(Chinese version below)
These are 52 cases of causes-and-effects concerning deceased people who received Achuk Lama Rinpoche's help in observing their state after death and determining the causes of these states (ie, the actions the deceased had performed prior to their deaths) It is a chilling teaching to us and evidence of the unfailing nature of karma cause and effect as well as a testimony to the sufferings of samsra. May all beings avoid all negative deeds, perform all positive deeds and purify their minds.
1�
When I (Achuk Lama Rinpoche) was asked where Chalole's younger brother had taken rebirth, i replied, "Is this person deaf?" Everyone replied, "Yes, Tsewang is deaf." I said, "He seems to have killed a snake." They said, "When he was young, he dug out a snake and killed it while playing." I said, "Behind your house, there is a pile of rocks, in it is the snake. Bring it here." When they went to look, they really found the snake and brought it to Lama Rinpoche. Later the snake was salvaged through confession by recitation of scriptures etc.
2�
Rongta lama asked me about his mother's rebirth. I said, "Use the silver lamp-holders to offer countless butterlamps, recite Akshobhya Buddha's ritual frequently, by this power, she will take rebirth in the eastern pureland of manifest joy."
3�
Someone asked me about his father's rebirth when i was beside Zhala monastery, i said, "He has reborn in the womb of your family's horse." Later when further asked, I said, " The brown/tanned color female horse's group of foals, among them the one with a black lip is the one. All the prayers were performed for him.
4�
I went to Shangya to perform 100,000 burnt offerings. There, an old man called Zhaduo who due to having harmed a great master was now boiling in hell, i could not help him.
5�
In Shangya, Genxi's partner when performing rituals for crossing-over the dead soul, asked me to observe. I said, "Reborn as a huge fish, many small fishes are chewing on its body, experiencing unbearable suffering." Due to this, for two days, i did not recite anything but rested in meditation. That old man was a fisherman in Gantse, his trade was well known by everyone.
6�
Quzha Lama of Kangnan monastery asked me to observe when he was performing prayers for the deceased, i said, "As this person always meditated on Guru Rinpoche as a Yidam, he has taken rebirth in the Copper Auspicious Mountain (Guru Rinpoche's pureland).
7�
Yezhu Norbu asked me to observe, I said, "This old man did many negativities. He is experiencing great sufferings in the lower realms. Quickly do many positive merits for him, other that this, nothing can dissipate his sufferings."
8�
I was asked to observe concerning Ah Dan's old mother, i said, "This old lady has some wound on her left foot?" "That was shot by a gun when she was escaping in the past." "Due to her great arrogance, she has been reborn as a snake." "There is a gun, should we sell it to raise funds for creating merits for her, or should we destroy it?" Lama Rinpoche said, "Destroying it is good, she will take rebirth in a positive realm. I dare to guarantee it."
9�
When i was reciting one morning, in a state i observed, at the foot of the western mountain there was a large slab of rock, beside it, a young man was giving rise to great anger. I exerted my mind strongly thinking to benefit him. This man is the son of the official in Lada, he killed someone and was executed by the country.
10�
When i was staying in Palyul, Karma Tsewang asked about the old lady Tsela's rebirth. I said, "She is attached to a golden ear ring." Several days later, they brought that golden ear ring to me. Her family said, "Can we use 1000 yuan to perform prayers and keep this golden ear-ring?" I said, "This ear-ring is worth 10,000 yuan, how can 1,000 yuan do? This is your partner, do as you see fit." They used the ear-ring for her prayers and she took rebirth in a positive realm.
11�
Lawei, an old man, killed storks in the past, but owing to power of the prayers at his death, took rebirth as a heavenly stork in the heaven of the 33rd. The mother and son storks were of the same size.
12�
Raowa Losang Dechen's daughter died of a fierce illness. When asked, i said, "This lady, during her illness, cut off all relationship with everyone, therefore she had no attachment to the place where she got sick. She has taken rebirth as an elephant in India."
13�
Someone from Dalomairema asked me about his father. I said, "Your father has taken rebirth seven times as an animal. These animals have been killed by you." This person did not believe me. I said, "I will tell you in more details, first time, you killed a beast beside a rock, it was trapped by you with an iron hook. It did not die immediately but died after great torment. After a few days, you went to retrieve it home. The second time, you killed a musk deer, in this way you killed 7 times." Thus the man believed me as if he had seen a real Buddha and did the necessary prayers.
14�
Someone from Adaiwa came to see me, he said, "I have not killed any animals in the past and will not kill any in the future. Apart from not accepting this, however when life is long, it becomes troublesome." I said, "You said you have not killed any animals before. But at the turn opposite the mountain slope, there is a small tree, isn't the buzzard there killed by you?"
15�
An old man from Datama said, "My old partner is dead. Please observe her rebirth whether it is in a good realm. If it is not, i will give all my property to do prayers for her. Do you think this is necessary?" I said, "You bought a horse this year, your partner is attached to this horse. You should give up this horse and create merits for her!" He said, "This horse is a good horse that i have been eyeing for a long time. Without this horse, i have no way..."
16�
When the matter of Sharewa's Gaishe rebirth was posed to me, Norbu Zhede said, "Use another 300 yuan to do merits." I said, "After his death, beside the monastery, at a collapsed wall, he has reborn as a insect. After the death of the insect, he will go to a good realm."
17�
Nada Menje's son died. When arranging for his death, i said, "Once killed a snake, the snake is obstructing his path to liberation." His mother said, "When he was playing with many other kids, they killed a snake together." I said, " You can't say it this way, the crux is who is playing the leading role, this snake was killed with your son leading. Perform the ablution initiation, most probably will take rebirth in good realms."
18�
A tulku died, someone asked me about his rebirth. I said, "This tulku has no rebirth because he received too much wealth through offerings. He is now in hell suffering." Besides this i did not say much more because i did not want the benefactors to have wrong view and waste their (merits) of giving.
