Important Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
163 - The Three Followings at the Time of Death
“The Three Followings at the Time of Death” refer to the forces that determine one’s rebirth after breathing one’s last. These are: following heavy karma, following habits, and following thoughts.
1. Following Heavy Karma :
If a person commits grave evil deeds in life, then at the moment of death they immediately fall into hell. In fact, even before their final breath, their consciousness may already be undergoing punishment in hell. Outwardly, it may appear that they are lying on a hospital bed suffering from illness and crying out in pain; but, in truth, their consciousness is already receiving torment in hell. On the other hand, if a person accumulated many good deeds, they may be reborn in heaven or as a human enjoying wealth and blessings. In such cases, at the moment of death they are immediately reborn in heaven or in the human realm, without going through the transitional / intermediate body (Bardo state).
2. Following Habits :
If a person did not commit particularly heavy good or evil deeds, but had certain strong habits during life, then after death they naturally follow these habits into their next rebirth.
If a person had not studied or practiced Buddhism during life; but, at the end is aided by others who recite Amitabha Buddha’s Name for them, it will arouse within them the thought of reciting Amitabha Buddha’s Name, and at the moment of death they will be reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss. Moreover, Amitabha Buddha himself, together with Avalokiteśvara, Mahāsthāmaprāpta, and the pure ocean assembly of bodhisattvas, will come to welcome them.
(to be continued tomorrow)
163 臨終三隨
「臨終三隨」，就是人斷氣之後，投胎轉世所依隨的現象。「三隨」就是「隨 重」、「隨習」、「隨念」。
「隨重」就是「隨重業」—–一個人生前所做的，若是重的惡業，一斷氣，就 即時墮入地獄，甚至還沒有斷氣，神識已經到地獄受刑罰。看起來他是躺在 病床上，受病苦折磨而哀叫，其實神識已經在地獄接受刑罰了！如果這個人 生時做很多善事，應該生天或再出世做人，享受富貴，一斷氣就上天或出生 在人間，不經過中陰身。
「隨習」，就是「隨習慣」—–一個人平生沒有做特別重的善事或惡業，但是 他平常有某種習慣，死後自然就隨著這種習慣去投胎轉世。
Namo Amituofo!
