How Does the Sound of Buddha-Recitation Arise Spontaneously in the Mind? Who is Reciting the Buddha?

The involuntary utterance of the Buddha's name arises from the manas; it is the manas reciting the Buddha's name. Initially, consciousness is unaware of it. Once awareness arises, one cannot control it and cannot help but follow along with the sound of the Buddha's name. Conscious awareness is the perception of consciousness itself, while involuntary awareness is not the perception of consciousness but rather the perception and action of the manas. This state of Buddha-recitation samadhi is a meditative state, which is relatively stable. By relying on this samadhi state, one can then contemplate the four foundations of mindfulness with a pure mind, making contemplation easier.

When the sound of Buddha recitation arises involuntarily, continuously lingering in the heart and mind, this is Buddha-recitation samadhi. All kinds of samadhi arise from the manas. Why is the manas able to initiate samadhi? If one's recitation practice is not yet perfected, Buddha-recitation samadhi will not arise; if one's contemplative practice is insufficient, the state of samadhi will not manifest. So-called "perfected practice" refers to the successful permeation of the manas through long-term adherence to a specific practice. Once the manas is permeated and perfected, it will automatically and consciously recite the Buddha's name and engage in contemplation, giving rise to various kinds of samadhi. The emergence of various samadhi is not determined by consciousness, nor is it controlled by consciousness. Consciousness can only passively accept and passively integrate into the state of samadhi, experiencing the samadhi and the sensations of body and mind.