19�
Liaoxi's Zhalo asked me to observe about his mother's death. I said, "Reborn as your family's Yak calf. " His family asked, "There are two new calfs, which is the one?" I replied, "The one with a shorter right hoof. It has already been killed this winter." They did prayers for this.
20�
I was asked to observe about Liaoxi's Agong's death. I said, "He killed numerous animals in the past, maybe more than 2000 animals?" He said, "Yes." I said, "He was born as the guard dog of your family. The one with a grey-blue coat and white back is his rebirth. That dog was killed with a stone after it bit the doctor Zangxia. It has reborn as a dri (female yak), the tail is very rough and fuzzy, it is now in your home." He said, "Yes."
21�
In the past, i was asked to observe about Qingba lama's death. I said, "Make a mani banner that is as long as his body as a merit to salvage him. He is now enduring the suffering of being cooked and burnt in the hells. " It was done as i said.
22�
Menjie asked about Sangye Lhamo's death, i said, " She died from a knife, and had great anger. She did too many cunning things. Recite the Liberation sutra 500 times, the Akshobhya mantra 100 million times, Vairochana mantra 100 million times, 500 mantra banner equal to her body's length, recite the Kangyur, offer tea to the sangha and there is still need to recite many dedication texts." When all the above had been done, i was again asked. I said, " There is a need to inscribe 3000 mani stones, after this has been done, it is not certain whether she is able to gain peace."
23�
After Lama Samten from Paychawa died, someone asked me. I said, "His mindstream recited Vajrakilaya yidam, by the power of this, he has taken rebirth in the southern pureland of Endowed with Qualities."
24�
One day, i saw a small dog and said, "This is the rebirth of an old lady called Awenma." An old monk Shelok said, "My grandmother is named Awenma, is this her rebirth?" "Yes." "I will recite 100 million mani mantras." He brought the dog to circumambulate Yachen's mani stone piles. Before long, the dog died and was reborn in the positive realms.
25�
About Changtai's Wengzhuo's death, i was asked and said, "Reborn, now an old dog." His nephew had a Dri and after parting with this for creating merits, sent off the deceased.
26�
After swiftly performing many prayers for a deceased old monk Jigme Dorje, i was asked. Replying, "Due to the vast strength of the prayers, he has taken rebirth in Potala pureland."
27�
For a deceased monk Dage, another old monk WengDu from Longnu monastery came to see me, i said, "This monk is attached to a liberation by hearing text, it would be good to give it up for creating merits. There are three types of volumes, the superior, middle and lower quality volumes, he is attached to the volume of superior quality. Give this volume to a Guru."
28�
When i was staying at Sethar, a old lady's corpse was brought to Larong and i was asked to perform powa for her. I said, "Although powa is performed, but there is a dog wearing iron chains that is creating an obstacle, go and ask MaGao Dakini." The dakini said, "Once when this dog was being pursued by a Chinese who wanted to kill him, he circled around the old lady to hide from the danger but died in the process."
29�
I was asked about the death of the old monk Gela, i said, "He accumulated many recitations of the mani mantra?" His nephew Dizang said, "Yes." "He is in Potala pureland, there is no need for prayers. Recite 100 million mani mantras for the karmically-connected beings."
30�
Someone asked me about Wazhong's death. I said, "He killed many calfs, due to that karma, he is reborn as the cow with a white dot on her forehead. She has little milk and is about to be sold. " They released this cow and did many prayers. Later the cow died and took a good rebirth.
31�
When i went to Duomai Gaimo's place, someone asked about the officer Pajing's death. I replied, "Reborn as a little monkey in that place. Are there any monkeys there?" Everyone said, "There's no monkey there." I said, "You go and take a look." Everyone went there to look around, and actually saw that monkey. This gave them sublime confidence and they did the prayers.
32�
Someone asked about Kunga Rangpo's death. I said, "This is a very non-virtuous person. He is now in the hell of corpses and excrement. He has burnt a house, committed many robberies, destroyed Buddha halls and statues, scriptures and stupas. One must recite the Kangyur many times and create a vast amount of merits to liberate him from the lower realms."
33�
Someone asked about Pama, i said, "He has taken rebirth in body of evil karma, this is the result of slandering the sangha." When he was an temple-administrator, he said many harsh words to the sangha.
34�
When i was asked about Tsewang, i said, "Before he died, he had great anger about the water bags, now he has taken birth as a snake in the water bags. Due to the karma, the water in the water bags has transformed into iron water, he is in great pain. " Before his death, as the water bags by the window were blown by the wind, he lost his temper at all the people and ordered, "Take it down!" Due to that, after the karma was cleansed, in the winter, this little snake emerged and died.
35�
Jiangda asked about his dead mother, I said, " Is the white female sheep in your home." After doiing many prayers and merits, i said, "She has taken birth in the Eastern pureland of Manifest Joy."
36�
When asked about the old man Dorje's death, i replied, "He is in the big cypress tree on the mountain behind your home." They did the prayers for him.
37�
About Gyalwe's death, I said, "Taken birth in the water in some place as a water insect in a solitary hell. Many toads are eating him. He is in so much pain that his mouth is open." I went to that home to recite powa and do burnt offerings and make aspirations. I asked again, "Did the old man kill frogs and insects?" They said, "When he was young, people called him 'Insect killer'. When we asked another teacher how to help him, the reply was, 'Make a Vajrasattva Hundred Syllables prayer banner, he will not fall in the lower realms.' Now what is your recommendation to help him?" I said, "I can't decide now, use the mani mantra." Later they asked Yangtrul. Yangtrul said, "What Lama (Achuk Lama Rinpoche) said is true, but besides the lower realms, where else is there for him? After three years, that deceased can take a human rebirth again."
