如何知道已故親人往生極樂 Has the Deceased been reborn in the Western Pureland（中英文字幕English subtitle）-性仁法師Xingren

有甚麼方法可以判斷逝世親人已經往生極樂世界？
Are there any ways to know whether the Deceased has been reborn in the Western Pureland?
2021.08.28 宣講於洛杉磯美佛寺
我們許多學佛人，對於已經過世的親人，或者是朋友、蓮友，我們大家都是非常地好奇。我們很想知道，他們到底逝世了之後去了哪裡，他們到底在六道當中的哪一道，或者說他們是否真正已經往生到西方極樂世界。因為，畢竟死無對證。那些往生的親人，他們從來沒有回來跟我們說他們在六道當中的哪一道，或者他們已經去了西方極樂世界。我們大家都不知道，我們大家都非常地好奇。但是，我們修得一塌糊塗。我們沒有天眼通，看不見極樂世界的蓮池海會。我們也沒有神足通，我們不能飛到極樂世界去看個究竟。儘管如此，我們許多同修都是非常地好奇。有同修問我，有沒有甚麼方法可以判斷，或者用來證明，那些已故的親人已經到了西方極樂世界了呢？對於這麼一個問題，我跟諸位同修講，這個答案是有的，是肯定的。我跟大家介紹幾個方法，供諸位同修作參考。首先，我覺得最直接、最有效的證明，就是他在臨命終時的時候，快要走的時候，在沒有走之前，告訴身邊的家人、親戚朋友，或者是同參蓮友：『甚麼甚麼時候佛菩薩來接引我，我要跟祂們去西方極樂世界』，跟大家告別，並且他在講這話的時候，滿滿的期待和信心，沒有任何的掛礙，很開心地就上路了，絕對不會有那種心不甘情不願的那種，更不會表現出千般的不願，萬般的留戀，對於這個娑婆世界沒有絲毫的留戀。那這個說明，我們已故的親人已經到了西方極樂世界，已經在彌陀座下聽經聞法。說明已經真正往生了極樂淨土。像這麼一些已故的親人，念佛能夠念到這樣，修行修到預知時至，他們往生西方極樂世界，是活著的時候去的，這個大家一定要搞清楚，是在他有呼吸的時候，看到彌陀如來的佛光普照，看到彌陀如來拿著蓮花來接引他到西方極樂世界。然後到了極樂世界之後，這個色身，四大五蘊和合的色身才壞散，這個亡者才斷氣，不是死了之後才往生的。如果這樣，按照《彌陀經》的經文，念佛人能夠念到預知時至，這樣的往生，我們可以非常肯定地判斷，那這個已故的親人，已經到了西方極樂淨土。我跟諸位同修講，現在社會當中，做得好的不如演得好的。這個世道，有些人特別會演戲。但是我跟諸位同修講，你可以演戲演一輩子，你可以作假，或者欺騙別人欺騙一輩子。但如果臨命終時的時候，當你快要走的時候，你還能夠表現出來的那種冷靜和正念，那這個就是你真正的功夫，真正的念佛的禪定功夫，是你的境界來的，那這個是作假不了的。這個世間，甚麼都可以作假，唯獨這個不行，這個是騙不了別人的。這個是絕對的假裝不了。我們凡夫眾生對這個娑婆世界的生老病死的恐懼，尤其是對於死亡的恐懼，我們大家每個人都是非常地擔心。