Before passing away…

临终

Before passing away, a man is often pressurized by all kinds of suffering, especially those who have committed many evils.

If you were to talk to them all the high-flown principles which are unable to relieve him, you are not a good knowing adviser. Anyway, we should try to bring him back to Amitabha Buddha’s Original Vows of Rescue, that by reciting His Name, he will surely attain a rebirth.

This is known as a good knowing adviser.

Some talk a lot of nonsense to the deceased.

Some who come for the aided recitation would even threaten the man who is about to pass away.

They would say, ‘I think you are out already. You have committed so much evils in life. You have no cultivation at all. Truly, speaking, I have no experience nor faith in helping you in this aided recitation.’

These are the evil advisers.

Are not they the associates of the Mara?

They are indeed throwing stones on the man who has fallen into the well.

If a man hopes to have others to guide him before passing away, we must look for a kind and compassionate one who understands the Pure Land Dharma Door, who has penetrated the Pure Land principles.

If you were to find a man who thinks so great of himself, who reveals himself as a worthy externally, internally he is being dishonest. When he comes, he will surely frighten you to death. He is the counterpart of the evils, the Mara. You should stay far away from him.

If you say, ‘So and so is a good cultivator. He can memorize the Sutras. He is so hardworking. He can bestow upon me his strength. Please come to help me when I am about to pass away.’

Then, you are finished.

You should find someone who has profound faith in potential and Dharma.

Externally, he reveals the virtuous conduct but internally, he is being deceptive.

He by himself is unsure of his cultivation, yet he tries to show off to others.

That is why it is said, ‘The arrogant man who is lowly, inferior and lazy would be difficult to have faith in this Dharma.’

Before you die, he still asks you to do this and that as he is trying to put on a show.

He is used to showing off his specialities to others.

He is very good in showing off himself.

He only wants to show his power.

As he cannot find the place to practise it, he takes you who is about to die soon as a platform for his performance.

He would say, ‘You must bring forth the right mindfulness now. Do not forget this one mindfulness. If you have forgotten this one thought, all your recitations throughout the lifespan are in vain. So, you cannot be mindful of the Buddha, am I right? Put in more effort. Your karmic hindrances are terribly heavy. Your sufferings are so acute. Try your best please!’ All these are his threats.

Will a genuine good knowing adviser talk like that?

A good knowing adviser would say,

‘So and so, we are the sinful, suffering living beings.

We are heavy in karmic obstacles. Now, we suffer a bit. This is quite normal.

I hope you would tolerate and do calm down.

Be a little patient.

Even though we are so sinful, our sufferings are so great, Amitabha Buddha will still emit lights to console us, to protect us, to be mindful of us.

Now, you can recite Namo Amitabha Buddha with us.

Relax and be brave.

There is no obstacle as the Buddha will not despise us, for sure.

If you can recite now, follow us and let us recite together.

If you cannot recite, do listen to our recitation. It is the same also.

You just lie down there and relax.

The Original Vows of Amitabha Buddha is thus as he takes pity on the mundane men, especially those who are heavy in sins. Now, you are about to pass away and your suffering is so terrible.

Your sufferings are the Buddha’s sufferings too.

So, how can the Buddha just leave you alone?

The Buddha and living beings are of the same body.

Now, the Buddha who is very concerned about you, who has the greatest power to save you, who has the strength of Vows to rescue you is the kind and compassionate Amitabha Buddha.

Fine we will recite Namo Amitabha Buddha together now. Or you can just listen to our recitations. Do not worry. Namo Amitabha Buddha, Namo Amitabha Buddha, Namo Amitabha Buddha…..’

You should talk to him like this. I dare to guarantee the deceased will leave with a smile.

By Dharma Master Shi Jing Zong An extract from the Dharma teaching on the words of endorsement on the Primal Teachings of Contemplation Sutra-338 By Dharma Master Shi Jing Zong

如果是一个临终的人，尤其是造恶之辈，临终众苦云集逼迫，你跟他讲那些天高路远的，说那些不救急的话，那不叫善知识。总之，要把他归到阿弥陀佛的本愿救度，称名必定往生，这就是善知识。扯那么多，甚至有的人来助念

是吓唬对方，说“我看你不行啊，你这辈子造恶那么多，你没什么修行，我实在没有经验、没有信心帮你助念”，这不就是恶知识、恶魔伴党吗？这是落井下石。

有人希望临终的时候别人给他开示，那一定要找对净土法门教理通达、内心具有慈悲的人。

如果找一个自以为很了不起的，外标贤善之相，内怀虚假，他来了就把你吓死了。这属于“恶魔伴党”，要离他远一点。如果你说“某某人修行好，背经典背得好，他努力啊，他有加持力，临终来跟我助念一下”，那你就完了。一定要找具有机法深信的。

外标贤善，内怀虚假的，他本身都搞不定，还在那里显示自己，“憍慢弊懈怠，难以信此法”，临死了还让你这样做、那样做。因为他都是充面子、摆架子、做样子，搞习惯了，这是他的业务专长，他只想显摆一下，找不到实习的地方，你快死了，成了他的“下酒菜”。他说“你现在要提起正念，可不能忘了这一念，忘了这一念，这一辈子念的佛都白瞎了。你提不起啊？提不起就使劲提，你的业障这么重，你的苦相这么大，你还不提起来！” 这都是吓唬人。

真的善知识会这么说吗？

“某某人，我们都是罪苦众生，业障深重，现在受一些苦恼是正常的，希望你安心忍受，稍加忍耐。虽然罪重罪苦，但是阿弥陀佛必放光明给予安慰、护念。现在你跟我一起念佛，你放心大胆，无有障碍，佛绝对不嫌弃。现在能念得出来，就跟我一起念；念不出来，听我念是一样的，躺在那里就行了。因为阿弥陀佛本愿如是，特别怜悯造罪凡夫。尤其像你现在，到了临终，这么苦，

你的苦就是佛的苦，佛能不救你吗？

佛与众生是一体的。

现在最关心你的，最有能力救你的，

最有慈悲愿力救你的，只有阿弥陀佛。

好了，跟我们一起念，

不能念就听，放心吧。

南无阿弥陀佛，南无阿弥陀佛，南无阿弥陀佛……”，

这么跟他说，保证这个亡人笑眯眯地就走了。

——净宗法师

摘自《观经疏楷定记》讲记 338

A comment by oridharma:

We Amitabha reciters want to attain a rebirth in the Land of Ultimate Bliss and we also want to bring along lots of living beings to go home, to see Amitabha Buddha. The messengers of Amitabha Buddha should learn to be kind and compassionate, to speak kindly, especially to the deceased. Do not add on more sufferings to him. Most grateful to Namo Amitabha Buddha

我们念佛人要往生净土，也要带更多的众生回归本乡，亲见弥陀。阿弥陀佛的使者必须学习以慈悲的心说话，特别是面对临终的人。不好再雪上加霜。感恩南无阿弥陀佛