I have wandering thoughts when I chant.
Phew! What a relief. I feel much better now, thank you.
(Wow. I don't write blog entries for ten days and my writing personality changes! It's either the stories I've been writing about Rufus and Ethel and the rest of the crew or it's that blog I just stumbled across. Anyway, before my occasional rare-treat cup of coffee kicks in with it's caffeine and my mental state erodes even more...)
My only consolation is that most people I talk to admit that they too have wandering thoughts. In fact, we were just talking about this after the Saturday night lecture. It's a dilemma that people frequently raise—"I try to meditate, but my mind is all over the place. What can I do?"
I've been trying out a method that I recently learned of. I had been asked to edit a translation about a method Great Master Yinguang recommended for modern-day people. And here I must sincerely apologize. I thought I had posted it already, but clearly I did not. So I will post it tomorrow. (There is no way I can include writing from the Pure Land school's 13th Patriarch in this entry!)
So consider this a "teaser." (In the nicest sort of way. :-)) Great Master's Yin Guang's method is very simple but extremely effective. I have been using it to calm the wandering thoughts before I move on to simply chanting "Amituofo."
And for those who do not practice Pure Land or chant "Amituofo," this method can also help you in your meditation.
I invite all of you to come back tomorrow. This method is ideal for all of us who—alas—continue to have wandering thoughts when we try to still the mind.