Amitabha (and Bhaisajyaguru) are wonderful Buddhist concepts but do require very careful understanding, slight misunderstanding would lead to incorrect view.

This is the way people usually pray out loud the name 'Amitabha':

Vietnamese: Nam mô A Di Đà Phật;

Japanese: Namu Amida Butsu;

Korean: Namu Amita Bul;

Chinese: Nāmó Āmítuófó

From the Vietnamese aspect, towards the end of his life, the late abbot Ôn Trí Tịnh preferred to say "A-Mi-Đà" instead of "A-Di-Đà". The school of Ven. Trí Tịnh recommends saying: “Nam mô A Mi Đà Phật”. The school of Ven. Nhất Hạnh prefers: “Nam mô Phật (Bụt) Bổn Sư Thích Ca”.

Amitabha means "immeasurable", countless, limitless.

“Namo Amita Budhanam” means to all the Buddhas in all worlds, all stages, past, present and future. How brilliant! It is saying: "I pray to all enlightened abilities and beings, that are around me, moving around me, flowing around me, everywhere on this earth, under this sky, and also in all universes. “Namo Amita Budhanam” means "I here pray to all the immeasurable Buddhas of all worlds and all stages". Simply brilliant!

But then some may misuse the words and pray in (Vietnamese) “Nam mô A Di Đà Phật” implying there is ONE Buddha called Amitabha. Amitabha then loses its meaning of "countless, limitless, immeasurable". It is now somebody's name. What a waste!

“Namo Amita Budhanam”, when properly understood, means not only "I here pray to all the immeasurable Buddhas of all worlds and all stages" but also "I here pray to unlimited abilities and wisdom". "I follow the path of no borders, no limits, no restrictions by any boundaries, any rivers. I pray to that freedom, that liberation from discrimination of right and wrong, no fences, no walls, I pray and follow the limitless spirit."

Amitabha means "immeasurable", countless, limitless.

Why do some of us then take that wonderful word "Amitabha" and change it to a personal name of a single Buddha, and, under that misconception, call and scream and beg that Buddha's name all day, all our lives? What a waste!

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