Amitabha Buddha’s golden light engulfed dad’s whole being
Jarrod Li, written on 10-5-2021
Dear Venerable Jing Ben, I am writing this letter to share with you an experience I had. My name is Jarrod Li. I am from Pingtung, Taiwan, and I am 57 years old. In 1989, after I graduated from National Taiwan University, I went to the United States to pursue my master's degree. Later, I got married to an American and settled down in the United States. I am currently in Shanghai, managing a branch of a German-based company. Usually, I would go back to the United States in July and December of the year for a holiday and head back to Taiwan for the Chinese New Year.
🔸From [Uneasy] to [At ease]
I am grateful that Venerable Master Jing Ben has consistently shared Pure Land teachings on online platforms for the past few years.
Although I got to know of Buddhism in the United States back in 1999, I also got to know of the Pure Land teachings (I have been keeping up with my recitations and have stuck to a vegetarian diet for several years), yet, I still cannot be at ease. The Pure land teachings that I came across taught me that rebirth in Pure Land is difficult: 'Have to achieve deep concentration of single-mindedness that is free of defilements,’ 'if the mind is full of defilements, all recitations would go in vain,’ 'have to achieve the state where every thought of mine is about 'Namo Amituofo' recitation to get assurance of rebirth in Pure Land... After knowing these conditions, I felt that I have no hope of achieving rebirth in Pure Land in my lifetime. So, all along, I have had no confidence and because of my lack of confidence for rebirth, I added other practices such as chanting other mantras to make myself feel better.
Until one day, I came across Venerable Master Jing Ben's teachings on Youtube. Master Jing Ben always emphasizes that the practice of reciting 'Namo Amituofo' is the 'Easy Path'. The 'Easy Path' is about relying on Amitabha's power for rebirth. All rebirths in Pure Land are the results of Amitabha's great vows. After listening to these teachings, and looking back at what I have learned, I was enlightened to the differences between the Sacred Path (other schools’ teachings) and the Pure Land path (Pure Land school’s teachings). I was illuminated to the fact that gaining rebirth in Pure land is all about relying on the power of Amitabha's vow! It has nothing to do with our self-cultivation power. So, my previous understanding that ‘only recitation with a pure mind is counted’ is not true. In fact, every single recitation regardless of the state of mind will not go in vain. Reciting 'Namo Amituofo' and gaining rebirth in the Pure Land is so simple and easy.
Later, through Master Jing Ben's recommendation, I listened to Venerable Master Jing Zong's teachings. That was how I learned about Great Master Shan Dao's Pure Land teachings [Note: Great Master Shan Dao is de factor founder of Pure Land Buddhism]. This has strengthened my will on 'Namo Amituofo' recitation and also makes me feel at ease with my recitation.
From then on, I have dropped all the other practices and focus solely on reciting 'Namo Amituofo'. I felt so blessed and joyful that I have chanced upon Master Jing Ben, expounding of Great Master Shan Dao's Pure Land teachings.
🔸Dad passed on and 'Namo Amituofo' recitation
I also wish to share an account related to my dad's gaining rebirth in the Pure Land. My dad passed away in 2017. His age was 90 years old. My dad had severe dementia because of his old age. As I lived abroad most of the time, we sent him to an old-folks home in Pingtung, Taiwan so he could have a safe and conducive environment. My young brother lived in the same area and therefore would visit and look after my father there.
My dad passed away on a Monday midnight at around 3 to 4 A.M. I was in Shanghai. Once I was alerted to my dad's passing, I immediately flew back to Pingtung, Taiwan. On Tuesday, my wife headed back to Pingtung from the United States as well. As my brother and sister do not have any Buddhist friends, they could not engage any assisted recitation group to recite for our dad. Of course, there was also a lack of Buddhist guidance for my dad. So, upon my dad's passing, my brother engaged a funeral parlor to arrange for my dad's funeral. My dad's body was stored in a refrigerated coffin and transferred to the mourning hall at Pingtung.
