Amitabha Buddha's deliverance unimpeded by adversities during the pandemic
By Dharma Master Jing Ben
During March 2020, the Malaysian government announced that all religious activities had to be suspended. Oversea travel was prohibited and everyone was encouraged to stay at home. As a matter of course, we were unable to proceed with our usual 'Outdoor Buddhist Service Rite of Deliverance' as well as 'Assisted “Namo Amituofo”-recitation for the deceased or passing'.
Coincidentally, a Buddhist follower contacted to inform us that her sister was near her end of life. The sister had contracted cancer and was being treated in a hospital. However, the cancer was at the terminal stage and there was no chance of recovery, so she had to be sent home. Therefore, this younger sister, called me for advice on how to handle the matter.
The sister passed on shortly after she reached home. She didn't look good upon passing. The family members revealed that her eyes and mouth were wide open. Furthermore, her cancer caused blood to flow out from her mouth as she passed. At that time, the government had already issued the movement control order. Hence, I was unable to come over to conduct the 'Assisted “Namo Amituofo”-recitation' for the deceased. Therefore, I advised the family members over the phone that, at this point in time, the most important thing is to recite "Namo Amituofo ". The rest of the matters pertaining to the funeral burial can be set aside for awhile. Since the sister passed on at home, I advised that family members are in a better position to make their own arrangements.
At the same time, I informed the other followers to recite the ‘Namo Amituofo’-recitation for the deceased remotely from their homes (since the situation did not allow any gathering of religious activities). I also told the family members, “Nothing can obstruct Amitabha Buddha's deliverance. So long as "Namo Amituofo" is recited, regardless of where or how many people were reciting, it will be effective. As for the funeral and burial arrangements, these can be done later. For now, recite "Namo Amituofo" first.”
It was close to evening and if they proceeded with recitation, it would mean the recitation would be continued into the next day. The sister had died of cancer and the duration of the recitation was very long. So, they worried that the sister's body might not be alright. That worry was not undue. The general understanding is, when one dies, the body will undergo changes. Not to mention that the sister died of cancer and had blood flowing out from her mouth.
The family members still contacted the funeral parlour after all. Arrangements for the funeral were to be set-up and preparations for the coffin were made for the next day. However, the undertaker of the funeral parlour told them that it's not advisable to leave the body untreated until the next morning. It would be better to use some dry ice to cool the body and slow down decomposition. Succumbing to their persistence, the family members agreed to proceed as advised.
Hence, with the family members reciting "Namo Amituofo" by her side, the sister's eyes and mouth that were initially wide open, gradually began to close up. Her face also radiated a rosy glow. She appeared calm and peaceful with a lingering smile on her lips. She looked so much better in comparison to her horrifying appearance at the point of passing. What happened the next morning was really inconceivable. When the undertakers from the funeral parlour handled the deceased's body, they discovered that it was incredibly soft and supple. The joints on her limbs were equally soft and flexible. Not forgetting that, as mentioned earlier, the deceased had been laid with dry ice for over ten hours. Hence, the undertakers commented that they have not seen anyone who had been treated with dry ice and yet the body still remained soft and supple. The family members felt comforted and mollified, applauding the inconceivable power of Amitabha Buddha.
Due to the pandemic, the sister's funeral had to be dealt with in a simplified manner. I explained to the family members that, in fact, that was the best arrangement. The family members could simply recite "Namo Amituofo" exclusively for the deceased throughout the whole funeral process.
Unexpectedly, on the morning of the funeral procession, the son of the deceased dreamt of his mother. According to him, his mother had become younger and looked "chubbier". And she told him that she was very happy to be in the Pure Land. She even encouraged the son to recite "Namo Amituofo" so that he can be reborn in the Pure Land in future. She revealed that his grandmother was also in the Pure Land. The grandmother was the mother of the deceased. Previously, when the grandmother passed away, they had also arranged the recitation. However, at that time, after the recitation the grandmother's body was not soft and supple. Therefore, the daughter had been bothered by the outcome all along. She was uncertain whether her mother was reborn in the Land of Bliss. But now, the deceased had actually told her son in the dream that the grandmother was also in the Land of Bliss. So, it must be that the grandmother had attained rebirth in the Pure Land.
Therefore, the Pure Land school of practice is really remarkable. As long as we recite "Namo Amituofo," Amitabha Buddha will definitely deliver our departed loved ones to the Pure Land. It does not matter whether we have seen any phenomenon or whether the body appears soft and supple. All these don't matter, so long as "Namo Amituofo" is recited, rebirth in the Pure Land is assured. This happened near our Pure Land Association in Kuala Lumpur. It was during the period of the pandemic whereby everyone's movement was restricted. It's simply impossible for me to conduct any Buddhist service for the deceased. Furthermore, the deceased herself didn't know much about the dharma. On her passing, family members simply gathered around her to recite "Namo Amituofo." As a result, Amitabha Buddha came to receive and deliver her to the Pure Land. Hence, the “Namo Amituofo” recitation really can bring us great comfort and peace of mind.
As human beings, we may encounter obstructions or adversities. Such as, not being able to go out, not having any cultivation, suffering from cancer or other sickness, impeded by karmic obstructions or a pandemic, funeral arrangements were inappropriately handled etc. All these may appear to be obstructions. However, as long as "Namo Amituofo" is recited, nothing can impede Amitabha Buddha's deliverance.
As Master Shandao had mentioned:
Sentient beings who recite "Namo Amituofo" can immediately clear the offenses of many kalpas. When they are dying, Amitabha and the sacred assembly will appear naturally to welcome them. This cannot be impeded by any negative karma. Therefore (recitation of "Namo Amituofo") is known as an 'augmentative cause'.
