The State of Being Before Death

Birth, aging, sickness, and death are the fundamental characteristics of the cycle of rebirth for all ordinary beings. When one enters the path of death through illness, it is often because karmic creditors have manifested to seek retribution for past grievances. This is the painful reality of dissolving one's karma through suffering. If one passes away while the body is exhausted by such agony, one is highly likely to fall into the Three Evil Realms.

The Lifeline of Chanting

However, if a practitioner who possesses true cultivation is present to provide support chanting before the moment of death, there is still hope. By guiding the dying person to raise the holy name of Namo Amituofo and by chanting with sincere and earnest devotion, there remains a precious opportunity. The dying person may be able to chant until Namo Amituofo arrives to lead them to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is truly the mark of one who possesses tremendous blessings and has fully cultivated the necessary good roots, virtues, and Causal Conditions.

The Path to the Western Pure Land

Regardless of whether one is suffering from illness, if one can know the time of one's passing in advance and chant with a joyful heart, one will surely succeed. Whether it is one thought or ten thoughts, if every thought is focused on Namo Amituofo, one will be moved by the Buddha's compassion. Namo Amituofo will bring the lotus flower that the practitioner has cultivated through their daily chanting, lead them onto the lotus platform, and welcome them into the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The Danger of Unpreparedness

Conversely, if one dies suddenly or unexpectedly without the practice of chanting, one is most likely to fall into the Three Evil Realms. For a practitioner of the Pure Land path, if one is overwhelmed by the pain of illness or the obstacles of worldly attachments before death, it becomes difficult to maintain the Buddha-name. In such a state, one remains bound by the force of one's karma, and one will be drawn into whichever realm that karma dictates. To ensure a smooth transition, one must focus on the following:

• Faith:
• Maintaining an unwavering belief in the vow of Namo Amituofo to save all beings.Vows:
• Sincerely wishing to leave the cycle of rebirth and be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.Practice: Diligently chanting the name of Namo Amituofo every single day to build the necessary spiritual strength.

A Rare Opportunity for Liberation

How fortunate are the disciples and all those connected to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre! You have encountered the unique opportunity of having Practitioner Su use his awakened Dharma Body to perform Chao Du. He invites the spirits of the deceased to enter the Western Land of Dharma Nature, where they can listen to the sutras, hear the Dharma, undergo purification, and help their own karmic creditors find liberation. Through his Dharma Body, he can then lead these spirits into the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

This is an opportunity that is difficult to encounter even in hundreds of thousands of millions of kalpas. At this very moment, during the Thrice Yearning Ceremony, with Namo Amituofo presiding as the lead, all karmic creditors, spirits, and participants have also encountered this grace. I urge you to quickly let go of the past, join the assembly in chanting Namo Amituofo, enter the golden light, and be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Namo Amituofo