May 16, 2017
慧淨上人法語
念佛度亡
慧淨上人法語
念佛度亡
If a person [exclusively] recites Amitabha’s name in his present life, and has the mind of aspiration to be reborn in the Land of Bliss, he will see Amitabha appearing at the time close to death; the Buddha will directly receive him for rebirth in the Land of Bliss, without going through the trial by Yama King [of the underworld]. For persons of great virtues, they will be reborn directly in the celestial realm, also without going through the trial by Yama King. A terribly evil person, however, will fall all the way down to hell.
For those who are not reborn in the Land of Bliss, or not a great virtuous person, a transitional body will be formed. In the next 49 days, they will be anxious, waiting for the trial that will determine their destination in the next life. So, during the 49 days before reincarnation, they ardently long for their relatives and dependents in the “yang” (or sunny, mundane) world to contribute meritorious virtues to them, so that they will be saved and relieved from sufferings.
一個人如果生前有念佛，並有願生極樂世界之心，臨終的時候就會看見彌陀現前，直接接引他到極樂世界，不必經過閻羅王的審判；大善的人也是直接上生天上，不用經過閻羅王的審判（如果是大惡就直接墮落地獄了）。
而那種沒有往生極樂世界，也沒大善的人，七七日內中陰身都在那裡徬徨、等候，大約到四十九天的時候就會判決而去投胎轉世。所以，在他尚未受生的七七日內，「念念之間」，也就是心中無時無刻地在殷切期盼陽世的親人眷屬能為他做功德，救拔他的苦難。
Namo Amitabha!
