廬山蓮宗寶鑑 2.37

2.37

Repentance Master Ciyun Zunshi said: 'Laypeople are busy with worldly affairs. Every day in early morning, having dressed, face west, join the palms, and recite "Namo Amitābha Buddha," taking one full breath as one recitation. In this way do ten recitations, simply following the length of the breath, taking the exhaustion of breath as the measure; let the sound of buddhānusmṛti be neither high nor low, harmonized in moderation. With these ten recitations continuous and unbroken, the purpose is to keep the mind unscattered and take focused dedication as the practice; it clearly relies on the breath to restrain the mind.' Dedicate [merit] saying: 'I, [Name], single-mindedly take refuge in Western Amitābha Buddha, praying that you gather me with pure light. I now recite the Tathāgata's name for the span of ten recitations, seeking birth in the West. The Buddha previously made a fundamental vow: "If there are sentient beings who wish to be born in my land and recite my name ten times, if they should not be born in my land, I vow not to become a Buddha." Now through the merit of these ten recitations, I pray that at the end of life my mind will not be disordered, that in a single thought-moment I will be born in the Realm of Sukhāvatī, and hearing the Buddha's wondrous Dharma, swiftly realize bodhi.' This can truly be called: 'If faith does not regress, / One is certain to worship the Golden Immortal.'