i seldom have an image/statue when reciting. as i practice ten
recitation method, which allow me to recite anywhere/anytime. only
when i bow to Amitabha Image/statue, i recite ten times with the
image/statue. ten recitation method in a breath, also
don't allow me to think much if there's an image, or not, as
it's quite short a time.
Da Shi Zhi Bodhisattva taught to block all six
sense organs when reciting. 《大势至菩萨圆通章》说,都摄六根,净念相继。so it mean we
even have to close our eyes and our mind when reciting. i
learn this from Ven Jing Jie, who also advocated we
purelanders use emptiness.
during reciting, it should be without any wandering thoughts,
even the thought of hoping that Amituofo is coming to fetch us also
cannot have. ear can listen clearing what the mouth recite. when
the hearing is occupied, the mind will also be occupied. hence
there's no wandering thoughts.
if reciting with the mind, i.e. silience recitation,
then ten recitation method is very good, as it's fast within a
breath. it's difficult for any wandering thoughts to squeeze into
the ten recitation.
to those who have let go of this worldly suffering, and really
want to go, i think they also recite without any worldly thoughts,
only the continuous thought of Amituofo.
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