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An SMS-email dialogue…
C: I having bad headache from an infection, but I dreamt of of you last night. How are you doing?
S: I’m okay. What happened in the dream?
C: I dreamt you beat me.
S: Huh? I have never got into any fist fight since young… got no history of violence. (See http://moonpointer.com/index.php?itemid=1388)
C: I can’t even chant Amituofo (Amitabha Buddha) 5 times straight. It’s suffering. But I’m okay – at least I can get out of bed.
S: This is the best time to practise! Once I was hospitalised and couldn’t chant even once properly! It was very humbling. We need to practise for at least 10 single-minded chants with the right faith and aspiration on our deathbeds!
C: Indeed, the most significant time to put our cultivation to the test is during times of crises and difficulties. Every time I go through physical pain or mental pain, I will focus on chanting the Buddha’s name, but not every time I can succeed. But at least when I am in pain, I was still able to control my emotions and behaviour and not download my pain and frustration on closed ones around me. I think I can give myself some encouragement. The 4 words Amituofo is the shortest and easiest. If I can chant 10 times, I will feel very happy.
After this chat, I extended a related article on Buddha mindfulness and sent it to some 300 friends in a Pureland mailing list. It is as below:
Related Article:
The Spiritual Obstacles of Suffering & Complacency
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Amituofo/message/197
