Looking for a clear and safe path to Pure Land rebirth? This article presents a faithful translation of Master Yin Guang’s teachings on Nianfo—showing exactly how to rely on Buddha power for liberation. These precious instructions come straight from the original texts, offering uncorrupted guidance to those seeking peace in chaotic times.
Master Yin Guang (1861–1940) was one of the most respected Pure Land patriarchs in modern Chinese Buddhism. Renowned for his strict adherence to moral precepts and deep compassion, he revitalized Pure Land practice with clarity and sincerity, emphasizing reliance on Amitabha Buddha’s vows and the simplicity of Nianfo. It is said that Master Yin Guang was the manifestation of Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva, one of the Three Sages of the West.
1. Why Pure Land Works
🪷 Pure Land practice is supremely profound in principle, yet extremely simple in execution. Ordinary beings have wandered through the cycles of birth and death for countless eons, committing boundless evil karma. If one relies solely on personal effort to eliminate all afflictions and karmic obstructions, liberation is harder than climbing to the heavens.
🪷 But if one accepts the Pure Land teachings taught by the Buddha with true faith and sincere aspiration, and earnestly recites Amitabha Buddha's name while resolving to be reborn in the Western Pure Land, then regardless of how heavy one’s karma may be, they can still rely on the Buddha's infinite compassion to be reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss.
🪷 Let each person uphold morality, fulfill their duties, refrain from evil, do good deeds, protect life, eat vegetarian, and recite the Buddha's name. Only with firm faith and vows toward rebirth in the Pure Land can one benefit from promoting Buddhism in a meaningful way.
🪷 Even if one only sincerely recites Amitabha Buddha's name, they will find liberation in times of suffering.
🪷 Pure Land practice allows even ordinary people full of afflictions to attain rebirth in the Western Pure Land by relying on Amitabha's great vow power. Other paths require one to first cut off all afflictions, leave the Three Realms, and eliminate all delusions of views and thoughts before liberation is possible. This is extremely difficult. Few can generate Bodhicitta and cultivate the Six Paramitas thoroughly.
2. Foundation: Faith, Vow, and Practice
🪷 Pure Land practitioners must uphold pure precepts, generate sincere faith, and vow with utmost devotion to be reborn.
➕ Faith, vows, and practice are the three essential conditions for rebirth in the Pure Land.
3. How to Practice Nianfo
🪷 In our current practice of Nianfo (Buddha name recitation), we should follow the guidance of the Surangama Sutra's Great Strength Bodhisattva: We must be like a child longing for their mother, mindful of the Buddha at all times, never letting the Buddha’s name slip from our hearts.
- If one can utterly stop deceptive thoughts, one thought can lead to immediate realization.
→ If we can truly abandon scattered, false, lazy, and selfish thoughts, then even a single thought of Nianfo can bring awakening. - Nianfo Samadhi is the easiest of all samadhis to attain.
→ With sincere practice, we are not far from this state. - Gather all six senses and let pure mindfulness continue without break; always listen carefully with the ears.
→ During Nianfo, all six senses (eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind) should be collected. Pay close attention to hearing your own voice to stay mindful and undistracted. - This is among the most wondrous methods of Nianfo.
→ Even if one does not immediately enter samadhi, one is not far from it. - Even when awake or asleep, one should always listen attentively to the sound of the Buddha's name.
→ Nianfo Samadhi involves constantly reflecting inward and listening to your voice; always be mindful whether awake or asleep.
• “Sitting long without noticing time passing; reciting long without noticing fatigue”: indicates deep concentration.
• “This comes from mental clarity, not attainment.” One must not become arrogant or self-satisfied.
• “If one clings to this state as attainment, one actually falls back.”
• Master Yin Guang criticized the overly ambitious approach of some modern Buddhists who pursue deep states without solid foundation.
• “Even capable practitioners risk regression if they attempt lofty practices while still ordinary beings.”
🪷 Whether reciting aloud or silently, always use your ears to clearly hear the Buddha’s name.
➕ Hearing stabilizes the mind; it is the most reliable and effective way.
🪷 By often hearing your own recitation, your mind will naturally become unified.
➕ Listening to one’s own voice helps gather scattered thoughts and leads to one-pointed concentration.
