Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (I)
淨土釋疑(一)
Answer to Question 40 (2 /6):
Let me cite a few examples.
In Shalu Township, Taichung County, Taiwan, there was a man suffering from terminal cancer. He had never practiced Buddhism. After being admitted to the hospital, he was placed in the intensive care unit, where the most critically ill patients are monitored around the clock by nurses.
His cancer had already reached its final stage. As is often the case with terminal cancer, he endured severe pain. At times he would cry out in agony; when he was not crying out, he would still groan in distress.
His family invited Dharma Master Xinguan to visit him. When the Master came, he brought along a Buddha-recitation device. He also introduced to the patient the splendor of the Land of Ultimate Bliss and the compassion of Amitabha Buddha.
After speaking with him, the Master left the recitation device beside the bed and turned it on, allowing the sound of Amitabha’s Name to play continuously for him to listen to quietly.
Although the patient was suffering greatly in both body and mind and was unable to recite Namo Amitabha Buddha himself ; but, whenever he heard the recitations, his suffering seemed to lessen. He became calm and peaceful.
After approximately a day and a night, he passed away serenely and quietly.
Of course, since we do not possess supernatural insight, we cannot know for certain whether he attained rebirth in the Pure Land or where he went after death. Nevertheless, this incident shows that simply hearing the recitation of Namo Amitabha Buddha can relieve physical and mental suffering. Moreover,
without a prolonged period of agony, he was able to pass away peacefully within a short time.
This demonstrates the inconceivable compassionate power contained within Namo Amitabha Buddha. Even when a person is unable to recite, or understand deeply because of illness and suffering; merely listening to the recitation of Namo Amitabha Buddha can bring comfort, tranquility, and ease at life's final moment.
(to be continued tomorrow)
40問：師父講的公案，就是地獄眾生聽到阿彌陀佛六字名號，即得往生。我們 人間是不是也有聽聞而往生的，請師父開示。(2 /6)
答(2 /6)：
現在引用幾個例子：
臺灣台中縣沙鹿鎮，有一位身患癌症的病人，沒有學佛，進入醫院，住在 加護病房（病情最嚴重的，必須要護士二十四小時觀察）。他得的癌症已經是 末期了，末期的癌症都很痛苦，所以有時會哀叫，不哀叫也會呻吟。他的家屬 請心觀法師去探望他，心觀法師去時帶了一部念佛機，同時向他介紹極樂世 界的莊嚴、阿彌陀佛的慈悲。講完了就將念佛機放在那裏，開著佛號讓他靜 靜地聽。這個患者雖然身心痛苦、念不出來，但一聽到佛號就不那麼痛苦了， 安靜下來了。好像經過一天一夜，就安詳地斷氣了。
當然，我們沒有神通，不曉得他這麼一斷氣是往生了還是到哪裡去了。不 過從這裏我們可以知道，單單聽佛號的聲音，可以解除身心的痛苦，而不必 拖延時間，很快就走了。
Namo Amituofo!
