The Buddha-Recollection Samādhi Is Accomplished by the Manas

Recollection of the Buddha (buddhānusmṛti) has three levels. At the shallowest level, only the mind consciousness recites the Buddha's name while the manas does not join in the recitation; this is scattered-mind recitation that is merely a formality — reciting for show, not true recollection of the Buddha, with no response from the Buddhas, and the merit of such recitation is very small. At the second level, the manas and the mind consciousness recite together; there is shallow meditative concentration (samādhi), and it is a half mind-gathering recitation, which can bring about a slight response from the Buddhas. At the deepest level, the manas alone recites the Buddha's name; the recitation is relatively sincere, there is a response from the Buddhas, and it can give rise to the samādhi of Buddha-recollection; the merit of such recitation is great.

When the mind consciousness recites the Buddha's name but the manas does not like reciting, the mind is rather scattered: while reciting, one can also watch television, carry on conversations, and entertain wandering thoughts, mixing in many other things. When the manas recites, one can recite even while sleeping, even while dreaming, even while working, even while thinking through problems — one can recite no matter what one is doing, and the samādhi of Buddha-recollection can appear. Therefore the samādhi of Buddha-recollection is certainly initiated by the manas: the manas can recite the Buddha's name in every moment at all times, without interruption; there is meditative concentration, the body and mind experience tranquility (praśama), and there is a sense of joy.

There was a person who participated in a million-Buddha-name recitation retreat, reciting the Buddha's name one million times in one week. Holding a strand of 1080 beads in hand, after completing one full round, he would move one bead on a 108-bead strand; thus, with left and right hands continuously moving the beads, the Buddha's name never ceased from his mouth. At the same time he could watch television, offer opinions, watch others doing things, and sometimes even get angry — truly busy indeed. But what use is reciting the Buddha's name like this? When the manas is everywhere grasping at objects, the mind consciousness can only put on an act of reciting, without any focus at all. It is clear that only by subduing the manas can there be concentration in Buddha-recollection, and only then can there be the samādhi of Buddha-recollection. Concentration still means concentrating the manas; concentrating the mind consciousness does not solve the problem.