Question: We know that there should be offering of guidance (开示) before support-chanting (助念), for those dying and recently deceased (as explained at https://purelanders.com/wake).
[1] What if there is only support-chanting offered, without guidance? [2] How is it that some can still look good after death, despite not been offered guidance?
Answer: [1] [i] If the dying or deceased already had Faith and Aspiration (信愿) for Practice (行) of mindfulness of Āmítuófó (阿弥陀佛) in advance, with these Three Provisions (三资粮) (as explained at https://purelanders.com/2018/02/08/the-three-provisions) present before rebirth, s/he will be able to reach his Pure Land (净土), even if guidance was not offered (as a reminder).
Upon connection with Āmítuófó, such a person will naturally manifest the basic peaceful auspicious sign (瑞相) of the facial appearance as if alive (面相如生) (as explained at https://purelanders.com/2023/02/07/the-auspicious-sign-of-the-facial-appearance-as-if-alive), with or without more auspicious signs.
[ii] If the person did not have the provisions, and without guidance to encourage giving rise to them in time, support-chanting offered can still create meritorious virtues (功德), for dedicating and facilitating a good human or heavenly rebirth; but not in Pure Land.
[2] Even without the ideal connection with Āmítuófó for reception and guidance (接引) to reach his Pure Land due to lack of guidance, with the support-chanting, personal good karmas (善业) existing and meritorious virtues created, such a [ii] person can still naturally manifest a peaceful final expression, due to having secured a good (but not pure) rebirth.
The above explains why there should be further assessing, of whether the dying or deceased person managed to have [a] the provisions before rebirth, and whether there are [b] other auspicious signs of rebirth in Pure Land (as explained at https://purelanders.com/2020/01/18/how-to-know-if-the-deceased-has-reached-pure-land-how-to-seek-advice-for-difficult-decisions), to more conclusively know if the person has reached Pure Land or not.
相关教理
Related Teachings:
《临终三大要》
The Three Great Essentials When Approaching Death
https://purelanders.com/now
判断往生净土的标准是什么？
What Is The Criteria For Determining Rebirth In Pure Land?
https://purelanders.com/2025/12/11/what-is-the-criteria-for-determining-rebirth-in-pure-land
