闻说阿弥陀佛，执持名号… 一心不乱。其人临命终时，阿弥陀佛，与诸圣众，现在其前。是人终时，心不颠倒，即得往生阿弥陀佛极乐国土。
— 释迦牟尼佛
《阿弥陀经》Hearing this said about Amitā[bha] Buddha, firmly uphold mindfulness of his name (Āmítuófó)… wholeheartedly without being scattered, when these persons approach life’s end, Amitā[bha] Buddha, with many in his noble assembly will appear before them. When these persons’ lives are ending, their minds will not be inverted, and they will immediately attain rebirth in Amitā[bha] Buddha’s Land Of Ultimate Bliss.
— Śākyamuni Buddha
(Amitābha Sūtra)
[1] Coffin: As Tom remained attached to his body, upon burial, he haunted his coffin in his grave, joining those who haunt cemeteries (and scare visitors), as he did not know where best to go, till his karma suddenly forced him to be reborn elsewhere. The coffin is not his ideal ‘big house’ (大屋) after all.
[2] Urn: As April remained attached to her body, upon cremation, she haunted her ashes in her urn, joining those who haunt columbariums (and scare visitors), as she did not know where best to go, till her karma suddenly forced her to be reborn elsewhere. The urn is not her ideal ‘big house’ after all.
[3] Sea: As Dick remained attached to his body, upon his ashes’ scattering, he haunted his ashes in the sea, joining those who haunt water bodies (and scare swimmers), as he did not know where best to go, till his karma suddenly forced him to be reborn elsewhere. The sea is not his ideal ‘big house’ after all.
[4] Wild: As May remained attached to her body, upon her ashes’ scattering, she haunted her ashes in the wild, joining those who haunt the wilderness (and scare hikers), as she did not know where best to go, till her karma suddenly forced her to be reborn elsewhere. The wild is not her ideal ‘big house’ after all.
[5] Tablet: As Harry remained attached to his name (and picture), upon his ashes’ scattering, he haunted his tablet in the temple, joining those who haunt ancestral tablet halls (and scare visitors), as he did not know where best to go, till his karma suddenly forced him to be reborn elsewhere. The tablet is not his ideal ‘big house’ after all.
[6] House: As June remained attached to her house, upon her ashes’ scattering, she haunted her house, joining those who haunt houses (and scare residents), as she did not know where best to go, till her karma suddenly forced her to be reborn elsewhere. The house is not her ideal ‘big house’ after all.
[7] Pure Land: As Zed was wholeheartedly mindful of the Buddha (Āmítuófó: 阿弥陀佛), during his dying moments, he was swiftly received by him, joining those who have reached his Western Pure Land Of Ultimate Bliss (西方极乐世界). He clearly knew it was the best place to go, (for immeasurable life to progress towards Buddhahood), as reminded by his spiritual friends’ guidance (开示) and support-chanting (助念). The Pure Land (净土) is the ideal and true home after all, with his very own towering pavilion (楼阁)! (If only Tom, April, Dick, May, Harry and June knew and practised in time too!)
彼佛寿命，及其人民，无量无边阿僧祇劫，故名阿弥陀。
释迦牟尼佛
《阿弥陀经》That Buddha’s lifespan, and that of his people, are of immeasurable and boundless asaṃkhyeya kalpas, thus is he named Amitā[yus] (Immeasurable Life).
Śākyamuni Buddha
(Amitābha Sūtra)
Related Teachings:
以火化不耽着身为我
With Cremation Not Having Infatuation With Body As Self
https://purelanders.com/2022/07/19/203-with-cremation-not-having-infatuation-with-body-as-self
火葬最易处理身躯
Cremation Is Easiest For Handling The Body
https://purelanders.com/2022/07/19/204-cremation-is-easiest-for-handling-the-body
《临终三大要》
The Three Great Essentials When Approaching Death
https://purelanders.com/now