38�
When i returned from Gantse, I stayed at Shema's home for one day, beside the two elderly ladies, there was no-one else. Upon sleeping, in a state, i saw that there was someone hung on the ceiling of the tent. In a state of nonduality between appearances and mind, i recited powa. The second day i asked, "Did anyone die in this tent before?" They replied that someone called Tudeng from Xinlong had hung himself in the tent. They asked, "For such evil karma, is there any way to counter?" I said, "Recite the Liberation by Hearing for 100 times would be sufficient." Later, I asked Tulku Rinpoche (Arik Rinpoche), the reply was "You benefitted him somewhat, but there is a need for different kinds of prayer."
39�
When my disciple Kunla died, Ache said,"Please fulfill her aspiration to be reborn in pureland in 7 days. I will also perform great austerities for her sake." I said, "There is no need for austerities. Go and circumambulate Zhejie mountain." Kunla's husband and brother Yewa came to ask about her. I said, " Go and circumambulate Zhejie mountain, there is an insect born in a rock slab, need to recite 11 times 100 million mantras." I went to Ache's home to perform prayers and on my way back, met Yewa who was circumambulating Yachen's mani stone heaps. I asked, "Are you returning now? Due to the power of merits, the deceased will take rebirth as the daughter of Huazhong after losing her insect body, she will get happiness." When Yewa returned home, they were using the deceased's ashes to practice and found a slab of stone to grind the bones into powder. There was a insect under the stone which was still alive. It was alive for more than 11 months, and after that, they practised the ablution and blessed sand methods on the insect, it died later on. That insect should be the one.
40�
Dourao from Changtai died at age of 30 and i was asked,"Where is he now, please tell me immediately." I said, "Born as a white insect the size of the point of a needle in the bark of a tree." It was winter at that time. I went to ask Tulku Rinpoche, "These appearances, will the insect still be alive in November?" The reply was, "Sentient beings have uncertain karma, there is no way to know." Later, when i asked Sera Yangtrul, the reply was, "It is the tree bark, but whether it is the rock slab is not certain."
41�
Someone sent by Jiadu Tulku to me to ask about an old person. I jokingly wrote on the letter, "You should know clearly where this person is born, aren't you the one who salvaged him? Aiya, i saw that he seemed to be in a hell of red bronze being cooked and burnt. The karma is to maliciously break the bronze pot of Jiadu monastery. " In the past, when Jiadu monastery was having a puja, one night, someone drilled a hole in the bronze pot, but no-one knew who did it, but it seems that this is the person. There were many more happenings at that time.
42�
Someone asked about Palchen Dorje's death, I said, "He is attached to a black horse." When asked, "There are a mother and son black horse, which is the one?" I replied, "It is the mother." When he died, he said, "I want to be reborn as the beloved foal of this mother horse, the mother horse has great kindness." They have already performed many prayers for him. I said, "Give away the horse as merit and he will obtain a positive rebirth."
43�
Asked about the old lady Wangji, i said,"She used two cow skins as a bedding? " Her family said, "Yes." I said, "She seems to be very good at reciting the mani mantra?" Her family said, "She has recited 140 million mani mantras." I said, "She turned the prayer wheel?" Her family said, "She turned the liberation prayer wheel she invited from the Relabon monastery." I said, "It is a red prayer wheel?" Her family said, "It was wrapped with a red animal skin." "She is now in Potala pureland, no need for any prayers, just offer some tea to the sangha would be sufficient."
44�
Gu-Ah asked about his old mother, i replied, "She is attached to a red mother cow, and became a young red cow." Later it was true that a red young cow was born. "The old lady was attached to the red cow, do more dharmic connections for her, she will be able to take a positive rebirth."
45�
When asked about Wangchen who was murdered, i said, "He is an evil person, and stole many animals that had been released by the master Puduolo, and sent them to Litang to sell. Therefore his way of death was very negative, he is now in the Iron Thorn Forest, you need to do much confession with the recitation of Kangyur.
46�
When my disciple Menye died, Qujia asked about him. I said, "He is attached to a debt in Rongku." Qujia said, "It shouldn't be a debt he lent to others, but something he owes." He went to the family to convey what i said. The family said, "The deceased had a friend who borrowed some sheep fur and haven't repaid the money. Before his death he was still talking about this."
47�
A beggar Yema died and i was asked. I said, "Attached to a silver spoon and greedy about eating. Not sure if reborn as a dog. Should give that spoon away to create merits." "I did not see that spoon." I said, "There is one definitely. If it is not given for merits, then the deceased definitely can't attain the positive realms." That female beggar had a silver spoon but it was taken away by children and lost, before her death, she was still looking for it under her pillow and bed.
48�
I was asked about Adun's death. I said, "Due to the karmic debt from her son's killing of the mountain goat, she was reborn in Reangna as a mountain goat. After the prayers, she will attain a good rebirth."
49�
Someone asked about Tsomo's death, i said, "Due to her son Pema Trinley killing the wild beasts, she has reborn as an insect, there are countless smaller insects eating her. Very painful!" They used everything they had to do prayers for her and asked me again, i said, "She is reborn as a son in a lowly family in a tent."
50�
Someone asked about Suoba's death, i said, "On the left side of your home, he is reborn as a wolf on the yellow mountain. He seems to have a silver gilded gun with a wooden handle? " He said, "Yes, the gun has been bought by someone." I said, "Do the prayers, after the wolf dies, he will attain the positive realms."
51�
Someone asked about Kunma, i said, "He died with great anger and seems to be born as a snake." He replied, "Yes, before his death he was unable to bear the beatings of the Chinese and killed himself. " After prayers, they asked me again, i said, "Offer the sangha tea, recite dedication prayers, after the snake dies, it will attain a human rebirth. I have forgotten which family."
52�
Renle performed much practice and received much wealth. He had several children and created negative karma but not even one children became ordained. After his death, i said, "Reborn as a pig with white forelegs beside the road to Ganzi. The benefactors have take birth as his piglets and are suckling his milk. " His family made many mani banners and did the prayers.
