts, or if you have any questions, please work with me. Each of us has a heart of learning, exchanging with each other, sharing with each other, and working together, then our practice would be very sturdy and durable. Now I spend a few minutes to invite one of you to give your comments or ideas on my topic today.

And this is the time when assembly give opinions, share feeling and ask questions to Ven. Thich Trung Sy. 

We appreciate and thank Ven. Thich Trung Sy’s Dharma Talk today. Dharma talk is simple, but contains many wonderful meanings.