Those of us who have tried to calm our mind with chanting have very likely experienced the barrage of thoughts streaming through. To make matters worse, most of those thoughts were neither loving nor compassionate. They did not arise from gratitude or contentment.
No, they're triggered by destructive habits like worry, anger, jealousy, fear and frustration.
At times in our chanting, we become aware of such harmful thoughts. But what about when we're doing everyday tasks? In our daily, harried state of mental overload and physical activity, we failed to detect what's happening. Fail to notice all the damaging seeds we keep planting in our store consciousness.
What's a person to do? Listen to the Dharma!
Every single second that our mind is engrossed in the Dharma, untold numbers of detrimental thoughts are averted and their perilous seeds never sown.
Amituofo.
— Our Daily Practice, Venerable Wuling