Did The Deceased Or Support-Chanters Connect To Āmítuófó?
是亡者或助念者感应了阿弥陀佛？
Question: During support-chanting (助念) for the deceased, if there are auspicious signs (瑞相), how do we know if the connection (感应) is between Āmítuófó (阿弥陀佛) and the deceased, or between Āmítuófó and the support-chanters?
Answer: According to the 13th Patriarch of the Pure Land Tradition Great Master Yìnguāng (净土宗十三祖印光大师) in ‘The Three Great Essentials When Approaching Death’《临终三大要》, a definitive sign is final warmth on the crown of the head, which is a sign of having departed for Pure Land (净土). He taught that this sign cannot be ‘forcibly falsified’.
Among other auspicious signs, the most simple sign we can look for would be expression of the deceased. Has it transformed from suffering or being neutral, to be at peace, with definite bliss, the ‘facial appearance as if alive’ (面相如生)?
Perhaps the ‘best’ sign is ‘to know in advance the time of departure’ (预知时至). Did the deceased depart on time as announced earlier?
Other auspicious signs might be due to the support-chanters’ own experiences only, due to their sincere mindfulness of Āmítuófó’s name. However, amidst sincere support-chanting, with his great compassion, wisdom and skilful means, it is unlikely that Āmítuófó gives rise to conditions for confusion.
In brief, the more signs there are, the more convincing it is on the whole that both the support-chanters and the deceased practised well.
相关文章
Related Articles:
The Third Great Essential When Approaching Death (on warmth of crown)
临终第三大要
https://purelanders.com/2015/12/30/the-third-great-essential-%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E5%A4%A7%E8%A6%81-pure-land-passport-section-3d
The Auspicious Sign Of The Facial Appearance As If Alive
面相如生之瑞相
https://purelanders.com/2023/02/07/the-auspicious-sign-of-the-facial-appearance-as-if-alive
How To Know If The Deceased Has Reached Pure Land？
如何知道往生者已达净土？
15 Auspicious Signs
15 种瑞相
(How To Seek Advice For Difficult Decisions?)
https://purelanders.com/2020/01/18/how-to-know-if-the-deceased-has-reached-pure-land-how-to-seek-advice-for-difficult-decisions