While I was on a plane heading back to Taiwan, I was reciting 'Namo Amituofo' until I reached the mourning hall. My brother was busy with all the funeral arrangements. My sister and brother-in-law were folding joss paper. When my wife arrived, she joined me to recite 'Namo Amituofo' for my dad. As my wife is an American, her proficiency in mandarin was the bare minimum. She is a Catholic as well. Ever since she got married to me, she was willing to learn to recite 'Namo Amituofo' from me, and she only knows how to recite 'Namo Amituofo'. I told my brother and sister to join us in the recitation of 'Namo Amituofo' for our dad as well. We recited 'Namo Amituofo' for our dad in the morning and head back home for lunch. After lunch, we headed back to the mourning hall again to continue with the recitation until the evening before heading home.
🔸Saw dad got saved by Amitabha
In this manner, my wife and I recited 'Namo Amituofo' for our dad. On the fifth day of my dad's funeral, my wife suddenly cried while reciting 'Namo Amituofo.’ She kept paying respect by bowing down towards the direction of my dad's body while intermittently turning her head back at me. I was clueless about her actions and continued with my recitation. Later, unable to suppress herself, my wife ran out of the mourning hall and cried loudly.
Later, I asked her: "Did something happen inside the mourning hall? Why were you so agitated?"
My wife replied: "Did you see anything just now?"
I said: "No, I saw nothing."
My wife then said: "While we were reciting earlier, I saw a gigantic golden-colored Buddha came from above from our dad's direction. So, I kept paying respect to Buddha by bowing down. That was why I turned my head back at you as I wanted to ask if you had also seen the Buddha."
My wife continued and said: "The Amitabha that came from above is golden-colored. Not long after, I also saw our dad standing right before Amitabha with golden light engulfing him. (My wife also said that father was in younger appearance). A moment later, our dad followed Amitabha and rose up and disappeared. That was why I could not hold myself any longer and went out of the hall to cry. "My wife is a Catholic and only knows about 'Namo Amituofo' recitation. Other than that, she knows nothing about Buddhism and does not know what to expect when one passes on. So, she could not have made this up herself. The only possibility is that what she said was the true account of what she saw.
Initially, I thought that there would be certain phenomena on the dead body to signify rebirth in the Pure Land, or there would be a lingering fragrance or appearance of a lotus flower. However, after listening to Master Jing Ben's teachings, I got to know that gaining rebirth in Pure Land is not about whether we observed any phenomena; Rebirth in Pure Land only depends on whether we have recited 'Namo Amituofo'. Rebirth is assured with recitation even though no other phenomenon is observed. Maybe not all beings reborn in Pure Land immediately during passing on, the recitation of 'Namo Amituofo' still works after death, Amitabha will still come and deliver them.
I gained comfort in Master Jing Ben's teachings. Before my dad's passing, he had been sick for seven or eight years, and he also contracted dementia in the later years. He did not come in touch with Buddhism teachings when he was young. And later, after he acquired dementia, he could not recognize people. When I called him from abroad, I got him to recite 'Namo Amituofo' just a few times. However, even with such conditions, Amitabha still came to deliver our dad to Pure Land just because we recited 'Namo Amituofo' during his funeral. So, no obstacles could stop the compassionate deliverance of Amitabha Buddha from saving us. This is inconceivable. 'Namo Amituofo' recitation is really the 'Easy Path'!
Grateful to Venerable Master Jing Ben's discourse and guidance. I wish to share this experience with you. 'Namo Amituofo'. (End)
🔸Master Jing Ben's commentary:
Amitabha said in the “Infinite Life Sutra”: Shall I become a Buddha, I shall be named ‘Namo Amituofo,’ all sentient beings who hear of my name, shall come to my Pure Land; All who come will have a golden body just like Buddha, complete and perfect appearance just like Buddha. With the great compassionate one arises in Pure Land, one will be able to benefits all other sentient beings.
Quoting the “Contemplation of Infinite Life Sutra”: Recite 'Namo Amituofo' can eliminate the evil karma that binds one to birth and death for eighty kotis of kalpas.
