People like living but dislike death. So people seldom discuss
the topic of how to die in a good way. (Note, am not talking of
suicide!) When a person dies, the consciousness wonders up to 49
days, and for every 7 days, therefs a chance of rebirth. Cases of
similar near death experience where a person come back from death
can be seen both in the west and the east. There are 2 scenarios.
One is when proven dead by doctors, one hear a familiar noise or
frightening sound, due to the reaping of bad karma. Second is the
scenario of one moving through a dark and long tunnel, due to the
separation of mind (consciousness) and body. If the consciousness
wishes to escape from the exit of the eyes, the movement to the
exit point will form a tunnel like scenario.
(Note: For those whose consciences are good, or did plentiful of
good deeds, the consciousness run to the exit point of the crown,
where beings of the deva-realms starts to manifest. For
purelanders, itfll be the manifestations of the Pureland sages
(Amitabha, Avalokitesva, Mahasthamaprapta) appearing to escort,
also exit from the crown area.)
Then the spiritual body sees the form body. For good people, one
sees the body radiates brightness. It also sees other spiritual
bodies with similar frequencies of consciousness. One starts to
recall life and what one did in fast flashbacks. This is a point
when consciences and confidence are of most importance. One cannot
be thinking of onefs practice is not worthy of Pure Abodes. Cite
the case where, even one who committed the graves offense can
change over a new leaf, but I am not worst than him. Cite the
inconceivable virtues of Amidafs Great compassioned 18th vow.
Etcs. Do not let karma or guilt lead one off to a bad rebirth.
There are 2 kinds of people where one need not undergo these
stages, or where rebirth to the next realm is instantaneous.
Thatfs one of great meritorious deeds such as cultivations and one
of enormous evil deeds.
---
The Spiritual Bodies/consciousness that come out of the dead body
(aka soul as convenience, but rather "intermediate state/bardo/7-8
consciousness" in Buddhism, as it's not permanent as yet) are
formless, like light, like energy. The Spiritual Body can hear
clearly the sound spoken by people around the dead body. So the
people around should not speak ill will of the dead, but rather
give encouragements and confidence. It's been written that there
are cases like accident/sudden death where the Spiritual Body do
not know that it had separated from the form body, until they sight
they own bodies and surrounding police/ambulance. A life when dies,
only changes in state of substance, just like water has liquid,
solid or gaseous state. What seems to die, actual it is still
there. Life too is divided into different moral and karmic stateC
thus formulate difference in ranks. Like Cunningness state
formulates state of 'fox-like' realm. Fierce and Cruelty formulates
state of 'lion-like' realm. Vegetarian but ignorance formulates
state of realm of herbivore. State of detachment, purity and
equality, formulates state of Buddhas/bodhisattvas realms. Etcs.
Cite a case in America where a genial old lady consciously went to
a very peaceful place where the sun is not hot, the water in the
lake is clear, life there is like her character genial. After
coming back consciously, she longs for the place, but couldn't go
back. If a person had in it's mind in peace, when die, one would
rebirth into a place similarly as peaceful. If a person keeps
fighting over foods, then one's due to reborn into the animal
realms. Karma had always been imprinted in out sub-consciousness
(alaya).
Beings of the intermediated states cannot feel time nor space, as
it's not of the 3rd dimensions. 4th dimensions is a convenient
saying, in fact it's multiple dimensions/realms.
Buddhas/bodhisattvas had transcend even the multiple dimensions
yet, the multiple dimensions has the dwelling of
Buddhas/bodhisattvas. Buddhas/bodhisattvas have no ranks, as they
had realized multiple dimensions are based on emptiness. Hence they
dwells neither in multiple dimensions nor not dwell in multiple
dimensions. They can transform the multiple dimensions yet are not
turn by the multiple dimensions.
The base faculties such as thinking, feeling of Beings of the
intermediated states are not affected by the change of dimensions.
(For purelanders too, when reborn in Pureland, still have thinking
and feelings. If not, it would be called Ultimate Bliss.)
A good cultivator can die without attachment, and a mind without
confusion, is due to great amount of daily practices (of
letting-go) and not wait until the moment of death.
Above is potion note translated from Ven Master Hui Lui's
'Perperation for the dying.'
http://book.bfnn.org/books/0258.htm#a03
http://www.fa-in.org/film/hl/chinese_028.htm
Also found in the Tibetan Book of the Dead
http://www.near-death.com/experiences/buddhism01.html
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Amituofo.