3) 端身持名

Regulating the Body during Buddha Recitation

Having decided to practice Buddha Recitation, you must keep your body pure (6) at all times and in all movements and gestures – whether walking, standing, sitting or reclining. When the body is pure, the m ind will also be pure.

The Pure Land practitioner should ponder this teaching. It is never wrong.

既以此身念佛，于一切行、住、坐、卧时，务常端正，身若端正，心即清净，当人自验诚不我欺。

Commentary

The body has a strong influence on the mind. Therefore, in order to have a strong, upright spirit and an unflinching faith in both self-power and Other-power (the power of the Buddhas), and to practice Buddha Recitation resolutely, it is necessary to cultivate an exceptionally pure body before starting out. The m ind is pure because the body-karma is tranquil and undefiled. Thus, for Buddha recitation to yield good results, the first condition is to keep the body pure.