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Emei Shan Bao Quoc Temple

Thich Nhat Hanh · November 20, 2002 · Bao Guo Temple, China · Audio Only
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The teaching of the Pure Land in the here and now reveals that it is possible to live in the Pure Land in the present moment without waiting for the disintegration of the body. True nature is already Amitabha, and the Pure Land is found in the heart. Most people are lost in sorrow concerning the past or fear concerning the future, but returning to the present moment allows one to touch the wonders of life. Mindful breathing and mindful walking help generate the energy of mindfulness and concentration, enabling one to embrace suffering and transform affliction. The sound of the bell is the voice of the Buddha calling us back to the present; upon hearing it, thinking and talking stop to enjoy breathing with the gatha: “I listen, I listen. This wonderful sound brings me back to my true home.”

“I have arrived, I am home” is a practice of arriving in the here and the now, the true home. This creates a mobile Pure Land available in marketplaces, airports, and railway stations. Zen and Pure Land practice converge as Nianfo, the invocation of the name of the Buddha, generates mindfulness. The Buddha is made of the energy of mindfulness, concentration, and insight, and can be touched when looking deeply at a flower, the blue sky, or a tree. Daily activities such as offering incense, answering the telephone, prostrating, drinking tea, and cooking become sessions of practice. Mindfulness in the four positions of the body—sitting, walking, and lying down—makes a practitioner beautiful like an orange tree offering the flowers and fruit of understanding and compassion.

The immediate aim of practice is to build brotherhood and sisterhood, generating joy and happiness. Buddhist theory, such as Vijnanavada or the teachings of the Avatamsaka and Lotus Sutras, must be applied to daily life to transform suffering. Regarding monastic life, one must prepare carefully and possess 100% determination. For walking meditation, the breath and steps serve as objects of attention to prevent dispersion. In sitting meditation, which is nourishing, choosing an interesting subject, such as the nature of one’s own fear or anger, maintains concentration and alertness.

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