Ironsmith Huang Chants and Heads Towards the Western Pure Land
I often tell my followers: "Chanting will not interfere with your work, so remember to chant while you work." Many people talk to their co-workers while they work, so why should the practice of chanting while working hinder the progress of your work?
Some people may feel that their work is already tiresome enough; if they also chant while they work, will this not make their work
even tougher? It will not. Although work can be hard and tiring, if you diligently chant "O Mi Tuo Fo" (Amitabha Buddha), you will realize
that your work has actually become easier. Let me tell you a true story.
During the Song Dynasty in Hunan province, there was a poor ironsmith with the surname Huang. Everyone called him Ironsmith
Huang. Huang made his living from steelmaking. If he stopped working for a
day, he would not be able to make ends meet. The job of an ironsmith was very difficult and demanding, especially on hot days when one
had to work close to the furnace where the heat was unbearable!
Huang often thought, "Why does my work have to be this difficult? It must be because I did not cultivate merits in my previous life. But if I stop working completely and start practicing Buddhism, I will not be able to support my family. There must be a way to practice without affecting my work." He thought for a long time and was not able to think of a solution.
One day, a monk walked by his store. Huang had established a positive affinity with Buddhism in the past, such that when he saw the monk, he was ecstatic! He welcomed the monk into his store, gave him a cup of tea, offered him a seat, and bowed to him. He used this opportunity to ask the monk, "Master, I am an ironsmith by trade, and this is a very tough and tiring job. Is there a way to practice Buddhism without affecting my work so that I may be delivered from my sufferings?"
To this, the monk responded, "The Buddha-recitation method can relieve you from your sufferings. This method of practice is very simple: it does not cost money nor affect your work. All you have to is chant 'O Mi Tuo Fo' every day while you work. If you do it cotinuously, Amitabha Buddha will escort you to his Western Pure Land in due time where only happiness exists and suffering is non-existent."
The master also said, "Just pretend that your steel board is a wooden-fish(1) and your hammer, a striking stick. Whenever you strike your wooden-fish, chant 'o Mi Tuo Fo.'" When Huang heard this, he was very happy. Following the master's advice, he chanted the Buddha's name every day while working.
Huang's wife asked him, "Making steel is already hard enough. If you chant 'O Mi Tuo Fo' while working, does that not add to your work-load and make your job more challenging?" Huang replied, "Not at
all! I don't feel tired at all! Before, I felt hot while working beside a furnace. Now that I have started chanting 'O Mi Tuo Fo,' the heat no longer affects me. Instead, I feel calm and at ease. Before I started chanting, my arms would get tired and sore from the work, now they don't." These are the merits arising from chanting the Buddha's name. After becoming very skilled at chanting, Huang knew that he was about to pass away and head for the Western Pure Land. When the day came, he cleansed himself thoroughly and changed his clothes. After completing his preparation, he went to work. He fired up the furnace and chanted the following verse: "Ding ding dang dang. Hard work ventually pays off. Peace and tranquility are near. I am now going to the Western Pure Land." With one last hammer stroke, he passed away while standing.
For ages, many people who were headed to the Western Pure Land passed away in sitting or standing positions. Due to Huang's
diligent practice of Buddha-recitation, he
passed away in an upright position(2) - a
testament to the merits he gained through chanting. Even the busiest people can chant the Buddha's name. As long as you have firm faith, strong vows, and are willing to chant, you will surely achieve rebirth in the Western Pure Land!
Note:
1, Wooden-fish: a skull-shaped wooden drum that makes a crisp sound when struck, often used by Buddhists to synchronize chanting when done in a group setting.
2. Dying in an upright position is considered an honour bestowed upon those who accumulated sufficient merits through practice.
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