死亡對於我們來說，是最可怕的。那個時候，神識分離，神龜脫體，非常地恐怖。我們一生當中，只能經歷這麼一次。雖然我們在出生的時候也很痛苦，但是那個時候畢竟有母親在，那個時候有很多的人歡迎你的到來。但是臨命終時，當我們要走的時候，那個時候可以說是孤零零的一個人，啥都沒有。萬般帶不走，唯有業隨身。這個時候是假裝不了的。那些說走就走，並且念佛可以念到預知時至，我跟諸位同修講，這個才是真正的修行的功夫和境界。那這個是千真萬確的，一點都不假，這個是真正的往生，這個是真正的業障消除。走的時候清清楚楚、明明白白，一點痛苦都沒有，一點掛礙都沒有。有這麼一些念佛人，他們一生當中念佛精進，念到預知時至，走的時候是站著走的，或者是坐著走的，我們看到的有很多。他們那些人能夠做到，我們在座的同修，我們沒有理由做不到。我出家那麼多年，參加過N多次的臨終助念，見到許多人走得死不瞑目的，很多很多；也有一些走得特別好的，畢竟少數。我曾經在洛杉磯，幫忙一個同修做助念。這個同修在走之前，腦袋清清楚楚，走之前還特別要求要上洗手間，然後一回來，躺在床上就上路了。雖然他沒有說要去西方極樂世界，但看到他走的時候，真的是笑著離開這個人世間的。自己是清清楚楚的，那這個也是非常地難得。我們念佛人，一生當中念佛修行，到了臨命終時還能夠保持正念，還能夠依然能夠念佛，沒有痛苦地掙扎，沒有對這個娑婆世界表現出絲毫的留戀，沒有對親人表現出任何的掛礙，那這樣的修行者，雖然沒有預知時至，但根據《無量壽經》記載的臨終十念，那也可以往生西方極樂淨土。我們可以判斷，那這個人肯定得以往生到西方極樂世界。我跟諸位同修講，有一些乘願再來的大修行人，他們一生當中持戒精進，修行特別地努力，念了一輩子的經咒，念了一輩子的彌陀如來的名號，他們會在去世之前告訴你，甚麼時候他要走了，然後將後事交代得非常清楚。像這樣的人往生的時候，他們也是笑瞇瞇地到了西方極樂世界。他們連自己往生的時間都能夠說得清清楚楚，那他們肯定能夠到西方極樂世界。因為他們活著的時候，長時間地念佛，長時間地精進努力修行，再加上臨命終時往生的時候，又有那麼多法師，那麼多居士幫忙他助念，那這個往生極樂世界肯定是沒有任何的問題。我們凡夫俗子，我們大家沒有三明六通，我們真的很難看得出來。如果像過世的親人，他往生了之後，他如果沒有交代他自己已經到達西方極樂世界，沒有跟我們說甚麼時候要到西方極樂世界，那我們是非常困難去判斷他是否已經真正往生。僅僅憑一些瑞相，那是判斷不出來的。比如像身體柔軟。我跟諸位同修講，生天就能夠表現出，在逝世的時候身體特別地柔軟。你下輩子到天上去做天人，那你在往生的時候，你的身體也會有這麼一個特征，身體會非常地柔軟。所以光身體柔軟，不能說明任何的問題。你下輩子到了人世間，大富大貴，你往生的時候也有可能是身體柔軟。所以身體柔軟只能是說明這個人已經到了三善道，不能證明他已經往生到了西方極樂世界。還有一個更為簡單的判斷。如果過世的親友，有沒有往生西方極樂世界，我們可以觀察他在生前的修行，我們可以觀察他平時有沒有具足淨土的三資糧，看他有沒有信願行。