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Reciting the Buddha’s Name and Sitting Meditation
In the Principal Book, the relationship between recitation of the Buddha’s name and sitting meditation is explained as follows: ?
“Since recitation of the Buddha’s name and sitting meditation are two aspects of the single subject of spiritual cultivation, if a practitioner’s mind-disturbing thoughts are excessive, the distracted spirit is first to be counteracted by recitation of the Buddha’s name and the practitioner is subsequently to be led into that genuine realm of stillness and non-duality through sitting meditation. Furthermore, as far as the time of day is concerned, recitation of the Buddha’s name is more appropriate during the daytime or when one is faced with various kinds of external sensory conditions; sitting meditation is more appropriate in the evening and in early morning when one is far from external sensory conditions.” To further explain, the characteristic of chanting is that practitioners are led to single-mindedness through the one sound of the recitation, while sitting meditation leads you to the single-mindedness through resting in Danjeon.
On many occasions, we experience a single-mindedness naturally attained through the effect of external sensory conditions. Taking exams, facing clear danger, and having fun are some examples of various instances in our daily life where single-mindedness is realized. In each of these occasions, your mind is stimulated by the external sensory condition and becomes highly charged, thus naturally attaining single-mindedness.
The case similarly applies to recitation of the Buddha’s name. Through the one sound of the recitation and its effect, single-mindedness is easily attainable. Therefore, there is no doubt that chanting is more effective than sitting meditation when your mind is invaded by excessively distracting thoughts or when you are faced with external sensory conditions.
Sitting meditation must be practiced with your mind severed from all sensory conditions and from all worldly things. Resting in the Danjeon does not mean that Danjeon is sending stimuli to the mind so that it can be charged highly. What comes first is mind. The mind is the main force which drives consciousness and energy. Success of meditation depends on our mind, not on the environment. It is a matter of autonomy and subjectivity.
Hence, while reciting the Buddha’s name serves as an effective method in eliminating mind-disturbing thoughts, it is not as effective as sitting meditation with respect to leading the spirit into the genuine realm of stillness. Sitting meditation serves as an efficient method in leading the spirit into that genuine realm of stillness. However, it is not as good as chanting when it comes to counteracting external sensory conditions and mind-disturbing thoughts. Therefore, if a practitioner keeps control over the outer layers by reciting the Buddha’s name and regulates the inner elements through sitting meditation, one will draw closer to the genuine realm of stillness.
This principle is clear. However, many practitioners think that reciting the Buddha’s name befits only the low-level practitioners, and consider themselves to be high-level practitioners, holding fast solely to sitting meditation and ignoring this principle. Such practice will many times result in failing to get rid of distracting thoughts and sensory conditions, consequently hindering sitting meditation. On the other hand, there are those who cling solely to reciting the Buddha’s name and underrate the importance of sitting meditation because, to them, chanting is a better technique in attaining single-mindedness. If you practice in this way, you may have trouble in approaching the genuine realm of consummate stillness; you may be unable to keep control over the center of your mind.
Therefore, you must acquaint yourself thoroughly with the technique of leading yourself into the genuine realm of consummate stillness, conquering the myriad of obstacles through chanting, and freeing yourself from the obstructive force of all disturbing thoughts through sitting meditation. As prescribed in the Principal Book, you must familiarize yourself with the habit of reciting “Nammu Amit’abul”, the homage to Amitabha
Buddha, the Buddha of Limitless Light and Life, when your mind grows restless from inward agitation, such as “when you are faced with vexations”, “when greed arises”, “when you are drawn by favorable circumstances”, or “when you are repelled by adverse circumstances”, in order to reflect on the original nature of your mind. By so doing, you will experience the gratification of conquering the myriad of obstacles through the one sound of the recitation of the Buddha’s name.
It is said that the Ven. Sotaesan had always commented that “reciting the Buddha’s name is like working a course wood plane and sitting meditation is like working a fine wood plane.”