Therefore, all sentient beings, regardless of whether one is sage or a layperson, a heavenly being or human being, in the bad or good realm, shall one chance upon 'Namo Amituofo', all shall be saved equally.
In the above account, the person who gained rebirth is one who had dementia. His daughter-in-law, who assisted him to recite, is also a Catholic, and all she knows was to recite 'Namo Amituofo' only. Despite that, Amitabha still came to deliver him to Pure Land. This shows that there is no condition for Amitabha's deliverance. Among all the Buddhist practices, 'Namo Amituofo' recitation is the simplest and the most remarkable practice. May all sentient beings able to recite "Namo Amituofo" as early as possible and, be protected and delivered by Amitabha Buddha.
中文原稿：外国媳妇守灵念佛 公公蒙佛接引净土
李家榕 2021年5月10日
尊敬的净本师父，来信是想要跟您分享我的一个经历。我的名字是李家榕（Jarrod Li），台湾屏东人，今年57岁。于台湾大学毕业后，1989年就到美国就读硕士；之后就在美国当地成家立业（太太是美国人）。目前是在上海管理德国分公司，通常在7月和12月会回到美国度假，而只有等到农历新年才会回到台湾过年。
🔸「不安」转「安心」
我是要感谢净本法师一直以来在网络开示，因为虽然从1999年开始，我在美国已经接触到佛法，也知道念佛法门了，这些年来都在念佛吃素，但是一直无法安心，因为所接触到都是一般通途的教理：「一定要没有妄想，一心不乱地念佛才行」、「在妄想中念佛，喊破喉咙也没用」、「每一个念头都要是佛号才能往生」种种的…这样的标准一听，就知道自己此生注定没有办法做到，所以一直没信心自己今生能往生极乐世界。也因为这样，平日也兼背诵楞严咒、大悲咒、种种咒语，让自己感觉好些。
直到有一天，在Youtube上，看到师父您的开示，句句都是讲解念佛是「易行道」、是靠佛力得度、有弥陀大愿加持……，再对照以前所学的教理，才发现圣道门和净土门有着明显不同！原来只要念佛就能仰靠弥陀大愿力得度，跟我们凡夫的功夫一点关系都没有，所以句句佛号都不会白费，念佛就是这么简单容易。
后来经过师父的介绍，也聆听净宗法师的开示，得知善导大师所讲的「机法两种深信」的种种净土宗教理，更让我坚定念佛，更能安心念佛下去，不再理会自己妄想不妄想了。
所以从那个时候开始，我已经把其他经咒放下，每天专一称念南无阿弥陀佛（常常播放「慧净上人」的佛号跟着念），其他时间，有事无事就动动嘴巴念佛。能够遇到师父所弘扬善导大师法脉的净土宗，现在感到非常的幸运和幸福。
🔸父亲去世 守灵念佛
在此想一并分享家父往生的感应事迹。我父亲于2017年往生，享寿九十岁。由于我和太太孩子长时间都居住在海外。父亲晚年因老人痴呆渐严重，为使其有安全妥善的照顾环境，所以让他进住在屏东的养老院，每天皆由弟弟探望与照顾。妹妹嫁在台北，所以平日家理所有事情都由弟弟处理安排，我与妹妹都尊重他的决定，毕竟我们都不在父母身边。
