The monkey style and the cat style in Amitabha Recitation

There is an analogy on the different styles of Amitabha recitation.

One of them is the monkey style while another is the cat style.

The ancients were good at giving analogies.

Indeed, it is easier for us to understand the analogies than the lengthy Sutra teachings.

Sometimes we cannot truly penetrate the meanings.

What is meant by reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha in the style of a monkey?

The mother monkey carries the baby monkey and it leaps and jumps from one tree to another.

The baby monkey does not have the ability to jump and leap on trees.

It depends totally on its mother.

The old monkey can jump swiftly, carrying the baby along. The baby has to clutch to its mother tightly.

But if it were to release his grasp, it would surely fall down.

So, we know the baby monkey depends solely on its mother to cross from one tree to another.

It must hold on to her tightly to avoid a fall.

This is the style of a monkey.

We say, ‘Of course we are relying on Amitabha Buddha to attain a rebirth in the Western Land. So, we must hold on to the name tightly! Or else we might fall down!’

So, from morning till night we recite continually.

This is one way.

Of course, such a man can also attain a rebirth.

There is no problem.

We only have to hold on to the Name tightly.

Another method is the cat style.

People who are observant will surely notice how the mother cat carrying its kitten, holding the kitten’s neck with its mouth.

The four paws of the kitten will be open and it is immovable.

It cannot hold on to anything.

It is unnecessary for him to catch hold of anything as it is the old cat which holds on to him, without letting go!

Finally, it is being transported from one location to another.

It only relies on the old cat to carry him, without doing anything.

This is known as gathering in without renouncing!

This is known as the cat style in Amitabha recitation.

In the 18^th vows, we solely rely on Amitabha Buddha to rescue us.

Amitabha Buddha will gather us in, clutching all of us tightly, without letting go of His grip!

Dharma Teaching by Dharma Master Shi Jing Zong, the Abbot of Hong Yuan Monastery, Anhui, China