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Crossing the Ocean of Life and Death
- Book 163: Crossing the Ocean of Life and Death
- Chapter 07:
Well Departed and Ascending to Heaven
- Written by Sheng-yen Lu
- Translated and edited by True Buddha Foundation
- Translation Team (Cheng Yew Chung, Satch)
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In the book, The Chronicles of Ancient Chinese Myths, I was especially impressed by the Yellow Emperor`s ascension to heaven. The Yellow Emperor, who won the battle over Chiyou, had been a Celestial Lord from the heavenly realm. The legendary characters outlined in the ancient myths include Fu Xi, Shen Nong, Xuanyuan, Suiren, Youchao, Nuwa, as well as Yao, Shun, Yu, Dijun, Diku, Houyi, Chang Er, etc. These beings are either gods or hybrids of god and human.
The ancient Yellow Emperor loved traveling, and was often accompanied by two officials; one was called Fenghou, who carried books, and the other was called Changbo, who carried the sword. Together, they had a good time on earth.
Thus, the journey of the Yellow Emperor`s travel took him to places such as Qingqiu, Dongting, Ermei, Wangwu, etc.
When the Yellow Emperor knew it was time to return to heaven, he cast a huge treasured Ding, or tripod, at the foothill of Mount Jingshan (according to Taoist legends, the tripod was used to produce dan or elixir pills; hence, it is said that the Taoist practice of alchemy began from here). When the treasured tripod was cast, it measured a height of fourteen feet, and it could hold ten stones of cereal. Engraved around the tripod were images of dragons flying in the clouds, as well as images of spiritual beings, mythical animals and fowls.
A ceremony was held for the completion of the treasured tripod, which saw many celestial beings and citizens arrive to offer their congratulations.
The Yellow Emperor knew it was time to ascend to heaven. When the moment came, the heavens opened to reveal a magical dragon covered with glittering golden scales, which protruded its body from the clouds and extended its long beard until it reached just above the tripod. The Yellow Emperor, together with his seventy-plus officials, who were once celestial beings that had descended to earth, then leaped into the clouds, climbed upon the back of the magical dragon and slowly ascended towards the heavenly realm.
Many minor lords and citizens who had witnessed the Yellow Emperor`s ascension desired to follow him to the heavenly realm, but none of them were able to leap into the clouds. Hence, they could not ride the dragon. Instead they desperately rushed to hang onto the dragon`s beard, but the beard was unable to take the huge number of people and many had fallen off from it as a result. Some strains of the beard were being pulled off in the process, which later fell to the ground and were transformed into grass known as the dragon`s beard grass.
This is the story of the Yellow Emperor`s ascension.
Another remarkable story is told of Liu An, the lord of Jun Nan during the Han Dynasty, who was known to be fond of the arts of the immortals. It is said that eight strange old men approached the lord and taught him the divine arts. When Liu An finally mastered the art of alchemy, he swallowed the elixir pills and together with the eight old men, ascended to the heavens from a mountain top during the day.
Some unconsumed elixir pills were left at Liu An`s residence, placed in bowls and bottles at his courtyard. The chickens and dogs at the courtyard came picking and licking at the pills, and immediately found themselves ascending towards the sky into the clouds, transformed into chicken and dog immortals. Hence, this is the famous legend of how one person who attains the Tao would see his chickens and dogs ascend to the heavens as well.
In Tantrayana, the lineage Guru Padmasambhava`s final `well departed` moment is well known. The Four Heavenly Kings descended from the heavenly realm, supporting the legs of a celestial horse. After Padmasambhava mounted the horse, he ascended to the sky, leaving behind a famous statement, `He who honors the Guru, treasures the Dharma, and practices truthfully will attain enlightenment.`
`Well departed` is one of the ten epithets of the Tathagata. `Well` means good, and `departed` means gone, and thus, when Sakyamuni Buddha practiced the right path, entered into Nirvana and arrived at a good place (Land of Eternal Peace and Light), it is regarded as `well departed.`
Today, our practice of the True Buddha Tantric Dharma, and our instructions on `The Guide to Dying` illustrate our conviction on the issue of `well departed.` Everyone dies, so nobody is immune from death. We must understand what death is all about, and face it, so that we can move towards a better spiritual realm.
This is entering into the virtuous door, cultivating the virtuous path, achieving liberation, receiving a pleasant death, and expressing the bodhi.
A true practitioner nearing his death may finally rest in peace without a trace of illness and injury. His time of death may be foretold by a celestial being. Some may be proficient in leaving their physical bodies, while others are skilled in seeking new incarnations as Tulkus or Living Buddhas. There are adepts who meet death sitting or standing, while others have had their bodies transformed into the Rainbow Light or into full-bodied relics.
For most people, we must teach them the skills in eradicating the Mara, in giving guidance, in consoling others, in reciting the Buddha`s name, in the skill of liberation by hearing during the bardo, and in the transference of consciousness through the clear light. Only then can we be `well departed.`
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