我們可以按照佛陀所說的聖言量去判斷。如果這個人有信願持名，如果這個人是信願具足的話，懇切地念佛，哪怕是一晝夜的功夫，哪怕是臨命終時十念，乃至一念，都可以往生西方極樂世界。哪怕這個人往生的時候沒有任何的瑞相，那如果他能夠具足正念，具足信願，那這個人也是可以往生西方極樂世界的。所以我跟諸位同修講，往生到西方極樂世界，證明你已經往生，不一定要驚天動地，不一定要見光見花，也不一定要聞到種種的香味。有這些瑞相固然很好，但即便沒有這些異象，沒有看到彌陀如來來接引，沒有看到往生者在往生的時候預知時至，跟我們說要到西方極樂世界，或者這個過世的親人，他在睡夢當中往生的，我覺得只要具足信願，只要他是一個真正的念佛人，只要他能夠希望到極樂世界，只要他願意去，不拒絕彌陀如來的拯救，那這個人也是可以往生西方極樂世界的。這個不是我說的，不是我亂說的，這個是佛陀金口所說，是有經典依據的。由於阿彌陀佛知道我們眾生，我們大家在臨命終時的時候是最為困難的，那個時候是神識是最為昏昧的，再加上冤親債主臘月三十算總賬，那個時候冤親債主是最多的時候，也是我們最難以把握的時候，所以法藏比丘在因地修行的時候，他在四十八願裡面已經建立了一願，叫作『臨終接引願』。這個就好像我們要到一個陌生的地方，我們想要去一個陌生的地方，我們不知道要坐甚麼樣的交通工具，我們不知道東西南北，我們不知道前面是高山，還是沙漠。但是彌陀如來，由於祂的慈悲，祂老人家全部幫我們安排好了。在我們臨命終時的時候，安排有一輛直通車，有一架直飛的飛機，不需要轉車，更不需要轉飛機，直接帶我們到西方極樂世界。彌陀如來、觀音勢至、清淨海眾等諸大菩薩，接引我們去，那我們就非常地安全，你不需要去辨別方向。所以呢，蓮花就是來接引我們眾生去極樂世界的一個工具。只要我們念佛人信願堅定，只要我們念佛人想要去，只要我們能夠執持名號，只要我們迫切希望要到極樂世界，那臨命終時，彌陀如來、觀音勢至就會拿著蓮花來接引我們到西方極樂世界。我們只要坐上蓮花，就不需要去管東西南北，反正一定能夠到達極樂世界的七寶池裡面。所以你在這蓮花裡面低頭合掌，一剎那間，嘩啦一下，當你抬起頭的時候，那你已經到了西方極樂世界的七寶池中。所以亡者是否能往生西方極樂淨土？如果他能夠預知時至，那是最好的證明。他如果沒有預知時至，那我們要看他平時的行持，看他平時是否有信、有願。只要有信心，只要發願迫切，那臨命終時，他也可以往生到西方極樂世界。所以我們作為一個念佛之人，我們每天執持名號，觀想彌陀和極樂世界的依報莊嚴。我們的心已經繫念在彌陀名號上，我們的心已經是趨向於西方極樂淨土，我們將來的最終的歸宿是在極樂世界，我們的這個大樹已經偏向西方。只此一方，只此一途，沒有他路可走。我們對於我們自己將來的去處，我們是沒有任何的懷疑。大家如果有這樣的信心和發願，那你就不要擔心往生不了。只有一萬，沒有萬一。希望我們在座的念佛同修，我們大家多一點信心，發願更加迫切一些。願生西方淨土中，九品蓮花為父母。花開見佛悟無生，不退菩薩為伴侶。感恩大家的慈悲，阿彌陀佛！

