死前助念的十大重要理由
[38] Top Ten Reasons Why PRE-Death Support-Chanting Is Important
[1] Pivot: Right before and right after death, these are pivotal durations and moments that are potentially dangerous, as the consciousness of the deceased might quickly wander off, (although the average person will not take rebirth instantly after death). This is why there must be offering of guidance (开示) and support-chanting (助念) before death, as death might occur soon, and right after death, as death has already occurred.
[2] Acceptance: With clear informing of the deceased that he or she is dying when offering guidance, there should be a greater sense of finality for him or her approaching, thus having a greater sense of urgency, to focus on following the guidance and support-chanting offered. (If the dying person has doubts, be they communicated directly or anticipated on their behalf, they should be cleared quickly.)
[3] Urgency: Since death is about to occur, to be followed soon with the inevitable touching and moving of the body, it is urgent to guide and support the deceased person’s consciousness to connect to Āmítuófó (阿弥陀佛) as soon as possible, so as to reach his Pure Land.
[We, the ‘healthier’, are also already dying as we speak, day by day, night by night, and moment by moment. Thus is it urgent to offer guidance and support-chanting to one another (i.e. ourselves and others), for death and rebirth might occur suddenly to anyone, even now. In this sense, any practice of mindfulness of Buddha (念佛) is support-chanting too, to prepare for our final moments.]
[4] Painfulness: With the deceased person’s consciousness yet to disconnect from the brain, thus possibly feeling much pain and discomfort from sickness of the body, with much disturbing distraction of pain, this makes it harder for the deceased to focus on the guidance and support-chanting offered. Precisely because of this, there should be proper and repeated guidance and support-chanting, to encourage the person to take his or her mind off the pain with sincere mindfulness of Āmítuófó’s name. With firm connection to him thus, pain will subside, disappear and even be replaced by blissfulness.
[5] Sincerity: With the finality of death approaching, support-chanters present tend to be more sincere and focused then, thus more motivated and effective when offering guidance and support-chanting.
[6] Transformation: As there is naturally much sadness for many family members and friends before death of the dying, getting them to focus on offering guidance and support-chanting sincerely helps to transform the immediate sadness, that might otherwise spur attachment in the dying and bungle the matter of guiding to Pure Land, to become utmost sincerity. (There must not be crying and touching, which will cause emotional suffering and physical pain when the dying process progresses.)
[7] Wo/manpower: With the finality of death approaching, more, most or all family members are likely to gather, thus with more united to offer guidance and support-chanting sincerely. (There should be arranging of shifts for sustainable support-chanting.) Their collective presence can offer more assurance to the deceased. (However, potentially troublesome relatives and ‘friends’ should be kept away.)
[8] Understanding: As the consciousness of the dying person lacks the ability to read the minds of those present, there has to be increased efforts to clearly offer guidance and support-chanting, such as by reciting louder. With the consciousness still connected to the brain, there will also be mind-confusing effects from drugs like painkillers.
[9] Protection: With sincere recitation of Āmítuófó’s name by the dying person, boosted by the efforts of support-chanters, there will be creating of much meritorious virtues and protection against karmic creditors (冤亲债主) for the dying person. (Karmic creditors who heed the guidance and follow the support-chanting can reach Pure Land too.)
[10] Aids: When dying, there might be enough time to find, bring and use most external aids available, such as the Rebirth Blanket (往生被), for offering blessings for protection and elimination of evil karmas. What more, with many support-chanters present, together creating much meritorious virtues for the dying person, this is surely one of the best moments for helping him or her to reach Pure Land swiftly.
死后助念的十大重要理由
[39] Top Ten Reasons Why POST-Death Support-Chanting Is Important
[1] Pivot: Right before and right after death, these are pivotal durations and moments that are potentially dangerous, as the consciousness of the deceased might quickly wander off, (although the average person will not take rebirth instantly after death). This is why there must be offering of guidance (开示) and support-chanting (助念) before death, as death might occur soon, and right after death, as death has already occurred.
[2] Acceptance: With clear informing of the deceased that he or she has died when offering guidance, there should be a greater sense of finality for him or her, thus having a greater sense of urgency, to focus on following the guidance and support-chanting offered.
[3] Urgency: Since death has occurred already, to be followed soon with the inevitable touching and moving of the body, it is urgent to guide and support the deceased person’s consciousness to connect to Āmítuófó (阿弥陀佛) as soon as possible, so as to reach his Pure Land.
[4] Painlessness: With the deceased person’s consciousness disconnected from the brain, thus not feeling any pain and discomfort from sickness of the body, even if still attached to the body (if not touched or moved), there will be no more disturbing distraction of pain, even if there was great pain when dying. This makes it much easier for the deceased to focus on the guidance and support-chanting offered.
[5] Sincerity: With the finality of death, support-chanters present tend to be more sincere and focused then, thus more motivated and effective when offering guidance and support-chanting.
[6] Transformation: As there is naturally much grief for many survivors right after death of the deceased, getting them to focus on offering guidance and support-chanting sincerely helps to transform the immediate grief, that might otherwise spur attachment in the deceased and bungle the matter of guiding to Pure Land, to become utmost sincerity. (There must not be crying and touching, which will cause emotional suffering and physical pain.)
[7] Wo/manpower: With the finality of death, more, most or all family members are likely to gather, thus with more united to offer guidance and support-chanting sincerely. (Immediately after death, taking shifts for support-chanting is no longer needed.) Their collective presence can offer more assurance to the deceased. (However, potentially troublesome relatives and ‘friends’ should be kept away.)
[8] Understanding: As the consciousness of the deceased has the ability to read the minds of those present, there will be increased ability to clearly understand the guidance and support-chanting offered, and to appreciate the sincerity of those offering them. With disconnection from the brain, there will also be no more mind-confusing effects from drugs like painkillers.
[9] Light: With sincere recitation of Āmítuófó’s name, being much more sensitive now, the consciousness of the deceased will be able to see his golden light intermingling with the light from the support-chanters’ Buddha-nature. This will greatly inspire and motivate the deceased to also recite the Buddha’s name sincerely, to connect to him.
[10] Aids: By the time of death, it is usually already with the most external aids available, such as the Rebirth Blanket (往生被), for offering blessings for protection and elimination of evil karmas. What more, with many support-chanters present, together creating much meritorious virtues for the deceased, this is surely one of the best moments for helping him or her to reach Pure Land swiftly.
相关教理
Related Teachings:
死亡前后与丧礼中后的诵念
Chanting When Dying, After Death, During And After Wakes
https://purelanders.com/wake
《临终三大要》
The Three Great Essentials When Approaching Death
https://purelanders.com/now
净土教理十大系列
Pure Land Teachings’ Top Ten Series
https://purelanders.com/shida
