Appendix A (Talks on Buddha says Ten Wholesome Ways Sutra”）

净土宗 Pure Land Buddhism
念佛法门 Buddha Name Recitation/Chanting Method

(1)  上净下空老法师之精要十念法 Ten-time Name Chanting Method by Venerable Master Chin Kung
内容大意摘取自《认识佛教》 Based on “To Understand Buddhism”

自修者，即是日中九次之念十声佛号法。是晨起与睡前各一次，日中三餐各一次，午前开工及收工各一次，午后开工及收工各一次，共计九次。每次称念十声四字或六字弥陀名号，原有日常定课可照常行之。
For individual practitioners: We apply the Ten-time Name Chanting Method daily: once in the morning when we get up and once at night before we go to bed; once before the three meals, (breakfast, lunch and supper); once before we start working in the morning and once when we stop work for lunch; once before we resume working in the afternoon and once after we finish work for the day. Each time, we chant either “Amitabha” or “Namo Amitabha” ten times apart from our daily practices.

共修者，凡讲经、开会、聚餐等无特定仪轨之集会，在共同行事之始，大众合掌同声称念十声“南无阿弥陀佛”，而后始进活动事宜。
For group practitioners: Whenever we gather for any non-ritual functions, ie. Sutra teachings, meetings or dinner parties, the congregation should first put their palms together and chant 10 times “Namo Amitabha” all together prior to the beginning of the function.

以简单易行，一日九次，从早到晚，佛气不断，佛念相继。个人之往生在握，则举家之成员或信或不信皆蒙摄持不遗。
This chanting method of nine times a day, from dawn to dusk, is easy to apply. We will soon find ourselves enveloped by the chanting atmosphere for the whole day bearing Amitabha in our minds all the time. Accordingly, our own rebirth in the Western Pure Land will be well-prepared. Even our family members, who either believe or do not believe in Buddhism, will all be salvaged.

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(2) 印光大师之摄心念佛法门 Chanting Method introduced by the 13th Patriarch of the Pure Land Buddhism, the late Great Master Yin Guang
http://www.amtfbbs.com/viewthread.php?tid=59065 or
http://www.amtb.tw/enlighttalk/enlighttalk.asp?web_choice=1&web_amtb_index=2143#godata

在 22/4/2011, 上净下空老法师说：
In one of his recent talks re “Infinite Sutra” (净土大经解演义) on 22 April 2011, Ven Master Chin Kung said:

佛号由心生出来，心生，清楚。
The Buddha name “Amitabha” arises from our heart clearly and distinctly 

口念，清楚。
then say it clearly and distinctly

耳听，清楚。
and listen at the same time clearly and distinctly.

再加上一个记数，从“一”到“十”。
Also we count each Amitabha as we chant from one to 10:

前面五句“一二三四五”，后面五句“六七八九十”。
Chanting can be divided in two lots: 5 + 5 = 10 times
Eg: Amitabha, Amitabha, Amitabha Amitabha, Amitabha, 
      Amitabha, Amitabha, Amitabha, Amitabha, Amitabha.

或者：你就“三三四”，用这个方法记。第一段三句“一二三”，第二段三句“四五六”，第三段四句“七八九十”。
Or: Chanting can be divided in three lots: 3+3+4 = 10 times
Eg: Amitabha, Amitabha, Amitabha
      Amitabha, Amitabha, Amitabha
      Amitabha, Amitabha, Amitabha, Amitabha

这样一句一句的，字字清楚，字字都听清楚了，而且心里头计数，我这一句佛号是第几声。
Just follow this way to chant, and listen clearly and distinctly to every single word we chant. In addition, we remember to count inaudibly in our heart, e.g. the fourth, the fifth or the sixth; in other words, we need to clearly know the “position” of each word we have just chanted.

但是切勿把数的数目加到佛号后面，如：阿弥陀佛1，阿弥陀佛2，阿弥陀佛3....
However, we must NOT attach the number at the end of each “Amitabha”, e.g. Amitabha 1, Amitabha 2, Amitabha 3....

十句念完了，再第一句、第二句、第三句。
After finishing the first 10 “Amitabha” then start chanting and counting another 10 “Amitabha” again. Do not carry on counting 11, 12, 13...

初学的时候最好念慢。“阿 -- 弥 -- 陀 -- 佛 -- ”，。不要用念珠（或手指），用念珠会分心。
Beginners should start chanting slowly: “A---mi---ta---bha” while listening and counting silently in our mind. Do not use beads (or fingers) to count so as not to get distracted.

用这个方法可以摄妄念。就是大势至菩萨说的“都摄六根，净念相继”。
This method is used to assist us to hold our thoughts fully on the chanting itself. This is exactly what Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva (Da Shi Zhi Pu Sai 大势至菩萨) says “When chanting, we pull tightly together all our six roots (eye, ear, nose, tongue, body and mind) and hold on to them while the pure chanting continues”.

