In these few scripture passages it is stated, the Buddhas of the Eastern Pure Land would protect this sutra, there is also Southern Pure Land, Western Pure Land, the Buddhas of all Lands are all protecting this sutra, so it is called “a sutra they protect and bear in mind.” 

The meaning of this is, Shakyamuni Buddha is not the only one talking about this sutra this way, but all Buddhas of the ten directions above and below also praise this sutra and protect those who recite the Buddha’s name and this sutra.

Let me explain a few words here. 

Someone asked here, “What is meant by broad and long tongued appearance?” 

This broad and long tongue is quite strange. It is one of the thirty-two characteristics of the Buddha. It means that the tongue is broad. Like now our human tongue is of course not broad. When his mouth is open, the tongue is very broad, very wide and very long. But it is not very thick, and is very thin. 

In the past our teacher told us, when the Buddha extends his tongue, he can cover his own face with it.  

I said to my teacher, “Wouldn’t it be better to use it as a blanket?” 

A person’s tongue, extended like that, could be used as a blanket, providing warmth. 

When my teacher explained this long, broad tongue to me, I often thought of two wonderful uses. I remember when I was young, or studying in school, I was very timid. 

[Note: Grandmaster’s live translator translated “timid” as “chicken”] 

Chicken sounds awful! But in the Chinese zodiac, I happen to be born in the year of the rooster. 

In the past, if I said or did something wrong, or was with a girl, my face would turn very red. If my tongue could be extended like that, it could conveniently cover my face, that would be very useful!

The second thing is that when I was a child, I often cooked my own meals and boiled water for bathing. Back then, the stove was a charcoal stove. 

First, you’d put in some paper, then shave some thin pieces of wood, and then add coal. The first thing you’d put in was the black coal that was more fine, then you’d put coal briquettes on top to start a fire. After the fire is lit, rice is always cooked first, only the final remaining fire is used to boil water. 

Every time we bathed, each of us would scoop a bucket of hot water, add some cold water, and that was it. I’ve always thought, back then we used bamboo fans to fan, but if we had this “broad and long tongued appearance” it would be great. We wouldn’t need a fan, just extend the tongue out, move it and the fire would start! 

I used to be very good at starting fires, but as a child I was very lazy. When winter comes, I would tell my mother “Let’s not start a fire to boil water today.” 

My mother would ask us “Are you not showering today then?” 

We would say, “The weather is cold, let’s just wash our feet.” 

Wash our feet before going to bed, the bed won’t be dirty then.