The differences in reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha Once a day and Ten thousand times a day

Question: May I ask what are the differences in reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha one time a day and ten thousand times a day?

**問：請問每天念一聲佛與念一萬聲佛的區別是什麼？**

Answer: Is not the recitation of Namo Amitabha Budha once a day and ten thousand times a day lies in the difference of ‘one’ and ‘ten thousand’? Of course, your question is not that shallow. You wish to know more. I will tell you these ten differences:

Firstly, it lies in the difference in quantity whether a lot or a little. One is reciting a lot while the other is very little. One recites one time a day while the other recites ten thousand times a day. This is the difference in presentation superficially.

Secondly, reciting a lot or a little brings out the differences whether there is the continuity or no continuity in Amitabha recitation. For those who recite ten thousand times a day, this is known as reciting continually. He has to accomplish the ten thousand times from morning till night. The one who recites one time completes his recitation and he will go ahead to do whatever he wants, playing mahjong, smoking, drinking, watching movies, travelling here and there, wasting the whole day away. There is simply no continuity. This is the second point.

Thirdly, a continual recitation or non-continual recitation determines the difference whether you will stay safe or not safe.

If you recite ten thousand times a day, your mind is calm at ease. This is for sure as you can feel the protection of the Buddha. If you recite one time a day, and go ahead to play in the five desires, the six dusts. Of course, it is great that you can recite once a day. But in one day we have 24 hours, more than eighty thousand seconds and you only spend one second to recite Namo Amitabha Buddha. the other seconds you are playing around in the five desires and six dusts. You have no way to experience the calmness and stability in life. This is the third point.

Fourthly, whether there is a good change in life or no change in life.

By reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha ten thousand times a day, you mind is calm at ease, happy. There is a good change in life as the karmic hindrances ae eradicated. When the karmic obstacles are cleared, blessings follow you.

All the disasters and calamities are transformed into auspiciousness. You look radiant and you are full of confident. Reciting once a day and spend your remainder times in the five desires and six dusts, it is impossible to have a great change in life. Outwardly, you are basically nearly the same as the man who does not practise Amitabha recitation.

Fifthly, the difference in the ability or inability to transform others.

By reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha ten thousand times a day, there is a good change in life. ‘Oh! So and so is reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha. He looks good these days!’ Without opening your mouth, you can influence others towards goodness, wholesomeness. Besides he is always reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha in his mind. He looks kind and compassionate. He looks soft and gentle. He advances on the path greatly. A man who recites one time a day will receive this comment, ‘Oh dear, you are Amitabha reciter. How come you behave like this? Oh dear, what is the point?” How can you have good influence over others? This is the fifth point.

Sixthly, because of this point, it has an influence on you whether you have good faith or without good faith in the Buddha.

Reciting ten thousand times a day, you are replete with good faith. As you recite Namo Amitabha Buddha continually, the Buddha bestows upon you the blessings and there is a good change in your life. You are advancing as you are getting nearer to the Buddha, closer to the Buddha. When you recite one time a day for a while and you lose your faith. ‘Is it useful to recite Namo Amitabha Buddha? In the beginning, I have heard that we are confirmed of a rebirth by reciting one time. Now, after reciting for so long, I do not feel there is any change. I am afraid this cannot be true.’ He doubts the Buddha and he stays further and further away from the Buddha.

Seventhly, in the sixth point, whether you have or have no faith will affect the seventh point, that is whether you recite for a long term or short term.

In Amitabha recitation, the recitation of ten thousand times a day brings us nearer to the Buddha. Today, we recite and tomorrow, we recite. We often recite continually. This year we recite and next year we continue to recite. We might recite more and more. People who recite one time a day are lacking in faith. His life does not change much. Today he recites and tomorrow he does not recite. After sometime, he will stop reciting. He has given up. He abandons Amitabha recitation. So, the recitation of one time a day and ten thousand times a day has such great differences.

Eighthly, at the death bed, we encounter good affinity or with no good affinity. This means that whether we can encounter or not encounter a good Knowing Adviser.

A man who recites ten thousand times a day will naturally has many good friends who come forth to help him. As he recites Namo Amitabha Buddha continually, he has created the Buddha affinity in the long run. At his death bed, he is calm at ease. Besides, the good friend will come to help him. A man who recites once a day may give up finally. Of course, he does not have the circles of good friends. At his death bed, he is all alone. It is very difficult to encounter a Good Knowing Adviser to lead him, to guide him with instructions, to conduct the aided Amitabha recitation.

Ninthly, the eighth point will lead him to the ninthly point that whether he can attain a rebirth or not attain a rebirth.

A man who recites ten thousand times a day has the confirmed faith while he is still living. His karma to accomplish a rebirth is already accomplished. At his death bed, his good friends come to join the aided recitation. Everyone is so happy. A man recites one time a day does not pay much attention to his recitation. He has lost his Amitabha recitation while he is still living. At his death, he does not have good friends who come to help in the aided recitation. He is all confused and he falls into transmigration. In the beginning, he has heard about one recitation is confirmed of a rebirth. Unfortunately, he does not attain a rebirth. This is very pitiful.

Tenthly, the difference whether he can or cannot accomplish Buddhahood.

A man who recites ten thousand times a day is confirmed of a rebirth, to accomplish Buddhahood. The man who recites once a day forgets to recite Namo Amitabha Buddha. No good friends come to help him in the aided recitation at his death bed. Ultimately, he falls into transmigration. See, the differences are so great! These are the differences, great differences.

Of course, there are also those who increase their recitation from one time to ten thousand times a day. Those who recite ten thousand times will surely not retreat until one time a day. We should try our best. We should not listen to ‘by reciting once, our attainment of a rebirth is confirmed’ and decide to recite once a day. Actually, this kind of practice is going against competence of the Buddha’s Name.

This is because the Buddha’s Name travels to the end of the empty space, pervades the Dharma Realm. In one recitation the Name is replete with the merits and virtues to attain a rebirth, to accomplish Buddhahood. So, if you can feel the virtuous ability of the Name, you will naturally recite Namo Amitabha continually. The merits and virtues of the Name is so great. It is replete with immeasurable lights and immeasurable lifespan. These merits of immeasurable lifespan will function on our body, reveal on us. That is why we need to recite Namo Amitabha Buddha continually. Then the lifespan of the Buddha will be activated on our body. How can you be reciting only once a day? This is impossible.

‘Presently, I have not reached this level. So, naturally I recite once a day.’ This is the mindset for a beginner. If this is the case, you need to force yourself in the practice. You need to set a number of recitation and cultivate the good habit. By doing so, it helps us to develop the good habit of Amitabha recitation.

After listening to ‘the confirmed rebirth in one recitation’ I hope everyone will recite Namo Amitabha Buddha exclusively the whole life. Even though we try our best to recite more every day, a hundred times a thousand times or ten thousand times. But we do not feel this recitation is unconfirmed in attaining a rebirth.

Respectfully extracted from the official network of Pure Land Sect (Q and A on Amitabha recitation by Dharma Master Shi Jing Zong)