[114] In The Early Morning Waking, Seeing Golden Light
早晨醒时见金光
Testimony:
A few days ago, when I opened my eyes upon waking early in the morning, I saw bright golden-orange light (黄金光) fill up my dark room’s ceiling for a few seconds. I thought it might be from the Buddha shrine but my room was not near. This is the second time I have seen the light.
I usually practise Niànfó (念佛: mindfulness of Āmítuófó name [阿弥陀佛]) in the morning and before dinner, though I might have practised just before bed that night too. What does this experience mean?
🙏 南无阿弥陀佛 🙏 Námó Āmítuófó : Serene NHP
1 October 2024
Notes:
[1] First Experience: The first experience, ‘In The Night When Sleeping Mindful Of The Buddha Seeing His Light (夜间睡中念佛见光)’ can be seen with notes at https://purelanders.com/2023/03/15/97-in-the-night-when-sleeping-mindful-of-the-buddha-seeing-his-light.
[2] Golden Light: Golden light is associated with that of Āmítuófó (Amitā[bha] Buddha), with this Buddha light (佛光) being the carrier of his blessings. Since it is immeasurable (无量) in nature, it actually fills all of space in all directions, even if we do not see it all the time, due to much distractions and weak connection most of the time.
[3] Regular Connection: With regular practice of mindfulness of Buddha (念佛) in everyday life, there will be more or less constant connection with Āmítuófó. Even though it is good to connect with him all the time mindfully, this is ‘near’ impossible in this defiled land (秽土) due to its many distractions. It is however possible constantly once in Āmítuófó’s Pure Land (净土).
[4] ‘Spontaneous’ Connection: With adequate sincere and regular practice of Niànfó in everyday life, it will be easier for Āmítuófó to connect to us, who is always on standby, and for us to ‘catch glimpses’ of his connection to us. One of the easiest ways to experience this connection is to see his light, while one of the hardest ways is to see his entire form, although he will be able to manifest to receive us when we are utmost sincerely mindful before departing from this life.
[5] Inspiration And Encouragement: Sight of the Buddha’s light, which is an auspicious sign (瑞相), should be seen as inspiring encouragement, a reminder to continue sincere Niànfó in everyday life, for continually receiving Āmítuófó’s blessings. The light also reminds us that Āmítuófó’s light is really shining everywhere to offer blessings to those with affinity constantly, even when not expecting it, when not ‘exactly’ doing Niànfó. The Buddha’s light also helps to awaken the natural virtues within our Buddha-nature (佛性), such as compassion. (More on this in Note [7] below.)
[6] Bright Light: ‘Coincidentally’ so timely, the editor happened to add the following section to the article titled ‘Āmítuófó Has Long Since Prepared How To Save And Deliver Us (阿弥陀佛早已预备如何救度吾人)’ at https://purelanders.com/2024/09/17/amituofo-has-long-since-prepared-how-to-save-and-deliver-us less than ten minutes before receiving the sharing above:
‘[A]s long as we already have the Three Provisions (三资粮) of Faith, Aspiration and Practice adequately in everyday life, he [Āmítuófó] will be able to urge us to be mindful, thus connecting to him in time… Even if not able to connect by default due to some distracting situations, with already strongly forged affinity, as karmically deserved by default, Āmítuófó will be able to spur us to connect to him, for example, by letting us see his auspicious Buddha light first. This is attested by the following vow of Āmítuófó in ‘The Sūtra In Which The Buddha Speaks Of Amitā Samyaksaṃbuddha Sarvalokadhātu Delivering Over’《佛说阿弥陀三耶三佛萨楼佛檀过度人道经》:
“The Twenty-Fourth Vow: If, when I become a Buddha, I will enable my crown within, to have bright light absolutely excellent, superior to brightness of the sun and moon, by a hundred thousand koṭis of ten thousandfold, absolutely surpassing all Buddhas. With bright light flaming and illuminating, in all innumerable heavens below, in places of dimness and darkness, all will have great brightness. All heavenly and human people, kinds of larva, flying and wriggling beings, seeing my bright light, will have none of those not with the compassionate mind doing good, with all enabled to come to be born in my land. Attaining this vow, thus becoming a Buddha. If not attaining this vow, to the end not becoming a Buddha.” (第二十四愿，使某作佛时，令我顶中，光明绝好，胜于日月之明，百千亿万倍，绝胜诸佛。光明焰照，诸无央数天下，幽冥之处，皆当大明。诸天人民，蜎飞蠕动之类，见我光明，莫不慈心作善者，皆令来生我国。得是愿，乃作佛；不得是愿，终不作佛。)‘
相关感应录
Related Testimonies:
[97] In The Night When Sleeping Mindful Of The Buddha Seeing His Light
夜间睡中念佛见光
https://purelanders.com/2023/03/15/97-in-the-night-when-sleeping-mindful-of-the-buddha-seeing-his-light
相关教理
Related Teachings:
Āmítuófó Has Long Since Prepared How To Save And Deliver Us
阿弥陀佛早已预备如何救度吾人
https://purelanders.com/2024/09/17/amituofo-has-long-since-prepared-how-to-save-and-deliver-us
佛中之王，光中极尊
The King Of Buddhas Within, With Utmost Honoured Light Within
阿弥陀佛光明无极
Amitābha Buddha’s Bright Light Is Without Limit
https://purelanders.com/2021/04/14/king-of-buddhas-within-with-utmost-honoured-light-within
