Do
We
Go
To Pure
Land Only
After Death?
Question: Do
we go to Pure Land only after death?
How do we know it is possible if
we can't go now?
Answer: There are two ways to reach the actual
Pure Land of Amituofo (in contrast to having only occasional
'glimpses' of the Pure Land of our self-nature) - before death, and
after death. For Pure Land practitioners, many depart for Pure Land
when 'in between' the above - on the brink of death, when old, sick
and/or dying. This is the case for most due to 'natural' attachment
to samsaric life, thus unwilling to leave when one can still stay.
However, when their bodies are clearly beyond repair due to old age
and disease, they will realise that it is indeed time to let go.
This is when their Three Provisions of Faith (in Amituofo and
reaching his Pure Land), Aspiration (to go Pure Land) and Practice
(of mindfulness of Amituofo) become focused and magnified in
strength adequately, thus enabling them to reach Pure Land. An
intense sense of final existential desperation can thus be
transformed into great hope when one takes refuge in Amituofo fully
on the deathbed.
This implies that when we practise mindfulness of Amituofo in
everyday life, as long as we have not reached Pure Land, our Three
Provisions are yet to be charged up sufficiently. This does not
necessarily mean there is no Faith, Aspiration or Practice at all,
but simply that they are not yet synergised all the way, powered by
the crucial additional Faithful Aspiration that drives diligent
enough Practice for reaching Pure Land. As the Amitabha Sutra
states,
'If there are those who have already aspired, now aspire,
or in the future aspire, to be born in Amita[bha] Buddha's land...
they have already been born, are now being born, or will be born in
that land.' Note that true Aspiration is based on true Faith, and
expressed by true Practice. When the Three Provisions are
sufficient, connection to Amituofo and being guided to his Pure
Land is inevitable.
The difference between everyday practice of mindfulness of Amituofo
versus the practice done just before departing for Pure Land (which
can be when medically dying, or any time way prior to natural
death), is that the latter is much more determined - with a 'do or
die' attitude, with no other alternative in mind. This is the
truest meaning of being single-minded (and wholehearted), of being
without a confused or scattered mind, that entertains doubts and
other desires. This also means we can reach Pure Land any time, as
long as we are similarly determined, willing to let go of this
samsaric life right here and right now. For those are are less
willing when alive, they can still reach Pure Land after death,
before being reborn, when there is extended support-chanting, that
guides and encourages their consciousnesses to give rise to the
Three Provisions adequately in time.
Those who practise very well can depart for Pure Land before being
old, sick and/or dying; when healthy, young and thus very much
alive instead. In history and even today, there are countless
recorded cases of people who have done so. They manifest the
classic auspicious signs of birth in Pure Land while departing very
blissfully. Such passing must karmically lead to the most blissful
realm they aspire to reach - Pure Land. Some give way ahead yet
accurate announcements of their departure dates and times too. This
is very powerful evidence for the efficacy of Pure Land practice
because for ordinary beings, with the Three Poisons of strong
Attachment (to samsaric life), Aversion (to dying) and Delusion (of
the afterlife), it is impossible to calmly and clearly know and say
when one will depart, if not, as testified by them, having been
informed by Amituofo of when he will arrive to guide them to his
Pure Land. These advance notices are also Amituofo's skilful means
to inspire us to have greater Faith in him!
Namo Amituofo : Shen
Shi'an