■Book 103 - The Great Spiritual Response Of Tantrayana
■Written by Master Sheng-yen Lu
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Why do living Buddha not seek rebirth in the West? Why do they seek rebirth life after life? Because many Living Buddhas made vows to come back to the samsara world to succour other human beings life after life. If you make the same vow, you will be a living Buddha in future. Otherwise you may have transmigration to the Western world or Maha Double Lotus Pond. I must have made a wrong vow (laughter), that is why I have to be in this world life after life. (applause)
I had been born in Tibet and Japan before. When I was in Japan, I was a famous religious leader, that is why I am a bit of male chauvinist, and must be more tolerant. I have to learn from Bodhisattvas, learn the six perfections, and the wisdom of ”tolerance”.
Once I was a tribal chief in Africa, another time I was in the Middle East, but I was never born in the States. I had many transmigrations now. As all of you have deep caustation with me (applause), when you see me, or when I see you, we look familiar to each other. Your blood and mine are connected somehow (applause). That is reason enough for me to bring all of you back to the Western Paradise, to the Maha Double Lotus Land. (applause)
When going for transmigration or rebirth, the feet will cold off upwardly, kneels, Dan Tian (four fingers below the navel), throat, and finally the head. The sense will be moved to the head and forced out for rebirth. On the other hand, if the head cools off first, than the throat, heart, Dan Tian, feet and finally the sole, this is the sign of rebirth in the hell realm.
What about from the eyes? It will be a moisture-born, to be born as fish, or other sea creatures, may be sashimi eaten by the Japanese. (laughter) What about from the ears? It will be rebirth by transformation. From the noses, it will be Egg-born. So is from the mouth. From the stomach or from Dan Tian, it will be womb born.
As I said before, at the moment of death, all kinds of illusions will appear, it is dreadful. From the dharma of liberation of Bardo (a state between death and rebirth), we know the sufferings - the bones and muscles will feel very painful. Then the blood stops flowing. The body experiences a volcano eruption. Everything including muscles and blood is annihilated. Then the internal as well as the external breathing, the Qi (air) will be topsy-turvy before coming to a complete halt.
The dead will enter in a stage of illusion. It is pitch dark everywhere. Things that the dead frightened most will appear whenever a forward step is taken. There is no where to hide. Suddenly the deceased sees a hole nearby, and his head goes in.
Alas, when he opens his eyes again, he is in a pig sty. His nose is longer now, his hands become the pig's legs, and he has four legs. This is one of the transmigrations in the six realms of existence.
At the time of death only the ”right mind” can save you from sufferings. It is derived from daily cultivation. When the sense is about to leave the deceased's body, a revered monk may teach the sense how to navigate by giving instructions through his ears. This is the dharma of liberation of Bardo.
If the deceased is lucky to have a rinpoche around in his final moment, the rinpoche will be able to cultivate a tile-breaking ritual on his behalf, so that the deceased will be able to find a way out of his head. It is important to have the right mind, and recite mantra, so that the sense can be guided to the right path. If the deceased is still attached to his descendants and thinks of his grandson or granddaughter's marriage, then he will surely be born in the human realm. The deceased must also not think of how much money he has not spent, and who owes him money.
To leave the samsara world and the sufferings associated with it for good, one must untie all forms of causation.
All kinds of auspicious signs will appear at the final movement, if one cultivates Buddhism. For instance, many people do not know when they will die, but those who practise Buddhism know. Buddhas and Bodhisattva will tell them to the last detail such as the month and the day. This is a one hundred percent sure of auspicious transmigration.
There are other types of auspicious signs. For instance, a ray of light may line the dark room. The ray may be white red, pink or yellow and rest upon the corpse. This is the manifestation of light through daily cultivation, and the cultivator will surely have a good transmigration.
It will be good if the deceased's face shows kindness and full of smile. If the face looks as if he is very frightened of ghost, then it is bad. In fact, these signs already show up when the deceased is still alive. If he looks at the mirror and see a compassionate look in it, he will be happy. If he dislikes his ghostly face, then he should change his heart fast.
It is not an auspicious sign if the deceased has foul smell after his death. A person reborn in the Western world will sprinkle nice fragrance in the surroundings to show his auspicious rebirth.
When the deceased hears melodious heavenly music being played from afar and re-bounce, it is an auspicious sign. There is such a thing called heavenly music, people around will hear music made by jade and bells. Thereafter, goddesses will appear and fete the deceased to rebirth.
If the sound of chicken, dog, pig, goat or other pitiful sounds of animals are heard, the signs are not auspicious. It is a transmigration to animal realm. If the deceased sees his ancestors, it is inauspicious. If the decreased cups his hands and says any of the following: ”Amitabha is in front of my bed”, ”The three saints of the Western world are in front of my bed” ,”Avalokitesvara is in front of me, and he brings a lotus stage to welcome me”, these are proofs of auspicious signs.
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