General Confusion and Misunderstandings by Amitabha-Reciters seeking Rebirth - By Master Jingzong
淨宗法師談念佛人的糊塗認識
# 13 - “If there are no auspicious signs, he will fail to be reborn”. Is this true?
Comment:
One’s rebirth cannot be judged by trivial events or marks. Our judgment should be based on matching our mindset with the teachings in the Sutras. In accordance with the teachings of the Infinite Life Sutra, the Contemplation Sutra and the Amitabha Sutra, a person is assured of rebirth through Amitabha-recitation, faith, and aspiration in the present life. Therefore, if a person simply passes away , with no splendid or auspicious signs, we cannot say he is not reborn.
In Shijiazhuang in China, there was an old couple who were Amitabha-reciters. When the old woman passed away, her bones were stiff. Her husband took care of her body; but, was not strong enough to move it. He said, “Oh dear, you have already been reborn in the West. Now, I cannot move your body. Your bones are so stiff that I cannot dress you properly. Can you please soften a bit?” As soon as he finished asking, her body became soft.
If you judge her rebirth by her body’s softness, you cannot explain why her body was not soft (not reborn), and became soft later (being reborn). Actually, she had been reborn before her body was softened. She didn’t show that auspicious sign, but softened her body immediately upon the request of her husband. This actually happened.
(to be continued tomorrow)
淨宗法師 - 念佛人的糊塗認識
其十三:“沒有瑞相他就沒有往生。” 真的嗎?
答:
不可以依外表之相來判斷,還是以內心裏邊跟教理相吻合作為依據。根據《無量壽經》、《觀無量壽經》和《阿彌陀經》的教理,平時是信願專修念佛的,那麼他一定往生。比如說他走得很平淡,也沒有什麼殊勝、了不起的瑞相──這個也不敢講他一定沒有往生。
石家莊有老夫妻兩個人念佛,老太婆走的時候,骨節都是硬的,只有老頭兒一個人給她弄,老頭兒一個人也沒有力氣,就說了:“某某人,你都往生西方了,我現在也搬不動你,你身體這麼硬,我也沒辦法給你穿衣服,你看看,你能不能軟一點?我好給你穿衣服。”這個話一說完,身體馬上就軟下來了。
如果你要以身體柔軟判斷她有沒有往生的話,她先身體不軟,你說沒有往生;後來馬上就軟了,又說往生了。其實,先前就往生了,只是沒有現這個相,結果她家的老頭兒懇求她,馬上就改軟了。這個也是有的。
(再續)
Namo Amituofo!
