Master Jingzong; English translation by Foyuan, edited by Jingtu
There are many people around us, of similar appearance and speaking the same language. The bonds among them are shallow, however. And the distance separating their inner hearts is farther than the milky way. In other words, though they seem near, their hearts are in fact far apart.
Amitabha Buddha is in the Western Pure Land, ten trillion cosmic galaxies from here. He neither speaks to us nor manifests himself. But if we recite his name, no distance will separate the Buddha from us. That is the meaning of far away yet near. Says the Contemplation Sutra: “Amitabha Buddha is not far from here.” And that’s the truth!