🪷 This is the most stable method; it benefits all practitioners regardless of spiritual capacity.
➕ The Nianfo practice is safe, equal for all, and universally beneficial.
🪷 From morning to night, while walking, standing, sitting, or lying down, never stop reciting the Buddha’s name.
➕ True practitioners always recite ceaselessly, merging the Buddha’s name with their hearts.
Whether reciting aloud or silently, one must attentively listen to the sound of one’s own voice. This increases the merit. While walking, standing, sitting, or lying down, one can recite. If lying down, or if one’s clothing is disheveled or hands and mouth are unclean, one should recite silently.
4. Daily Discipline and Ritual
🪷 One should also establish a set routine, bowing a certain number of times every morning before beginning Nianfo.
➕ Establishing a daily ritual helps cultivate discipline and a respectful heart toward the Buddha.
🪷 (First bow three times to Shakyamuni Buddha, then bow a certain number of times to Amitabha Buddha, followed by three bows each to Avalokitesvara, Mahasthamaprapta, and the Ocean of Pure Assembly; then bow three times each to all Buddhas, all Dharma, and all Sangha of the ten directions.)
➕ Paying homage to the Triple Gem and properly relying on the Buddhas brings blessings through sincerity.
🪷 Each day one may recite the Buddha’s name 1,000 times, or more or fewer, followed by another round of bowing. Once in the morning, once in the afternoon, then rest briefly before doing the evening practice.
➕ Segmented Nianfo sessions help with long-term perseverance; regular and measured practice supports stability.
5. Protecting the Mind: Avoiding Delusion
🪷 Even while sleeping, one should maintain a respectful mind, seeking only not to let the mind wander, and ensure every thought aligns with the Buddha’s name.
➕ Reverence during sleep and mindfulness of the Buddha throughout the night are signs of deep Nianfo cultivation.
🪷 If distracting thoughts arise, immediately bring the mind back to exclusive recitation of the Buddha’s name, and the distractions will disappear.
➕ Nianfo is the best method for cutting off delusions; turning the mind back instantly is the key.
🪷 Never indulge in fantasy or delusions, such as hoping for supernatural powers, favorable conditions, fame, or temple construction.
➕ True practice seeks liberation—desires for name and form are the origin of demonic interference.
🪷 If these kinds of thoughts persist, over time one will certainly fall into demonic states.
➕ Demons arise from deluded thoughts—be extremely cautious!
6. Beware of Visions and Demonic States
🪷 Some people say they often experience various spiritual visions. This is most likely because they have not truly gathered their mind and are only performing superficial practices.
🪷 If one truly gathers the mind, then no delusions will arise. With focus on a single phrase of the Buddha’s name, karmic obstacles will be eliminated, blessings and wisdom will grow, and how could one constantly suffer from illusory visions?
🪷 In practice, one must never have an impatient or deluded mind, seeking holy visions or supernatural abilities.
🪷 Only seek for your mind and the Buddha to be in harmony.
🪷 As it is said: “The whole mind is Buddha; the whole Buddha is mind. There is no Buddha apart from mind, and no mind apart from Buddha.”
🪷 If one does not apply the mind in this way, and instead constantly longs to see holy visions, without understanding that truly seeing such visions requires the complete elimination of karmic obstacles and emotional attachments—
🪷 Then not only are most of the things seen just demonic illusions, even if one occasionally encounters a real holy vision, it will bring no true benefit, and may instead cause great harm.
🪷 Because without knowing to continue diligently cultivating, one becomes proud and elated, believing one has attained great achievement. Mistakenly claiming realization without having attained it will certainly result in demonic possession or madness.
🪷 The Surangama Sutra teaches: not thinking one has achieved a holy state is the true good state. If one believes they have attained a holy state, they will be overcome by various demons—this is the classic warning.
Conclusion
This blog post conveys Master Yin Guang's essential guidance on Nianfo. His emphasis on "hearing one’s own voice while reciting", and staying mindful like a child missing its mother, offers the safest, most effective path to Pure Land rebirth.
May all who read this, develop true faith, deep aspiration, and ceaseless practice. Let us all recite together:
Amituofo – Amituofo – Amituofo – ...