Concordance@Yutang Lin

Amitabha Buddha's compassion encompasses all sentient beings.
Chanting His Holy Epithet out of Bodhicitta is most concordant.
Faith, Aspiration and Deeds are aspects of individual endeavors.
The great mind transcends abruptly into absence of ideas of self.

Comment:

Some asked, "How should one repeat 'Amitabha Buddha' so as to be most in concordance with Amitabha Buddha?" I replied, "Repeat 'Amitabha Buddha' out of Bodhicitta, i.e., on behalf of all sentient beings." Upon hearing this the person said, "This is very different from what I had in mind. I was thinking about how to make efforts in Faith, Aspiration and Deeds (the traditional teachings center on these aspects), and they are all about individual efforts. But this response completely transcends the sphere of an individual."

Ordinarily the teachings aim at guiding novices, and hence they all center on essential aspects of personal efforts. When teachings have been harmonized and one advances straightforwardly on the path, then all practices should born of Bodhicitta.

Written in Chinese and translated on December 18, 2006
El Cerrito, California