[@seahsamhong1990]

❤南无阿弥陀佛。感恩！

[@AmericanBuddhistFellowship]

Because when they are alive, they chant the Buddha's name and practice diligently for a long time. In addition, at the end of their lives, there are so many monastics and lay people chanting for them, then their rebirths in the Western Pureland are definitely with no problem. We ordinary people don't have the 3 insights and 6 transcendental powers, so it's really difficult for us to know. If a deceased relative, after he passed away, did not tell us that he had reached the Western Pureland and did not tell us when he was going to the Western Pureland, then it would be very difficult for us to judge whether he has been truly reborn. It is impossible to judge relying on just some auspicious visions. For example, a soft body. I tell you fellow practitioners that if one goes to the heaven, his body is particularly soft at the time of death. If you go to the heaven to be a celestial being in your next life, then when you die, your body will have such a characteristic and will be very soft. Therefore, a soft body by itself doesn't mean anything. If you will be rich and wealthy in the world in your next life, you may have a soft body when you die. Therefore, a soft body can only mean that this person is in the three good realms, and it cannot prove that he has been reborn in the Western Pureland. There is a simpler way to judge. To judge if the deceased has been reborn in the Western Pureland, we can look at his practice during his lifetime, whether he has the three resources of Pureland, whether he has faith, vows, and practice. We can judge according to the Buddha's holy words. If a person has faith, vows, and chants the Buddha's name, if this person has both faith and vows and earnestly chants the Buddha's name, even if it is just a day and night, even if it is just ten thoughts at the end of his life, or even just one thought, he can be reborn in the Western Pureland. Even if this person doesn't have any auspicious visions when he dies, if he can have full righteous thoughts, full faith and vows, then this person still can be reborn in the Western Pureland. So, I tell you fellow practitioners that to prove that you have been reborn in the Western Pureland, it doesn't have to be earth-shattering, it doesn't have to have visions of light or flowers, and it doesn't have fragrances. It's good to have these auspicious visions, but even without them, even if you didn't see Amida Tathagata coming to take him, the deceased didn't foresee the time of death, didn't tell us he would go to the Western Pureland, or he passed away while sleeping, I think as long as he had enough faith and vows, as long as he was a true Buddhist chanter, as long as he did hope to go to the Western Pureland, as long as he was willing to go, and didn't refuse the salvation of Amida Tathagata, then this person also might be reborn in the Western Pureland. This is not what I said, I'm not driveling. This is what the Buddha said and is based on sutras. Because Amida Buddha knows us, the most difficult time for us is when we are dying. Our consciousness is the most ignorant at that time, in addition, debts are paid off by the end of the life, that's when the number of foes and karmic creditors is the most, and also the most difficult time for us to control, so when Fazang Bhikkhu was cultivating before his enlightenment, he had established a vow in the forty-eight vows, called "salvation at death vow". It's like we want to go to a strange place, we want to go to an unfamiliar place, we don't know what vehicle to take, we don't know the direction, we don't know whether there're mountains or deserts in front of us. But Amida Tathagata, because of his compassion, he has arranged all for us. When we are dying, he sends us a through train or a direct plane. There is no need to transfer, and it takes us directly to the Western Pureland. If Amida Tathagata, Avalokitesvara, Mahasthamaprapta, and other pure Bodhisattvas immeasurable like the sea, take us there, then we are very safe, we don't need to discern the direction. Therefore, the lotus flower is a tool to bring us sentient beings to the Western Pureland. As long as we chanters have strong faith and vows, as long as we chanters want to go, as long as we can keep chanting, as long as we desperately want to go to the Western Pureland, when we are dying, Amida Tathagata, Avalokitesvara, and Mahasthamaprapta will bring lotus to take us to the Western Pureland. Once we sit on the lotus flower, we don't need to worry about the direction. Anyway, we will be able to reach the Seven Treasure Pond of the Western Pureland. So when you bow your head and put your palms together in the flower, and in an instant, when you raise your head, you have reached the Seven Treasure Pond of the Western Pureland. So can the deceased be reborn in the Western Pureland? If he can foresee the time of death, then that is the best proof. If he doesn't foresee the time, then we must look at his practice in general and see if he has faith and vows. As long as he has faith and strong vows, when he is dying, he can also be reborn in the Western Pureland. Therefore, as chanters, we chant the Buddha's name every day and visualize Amida Buddha and the solemnness of the Western Pureland's environmental karmic results. Our hearts have been attached to the name of Amida Buddha, our hearts have looked forwards to the Western Pureland, our ultimate destination in the future is in the Western Pureland, we have leaned towards the West. That's the only direction and the only way, nothing else. We have no doubts about where we will go in the future. If you have such faith and vows, then you shouldn't worry about not being able to be reborn. We are so sure about it. I hope that our fellow practitioners here will have greater faith and stronger vows. I vow to be reborn in the Western Pureland, in Lotus blossoms of nine levels. When it blooms I see the Buddha and am enlightened about birthlessness, and peer with non-retrogressive Bodhisattvas. Thank you for your mercy and compassion, Amitabha!

