Qian Jishi is very sure that he will not come to arrest you today. Amitabha Buddha and Lord Yama are very merciful and have discussed and decided to add about two months to your life. Go home and recite the Buddha's name honestly. You have not recited the Buddha's name all your life. In the past two months, you have tried your best to recite the Buddha's name and prayed to Amitabha Buddha to take you to the Western Paradise. . If you don't recite the Buddha's name, the Lord of Hell will send people to arrest you and send you to hell in two months, and I will never care about you again.
After finishing speaking, Qian Jishi turned to his son beside him and told him: In the past two months, you have to let go of all the fate and only accompany your father to recite the Buddha's name, and fulfill your last filial piety in life. No matter what means you use, just recite the Buddha's name to the old man.
After Qian Jishi returned to the temple, he often called to inquire about the situation. When the old man passed away two months later, Qian Jishi went to hospice care to pay him a visit. After explaining some things, I went back to the temple.
After that, Qian Jishi still called the old man's son from time to time to ask about the situation and told him to spend more time with his father in chanting Buddha's name.
More than two months later, at noon one day, the old man's son called and said, this time, my dad is really leaving. Qian Jishi quickly left the mountain and came to the old man's home.
The old man was lying on the bed, silent. Qian Jishi began to provide hospice care and recited "Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's Original Vow Sutra" as a ritual. At about three o'clock in the afternoon, Qian Jishi continued to recite the only holy name of Amitabha. A monk accompanied the old man to recite the Buddha's name, but his son was busy with funeral arrangements and did not understand the importance of reciting the Buddha's name. Qian Jishi didn't care about these things, he just focused on chanting Buddha's name.
At about four o'clock in the afternoon, the old man vomited it out in one breath and left. Qian Jishi decided to recite the Buddha's name for the old man continuously for eight hours from now on until twelve o'clock in the evening. He also called several lay people to take over his place of reciting the Buddha's name.
When he woke up at eight o'clock the next morning, Qian Jishi ate some fast food and hurried to the old man's home.
At this time, there were more lay practitioners, that is, there were more than ten fellow practitioners helping me recite.
Around 8:30, we arranged for the old man to take a bath and change clothes. Many of the old man’s relatives, friends and neighbors came and talked a lot. They all blamed the old man’s son for being ignorant. He should have taken a bath and changed clothes just yesterday when he died. Yes, I have been dead for fourteen hours now. My body must be stiff. How can I change clothes? As a result, the layman who assisted the chanting helped the old man up and took a look. Everyone was surprised: the old man was particularly peaceful and comfortable, his face was many times more dignified than before when he was alive, his whole body was as soft as a baby, and he could sit cross-legged with his feet crossed. Seeing this scene, no one was not happy and moved. Some neighbor women in their 70s and 80s also said that from now on I would invite people to pray to me when I pass away.
Another year, in the autumn, Qian Jishi went out for alms for the last time. Many villagers or lay people gave him the rice, flour, fresh vegetables and other food provided for his master, but he didn't want any of it. He told everyone he met that he was leaving tomorrow and today was a special day. Come visit everyone. When he came to the bank and said this, laymen and villagers such as Qianqian Da and Qian Biaoxian were all present. They were all surprised and asked, Master, where are you going?
Qian Jishi smiled kindly. He did not rush to answer, but recited a stanza in a rich and powerful voice: Time passes and life is dim, and prosperity changes in a blink of an eye. Don't lose sight of the five desires on the dangerous journey. Amitabha is expected day and night. The son returns. Let me tell you that at 11:25 tomorrow morning, the Three Saints of the West, including Amitabha Buddha, Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, and Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva, will come to Hualing Temple to take me to the Pure Land. I am very happy and have come down the mountain to say goodbye to you. If all the lay people and villagers have time tomorrow, please go to Hualing Temple to see me off. Please.
At this time, some people shouted, "Oh, Monk Qian has become a great monk, so he can predict the coming times." admire! admire! Some people say this, but I don't believe it. Monk Qian is so strong and energetic that the Three Saints of the West are going to pick him up. However, I must rush to Hualing Temple tomorrow morning to have a look.
Others say that’s not necessarily the case. Do we have to wait until we are sick to be reborn in the Pure Land? When we are old, wouldn’t it be better to be reborn in the Pure Land while we are still healthy? No pain at all.
Another layman carrying a bowl of rice caught up with Qian Jishi who walked to the village entrance with an empty bowl and said, Master, this bowl of cooked food is given to you.
Need not. Qian Jishi waved his hand and said, "Donor, I have one meal a day. There is food in the temple. I will go back and eat it hot." If it goes rancid without being eaten and thrown away, it is a waste. Just keep this bowl of rice for your own family!
