Question:How should an Amitabha reciter respond when facing distressing situations or disasters related to their family, career, love affairs, or interpersonal relationships, in terms of the mindset and attitude?

Answer:One should respond to these situations with a mindset of recompense and gratitude.

       The Buddha said “The causes from past lives determine what you endure in this life, while the consequences you will face in future lives depend on your actions in this life.”  We may not remember whether we were benevolent or malevolent people in our past lives, but by reflecting on how we live our current lives and the environment we find ourselves in -- whether it is marked by suffering or enjoyment; goodness or adversity --we can discern the answer.  Hence, if one is constantly challenged by various unfavorable conditions and adversities, it suggests that they might have incurred debts to other sentient beings in past lives and are thus experiencing the consequences of past actions now.  Isn’t this repaying the debt?

       In addition, one should cultivate  a sense of gratitude.  If one has not encountered Buddhism, then there is nothing to discuss. For those who have the causal conditions to practice Buddhism in this lifetime, they should understand this: although we are enduring karmic retribution, it has actually been reduced compared to what we deserve; without this mitigation, our recompense could have been much more severe. Therefore, we should be grateful for the opportunity to repay our debts.

       Moreover, we should understand  that the heavy karmic offenses we have accumulated over a long time will end in this lifetime; they will not persist.  Regardless of the extent of retribution we must endure in this lifetime – retribution that has been reduced compared to what we deserve --we will never experience it again in the future, as we will be reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss.  If we  ever return to Saha world someday, it will be through compassionate, expedient means to deliver sentient beings.  With such a mindset, one naturally wouldn’t get agitated over trivial matters, become angry or act aggressively towards others. Instead, they would be able to bear adversity with equanimity.

       Amitabha reciters should always reflect on themselves first when faced with unfavorable situations.  If there were no past causes, there would be no present effects. Every iota of karmic retribution is self-inflicted; there is no one to blame or contest. True contemplation in this manner brings inner serenity, while failing to do so fosters feelings of injustice, discontent and confrontation, potentially leading to more disputes.

(Translated by the Pure Land School Translation Team; edited by Kevin Orro)