[@taksingfung6286]

南無西方極樂世界大慈大悲阿彌陀佛🙏🙏🙏

[@ueinmi2097]

感恩 性仁法師 阿彌陀佛

[@chewnamhow2692]

🙏南无阿弥陀佛

[@AmericanBuddhistFellowship]

Many of our Buddhists are very curious about our departed relatives, friends， or lotus friends. We really want to know where they went after passing away, which one of the six realms they are in, or, whether they have truly gone to the Western Pureland. Because, after all, they are gone. Those dead relatives never come back to tell us which one of the six realms they are in, or they have gone to the Western Pureland. None of us knows, and we are all very curious. However, our cultivation is so bad. We don't have celestial vision to see the Lotus Dharma Assembly in the Western Pureland. We also don't have transformation power to fly over to the Western Pureland to see what happened. Nevertheless, many of our fellow practitioners are very curious. Some fellow practitioner asked me if there was any way to judge or prove that those deceased relatives had arrived in the Western Pureland. Regarding this question, I tell you fellow practitioners that the answer is yes, of course. Let me introduce a few methods to you for your reference. First of all, I think the most direct and strongest proof is that when he is dying, when he is about to leave, before leaving, he tells his family, relatives and friends, or fellow practitioners and lotus friends, "at such and such time Buddhas and Bodhisattvas will come to take me, I will go with them to the Western Pureland," and say goodbye to everyone, and when he says this, he was full of expectations and confidence, without any hindrance, and he dies happily, there will never be any reluctance, let alone showing unwillingness or nostalgia. He has no nostalgia for this Samsara world. This shows that our deceased relatives have already arrived in the Western Pureland and are listening to Amida Buddha's Dharma talks. It shows that they have already been reborn in the Western Pureland. For these deceased family members who have good chanting ability and cultivation to foresee their times of rebirth, they go to the Western Pureland are when they are alive. We must be clear about this. It is when they are still alive, they see Amida Tathagata's Buddha's light shining everywhere, see Amida Tathagata holding lotus flowers to take him to the Western Pureland. Then after arriving in the Western Pureland, their bodies of the four major elements and five aggregates will go bad, and then they die. It is not to be reborn after death. If, according to Amitabha Sutra, a chanter can foresee his rebirth time, for this rebirth, we can judge with certainty that the deceased relative has arrived in the Western Pureland. I tell you fellow practitioners that in the current society, doing well is not as good as acting well. In this world, some people are especially good at acting. But I tell you fellow practitioners that you can act for a lifetime, and you can cheat or deceive others for a lifetime. But if at the end of your life, when you are about to leave, the calmness and righteous thoughts you still can show are your real ability, real meditation ability of chanting, and your state, which cannot be faked. In this world, everything can be faked except for this one. You can't deceive others on this. This is absolutely impossible to pretend. We ordinary beings fear of birth, aging, sickness and death in this Samsara world, especially fear of death, we are so afraid. Death is the most terrible for us. At that time, your soul is separated like how a turtle shells, which is very terrifying. We can only experience this once in our lives. Although you were in pain when you were born, you had your mom, and there were many people welcoming you at that time. But when you are dying, when you are going to leave, you are alone at that time, with nothing. You can't take anything away except for karma. You can't pretend at this time. As for those who can just go with no hindrance, who can chant to be able to foresee their times of rebirth, I tell you fellow practitioners that this is the real ability and state of cultivation. Then this is absolutely true, nothing is false, this is the real rebirth, and this is the real karma elimination. When they leave, they have clear minds, there was no pain at all, no hindrance at all. There are chanters who are diligent in chanting in their lives and able to foresee their times of rebirth, they leave while standing or sitting. We see a lot. They can do it, and there is no reason why our fellow practitioners here cannot do it. I have been a monk for so many years. I have participated in many dying chanting services and have seen many people leaving in a terrible way, so many of them; there are also some who leave particularly well, but just a few after all. I once did a dying chanting service for a fellow practitioner in Los Angeles. Before leaving, this fellow practitioner had a clear mind. Before leaving, he specifically asked to use the bathroom. Then, when he came back, he lay on the bed and left. Although he did not say that he was going to the Western Pureland, when he left, he really left this world with a smile. Having a clear mind is also very extraordinary. We chanters chant and practice throughout our lives, if when we are dying, we can still keep righteous thoughts, we can still chant the Buddha's name, have no painful struggles, don't show even the slightest nostalgia for this world of Samsara, and don't show any nostalgia for our relatives, then even if these practitioners don't foresee their times of rebirth, according to the "ten thought chanting at death" recorded in the "Infinite Life Sutra", they can also be reborn in the Western Pureland. We can judge that they must have been reborn into the Western Pureland. I tell you fellow practitioners that there are some great practitioners who come back due to their vows. They keep the precepts and practice hard throughout their lives. They have recited sutras and mantras for a lifetime and chant the name of Amida Tathagata for a lifetime. Before they die, they tell people when they will leave, and then explain the concerning matters clearly. When these people die, they also go to the Western Pureland with a smile. Since they can even tell their times of death clearly, they will definitely be able to go to the Western Pureland.