Due to the power of Amitabha Buddha's vow as an augmentative cause, regardless of reciting the Buddha's name under whatever circumstances, negative karma or offenses will be eradicated. When we recite "Namo Amituofo," Amitabha Buddha will naturally appear to receive and deliver the dying or deceased person to the Pure Land. Therefore, regardless of evil karma, karmic offenses or karmic obstructions, none can impede Amitabha Buddha from delivering sentient beings to the Pure Land. This is similar to the analogy of darkness and light. Darkness disappears the very same moment light appears. There's no way darkness can obstruct light from coming in. Isn't that so? (End)
Translation of excerpt from Master Jing Ben's dharma talk based on April 2020 "Rite of Transcendental Deliverance through Amitabha-recitation"
中文原稿 / 净本法师 述
2020年3月，马来西亚政府宣布，所有的宗教活动都要禁止，不能出国，也不鼓励外出；理所当然的，我们本来提供的外出助念结缘佛事，就没办法进行。
这时，刚好有一个莲友来电说：「她姊姊即将要过世了。」这位姊姊得到了癌症，正在医院治疗，而当时的情况已经确定没有办法挽救了，就送回家里。所以，妹妹就来电请示我：「到底要怎麽处理？」。
姊姊回来没多久就断气了，且过世的时候样子很难看。听她家人说，她的眼睛、嘴巴张得大大的，因是癌症过世，嘴巴也流出许多血。那时，已经开始限制人民外出，没有办法安排助念。所以，我就在电话上跟家属说：「现在最重要的就是先念佛，其他身後事都可以先不用处理；反正姊姊（亡者）已经回到家里，也就是自己可以做主。」
那时，我也通知其他莲友在各自家里念佛，也就是远程地为亡者助念。我就跟家属说：「阿弥陀佛是没有障碍的，只要我们有念佛，不管在那里念、多少人念，统统都会有感应；至於，要处理身後事的那些殡仪馆、葬仪社，之後再通知也无妨，现在先念佛。」
因为那时已经接近傍晚了，如果要助念可能会念到隔天，且亡者又是癌症过世的，要念佛这麽久，不知道遗体会不会有问题？这是家属的担心，也是一个合理的担心。因为一般人的理解：人过世以後，身体会变化。而且，亡者还是癌症过世的，嘴巴是流血的。
家属後来还是先联系了殡仪馆、葬仪社，跟他们预定第二天过来准备棺木等事宜。当时，那些工作人员跟家属说：「这个遗体要放到明天早上恐怕不行，就算是等到明天早上再处理，还是要先给遗体放上乾冰才好。」家属拗不过他们，就先把亡者的遗体放上乾冰。
就这样，经过几位家人在身旁念佛，本来亡者的眼睛、嘴巴睁得大大的，但念了佛以後，就慢慢的阖上了，脸色也慢慢的变得红润了，嘴巴也变得安详有微笑了，比刚断气时那种难看的相好看得太多了。
更不可思议的是，第二天早上，葬仪社、殡仪馆的人来为亡者处理的时候，发现她的身体柔软到不可思议，手脚的关节非常的柔软，不像一般过世的人，关节硬到像木头。而且，亡者已经放上乾冰十多个小时，那些工作人员就说：「从来没有看过一个过世的人放了乾冰十多个小时，身体还会这麽柔软。」家属看到都感到很安慰，真的是佛力不可思议。
这次因为疫情的关系，身後事就简单的处理。我跟家属说：「其实这样子更好，全程可以为亡者简单专一的念佛。」
更想不到的是，出殡的当天早上，亡者的儿子就梦到他妈妈了。他说：「现在看到的妈妈变得年轻了，而且长肉了。」而且他妈妈还跟他说，她来到净土很高兴，也劝儿子念佛，以後可以往生净土。她还说：「连祖母现在都在这里。」这位祖母就是亡者的妈妈。
以前祖母过世的时候，也有安排念「南无阿弥陀佛」（助念），她的一个女儿是念佛的，就是连系我们的这位莲友。但是，当时他们念完佛，祖母的身体并不柔软，所以她女儿（莲友）就一直罣碍，不知祖母有没有往生极乐世界。但是现在，亡者竟然在梦里跟她儿子说：「你的祖母也在极乐世界，也到净土了。」
所以，念佛法门真的很殊胜，只要念佛，肯定就是阿弥陀佛的接引，不管当时我们有没有看到任何的感应，不管身体有没有什麽柔软的瑞相，这些都不管，只要念佛，就绝对能够到极乐世界。
这件事发生在我们吉隆坡净土宗念佛会的附近，正好是在疫情期间，大家都无法出门，无法安排助念，连亡者本身对佛法也是似懂非懂，只是过世的时候家人在身旁念佛而已，结果阿弥陀佛照样接引。这样的法门真的给我们安慰，给我们安心。
我们人或许有障碍：不能出门啦、没有修行啦、癌症啦、病痛啦、业障啦、疫情啦、身後事处理不好种种的，这些事都是障碍；但是只要念佛，对阿弥陀佛来说，什麽障碍都没有。
像善导大师说的：众生称念，即除多劫罪；命欲终时，佛与圣众自来迎接；诸邪业系无能碍者，故名「增上缘」也。
因为有阿弥陀佛愿力为增上缘，不管我们在什麽情况下念佛，都可以灭罪，念了佛自然就有阿弥陀佛的接引；有阿弥陀佛的接引，不管任何的邪业、恶业、逆缘，统统不会障碍阿弥陀佛的救度。就好像黑暗和光明一样，光一到，黑暗是阻止不了的，是不是？（完）
节录自净本法师2020年4月12号《念佛超荐》开示 Youtube Click
