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 marks, he will fail to be reborn”. Is this true?
Comment: (continued)
Even if a person appears to be diligent, vigorous and concentrated in his practice, we still may not know whether he has faith and the aspiration to be reborn. Does he really aspire to be reborn? We don’t know. Only he knows. So, only that person can know whether he is assured of rebirth. We can only see the superficial signs.
Generally speaking, if a person really has an aspiration for rebirth, exclusively recites the Buddha’s Name, and passes away peacefully, (with a smile on his face, a soft body, warmth at the top of the head, etc., it can be judged that he is assured of rebirth with no problem. Another sign is his appearance in the dreams of his children or siblings. These auspicious marks are clear, just as they are described in our teachings.
It is said that Amitabha Buddha comes to receive us when we are near the end-of-life, encircles us in his infinite light, and transports us to his Pure Land on a lotus platform.
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:(續上)
至於說這個人到底是不是信願專修念佛?外表可能看起來他很精進、很勇猛,也在專修,他內心裏邊是不是信願呢?是不是真的願往生呢?我們不知道。只有他才知道。所以,到底有沒有往生,只有這個人他自己才知道,我們只能是看外表瑞相。
大體說起來,這個人如果平時確實有願往生的心,也在專修念佛,走的時候也很安詳,甚至面貌喜悅、身體柔軟,頭頂溫熱,那麼,這樣判斷他應該是往生的,應該沒有問題的──教理也明確,瑞相也鮮明。
如果說到看到阿彌陀佛來接引、蓮花來接引、佛光來接引,那更是證據,這是臨終的證據。或者說這個人已經往生之後,又托夢來告訴他的兒女,一次、二次、三次地托同樣的夢,或者跟幾個兒女都托同樣的夢,那也毫無疑問他是往生了。
Namo Amituofo!