That would be strange. Master, why do you need to beg for alms when you leave the mountain? What's the point of holding this empty bowl? Isn't it in vain? It’s still a burden to hold in your hand! The layman said this while rolling his eyes.
You are wrong to say that. I went out early this morning and walked among the villages and alleys according to the circumstances. I used this empty bowl to collect everyone’s compassion, purity and enlightenment. Undoubtedly, what I received for alms were Bodhisattva seeds. I will return this merit to you. I wish that all sentient beings in the Dharma Realm, especially the Saha World, may have a good relationship with you. I went to the West so that I could lay the foundation of personal connections to guide Cihang in the future and save people from the sea of suffering.
Thank you, Master. The layman extended his thumb in praise.
The next day came in a flash, and it was a crisp autumn day. The warm sun coated the Hualing Temple with its jagged temples and pavilions surrounded by jungles in a golden color, making this Buddhist temple even more mysterious, sacred, elegant and quiet. .
Early in the morning, countless lay people and villagers came from all directions and entered the temple one after another. People were standing in every corner. Although it was crowded, they were not noisy. They followed the futons in the temple in awe. Sitting there, the old monk Qianji Shi recited the holy names of Amitabha, Guanyin Bodhisattva and Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva.
Until 9 o'clock in the morning, the old monk Qian Jishi opened his slightly closed eyes and recited the Amitabha Sutra loudly. "I wish to use this merit to adorn the Buddha's Pure Land. I will repay the fourfold kindness to you and relieve the hardships on the three journeys." If anyone has seen and heard it, please arouse the bodhisattva heart. After completing this Sambhogakaya, we will be reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss." Just after reciting the dedication verse, a green lotus platform appeared above the people gathered here, and three golden lights shot down from the sky. A golden light shot directly into the center of the crowd, and two other golden lights scattered on both sides, covering the entire crowd present.
Everyone was so excited by this incomparable and strange sight that they chanted Amitabha Buddha loudly again one after another. The sound of the Buddha's trumpet continued continuously for more than an hour.
During this period, the great layman Qianqian walked out of the crowd, bowed to the old monk Qian Jishi, and made a wish: After the Master passes away, I will inherit the mantle, become a monk at Hualing Temple, practice diligently, and spread the Dharma to benefit all living beings!
At 11:22 noon, a lotus as big as a wheel bloomed on the old monk Qian Jishi, who was still sitting cross-legged on the futon, and emitted purple light moving back and forth.
At this time, the entire Hualing Temple was filled with bursts of indescribable and particularly refreshing fragrance that was not found in the world.
Suddenly, someone raised his hand and pointed, and saw the bright sun shining high in the clear blue sky, and flashing out the majestic Three Saints of the West: Amitabha Buddha, Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, and Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva, with a slight smile on their faces, sitting towards the Buddha. The old monk Qian Jishi on the futon in the hall waved frequently.
The miracle happened again. The old monk Qian Jishi stood up, but fell back to the same place. When he stood up again, there was a loud noise like thunder. The old monk Qian Jishi suddenly disappeared, but he saw a red cloud rising into the sky. Then he got up; look at the futon, only a little hair and nails were left on it.
At 11:25 noon, the sound of Sanskrit chants that were like fairy music sounded in the sky to welcome the old monk Qian Jishi to the Pure Land; the three saints of the West came to welcome him on the lotus seat: Amitabha, Guanyin Bodhisattva, and Mahasthamaprapta The Bodhisattva appeared for about three minutes and then disappeared among the colorful auspicious clouds.
Suddenly, a beautiful rainbow hung in the sky above the mountains outside Hualing Temple.
Qiang Da walked out of the temple gate and looked at the sky and shouted excitedly, Master, your practice has reached the supreme state, and your physical body has transformed into a rainbow! The spirit body has passed away! Master, we see you off and congratulate you on your journey! I am happy to join the lotus gang and see the Buddha when the flowers bloom! We also sincerely look forward to your return on the Merciful Flight and your wish to come again to save all sentient beings and escape suffering and gain happiness! Namo Amitabha! Namo Guanyin Bodhisattva! Namo Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva! There are no more Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in the ten directions and three times!
Everyone followed Qiang Dayi and chanted Buddhist chants to see the old monk Qian Jishi off after his death. It was like holding an unprecedented puja. Until the beautiful rainbow in the sky gradually faded, everyone refused to disperse. It is not just the many faithful men and women gathered in Hualing Temple who refuse to disperse, but also the impression of Bodhi that is deeply embedded in the memory of all living beings in the world and has gradually become eternal.
