Recurring nightmares dispelled by Namo-Amituofo-recitation

By Dharma Master Jing Ben

There was a young lady called Ms. Hu. She was only 26 years old, but she often had nightmares of being caught by ghosts. If one has nightmare once in a while, or having nightmare after watching a horror movie, we can say that it is a coincidence. But in the case of Ms. Hu, she had been having nightmares for years. She kept dreaming of ghosts without ending. It is a very strange phenomenon since it normally will not happen to ordinary people.

There was also a fortune teller once told her that she might not live long. From her appearance at that time, she always looked very weak and tired all the time, even though she was only 26 years old. So, what the fortune teller predicted might be right.

In 2001, she had a nightmare as usual. However, this nightmare was very real compared to the past ones.

Ms. Hu said, in the dream, she was taken away by many ghosts.  Halfway through, she wanted to run away. But, there was no way she could do so because she was facing a big mountain ahead and the mountain was full of big knives. When she tried to run to the side, there was a forest but the trees in this forest were full of small blades. She could not run in as once she entered the forest the leaves fell like blades and were cutting her body. At the same time, there were ghosts coming from behind to capture her again. With knives from the mountain ahead, blades from the forest trees at the side and some ghosts behind her, there was no way out for her.

At this critical moment, she suddenly remembered the elders in her family once taught her to recite “Namo Amituofo”. But at that time, she was reluctant to heed the advice.  Now that she is facing the danger, instead of shouting for “help”, she shouted “Namo Amituofo”.

Unexpectedly, right after the single recitation, Ms. Hu heard a voice in the sky, the ground also began to shake. At that moment, a light emitted straight away into the hell. Ms. Hu saw there were two big lotus flowers within the light. Furthermore, there were two great Bodhisattvas on the lotus flowers.

She said one of the Bodhisattvas had a white appearance, and the Bodhisattva was holding a small vase which contained willow branch. It must be Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara then. In Chinese, we always called him Guan-Shi-Yin-Pu-Sha. Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara normally shows up in appearance of holding a jar with willow branch.

The other Bodhisattva was holding a lotus, looking differently from Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, he must be Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta (Da Shi Zhi) then. As Ms. Hu was not a Buddhist, she knew nothing about Bodhisattvas. She only described what she saw at that time.

Upon the arrival of the Bodhisattvas, Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta assured her , “Come here, don't be afraid, you'll be fine with me.” And then be Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara told the ghosts, "Ms. Hu is my sister, please don't hurt her again." Right after that, Miss Hu woke up from her nightmare dream immediately. And the special part is that, the nightmares that disturbed her for years were all gone suddenly and never happened again.

This is so called the remarkable of Namo-Amituofo-recitation. Since we only need to recite ‘Namo Amituofo’ and with ‘Namo-Amituofo’ alone, even though we do not recite the name of Bodhisattvas or other sutras or mantras, we will still receive the blessings from the Bodhisattvas. And this kind of blessings is very ‘close’ to us. Just like what happened in the story, the Bodhisattvas said, the reciters of Namo Amituofo are my close siblings. You see, we, as Namo-Amituofo-reciters, are recognised as the siblings of the Bodhisattvas. So, next time, if someone asks, "who is your brother?" we can answer, "My brother is Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara”. This is definitely a high honor for us.

As mentioned in the “Contemplation Sutra”, the Buddha said, “Bodhisattvas Avalokitesvara and Mahasthamaprapta become the close remarkable friends of those who recite ‘Namo Amituofo’(若念佛者…观世音菩萨、大势至菩萨，为其胜友)”. So, the relationship between Bodhisattvas and us is just like the close siblings, the closer one I think, since they are Bodhisattvas from Pure Land. People might ask why the Bodhisattvas from the Pure Land are willing to protect us?   However, isn’t it normal that an elder brother takes good care of his younger brother? We, reciters of Namo Amituofo, are part of Amitabha’s Pure Land family now, so it is just alright that our big Boddhisattvas brothers from the Pure Land are here to bless and protect us.

Therefore, if we really understand the teachings, we certainly are willing to recite Namo Amituofo, and will recite with joy, right? Can one refuse to become a sibling of the Bodhisattvas in such an easy way?

So, we just recite Namo Amituofo for what we aspire. If we aspire to go to the Pure Land, recite Namo Amituofo. And if we aspire for blessings to eliminate our bad karma, also recite Namo Amituofo. All blessings of Buddhas and Buddhisattvas are included in this “Namo Amituofo”. So, Namo Amituofo is just like All-In-One item in this world.

Some people might be curious about the fact of such remarkable effect of Namo Amituofo-recitation. But try to think carefully, if humans can invent All-In-One items, then why can’t the great Amitabha Buddha do the same and in a better way?

In human world, we have invented smartphones which contain so many functions in one small device: making calls, surfing internet, taking photos, recording videos, storing items etc, all in one. All these are in a small device called smartphone. We have to know that the idea of smartphone nowadays is unthinkable hundred years ago, but it is a real fact in today’s world. So, don't think that the all-in-one effect of reciting ‘Namo Amituofo’ is impossible.

With the great wisdom and compassion of Amitabha Buddha, it is possible for him to concentrate all the virtues and merits into one "Namo Amituofo " for us to recite, just like the invention of all-in-one functions of smart phone for human  use. Current scientific technology can really let us know that possibilities exist. Although we often cannot use science to prove Dharma, but these scientific technologies have proven the possibilities of thinking out of the box. So, we must have faith in what the Buddha said. We must believe that when we recite "Namo Amituofo”, it encompasses all merits.

In Chinese, we always called Namo Amituofo as 萬德洪名, it means that Namo Amituofo encompasses countless types of virtues and merits. Once we recite it, then all we aspire will be fulfilled even to achieve rebirth in such a remarkable world of Pure Land. So just recite Namo Amituofo always.

Before ending, I would like to read some quotes from the Pure Land Buddhism.

Quote from the Infinite Life Sutra:

All Buddhas, as numerous as the grains of sand in the Ganges River, all acclaim the Amitabha Buddha, commending his unfathomable power and virtues.

十方恆沙諸佛如來，皆共讚歎無量壽佛威神功德不可思議。

The Buddha told Bodhisattva Maitreya, “Those who hear the name of ‘Namo Amituofo’, reciting the name even once, shall receive the utmost benefit, which is to possess unsurpassed merits and virtues.” 

佛告彌勒：「其有得聞，彼佛名號，歡喜踴躍，乃至一念，當知此人，為得大利，則是具足，無上功德。」

So, this is what I want to share for today. Namo Amituofo.