The End of Life and the Eternal Spirit

The Eternal Nature of the Spirit

Spiritual life has no end. However, the physical bodies or the outer garments that our spirits inhabit—whether they be animals, insects, flowers, trees, birds, or other living creatures—all have a limited duration. In this sense, physical life has a definitive end.

When we reach the end of this current life, we must ask ourselves what we will face. For many, the transition is marked by the suffering of the four elements separating, a process over which they have no control. Others may endure the unbearable pain of old age and sickness. Even those who practise chanting Namo Amituofo daily and possess some level of meditative concentration must reflect on their own readiness. How much certainty do you truly have that you will be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss at the moment of your passing? Can you foresee the time of your departure and pass away peacefully while chanting the name of Namo Amituofo?

The Choice at the Final Hour

At the end of life, you face a critical choice. Will you remain passive and allow yourself to fall back into the cycle of reincarnation? Or will you actively and diligently chant Namo Amituofo to seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land? If you choose the latter, you must commit yourself fully to the practice:

• Chant the name of Namo Amituofo continuously and without pause.Do not let any external environment or circumstance distract or confuse you.Never interrupt your chanting, for doing so may cause you to lose your precious opportunity for rebirth in the Western Pure Land.

The Dangers of Unresolved Karma

Many practitioners are sincere in their faith and firm in their vows, and they have developed strong skills in their practice. Yet, when their karmic obstacles manifest during their daily lives, they fail to resolve these conflicts with their karmic creditors or seek spiritual deliverance. Consequently, when they reach the final moments of life, they find it difficult to resist the interference of these forces:

• Karmic Creditors and Demon Crowds:
• These may manifest to obstruct your chanting.Deep-seated Attachments:
• They may conjure images of beloved family members or past attachments that you have not yet let go of.Internal Turmoil: These distractions can cause your chanting to cease, or they may trigger unwholesome states of mind such as anger, resentment, or hatred.

When this happens, the practitioner may be pulled into other realms of existence, such as the Celestial Realm, the demon realms, or even the three evil realms, where they will suffer. In such moments, the precious opportunity for rebirth in the Western Pure Land is lost.

The Path of Deliverance

Today, Practitioner Su at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre has achieved the accomplishment of the Dharma Body through Awakening. This allows for the spiritual deliverance of the deceased, guiding them into the Western Land of Dharma Nature. There, they can listen to the scriptures and receive the benefits of the Dharma assembly, which helps to resolve the grievances of their parents, teachers, and karmic creditors from countless past lifetimes. Following the wishes of the deceased, they are then guided by the chanting of Namo Amituofo to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

This method of spiritual deliverance, through both visualization and the power of the Dharma Body, is a rare and profound blessing for all beings. It is an opportunity that is difficult to encounter in millions of years. All of you, as disciples, should strive to master these skills so that you may help connected beings chant Namo Amituofo and enter the Western Pure Land.

My children, cherish every minute and every second. Focus your mind and ensure that every word and every phrase of the Buddha-name is chanted with absolute clarity and understanding. This is the most important task of your life.

Namo Amituofo