In the past when Sera Yangtrul wanted me to speak about the crossing-over of the dead people, Tulku Rinpoche (Arik Rinpoche) said, "You must continue with advising others about the prayers for the deceased." Thus i continued and have advised more then 100,000 people about this. Here, for the benefit of letting people know about the qualities of the Guru, the suffering of samsara and giving them faith and understanding about karma, i have briefly described some.
(Note: Sera Yangtrul is a treasure-revealer and great master. He is one of Achuk Lama Rinpoche's Gurus. Arik Rinpoche is Lama Rinpoche's Root Teacher)
(This translation is a summary of the Chinese and is not a word-for-word detailed translation although almost all of the pertinent details have been translated.)
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11ã€�昌å�°å��å�«æ‹‰å�«çš„è€�头，以å‰�æ�€è¿‡é¹¤é¸Ÿï¼Œä½†ä¾�é� é€�往生的é�“力，投生为三å��三的天鹤，鹤æ¯�å�俩大å°�ä¸€æ ·ã€‚
12ã€�绕瓦洛桑德庆的女儿，得æ�¶ç—…æ»åŽ»ï¼Œé—®æˆ‘超拔事，我说：“这个妇女病痛时，与一切人都æ–ç»�关系，所以对那个得病的地方就ä¸�耽ç�€äº†ã€‚æ»å�ŽæŠ•ç”Ÿä¸ºå�°åº¦çš„一头大象。”
13ã€�è¾¾æ ¼éº¦æƒ¹çŽ›çš„ä¸€ä¸ªäººé—®å…¶è€�父亲超拔事，我说：“ä½ çš„çˆ¶äº²æŠ•ç”Ÿä¸ºä¸ƒæ¬¡å�šé‡Žå…½ï¼Œé‚£äº›é‡Žå…½éƒ½è¢«ä½ æ�€äº†ã€‚”那人ä¸�相信，我说：“é‚£æˆ‘ç»™ä½ çœŸå®žè¯¦ç»†åœ°è¯´ã€‚”å�³è¯´ï¼š“ç¬¬ä¸€æ¬¡ä½ æ‰“æ»é‡Žå…½çš„地方是在岩石æ—�，是设下的é“�é’©æ�•æ�‰çš„，但立å�³æ²¡æœ‰æ»ï¼Œå�—了很大痛苦å�Žæ‰�æ»åŽ»ï¼Œå‡ 天å�Žä½ 去把它拿æ�¥äº†ã€‚第二次打æ»äº†ä¸€å�ªç��å�ï¼Œå°±è¿™æ ·ä½ æ�€äº†ä¸ƒæ¬¡ã€‚”于是那人生起了信心，如å�Œè§�到真实佛陀，作了ç»�å¿�。
14ã€�阿代瓦的一个人æ�¥è§�我，他说：“我以å‰�未æ�€è¿‡é‡Žå…½ï¼Œä»¥å�Žä¹Ÿä¸�æ�€ï¼Œä¸�作承许之外，但是寿命长了还是麻烦。”我说：“ä½ è¯´ä»¥å‰�未æ�€è¿‡é‡Žå…½ï¼Œé‚£åœ¨å±±å�¡å¯¹é�¢è½¬å¼¯å¤„，有一颗å°�æ ‘é‚£é‡Œä¸€å�ªåœŸè±¹éš¾é�“ä¸�æ˜¯è¢«ä½ æ�€äº†å�—?”
15ã€�达塔玛一个è€�头说：“我的è€�ä¼´æ»äº†ï¼Œè¯·è§‚察一下是å�¦æŠ•ç”Ÿåˆ°äº†å–„趣，如果没有的è¯�，我把所有家财èˆ�掉æ�¥è¶…æ‹”ï¼Œä½ è¯´éœ€è¦�ä¸€å®šè¿™æ ·ä½œå�—?”我说：“ä½ ä»Šå¹´ä¹°äº†åŒ¹é©¬ï¼Œä½ è€�ä¼´è´ªç�€é‚£åŒ¹é©¬ï¼Œå°±æŠŠé‚£é©¬èˆ�了为她å�šå–„æ ¹å�§ã€‚”他说：“那马是早就看好è¦�买的一匹好马，如果没有那匹马，我就没有办法呀。”
16ã€�å¤�çƒç“¦çš„盖色的超拔事å�‘我请问时，诺布扎德说：“用三百多元å�šäº†å–„æ ¹ã€‚”我说：“ä»–æ»å�Žï¼Œåœ¨å¯ºé™¢æ—�，倒塌的墙土ä¸ï¼Œè½¬ç”Ÿä¸ºè™«èº«ï¼Œè™«æ»å�Žèƒ½èŽ·å¾—善趣。”
17ã€�那塔门æ�°æœ‰ä¸ªå„¿å�æ»äº†ï¼Œæˆ‘为他é€�往生时，说：“曾æ�€è¿‡è›‡ï¼Œé‚£è›‡éšœç¢�解脱é�“。”ä»–çš„æ¯�亲说：“那是和很多å°�å©å�玩è€�时，一起æ�€äº†ä¸€æ�¡è›‡ã€‚”我说：“ä¸�èƒ½é‚£æ ·è¯´ï¼Œå…³é”®è¦�看è°�为首的，æ�€è›‡æ˜¯ç”±ä½ 儿为首的。如果作æ²�æµ´ç�Œé¡¶ï¼Œå¤§æ¦‚能投生善趣。”
18ã€�一ä½�çŸ¥æ ¼åœ†å¯‚äº†ï¼Œæœ‰äººè¯·æˆ‘è®¤å®šä»–çš„è½¬ä¸–ï¼Œæˆ‘è¯´ï¼š“è¿™ä¸ªçŸ¥æ ¼æ²¡æœ‰è½¬ä¸–ï¼Œæ˜¯è´¢é£Ÿä¾›å…»å¤§çš„åŽŸå› ï¼ŒçŽ°åœ¨åœ¨åœ°ç‹±ä¸æ£å�—ç�€ç—›è‹¦ã€‚”é™¤å¤–æ²¡æœ‰è¯¦ç»†çš„è®²ï¼Œæ˜¯å› ä¸ºæˆ‘æƒ³æ–½ä¸»ä»¬ä¼šèµ·é‚ªä¿¡ï¼Œæˆ�了虚耗财物。
19ã€�辽西扎洛请我观察，他的è€�æ¯�蕾æ�°çš„超拔事，我说：“æŠ•ç”Ÿä¸ºä½ å®¶çš„ç‰¦ç‰›å†�。”他家人问：“牦毛å†�有两头，是其ä¸çš„哪一个？”我说：“å�³è§’很çŸçš„那头，今年冬天已宰了。”为æ¤ä½œäº†ç»�å¿�。
