Reciting Buddha's name at ordinary times leads to a good death
2024-08-14
Lecture by Venerable Master Hsuan-Hua
If you just expect to recite Buddha's name and have kind thoughts when you are dying, it will be very difficult to do so. When a person is dying, warmth, breath, and consciousness are about to cease. Warmth, breath, and consciousness are organized into a life root. When a person dies, the life root is cut off. The life root is cut off, first there is no heat, then there is no breathing; then, consciousness is gone; if these three are cut off, life is over.
As the saying goes, "When a bird is about to die, its chirping is sad; when a man is about to die, its words are also kind." When people are dying, their conscience will appear, and they will have a kind of reflection when they find that some of the things they have done in their life are right and some are wrong. At this time, they will truly know that the wrong things they have done are wrong. Because he truly knows that the wrong things are wrong, he will have a repentant heart. Once the repentant heart arises, even if he only hears the name of a Buddha, a Bodhisattva, or a Pratyekabuddhayāna, he can eliminate countless sins and sow countless good roots. Therefore, dying is the most important time, but it is also the time when it is least easy to inspire such kind heart.
Why do we people recite Buddha's name at ordinary times? The purpose is to prepare yourself so that you will not forget to recite the Buddha's name when you are about to die; Because if you recite at ordinary times, you will not forget it when you are dying. If you just expect to recite Buddha's name and have kind thoughts when you are dying, it will be very difficult to do so, but if can inspire it, it is also very effective. Just one thought of repentance can eliminate all sins and karma.
