Today in “The Buddha Speaks of Amitabha Sutra”, we will talk about Suddhipanthaka.

Suddhipanthaka was one of two brothers, and both of them took refuge in Shakyamuni Buddha. One of the brothers was very slow witted. The Buddha taught him a Gatha verse to recite, but he could not remember it.

In the end, the Buddha had no choice but to teach him the six syllable Buddha name, which is “Namo Amitabha Buddha”.

[Note: it is called the six syllable Buddha in Chinese because that Sanskrit translates into Chinese as “Namo Amitofo”; in Sanskrit “Namo Amitabha Buddha” is eight syllables].

But when he managed to remember “Namo,” he would forget “Amitabha Buddha.” And when he remembered “Amitabha Buddha,” he would forget “Namo.”

In the whole monastery, there were about five hundred monks, and all of them laughed at him. His older brother even said to him, “You might as well return to lay life. What is the point of cultivating?”

He began to cry and walked toward the gate, where he happened to meet Shakyamuni Buddha. The Buddha asked him what was wrong. He replied, “I am too dull. My memory is poor. I cannot even recite the six syllable Buddha name properly.”

Shakyamuni Buddha then asked him, “Do you know how to breathe?”

He said, “Of course.” 

A living person must breathe. How could he not?

The Buddha said, “Good. If you can breathe, that is enough. You can still attain the Path.”

The Buddha continued, “When the breath goes out, that is exhaling. When it comes in, that is inhaling. One out breath and one in breath count as one. Go back and sit in meditation. Pay attention. Breathe out and in, that is one. Then out and in again, that is two.”

The Buddha asked him, “Can you do that?”

He replied, “Yes, that is easy.” He could count from one to one hundred without any problem.

So he went back and practiced exactly as the Buddha instructed. He breathed in and out and counted one. Then in and out again and counted two.

This venerable one only learned this method. He did not know any other practices. He just practiced this, and even felt that there was something meaningful within it.

Don’t think it seems simple, actually there is a hidden meaning inside. It is because sometimes, we don’t pay attention to the air we breathe. Actually our breathing is too coarse, too hurried or the sound is too loud! 

Do you know why I often sleep alone at night? 

It’s because I’m afraid of woken up by others. Actually, it’s not them waking me, it’s me waking them! So I am afraid of disturbing others and simply choose to sleep alone.

Some overweight people breathe so loudly it could knock down a wall, like a symphony orchestra. Not only rumbling with thunder, it also rains together with blowing wind. 

Even if you record it as evidence, you wouldn’t believe it. Therefore breathing is truly difficult, really good breathing should be extremely fine, also slow and long. It can’t be like this, like the time to breathe is too hurried, the shorter the breathing, the closer you are to death. 

Coarse breathing indicates illness. 

Too rapid and short breathing means certain parts of the body already have problems.  

This Venerable only studied breathing, and eventually, he was able to breathe very finely, long, and slow. 

Gradually, he couldn’t even feel the sound of his breath anymore. 

Then, his body and mind felt extremely peaceful and happy, becoming a state of emptiness. He suddenly felt that he was no longer breathing. His whole body gently floated up easily.

In this type of unobstructed state, it is the state of meditating and entering samadhi. After attaining this type of meditative bliss, one then enters the unobstructed realm. 

This Venerable Suddhipanthaka, in an instant achieved the state of Arhat. This Venerable was known to be “Foremost in Continuous State of Mindfulness.”

“Mindfulness” means constantly observing your own breathing.

“Uphold” means constant, continuous, and ongoing practice.

As people who study Buddhism, we should not give up just because we are dull or lack intelligence, and we should not become self critical or discouraged. As long as we can hold onto one practice steadily, continuously maintain mindfulness, and keep practicing it, we will be able to achieve accomplishment.

Om Mani Padme Hum.