20ã€�辽西阿贡的超拔事，请我观察，我说：“以å‰�æ�€è¿‡è®¸å¤šé‡Žå…½ï¼Œå�¯èƒ½ä¸¤å�ƒä»¥ä¸Šäº†å�§?”他说：“是呀。”我说：“ä½ å®¶å®ˆé—¨ç‹—ä¸é‚£æ�¡ç�°è“�è‰²èƒŒç™½çš„æ˜¯ä»–æŠ•ç”Ÿçš„ã€‚é‚£ç‹—å’¬æ¡‘å‘·åŒ»ç”Ÿæ—¶è¢«çŸ³å¤´ç ¸å€’ä¹‹å�Žæ»äº†ï¼Œå�ˆæŠ•ç”Ÿä¸ºæ¯�ç‰¦ç‰›ï¼Œå°¾å·´ç²—ä¹±ï¼ŒçŽ°åœ¨åœ¨ä½ å®¶ã€‚”他说：“是有。”
21ã€�以å‰�庆巴喇嘛的超拔事，å�‘我请问时，我说：“作一个ç‰å�Œä»–身长的嘛呢ç»�幡超拔，现在在地狱ä¸å�—ç�€ç…®çƒ§è‹¦ã€‚”ä¾�照我所说，办了超è��。
22ã€�洛刚达蔑仓门æ�°é—®ï¼Œæ¡‘å�‰æ‹‰å§†çš„超拔事。我说：“她æ»äºŽåˆ€ä¸‹ï¼Œç”Ÿå¤§å—”心ã€�狡诈所作的事é�žå¸¸å¤šï¼Œã€Šè§£è„±ç»�》念诵五百é��，ä¸�动佛咒一亿ã€�普明佛咒一亿ã€�ç‰èº«é‡�ç»�幡五百个，念诵大è—�ç»�ã€�æ��献斋僧茶ã€�还需念许多回å�‘ç»�文。”上é�¢çš„办完å�Žï¼Œå�ˆå�‘我询问，我说：“需è¦�石刻嘛呢三å�ƒå�—，这件事办å�Žï¼Œè¿˜ä¸�知能å�¦å¾—到安ä¹�。”
23ã€�培察瓦的喇嘛桑å�•æ»å�Žï¼Œæœ‰äººé—®æˆ‘其投生情况，我说：“相ç»å¿µè¯µæ™®å·´æœ¬å°Šï¼Œä¾�æ¤è¶…拔力能生到å�—方具德净土。”
24ã€�一天，我看ç�€ä¸€æ�¡å°�ç‹—å�Žï¼Œè¯´ï¼š“这是å��å�«é˜¿æ�©çŽ›çš„è€�妇人转生的。”æ�°éƒ½è€�僧人西洛说：“我的祖æ¯�，å��å�«é˜¿æ�©çŽ›ï¼Œè¿™æ˜¯å¥¹çš„转生å�—?”“是。”“我念一亿é��嘛呢。”他带ç�€å°�狗转绕亚é�’å˜›å‘¢çŸ³å †ï¼Œä¸�久，å°�ç‹—æ»å�Žï¼ŒæŠ•ç”Ÿåˆ°äº†å–„趣。
25ã€�昌å�°ç¿�å�“的超拔事，å�‘我请问时，我说：“转生为一å�ªè€�狗，”他的侄å�有一头æ¯�牦牛，èˆ�äº†ä¸ºå¥¹ä½œå–„æ ¹ï¼Œé€�往生。
26ã€�达洪一个å��å�«æ™‹ç¾Žå¤šå�‰çš„è€�僧的超拔事，迅速办了很多ç»�å¿�å�Žï¼Œå†�å�‘我询问，我说：“é€�往生的力é‡�大，已往生到了普陀山净土。”
27ã€�è¾¾æ ¼ä¸€åƒ§åŽ»ä¸–å�Žï¼Œé¾™å¥³å¯ºçš„è€�僧ç¿�都æ�¥é—®è¶…拔事，我说：“那僧人贪ç�€é—»è§£è„±æ³•æœ¬ï¼Œèˆ�å¼ƒäº†å–„æ ¹ã€‚”有上ä¸ä¸‹ä¸‰ç‰æ³•æœ¬ï¼Œä»–è´ªç�€ä¸Šç‰æœ¬ï¼Œè€ŒæŠŠä¸‹ç‰æœ¬ä¾›ç»™äº†ä¸Šå¸ˆã€‚
28ã€�我ä½�在色达时，勒瓦的一个è€�妇人的尸体，拉到喇è�£æ�¥äº†ï¼Œè¯·æˆ‘å¿µè¯µä¸€æ¬¡ç ´ç“¦ï¼Œæˆ‘è¯´ï¼š“è™½ç„¶å¿µäº†ç ´ç“¦æ³•ï¼Œä½†æ˜¯æœ‰ä¸€ä¸ªæˆ´é“�索的狗好象在作障ç¢�，去问玛高空行æ¯�。”空行æ¯�说：“那狗是以å‰�汉人æ�€å®ƒæ—¶ï¼Œå®ƒå›´ç�€è€�妇人转，在想躲è—�ä¸æ»äº†ã€‚”
29ã€�切å�¡å–‡å˜›æ¡‘å�‰å�•å¢žä¾„å�è€�喇嘛给拉去世å�Žï¼Œå�‘我问超拔事，我说：“多多诵集嘛呢心咒，也许æ�¥å�§ã€‚”他的侄å�地桑说：“是。”“在普陀山净土，他ä¸�需è¦�超拔，对结缘众念一亿é��嘛呢心咒。”
30ã€�有人å�‘我问培擦瓦å�Žä»²çš„超拔事，我说：“他是æ�€äº†è®¸å¤šå°�牛犊的异熟果报，是现在那é¢�间白点的黑æ¯�牛，牛奶少，欲出售的那头。”于是放生了那头牛，办完ç»�å¿�事å�Žï¼Œé‚£ç‰›æ»äº†ï¼Œç”Ÿåˆ°äº†å–„趣。
31ã€�我去多麦盖姆地方时，有人问干部巴境的超拔事，我说：“转生为那地方的一å�ªå°�猴å�，那里有没有猴å�?”大家都说：“那里没有猴å�。”我说：“ä½ ä»¬åŽ»çœ‹çœ‹ã€‚”大家在那里到处看时，果然è§�到了猴å�。那里人生起了殊胜的信心，办了超è��事。
32ã€�æœ‰äººé—®æ ¹å˜Žè®©æ³¢çš„è¶…æ‹”äº‹ï¼Œæˆ‘è¯´ï¼š“那是一个积大æ�¶ä¸šçš„äººï¼ŒçŽ°åœ¨å •åœ¨å°¸ç²ªæ³¥ç‹±ä¸ã€‚å�ˆè¯´ï¼š“那人ç�«çƒ§è¿‡æˆ¿å�ã€�å�šè¿‡ç›—è´¼å¤´å¤´ï¼Œç ´å��过佛殿和佛åƒ�ã€�ç»�典佛塔。è¦�念大è—�ç»�æ•°é��，å�šå·¨å¤§çš„å–„æ ¹ï¼Œæ‰�能使其解脱æ�¶é�“。”
33ã€�拉惹玛å��å�«å·´çŽ›çš„人超拔时，请问我，我说：“已转生为æ�¶ä¸šèº«ä½“，是诋æ¯�僧众的异熟果报。”他当管家时，对僧众说了许多æ�¶è¯ã€‚
34ã€�培察瓦的æ‰�æ—ºå�šè¶…拔事时，å�‘我请问，我说：“临终时对水袋起嗔æ�¨å¿ƒï¼ŒäºŽæ˜¯åœ¨æ°´è¢‹ä¸æŠ•ç”Ÿä¸ºè›‡èº«ï¼Œä¸šåŠ›æ‰€æ„Ÿæ°´è¢‹ä¸çš„æ°´æˆ�了é“�水，感å�—ç�€æ— é‡�痛苦。”他在临终时，窗户上的水袋被风å�¹åŠ¨ï¼Œå¯¹æ‰€æœ‰çš„人生气地说：‘撤下æ�¥!’æ˜¯é‚£æ ·çš„ã€‚ä¸šéšœæ¸…å‡€å�Žï¼Œåœ¨å†¬å¤©å°�蛇出æ�¥å�Žæ»äº†ã€‚
35ã€�江达一个人问他è€�æ¯�亲æ»å�ŽæŠ•ç”Ÿçš„情况，我说：“是他家的白æ¯�羊。”作了广大的超è��å–„æ ¹å�Žï¼Œæˆ‘说：“能往生到东方现喜刹土。”