最重要的因素是你放得下，果真放下了，跟极乐世界的人没差别。
The important thing that we can do to help ourselves is to let go of everything. Only when we have let go totally will we be in a state just the same as those who live in the Pure Land.

印光大师在文抄当中说绝对不能闭眼，闭着眼睛容易昏沉，就睡着了。而且“久则招魔，容易着魔。印光大师说绝对不能闭眼睛。
In his letters to his followers, Great Master Yin Guang said: Whenever we chant, we must NOT close our eyes. With eyes closed, we would easily fall asleep. Moreover, chanting with eyes closed for a long period of time, there would be every chance for demons to invade. Therefore, Great Master Yin Guang urged us NOT to close our eyes when chanting.

印光大师回答弟子说：念佛的时候眼睛往下看，皈依在佛号上，就像我们家在供的这些佛像一样，眼睑下垂。
In his reply to his followers, Great Master Yin Guang also taught us to half open our eyes and drop our eyesight downwards to the ground when chanting, just like the Buddha statue we have at home so that our minds will be focused fully on the chanting.

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（3）“五念门” ～ 天亲菩萨采用“五念门”的念佛方法 “The Five Chanting Doors” - Chanting Method by Vasubandhu Bodhisattva

内容大意摘取自《念佛的功德》
“Merits of Chanting Amitabha” Talk given by Rev Master Chin Kung, compiled and printed in June 2010 (pages 57 - 58)

天亲菩萨修学其念佛方法采用“五念门”，得自于《佛说观无量寿佛经》，其内容为：
Vasubandhu Bodhisattva's chanting method is called “The Five Chanting Doors” which originates from “The Visualization Sutra”. It comprises:
1. 礼拜 Prostration
2. 赞叹 Praise
3. 发愿求生 Vow to be reborn in the Pure Land
4. 观察 Observation (including visualization of the Buddha's appearance and recollection of the Buddha's meritorious virtues)
5. 回向 Dedication of Merits

他老人家念佛，句句佛号都具足这个意思。
For every chanting of “Amitabha”, Vasubandhu Bodhisattva includes all these 5 meanings.

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(4) 《念佛警策》之“十念回向之法” ～ 彭际清居士编纂 “Chanting Method” — compiled by the late Mr Peng2 Ji4 Qing1
Printed by 华藏净宗学会 Hwa Dzan Pure Land Learning Center (Pages 30 - 31)

十念者，每日清晨，面西，正立，合拿，连声称‘阿弥陀佛“，尽一气为一念。如是十气，名为十念。但随气长短，不论佛数多少，，唯长唯久，气极为度。其佛声不高不低，不缓不急，调停得中。如是十气，连属不断，意在令心不散，专精为功，故名此为十念者。显是藉气束心也。尽此一生，不得一日暂费。念佛既毕，即诵”一心皈命文“，最后回向。
“Chanting “Amitabha” over Ten Breaths: 
Each morning, the practitioner should stand straight, face the West, put his palms together and chant “Amitabha" continuously for as long as he exhales, so there is no need to count the number of “Amitabha” chanted. The speed of chanting each “Amitabha” should be steady, not too fast and not too slow. The voice level should be just right, not too high and not too low. Keep chanting clearly and comfortably for ten breaths. While chanting, the mind should concentrate on the sound of chanting which is based on breathing, calmly and evenly. For the rest of the practitioner's life, he should chant “Amitabha” each morning without ceasing. After the chanting over ten breaths is done, move on to chant “Yi1 Xin1 Gui1 Ming4”, followed by “Dedication of Merits”.

Translator's Note:
In his previous talks over the years, Venerable Master Chin Kung explained many times that most of the Chinese characters have got a meaning on how the character was formed. The character of “念” (nian4), which means chanting in English, actually comprises two elements: the upper half in Chinese means “right now” and the lower half means “heart”. Therefore, whenever we chant (“念” nian4), we articulate each word clearly and dwell on each utterance with all our heart.

For information, some senior practitioners like to chant following their breathing. They chant “Ami” (阿弥) when they inhale and chant “tabha” (陀佛) when they exhale. The voice level can be either low or barely audible. The speed of chanting is controlled by inhalation and exhalation and they can keep chanting this way comfortably the whole day. No counting is required.

Source Of Information:
《Talks On Buddha Says Ten Wholesome Ways Sutra 佛说十善业道经讲记》, by Venerable Mster Chin Kung, translated by Student of the Triple Gems, published in October 2018, distributed by Amitabha Buddhist Society Malaysia (92, Jalan Pahang, 53300 Gombak, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
*** The information provided above does not contain personal opinion of this blog.