[@曉詩陳-i8v]

南無阿彌陀佛

[@kieuhong3856]

🙏🙏🙏

[@jczich9257]

师傅，您好。阿弥陀佛。我的孩子才1岁2个月就往生了，已经过了49天。身为父母的我们在49天内都为他念往生咒和吃素，可以帮助我的孩子往生佛国净土吗。我的孩子在1岁2个月时，突然在保姆家呕吐血，身前完全是没有疾病的，就这么突然被带走了。孩子身前虽然才一岁，每一次看到观音菩萨就会合掌拜菩萨，这个算是和佛有缘吗？

[@AmericanBuddhistFellowship]

那這個孩子絕對跟佛有緣，但是，每個人的因緣和業報不同，你的孩子跟你的因緣就這么久，想念他的時候多多誦經念佛回向吧。阿彌陀佛！

[@jczich9257]

@@AmericanBuddhistFellowship 感恩师傅回复。谢谢您。会继续念经为我往生的孩子累积功德的。

[@jczich9257]

@@AmericanBuddhistFellowship 师傅，您好。阿弥陀佛。虽然我的孩子已经往生了70天，不知道是否是因为挂念，我已经梦见我孩子几次了。上个星期，我梦见孩子身前会扶着学走路，在梦里却梦到孩子会走路还朝向我给我抱。然而就在刚刚早上大概5点45分的时候，我再次梦见我的孩子，这次孩子说 “爱妈妈”， 孩子身前已经会说这些字了，好像孩子还在一样。虽然已经70天了，我还是继续每天帮孩子念往生咒。如今农历七月，我也安排普渡帮忙超度我的孩子。请问师傅，我是不是不该梦见孩子呢？我在网上看到很多说，往生者49天后就不该被梦到了。先谢谢师傅🙏 对不起弟子困惑了

[@AmericanBuddhistFellowship]

@@jczich9257日有所思，夜有所夢，可能你太想念孩子了，晚上會入夢是正常的，畢竟這種經歷太難以忘懷了。阿羅漢都會做夢，更何況我們凡夫眾生，聽師父講的這幾個開示，希望可以幫助到你。阿彌陀佛！ kzbin.info/www/bejne/rHfFlJ9mpb99d5Ysi=EjVuOf16xd7PkIjo kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZCZg6Gpfdisn7Msi=PVZ7tnHvzFmGekoR

[@jczich9257]

@@AmericanBuddhistFellowship 谢谢师傅🙏 感恩您的回复，阿弥陀佛。