36ã€�鼓塔巴的è€�头多å�‰çš„超拔事，å�‘我请问，我说：“åœ¨ä½ å®¶æˆ¿å�å�Žé�¢å±±å²©ä¸çš„一棵大æŸ�æ ‘ä¸ã€‚”他们作了超拔。
37ã€�阿则è€�äººåŠ å�«çš„超拔事，我说：“在一处水ä¸æŠ•ç”Ÿä¸ºå¤ç‹¬åœ°ç‹±çš„水虫，许多虾蟆å�žé£Ÿç�€å®ƒï¼Œå¿§æ„�åœ°å¼ ç�€å�£ã€‚æˆ‘åˆ°é‚£å®¶å¿µäº†ç ´ç“¦æ³•å’Œçƒ§æ–½ã€�å�‘愿。”我å�ˆé—®ï¼š“è€�人æ�€è¿‡é�’蛙和虫å�å�—?”他们说å°�时候人们å�«ä»–为‘æ�€è™«’。当å�‘å�¦ä¸€ä½�上师询问怎么超拔，回ç”是：“è¦�竖百å—明的ç»�幡，决定会ä¸�生æ�¶è¶£ã€‚”现在您有如何的超è��法，我说：“æˆ‘çŽ°åœ¨æ— æ³•å†³å®šï¼Œç”¨å˜›å‘¢å’’å�§ã€‚”å�Žæ�¥ä»–们å�‘阳智请问，阳智说：“ä¾�喇嘛（我）所说的是，但是除了æ�¶è¶£ä¹‹å¤–，å�ˆåœ¨å“ªé‡Œ?三年å�Žé‚£äº¡äººèƒ½å¾—人身å�§ã€‚”
38ã€�我从甘åœå›žæ�¥æ—¶ï¼Œæ˜Œæ ¹å–‡è—�西玛家ä½�了一天时，除两è€�妇人外，没有其它人，刚ç�¡ä¸‹ï¼Œå°±åœ¨å¢ƒç›¸ä¸ï¼Œå¸�蓬æ¢�上å�Šç�€ä¸€ä¸ªäººï¼Œå¢ƒå¿ƒèž�å�ˆå�Žå¿µäº†ç ´ç“¦ï¼Œç¬¬äºŒå¤©æˆ‘问：“这个å¸�蓬ä¸ä¼¼ä¹Žæ¨ªæ»è¿‡äººå�§?”回ç”说新龙一å��å�«åœŸç™»çš„人上å�Šè‡ªæ�€äº†ã€‚他们问：“å¯¹è¿™æ ·çš„æ�¶ä¸šï¼Œæœ‰ä»€ä¹ˆåŠžæ³•å¯¹æ²»?”我说：“念闻解脱一百次å�¯ä»¥å�§ã€‚”我å�‘活佛ä»�波切请问，回ç”说：“ä½ ä½œçš„åˆ©ç›Šæœ‰å�§ï¼Œéœ€è¦�作å�„ç§�ç»�å¿�。”
39ã€�阿则有我的门徒女å©æ ¹æ‹‰ï¼Œå¥¹æ»æ—¶ï¼Œç“¦å‘Šçš„阿切说：“请您七日ä¸æ»¡å¥¹çš„愿（得生净土），我也用很大的苦行帮她。”我说：“ä¸�需è¦�很大的苦行，去转绕扎æ�°ç¥žå±±ã€‚”她(æ ¹æ‹‰)的丈夫和兄弟耶瓦二人æ�¥é—®è¶…拔事，我说：“先转绕扎æ�°ç¥žå±±ï¼ŒçŽ°åœ¨åœ¨çŸ³æ�¿ä¸å·²è½¬ç”Ÿä¸ºä¸€å�ªè™«ï¼Œéœ€å¿µå��一亿é��咒。”我到阿æ‰�家作了ç»�å¿�超拔回æ�¥ã€‚碰到那个å�«è€¶ç“¦çš„人，转绕亚é�’å˜›å‘¢çŸ³å †ï¼Œæˆ‘é—®ï¼š“çŽ°åœ¨ä½ å›žåŽ»å�—?”“去。”我说：“ä»¥å–„æ ¹åŠ›ä½ å®¶çš„äº¡äººèˆ�虫身å�Žï¼Œå°†æŠ•ç”Ÿä¸ºå�Žä»²çš„女儿，会得到安ä¹�。”耶瓦回到那里，他们作骨ç�°ä¿®æ³•æ—¶ï¼Œæ‰¾äº†ä¸€å�—石片，用æ�¥ç ”骨ç�°ç²‰ï¼Œæ‹¿æ�¥æ—¶é‚£çŸ³ç‰‡ä¸‹æœ‰ä¸€å�ªè™«ï¼Œå·²ç»�å��一个月了，还活ç�€ï¼ŒäºŽæ˜¯å¯¹é‚£ä¸ªè™«æ²�æµ´æ³•å’Œæ²™å’’åŠ æŒ�ç‰ï¼Œä¹‹å�Žè™«æ»äº†ï¼Œé‚£è™«å†³å®šæ˜¯å�§ã€‚”
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Amazing... thanks for sharing...
somehow i thought of u when i posted this. :p
Interesting. Please help me clear my confusion.
As I know that what the person will be or going through after death all depends on the deeds or karma she created while living and nothing can stop her from facing the effects of all the bad karma she created while living. How is it that prayers can supersede bad karma created while living and get the person to take rebirth in a positive realm?
They used the ear-ring for her prayers and she took rebirth in a positive realm.
Very interesting, thanks for sharing.
Hi SJS6638, check this out:
http://www.jenchen.org.sg/vol5no1a.htm
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Volume 5 no 1
Feature
Ullambana Dharma - not Festival of Hungry Ghosts
By Venerable Shen-Kai
