[104] How We Smelled Extraordinary Fragrance During Support-Chanting
我们如何助念时闻到异香
About a month ago, the doctor of my 87-year-old Aunt informed that she only has two to three months more to live. Upon hearing this, we sent an Āmítuófó (阿弥陀佛) chanting link to my cousin, telling her to play it as often as possible: https://purelanders.com/mp3.
[Note 1: It is best to offer at least concise guidance (开示) first, such as that stated at https://purelanders.com/wake, to encourage sincere reciting of Āmítuófó’s name. It is also better if there is ‘live’ sincere support-chanting (助念) in person, to better motivate the person to also recite sincerely. Near the moment of departure, there should be scheduling of shifts to offer guidance and support-chanting around the clock.]
On Monday (22 May), my cousin called to say her Mum is in a critical condition. My wife (Hui Keow) and I went to her house and placed the Dhāraṇī Blanket (陀罗尼被) on my Aunt. We also pasted an Āmítuófó picture on the wall directly facing her. We did a little chanting and reminded the family members to not immediately touch her, or to cry in front of her when she passes on.
[Note 2: The blessed Rebirth Blanket (往生被) helps to eliminate evil karma and offer protection against any possibly present karmic creditors (冤亲债主).]
[Note 3: The image of Āmítuófó offers visual refuge for those still energetic, with eyes open occasionally. It serves as a focal point, so that there will not be looking at other distracting people and items instead. More importantly, it is a reminder for the dying to be mindful of his name.]
[Note 4: Not touching or moving the body is to not disturb the dying or deceased person physically, who will will have magnified sensitivity once in the dying state, and after death, if the consciousness is still within the body.]
[Note 5: Not crying is to not disturb the dying or deceased person emotionally by stirring up attachment (to those grieving) and aversion (to the noise).]
On Wednesday (24 May) morning, when my cousin was routinely cleaning my still living Aunt, to her surprise, my Aunt opened her eyes and stared at the Āmítuófó picture. For the past few days, she did not open her eyes or respond to anything at all.
[Note 6: This sudden burst of energy is usually the final bit of energy left, that should not be mistaken as a miraculous total recovery. Staring at the picture could be due to her having already seen Āmítuófó due to her silent recitation of his name, thus finding the picture familiar. In any case, as above in Note 3, the picture is functioning as hoped.]
Eventually, on the same day at 4.45 pm, my cousin called to inform that her Mum has passed on. We went over to her house immediately and started to offer guidance and support-chanting till beyond 11 pm, with a cousin continuing until 2 am.
[Note 7: Offering of post-death guidance and support-chanting (of three to eight or more hours) is important too, as most people (i.e. average persons) will not be reborn immediately upon death. The guidance text should inform that death has already occurred, (as can be seen at https://purelanders.com/wake too), so that there is greater sense of urgency to be mindful of Āmítuófó sincerely, before the winds of karma (业风) might sweep one away to elsewhere quickly.]
Their family members are with those of different faiths. One is a Buddhist, two are freethinkers and two are of other faiths. Seeing our efforts, one of the freethinkers joined in the chanting for 10 to 15 minutes.
[Note 8: Even if there is no one else who knows what to do, out of compassion, we should do what we can, which might or might not motivate others to join in too.]
In the midst of our chanting, Hui Keow smelled what was like sandalwood fragrance from the body, while I smelled what was like light flower fragrance. During our chanting, she saw slight moving of the chin, as the mouth closed gradually and peacefully.
[Note 9: This phenomenon of smelling fragrance is called ‘extraordinary fragrance filling the room’ (异香满堂), that arises due to Āmítuófó’s 32nd vow in the Immeasurable Life Sūtra《无量寿经》:
【第三十二：严饰超诸天人愿】
设我得佛，自地以上，至于虚空，宫殿楼观、池流华树，国土所有一切万物，皆以无量杂宝百千种香而共合成。严饰奇妙，超诸天人。其香普薰十方世界。菩萨闻者，皆修佛行。若不如是，不取正觉。
(Thirty-Second Vow Of Majestic Adornments Surpassing Those Of All Heavenly Beings)
If I attain Buddhahood, from the ground to above, reaching to the sky, palace halls, high towers, ponds, streams, flowers, trees, and all those ten thousand things in my land, will all be with immeasurable varied treasures, and a hundred thousand kinds of fragrances, thus together composed. These majestic adornments are unique and wonderful, surpassing those of all heavenly beings. Their fragrances universally perfume the ten directions’ worlds. Those Bodhisattvas who smell them, will all cultivate Buddha practices. If it is not thus, I shall not obtain Right Awakening.
In short, those who are sincerely mindful of Āmítuófó’s name will connect to and smell the fragrance of his blessings, that gives rise to inspiration to practise the Bodhisattva path. This is connected to Āmítuófó’s 33rd vow too:
【第三十三：蒙光触身获益愿】
设我得佛，十方无量不可思议诸佛世界众生之类，蒙我光明触其身者，身心柔软，超过天人。若不尔者，不取正觉。
(Thirty-Third Vow Of Receiving Light That Touches Body For Obtaining Benefits)
If I attain Buddhahood, of the ten directions’ immeasurable and inconceivable all Buddha worlds’ kinds of sentient beings, those who receive my bright light that touches their bodies, will have bodies and minds gentle and soft, that surpass those of heavenly beings. If it is not thus, I shall not obtain Right Awakening.
In short, anyone sincerely mindful of Āmítuófó’s name will connect to and receive his light of blessings, that gives rise to great physical bliss and mental bliss.
The fragrance (香) and light (光) of his blessings are equally immeasurable in outreach, thus able to be experienced at the same time. Thus is there the expression called ‘adornment with fragrance and light’ (香光庄严) in the Great Buddha Crown’s Śūraṅgama Sūtra’s Section On Great Power Arrived Bodhisattva’s Perfect Penetration With Mindfulness Of Buddha《大佛顶首楞严经大势至菩萨念佛圆通章》:
若众生心，忆佛念佛，现前当来，必定见佛，去佛不远。不假方便，自得心开。如染香人，身有香气，此则名曰香光庄严。
If sentient beings’ minds, recollect the Buddha [Āmítuófó], or are mindful of the Buddha(‘s name), manifesting in the present or in the future, they will definitely see the Buddha, with the Buddha not far away. Not needing skilful means, by themselves attaining awakening of their minds. Like persons perfumed by incense, whose bodies have fragrance, this is then named ‘Adornment With Fragrance And Light’.
Fragrance and light might be experienced differently and/or separately, according to one’s affinity. The deceased should have experienced them together, which is why there was change in expression to be peaceful (as if alive [面相如生]), by connecting to his light, although only the fragrance was witnessed by the support-chanters. The fragrance was related to differently because we tend to associate even extraordinary fragrance to ordinary fragrances that we are more habitually familiar with.]
During the wake, we continue to offer guidance and support-chanting until the day of cremation. When the coffin was entering the furnace, we continued chanting, as the family members kept calling their Mum to go to Āmítuófó’s Pure Land. Rejoice!
[Note 10: To be more focused for guiding and supporting the deceased in case the consciousness is still around, it is best to remind concisely by saying this aloud together – ‘Be mindful of Āmítuófó’s name, till you see Āmítuófó, to follow Āmítuófó’ (念佛，见佛，跟佛), followed by reciting of his name aloud together.]
Námó Āmítuófó : Siew Hiong & Hui Keow
30 May 2023
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https://purelanders.com/2023/02/07/the-auspicious-sign-of-the-facial-appearance-as-if-alive