父亲是星期一凌晨三四点过世的，当时我人在上海，一得到消息，立即搭机飞回屏东，太太则于星期二从美国飞回台湾。因为弟弟与妹妹没有认识的学佛莲友，当时也请不到助念团，所以也就没有安排任何助念，当然更没有善知识的临终开示。因此父亲往生的第一时间，弟弟即请礼仪公司，以他们所谓的「佛教礼仪」来为父亲进行后事的安排。父亲是在医院过世的，因为我们子女都希望能尽量让他减少痛苦，所以早已签立「放弃急救同意书」。 往生后，弟弟按礼仪公司的进行步骤，很快就进入冷藏棺中，放在屏东市殡仪馆所租的一处灵堂。
在回台湾的飞机上，一直到灵堂，我都一直念佛，弟弟也因为诸多丧仪后事有赖于他不断忙进忙出的，妹妹与妹夫于一旁协助折金银纸。太太到达后，大部分时间她陪我一同念佛。太太是美国人，只懂得一点点中文，而且从小是天主教，但自从结婚后，太太接受我教她念佛，而且她就只会念佛。当时我也告诉弟妹，如果他们折金银纸折累了或有空，可以跟我们一起念佛，念多少都可以；或者我们念佛念累了，由他们接替念。
就这样，当时我与太太及弟妹是早上念佛，中午回家吃饭；用完餐过来，再从下午念到傍晚才回家。
🔸「看到」父亲蒙佛接引
在守灵期间，我和太太就这样地为父亲念佛。第五天，我们在念佛时，突然太太不由自主地流泪，同时一直往父亲那边礼拜。且时不时地一直转头看我，然后又望回去父亲那边。我当时不知她为何如此，未太注意，还是一直念佛。且后来，太太忍不住跑去外面大哭。
过后我问她：「刚才里面发生了什么事情吗？怎么会这么激动？」
太太回问：「刚才你有看到什么吗？」
我说：「没有。什么都没看到。」
太太就讲：「我们刚才才念佛一段时间，突然看到一尊金色的大佛自爸爸那边的墙壁上方降了下来。所以我就不停礼拜念佛。当时我回头看你，就是要问你，是不是也看到了。」
太太接着又说:「那尊从天而降的阿弥陀佛都是金色身的。随后不久就看到父亲也出现站在阿弥陀佛前面，全身都是笼罩在金光当中（当时太太看到的父亲样子也是比较年轻的样子）。再过一阵子，父亲就跟阿弥陀佛一起升上去走了，所以才忍不住跑出去大哭。」太太是美国天主教徒，除了知道念佛之外，对佛教特别是往生情况不清楚，所以这不会是她自己编出来的事情，这些确实是她如实呈述所亲见的事实。
原本我以为，要往生净土，通常临终是要在遗体上看到什么瑞相，或者出现什么异香，或者看到莲花……。但是后来从净本师父的开示得知，原来往生净土是不看临终有没有瑞相，往生净土就只看有没有念佛而已（确实守灵期间，我和太太及弟妹就是在为父亲念佛）；所以就算没有看到遗体有什么瑞相，念佛还是照样得度。再者，临终时即使未马上往生，过世后于中阴身阶段，家属为亲人念佛，还是能感召弥陀救度的。
师父这样的开示让我感到安慰，因为父亲在往生前，其实已经卧病七八年了，最后几年还得到老人痴呆症。除了早年未学佛，晚年患痴呆，更不太认得人。只是每次打电话回去，要父亲念几声佛号而已。但没有想到，父亲这样的状况，也能因为我们孩子念佛，蒙阿弥陀佛亲自来接引。所以「南无阿弥陀佛」大慈大悲的救苦救难不受任何时空阻碍，非常不可思议，念佛法门真的是「易行道」！
感恩师父的开示引导。
就以这个经历跟师父分享。
南无阿弥陀佛
李家榕 2021年5月10日 述
🔸净本法师按语：
阿弥陀佛在《无量寿经》就说：「我若成正觉，立名无量寿，众生闻此号，俱来我剎中；如佛金色身，妙相悉圆满，亦以大悲心，利益诸群品。」在《观经》又言：「称南无阿弥陀佛，称佛名故，除八十亿劫生死之罪。」所以十方众生，不管圣人凡夫、不管天道人道、不管善道恶道，凡是得遇「南无阿弥陀佛」，一律都能平等得度。故事中的往生者，生前是老人痴呆之病人；为其念佛者之媳妇，只会念佛的美国天主教徒，虽然如此，还是能感召弥陀接引救度，诚可谓弥陀救度无条件也、佛门最简易殊胜之法门也。望法界众生都早遇念佛法门，亦皆得佛护念救度。
南无阿弥陀佛
