Disheng's Experience of Reciting the Buddha's Name (2026-02-03)

Di Sheng: To be precise, this humble practitioner has not yet attained the Buddha-Recitation Samadhi. However, during meditation sessions recently, the Buddha's name has been constantly echoing in my mind, persisting even after I rise from meditation, and I find it difficult to stop even while reading the Master's books. It's the same now; last night, I was "disturbed" by it until 3 AM before falling asleep. Upon waking this morning, without a second thought, I went to recite the Buddha's name. I am thick-skinned. Before Master Ruyuan established the Buddha-Recitation Samadhi group, I frequently troubled him with questions about "mindfully reciting and mindfully listening." At that time, my mind was restless and impatient; reciting for just over ten minutes, my manas (intellectual mind) found it unbearable, and I thought this state of Samadhi seemed utterly unattainable.

The turning point occurred that day when I was troubled by lustful thoughts between men and women. I felt this sensation was suffering itself; I couldn't even calm my mind enough to sit in meditation. Helpless, I swallowed my pride and asked Master Shengru how to counteract it. The Master instructed me to read the Shurangama Sutra. After reading it, I was initially somewhat frightened. A few days later, I resolved to recite the Shurangama Mantra. As I recited it, I began frequently repenting before the image of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. I don't know exactly when it happened, but one day I found myself able to recite the Buddha's name for an entire afternoon. Then, following Master Ruyuan's guidance, I practiced "mindfully reciting and mindfully listening." As I listened, the recitation of the Buddha's name began to "play automatically" in my mind. Confidence grew accordingly. Recently, especially at night, the sound of the Buddha's name in my mind won't stop; it lingers even when I'm not actively listening to it. My clinging mind has also diminished, and in the last few days, the recitation simply doesn't interrupt. When I have no work, this humble practitioner just listens foolishly to the Buddha's name, and the chaotic thoughts in my mind have lessened.

My repentance is done with a sincere heart. I acknowledge the numerous heinous karmic offenses I have committed throughout beginningless kalpas, as well as the various transgressions I have made in this present life. With deep remorse and regret, I sincerely repent before the solemn and sacred image of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. Over time, I found the sacred image becoming increasingly vivid; the Bodhisattva's compassionate gaze seemed to see through everything about me. Sometimes, I even knelt with a trembling heart, reciting the "Ksitigarbha Sutra" to repent for my karmic offenses.

I followed the Master's teachings and then read in his book: "Beginners in Buddhism must recite the Shurangama Mantra. Doing so will garner the blessings of the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Dharma-protecting deities, eliminating karmic obstacles." I will also forward today's content to those elders who pressure me to marry, have children, and wish for me to have many dependents. My "worldly tasks" for this lifetime are to be turned over; I have no interest in them whatsoever. The world is full of suffering, but I prefer to replace the suffering born of worldly greed, hatred, and delusion with the "suffering" of cultivation.

This humble practitioner wanted to watch a sports match via live video stream but was afraid it would interfere with reciting the Buddha's name. So, I decided to test myself: while watching the video, would my manas continue reciting the Buddha's name? The entire match was thrilling, no matter how exciting or suspenseful the moments were, the Buddha's name hung in my mind like a single strand of hair, uninterrupted. Even now, the sound of the Buddha's name continues reciting itself constantly without me needing to deliberately listen; it simply won't stop.

Commentary: To say Di Sheng's progress is rapid would be an understatement; it's astonishingly swift. The reason lies in the intensity of his aspiration for the Path. His repentance was too sincere, its effect too profound, resulting in the elimination of karmic obstacles. After that, the skill in reciting the Buddha's name naturally arose. Repentance done superficially, without a sincere heart, lacks blessing power and yields no effect. Sincere repentance eliminated the karmic obstacles; his mind purified, he then perceived the image of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattua as vivid and lifelike, its gaze compassionate. This phenomenon seen is a transformation of the mind, perceived and manifested by his own mind. It illustrates that all phenomena are created by the mind, that states arise from the mind; when the mind transforms, everything transforms.