According to a popular Chinese superstition, ghosts are released from hell in the 7th month of the Chinese calendar for a one-month break in the human world. In order to appease them, animals are slaughtered and offered to these 'hungry ghosts', together with other food. Big feasts and other festivities are held during this month and the most 'auspicious day' is the 15th day of the month. It is so widespread that this yearly affair is dubbed the Month or Festival of the Hungry Ghosts. What is this all about?
Among the chief disciples of the Buddha was one named Maudgalyayana. He had immense supernatural powers: Deva-foot ubiquity which made it possible for him to appear at any place at will, the divine sight of Deva-eye to have unlimited vision of all things, large and small, near and distant; Deva-ear to hear all sounds regardless of the distance. Furthermore, he had the ability to read and understand whatever was in a person's mind. He also had the ability to see clearly the events that occurred in a person's many past lives aeons ago. Thus, Maudgalyayana is considered to be a Maha-Bodhisattva who is foremost in supernatural powers.
One day, his Deva-eye saw that his deceased mother had transmigrated to the realm of the hungry ghost. Her stomach was enlarged and she had tiny limbs. Her throat was as small as the eye of a needle, and as a result, it was impossible for her to eat any food or even to swallow a drop of water. Maudgalyayana could not bear the sight of his mother in such an extreme state of suffering. He immediately filled his alms bowl with food and with the immense power that he possessed, he sent it to his mother. However, she could not have the food because each time it turned into charcoal before she could put it in her mouth. It hurt Maudgalyayana to see what was happening and because of his strong emotion for his mother, it hindered his ability to see the karma that she had committed in her past lives. He went to Buddha for advice. The Buddha closed his eyes and entered into pure contemplation. With great compassion and gentleness, he said: "Maudgalyayana, your mother did not believe in the retributions arising from the law of cause and effect. She committed many evil deeds. She dishonoured the Buddha and insulted the Sangha [1], had no respect for the Three Treasures (Buddha, Dharma and Sangha), was greedy, filled with hatred, ignorant and arrogant. She was a wicked person who committed many evils, and she teased others giving them no peace. Therefore, she is suffering such a bitter consequence. Even though you are her son and your filial piety touches the heavens, these are still not able to save a person who had committed such serious evil karma." On hearing this, Maudgalyayana wept in pain.
