Meaning of NAMO AMITUOFO chant:
Introduction
Amitabha is a celestial buddha described in the ancient scriptures of the Mahayana school of Buddhism.
The Sanskrit word ”Amitabha” literally translates as ”boundless life” or ”boundless light.”
The two words “Amita Buddha” are inconceivable, and within the Buddhadharma, He is a “great Dharma King.”
He is also the Buddha in the Land of Ultimate Bliss (Pure Land), in which all beings enjoy unbounded happiness.
According to the Mahayana Sutra of Immeasurable Life, Amitabha Buddha was, in very ancient times and perhaps in another system of worlds, a monk named Dharmakara.
In some versions of the Mahayana sutra, Dharmakara is described as a former king who, having come into contact with the Buddhist sacred teachings through the Lokesvararaja Buddha (the 53rd Buddha in the history of existence), renounced his throne.
Amitabha Buddha’s unsurpassable forty-eight vows were generated slowly during Dharmakara’s hundred billion years of study and five eons of cultivation.
He perfected all he learned from his cultivation and study of the Buddhaland in the ten directions to create the ideal land without any negative elements.
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Buddha Amitabha Mantra – Meaning
The word “Namo” is a transliteration from Sanskrit, an ancient Indian language. It signifies ”to take refuge.”
This does not mean that we take refuge with the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha) but rather that we return and rely on the Three Jewels.
The word “Amituofo” is also a transliteration from Sanskrit, translating as ”infinite wisdom” or ”infinite life.” Therefore, this chant translates as ”to turn around and rely upon the infinite awakening.”
In Japanese, it means “Namu Amida Butsu”. In Chinese, this mantra is “Namo Amituofo” or “Namo Omito-Fo.”
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Moreover, ”Amituofo” is most usually heard as a salutation among Shaolin monks.
In greeting and taking leave, individuals join their palms in front of the chest and, with a slight bow toward one another, say ”Amituofo.”
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Chanting Namo Amitabha (Namo Amituofo) mantra benefits:
”One who would mindfully chant Amituofo will be reborn in the Western Pure Land. When a being is truly awakened, one will mindfully chant “Amituofo”; one will not be interested in any kind of pleasure or glory of this world. This individual is only interested in according to conditions and honestly chanting Amituofo. Only a truly awakened person can do this.” – Ven. Master Chin Kung
The purpose of saying this mantra while visualizing Amitabha Buddha is to help clear away the deluded energy of attachment and passion from our minds.
If this is accomplished, we can live with more kindness, happiness, joy, and unconditional love for ourselves as well as all sentient beings.
Moreover, chanting the mantra will calm the mind because if you are doing it rightly, you will be very focused on the reciting itself, and finally, there will be no space for negative emotions.
”From pettiness to nothing, from pride to humble, from ignorance to wisdom.” – Amitabha Buddha
Image source – https://pixabay.com/photos/chungnam-bronze-amitabha-buddha-2282612/
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Irina is a co-founder and author at AwakeningState.com, an online magazine launched in 2016 that aims to expand consciousness every day. Offering eye-opening articles on a range of topics, Irina strives to provide unique insights into personal growth, covering areas such as spiritual awakening, health, lifestyle, nature, and science.