i just had a strange encounter. A man came to my door and told
me Amitabhva Buddha asked him to go around asking for alms for a
period of time. There was a little boy with him about 3 years and
another 9 – 10 years boy behind him.
I asked him how did Amitabhva Buddha ask you to go begging? did
you dream of him?
He just showed me his half limp body and said he had a stroke
and Amitahbha Buddha asked him to beg for a period of time.
I then asked do you know how to chant the Amitabha Sutra? He
said he only know how to say Namo Amitabhva buddha.
I told him to use his conscience and do not insult
buddhists.
I didn’t give him any money at all although i can tell his
stroke is for real. But i was a bit angry at the way he used
Amitabha Buddha name to ask for money. He left looking a bit sad
and disappointed. I don’t know whether i have done the right thing
but it is the first time someone come to my door to beg. It’s quite
a shocker. Plus he use the name of buddha.
Will you give him money?
If you encounter such a case, it means that you have encountered
the 因緣 for practising doing good. This is known in Buddhism as 佛緣.
For me, I would donate some money to him and perhaps ask him to
continue to do some chanting and repentence. Afterall, the stroke,
sickness and difficulties he face is a result of bad karma that one
has to go through in order for good karma to ripen. As Buddhist, we
should not close our door to those who are suffering.
Chanting Namo Amitabha Buddha means 無量光 (Immeasurable
Brightness)， 無量壽 (Immeasurable Longetivity).
A good way is to bring him to some places where he can get some
free food such as 居士林.