The Method and Process of Ven. Shi Ruyuan's Cultivation of Recollection of the Buddha (buddhānusmṛti) Meditative Concentration (samādhi)

Before, I didn't understand what cultivating meditative concentration (samādhi) meant, nor did I understand what recollection of the Buddha (buddhānusmṛti) meant. I just imitated others and recited, and as I recited, I felt very tired. So I began to recite in a low voice, but reciting in a low voice also felt very tiring and I couldn't keep it up—perhaps I had gained a bit of meditative power by then. At that time I knew nothing at all, let alone cultivating the samādhi of Buddha-recollection; I didn't even know what meditative concentration was for. I had only heard that reciting the Buddha's name was a good thing.

From the time I began studying Buddhism, I recited the Diamond Sutra and the Amitābha Sutra once each in the morning and evening, bowed to the Buddha, and spent the rest of my time reciting the Buddha's name. As I recited, I felt very tired, so I switched to reciting in a low voice and reciting silently, but as I recited I still felt tired. I felt weak all over and didn't want to move, and I just sat drowsily and foolishly, unable to keep reciting. At that time I didn't know this was inert emptiness-like blank concentration.

Then in 2019, without my knowing any of these things, I happened to meet Master Shengru, who came to our hermitage to administer the Bodhisattva Precepts to us and taught us how to bow to the Buddha and the method of breathing while reciting the Buddha's name to attain samādhi. I forget whether it was for one year or two. Then once, quite unintentionally, I heard the sound of the Buddha's name in my mind. Because I didn't understand what was going on, I puzzledly poked at my ears with my fingers, and then I asked the Master for guidance. He instructed me that it was the samādhi of Buddha-recollection (buddhānusmṛti-samādhi). After that, I requested the Master's teachings on the Dharma and have studied with him up to now.

At the very beginning, one should recite aloud; once familiar with reciting, recite in a low voice; when more familiar, recite silently; and when recitation has become very familiar, recite in the mind and listen with the mind. Later, when the recitation became very proficient, it seemed I had gained a bit of meditative power. Then I would recite for a while, stop, and listen to see whether there was the sound of Buddha-recollection in my mind. If there wasn't, my meditative power was still not deep. I would continue reciting and continue listening, reciting until the mind listened and the mind recited, and then I attained a samādhi that was neither deep nor shallow. Later on, I no longer needed to recite with the mouth—I could hear the sound of the Buddha's name in my mind, and I couldn't stop it even if I didn't want to listen. In this way I realized the profound samādhi of Buddha-recollection. Within this profound samādhi, it was not only the sound of the Buddha's name in my own mind—when I heard the sound of the wind, the sound of cars, the cries of birds, all of them sounded like the Buddha's name. Moreover, without thinking or looking, the Dharma teachings would automatically arise in my mind—this is the accomplishment of the merit of cultivating samādhi through Buddha-recollection. Fellow practitioners and good friends who wish to attain the samādhi of Buddha-recollection: if you cultivate according to this method, you can all attain it.