Correct Mindfulness When Facing Death

by Master Tsung-pen

Question: 

Master Shan-tao said: 

There is nothing in the world more important than birth and death. Once your breath stops coming, you are in the next world. If your mindfulness goes wrong, then you fall into the cycle of birth and death. 

I have often received instructions in the method of reciting the buddha-name and being born in the Pure Land, and the principles are very clear. But I am afraid that when sickness comes and death approaches, my mind will be scattered in confusion, and I worry that other people will disturb my correct mindfulness. Then I will forget the basis for the Pure Land. I humbly hope you will instruct me again in the method for direct return [to the Pure Land] and enable me to escape the pain of sinking down [into the cycle of birth and death] . 

Tsung-pen said: 

What an excellent question! All people who are about to die want to be born in the Pure Land. It is necessary that you not fear death. Always remember that this body is fraught with much suffering and impurity. It is a painful zone where all kinds of evil karma meet to satisfy physical desires. To pass beyond it and be born in the Pure Land and receive immeasurable happiness and escape from the painful zone of birth and death is something that will please you. It is like taking off filthy clothing and changing into a bejeweled garment. 

Just abandon body and mind - do not be attached to them. 

When you are sick, be mindful of impermanence, and singlemindedly wait for death. Instruct your family members and the people who come to look in on you and ask about your health and tell them this: "Whoever comes before me must recite the buddha-name for me. Do not talk of the miscellaneous idle matters, or how well or badly various family members are doing. Do not use gentle words to soothe me or express wishes that I be at peace and happy. These are all empty flowers, words that do no good." 

If your illness becomes serious and you are facing the end, your relatives should not weep and wail and utter sounds of lamentation and distress. This may throw your mind into confusion and make you lose correct mindfulness. They should just join together and recite the buddha-name to help you go to the Pure Land. Only after your breathing has stopped for a long time can they weep and wail. 

As soon as there is the least bit of longing for the world, it immediately becomes an obstruction, and you will not achieve liberation. If you find people who clearly understand the Pure Land, let them come frequently to urge you on and encourage you. (45) This would be a great good fortune. 

If you act like this, you are sure to be born in the Pure Land, without a doubt. 

Question 

Should we seek doctors and take medicine or not? 

Answer 

There is nothing wrong with seeking doctors and taking medicine. But medicine can only cure disease, it cannot save you from fate. If your allotted lifetime is over, medicine can do nothing. But it is not permissible to kill animals to make medicine. (46) 

Question 

What about praying to the spirits? 

Answer 

The length of a person's life is already fixed at birth: how can the spirits prolong it? 

If you are deluded by superstition and believe in falsehoods and kill animals in order to sacrifice to the spirits, you are just adding to your evil karma and shortening your life. 

If your allotted lifespan is at an end, what can petty spirits do? You are exciting yourself in vain, to no avail. 

You should carry out these instructions carefully. Copy out this text and hang it up where you can see it all the time, so you will not forget it when you are facing the end. 

Question 

Can people who have never recited the buddha-name throughout their lives still make use [of these instructions] ? 

Answer 

This method can be used by clergy and laypeople, by men and women, and by people who have not recited the buddha-name. All will achieve birth in the Pure Land, without a doubt. 

I have seen many people in the world who during their lives have recited the buddha-name, have paid homage to buddha, and have made vows to be born in the Pure Land, but when sickness comes, they are still afraid of death. They say nothing at all about being born in the Pure Land or the business of liberation. When their breathing stops and their lives are about to end and their consciousness descends into the realms of darkness, then at last they begin to do ten recitations of the buddha-name. This is like sounding the alarm after the robbers have gone out the gate - what good does it do? 

How you act in the gate of death is important. It takes your own effort to succeed. If your mindfulness goes astray, you will suffer through the ages: no one will take your place. Think about it! Think about it! 

When [death is imminent] and there is nothing that can be done, you must make energetic progress in reciting the buddha-name, and maintain your mindfulness of buddha with all your strength. 

Then for the great matter at the moment of death, we can say of you: "A single road extends to the West - you return directly home, without having to ask the way there." (47)
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 45. For details on the last rites and on the duties of a Good Spiritual Advisor, please refer to Buddhism of Wisdom and Faith, Chap. X, particularly, section 69. The essential point is to help the dying person keep his mind empty and still by focusing on the Buddha's name. 

46. See note 31 . 

47. The West (the Pure Land) is the cultivator's home. To be reborn in the Pure Land is to return home, to return to one's mind. This is the essence of Mind-Only Pure Land, the essence of Zen. 

Source Of Information:
《Pure Land Pure Mind 心净佛土净》, by Master Chu-hung and Tsung-pen, translated by J.C.Cleary, distributed by: Persatuan Penganut Agama Buddha Amitabha Malaysia, 90 & 92, Jalan Pahang, Gombak, 53000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.)
*** The information provided above does not contain personal opinion of this blog.