Buddha Recitation and the Four Practices

Sentient beings usually differ in preferences and innate capacities. Therefore, although they may engage in the common practice of Buddha Recitation, they are bound to differ somewhat in their practice. For this reason, ancient masters have summarized four types of practice: Ch'an-Pure Land; Sutra Recitation-Pure Land; Esotericism-Pure Land; Exclusive Pure Land Practice.

The first category of cultivators comprises those who engage primarily in Buddha Recitation but practice Ch’an as well. They are said to practice Ch’an-Pure Land also called dual practice of Ch’an and Pure Land. Here, rebirth in the Pure Land is the principal goal, while seeing the True Nature and becoming enlightened to the Way is a secondary matter which depends on the individual practitioner's good roots and conditions.

The second category comprises those whose main practice is Buddha Recitation with Sutra Recitation as an ancillary practice. They are said to practice Sutra Recitation-Pure Land. As for the sutras chanted, some prefer the Diamond Sutra or the Amitabha Sutra, while others prefer the Avatamsaka Sutra or Lotus Sutra, or else individual chapters, such as the "Avalokitesvara Chapter" (Lotus Sutra, ch. 25) or the Chapter on "Samantabhadra's Practices and Vows" (Avatamsaka Sutra, ch. 40).

The third category is composed of those who engage in Buddha Recitation as their primary practice and Mantra Recital as an ancillary one. They follow the practice of Esotericism-Pure Land. The mantras vary with the practitioner and include such dharani as the Great Compassion Mantra, the Thousand-Armed Avalokitesvara Dharani, the Rebirth Dharani, etc.

The fourth category of cultivators comprises those who practice Buddha Recitation diligently and exclusively without cultivating other methods. Within this group, those of high capacities practice the Sixteen Meditations as taught in the Meditation Sutra, while the great majority only practice oral recitation of the Buddha's name.

The Pure Land Patriarch Shan Tao and Ch’an Master Yung Ming are traditionally believed to be transformation bodies of Amitabha Buddha. However, Master Shan Tao taught diligent Buddha Recitation alone; Ch’an Master Yung Ming, on the other hand, in addition to reciting the Buddha's name one hundred thousand times each day also engaged in other practices, totaling 108 in all.* The Patriarch Yin Kuang once commented in this regard:

They both teach rebirth in the Pure Land, but the method followed by Master Shan Tao is designed to help those of limited or moderate capacities and belongs to the exclusive Pure Land practice. Master Yung Ming's method, on the other hand, aims specifically to encourage those of the highest capacity, and belongs to the perfect practice.

People in the Dharma-Ending Age are generally of limited or moderate capacities. For this reason, among the four methods discussed above, they should, perhaps, choose Exclusive Pure Land practice, in order to ensure rebirth in the Land of Ultimate Bliss. However, each person is different in preferences and innate capacity and cannot be coerced. Therefore, while he may practice several methods concurrently, the Pure Land practitioner must be attentive and clear in his mind as to the two aspects of Practice: principal and subsidiary. The emphasis should always be on the principal aspect, i.e., Buddha Recitation. Only in this way will he follow the path of cultivation without obstacles and without missing the goal of rebirth in the Pure Land.

*100,000 recitations: this number is often cited in commentaries as an ideal for the very serious Pure Land cultivator. 108 recitations: another commonly cited figure, equivalent to the number of beads in a long rosary.

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Buddhism of Wisdom & Faith: Pure Land Principles and Practice
Dharma Master Thich Thien Tam Translated and edited by the Van Hien Study Group Sutra Translation Committee of the United States and Canada