Notes
1. Sangha
The corporate assembly of at least 3 monks; in general the term has come to mean a monk, or monks.
2. Bodhi
From budh; knowledge, understanding; perfect wisdom; the illuminated or enlightened mind.
The Buddha continued to console him, "It is impossible to rely solely on your own effort to save your mother from the realm of the hungry ghost. The only way is to use the combined merits of the Sangha. The 15th day of the 7th month of each year is designated "Buddha's Joy Day". This is the last day of the Sangha's summer retreat, and because of the purity with which the Sangha observed the precepts and practised cultivation, many attain the Bodhi [2]. The merits that they accumulate are immense beyond imagination, and the Buddha is most delighted. If you make an offering to these Sangha during this time, you can liberate your deceased parents and relatives from the suffering of the three evil realms (realms of animal, hungry ghost and hell) through their immense merits. If the parents are still living, then they shall be blessed with good health, happiness and a life of abundance. This is the truly marvellous method of giving salvation to the deceased." Maudgalyayana was delighted to hear this, and carried out the Buddha's advice accordingly. Thus, on the 15th of the 7th month after the offering to the Sangha, Maudgalyayana's mother was liberated from the suffering of the realm of the hungry ghost.
To give offering to the Sangha in this way is called the 'Ullambana' method. After Maudgalyayana received the benefits from this Dharma, he was very grateful to the Buddha and praised the merits of the Three Treasures. He advised people to promote the 'Ullambana Dharma'. This day, the 15th of the 7th month, can also be considered an occasion to express our gratitude and filial piety to our parents and ancestors. Unfortunately, the passage of time saw a gradual erosion in its understanding and purpose, so much so that this special occasion is not performed in accordance to the Dharma. Today, this auspicious celebration has become a day of widespread slaughter of animals to be used as offering to the hungry ghosts. The original act of performing offerings to the Sangha has become a day for feasting and making offerings to the hungry ghosts, often referred to as 'to invite the good brothers to a feast'. These practices are not only against the compassion of the Buddha, but also a let down to Maudgalyayana who had advised the world to be filial and to perform good deeds.
When we refrain from killing and protect all lives, we actually accumulate the merit of longevity and good health. It is meaningless to kill other living beings and offer them to the ghost, because they cannot benefit from these at all. Instead, those who kill shall have to repay for their action by suffering endlessly in hell. Unless we put an end to all forms of killing, the world forever shall not have peace. If the tradition of offering to the ghosts and the deceased on this day cannot be changed, the least we could do is to replace the slaughter and offer of meat with vegetarian food, flowers or fruits. It does not matter if we are not able to make offerings to the Sangha on this day, but at least we could invite them to chant the sutra for the purpose of liberating the deceased. In this way, it benefits both the living and the deceased.
Thanks, All Eternal. Where are the temples in Singapore that are open to receive offering to Sangha? Is Sangha monk?
Yes monastic community. Generally, all Buddhist monastic communities should be open to receive offerings, since they depend on the lay persons for their material needs.
Originally posted by An Eternal Now:Yes monastic community. Generally, all Buddhist monastic communities should be open to receive offerings, since they depend on the lay persons for their material needs.
OK. Will keep this in mind. Find reliable temple is important. before I read your post I misunderstood that on the 15 day of 7 month that it is chao du to help the dead.
Everyday also can chao du and help the dead.
Originally posted by Dharmadhatu:somehow i thought of u when i posted this. :p
I am pretty sure I know you before (perhaps in a previous life) :) Perhaps we were 师兄..
BTW... I will not be coming up this forum much from now on.. I want to focus on deepening the progress rather than getting 'attached' to forum activities.
Best regards :)
Originally posted by simpo_:
BTW... I will not be coming up this forum much from now on.. I want to focus on deepening the progress rather than getting 'attached' to forum activities.
Will miss your comments and contributions. If you still looking, i sent u a PM.
Originally posted by SJS6638:Interesting. Please help me clear my confusion.
As I know that what the person will be or going through after death all depends on the deeds or karma she created while living and nothing can stop her from facing the effects of all the bad karma she created while living. How is it that prayers can supersede bad karma created while living and get the person to take rebirth in a positive realm?
They used the ear-ring for her prayers and she took rebirth in a positive realm.
Hi SJ,
Pureland / positive realm is a positive manifestation of mind. Just like a good dream or bad dream are all manifestations of mind. Due to the prayers, positive intention and Buddha's blessings, the deceased mind is affected positively, and gives rise to positive phenomenon like the higher realms/pureland. That is a good rebirth. It is not that the bad karma created is gone totally, but that the positive influence is much stronger and so it manifest first.
Very strong positive deeds can also dissolve the severity of negative karma if done with sincerity and altruism. Just like a salty solution if poured into a large pool full of clean water, the saltiness (analogy for negative karma) will be so diluted by the clean water (analogy for positive karma) that it can hardly be tasted. But that is not to say that the negative karma (or salt) is gone.
The law of cause-and-effect always operates. In some cases above , you see that although the prayers are being done but it is still insufficient to help the deceased escape the lower realms. In some cases above, you see that the prayers can only help the deceased to a better state like human birth in a poor family but not to the Buddha's pureland. So dharma practice and observing cause-and-effect carefully, whatever you do in this life is very crucial.
Also another point to note, if the deceased did not have sufficient merits in this or past lives, she would not have had someone to ask the authentic Guru and to do all these prayers for her. It is impossible.
Using the ear-ring is just to cut the deceased's attachment to the ear-ring. Attachment is something that binds the mind, so it is not helpful to the deceased, or alive people for that matter.
Hope you will pop by from time to time, Simpo, you have great wisdom to share :)
But also good luck for your practice... I also need to focus more on my practice, lol