Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (I)
淨土釋疑(一)
Question 43:
Master, for a person whose faith remains unwavering, who has already been embraced and never forsaken by Amitabha Buddha’s unceasing light, and whose rebirth is decisively settled here and now, does such a person still need assisted recitation at the end of life? Is it still necessary to leave instructions for family members concerning end-of-life arrangements?
Answer to Q43:
Certainly, for one who entrusts with faith, aspires to rebirth, and exclusively recites Namo Amitabha Buddha, rebirth is already assured. There is no need to wait for assisted recitation, or rely upon assisted recitation in order to attain rebirth.
Those of us who exclusively recite Namo Amitabha Buddha, regularly associate with Dharma teachers, and fellow lotus friends; when the time of death arrives, it should be a lively and warm occasion, not one in which a person faces death alone. At that time, lotus friends may gather together for a final farewell. The dying person will also deeply feel that having received Amitabha Buddha’s deliverance is an immeasurably great blessing. Thus, for every remaining moment that the physical body is still alive, one naturally wishes to recite Namo Amitabha Buddha a few more times in gratitude for the Buddha’s boundless compassion and grace.
When lotus friends join together in reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha at the bedside, it is itself a truly noble occasion. Moreover, it is not uncommon for extraordinary and inconceivably auspicious signs to appear at the time of death. If many lotus friends are present, rejoicing in the person's rebirth, such auspicious signs can inspire faith in those who have not yet believed.
Often, a single auspicious sign can be more effective than years of Dharma lectures. People may listen to teachings for many years and still not believe; but, when an auspicious sign manifests before their eyes, they may find it impossible not to believe.
43問：請問師父，信心不變的人，已得彌陀不斷光明的攝取不捨而當下決定了 往生的身份，不必等到臨終，也不必看臨終的善相、惡相、如何死去，這樣的 人臨終還須助念嗎？還須囑咐家人臨終事項嗎？
答：當然，信願念佛的人往生已經決定了，不必等待助念，不必依靠助念。
我們念佛的人，經常親近師父、蓮友，在臨終的那個時候，應該是熱熱鬧 鬧的，不可能是獨單一個人。那個時候，蓮友相約，來作最後的告別，而臨終 的人這個時候一定也感到：蒙受彌陀的救度，這個恩德非常的重大，所以，肉 身存在的一分一秒，要多念幾句佛號報答佛恩。
臨終之時，蓮友如果齊聲念佛，也是一件很殊勝的事情。而且往往人在臨 終的時候會有不可思議的瑞相產生，那個時候，如果很多蓮友聚集在那裏， 慶祝他的往生，在瑞相當中，容易使一些沒有相信的人產生信心。一個瑞相 往往比講經好幾年還有效果，講經好幾年人家不一定信，當下顯現一個瑞相 就不得不信了。
Namo Amituofo!
