Hi! I am a Chinese Buddhist.

Hi everyone! Let me briefly introduce myself.

My name is Icy(nickname). I am from China. And I am a Buddhist.

I join the forum because I would like to share with you my knowledge and experience in Buddhism and meditation. We have a meditation forum in Chinese, and many experienced Buddhists volunteer to answer questions to beginners everyday. I am one of the volunteers. People there are so helpful to one another, and I somehow feel that maybe I can go to some other places, where there are fewer volunteers who help people to meditate. So I am here.

I have been meditating for almost three years. I practice Pure Land Buddhism and follow the same spirit when meditating. It has been working pretty well. I can share more of my backgrounds and experience with you if necessary. As for now, I just wanted to let you know that I will come here as often as possible to answer your questions about Buddhism and meditation.

I am not a guru, but am only trying to help as much as I can. So if you encounter any question in your practice, maybe you can let me know and I'll try to answer.

Best wishes,
Icy

Hi, Icy. I've heard of Pure Land Buddhism. Would you mind giving us a sort of overview or general idea of what Pure Land is all about?

Originally Posted by Mayflow

Hi, Icy. I've heard of Pure Land Buddhism. Would you mind giving us a sort of overview or general idea of what Pure Land is all about?

Dear Mayflow,

It's hard to introduce the spirit of Pure Land Buddhism in a few sentences. It envolves far too many things. But the general idea is that we chant the Buddha's name continuously, and wisdom comes naturally. In the mean time, we are blessed and led to adjust ourselves to become a better person. I am sure you have heard of how Buddhists refrain from killing, drinking, wasting, etc and devote to give. When it comes to the end of our human life, Buddha leads us to the Pure Land, where we will continue to learn, and become completely enlightened. I know it sounds mysterious, especially with my limited English...

Kind regards,
Icy

[God-Like]

Originally Posted by icy_su

But the general idea is that we chant the Buddha's name continuously, and wisdom comes naturally.

Hi Icy .

Is it the Buddhas name that holds relevance or is it in the repetition .

If one chants red lorry yellow lorry enough times does that hold a similar weight .

x dazzle x

Originally Posted by God-Like

Hi Icy .

Is it the Buddhas name that holds relevance or is it in the repetition .

If one chants red lorry yellow lorry enough times does that hold a similar weight .

x dazzle x

I would suggest that it may carry an aspect of meditation concentration, but not in quite the same way. As I understand Pure Land Buddhism, the idea (much the same as much of Tibetan Tantric Buddhism) it has a psychological basis in concentrating on Buddha like internal qualities - in your case, it may be God-like qualities. Much of Hinduism does the same by repeating devotions to certain God-like qualities that emerge from within us. So, yes I would say it is a bit different from chanting red lorry yellow lorry.

Incidentally sometimes female Dakinies are imagined as well. In China, Quan-Yin is Legendary. She is a female version of the Goddess (or Buddha) of compassion. In our world of today, many consider the current Dalai Lama of Tibet as being a contemporary incarnated male version.

Originally Posted by Mayflow

I would suggest that it may carry an aspect of meditation concentration, but not in quite the same way. As I understand Pure Land Buddhism, the idea (much the same as much of Tibetan Tantric Buddhism) it has a psychological basis in concentrating on Buddha like internal qualities - in your case, it may be God-like qualities. Much of Hinduism does the same by repeating devotions to certain God-like qualities that emerge from within us. So, yes I would say it is a bit different from chanting red lorry yellow lorry.

Incidentally sometimes female Dakinies are imagined as well. In China, Quan-Yin is Legendary. She is a female version of the Goddess (or Buddha) of compassion. In our world of today, many consider the current Dalai Lama of Tibet as being a contemporary incarnated male version.

Dear Mayflow,

I am so much humbled by your English, and your knowledge. Your understanding of Pure Land Buddhism is correct. Although it actually envolves even more...

And I am so happy you know Quan-Yin. I am actually chanting her name as major part of my Pure Land Buddhism practice.

Cheers,
Icy

[God-Like]

Originally Posted by Mayflow

I would suggest that it may carry an aspect of meditation concentration, but not in quite the same way. As I understand Pure Land Buddhism, the idea (much the same as much of Tibetan Tantric Buddhism) it has a psychological basis in concentrating on Buddha like internal qualities - in your case, it may be God-like qualities. Much of Hinduism does the same by repeating devotions to certain God-like qualities that emerge from within us. So, yes I would say it is a bit different from chanting red lorry yellow lorry.

Incidentally sometimes female Dakinies are imagined as well. In China, Quan-Yin is Legendary. She is a female version of the Goddess (or Buddha) of compassion. In our world of today, many consider the current Dalai Lama of Tibet as being a contemporary incarnated male version.

Hi Mayflow .

Thanks for your thoughts .

For myself through my 20 years of daily meditation I have never chanted . What I understand however is that to begin with one needs to gently quieten the mind . For me I was training the mind muscles just like one would work out at the gym .

I began concentrating on my chakras and drew my mind to a point within them, each in turn up and down I would go in my mind for many years until I need not concentrate on them no more to attain a particular state . At times I would just mindfully acknowledge them out of respect .

Some use breathing techniques, my mum focused on yeast powder and yogurt, thats all she ate for many years during her intense period of enlightenment .

So In some respect it matters not what one concentrates on .. tis likened to trying to get an unruly dog to sit . One needs to lure the untamed mind by means of a dog biscuit, whilst the dogs mind is on the biscuit you can get the dog to sit .

x daz x

Originally Posted by Mayflow

Hi, Icy. I've heard of Pure Land Buddhism. Would you mind giving us a sort of overview or general idea of what Pure Land is all about?

By the way, your signature sentence is a very right understanding of Buddhism. Cheers!

As with Christianity, Buddhism has many branches. Yet the difference is that among different branches of Buddhism, Buddhists do recognize the merits of one another. Like Pure Land Buddhists know and respect the merits of Zen Buddhism. We all know that the branches exist because Buddha teaches us different methodologies to fit our different situations. And for anyone who is truly determined to practice Buddhism, it's no good to wander in different branches and places. You got to find the methodology that fit you best, and practice it relentlessly.

A very important advice on meditation is that you need to try hard till you can comfortably meditate on FULL LOTUS POSITION, if you have not acheived so.