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Crossing the Ocean of Life and Death
- Book 163: Crossing the Ocean of Life and Death
- Chapter 14:
The Astral Vision of the Dying
- Written by Sheng-yen Lu
- Translated and edited by True Buddha Foundation
- Translation Team (Cheng Yew Chung, Satch)
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A dying person is likely to see the presence of astral beings or other spirits, and this is certainly not just my personal discovery, but a fact known to many, be they Easterners or Westerners. Yet, the medical field regards these visions to be hallucinations.
The medical field believes that when a person does not sleep for twenty-four hours, or stays up for three days and three nights without rest or sleep, it is likely that hallucinations may occur.
Some Buddhist scholars have suggested that this is the Pratyutpanna Samadhi, or the Samadhi of Buddha Appearance, in which the adept, upon accomplishment of this cultivation, is able to see the Buddhas of the Ten Directions appearing clearly before him.
The appearance of the Buddhas is the result of the cultivation where one recites only the epithet of Amitabha Buddha from morning to night, and throughout the night until the next morning, without ever sitting or sleeping, pacing around the room and sometimes remain standing, for a full cycle of ninety days. This is the practice of Pratyutpanna Samadhi.
But the Buddhist scholars and the academics of today`s world would regard the resulting vision of this ninety day schedule, where the person stands and recites the Buddha epithet continuously day and night without ever sitting or sleeping, and relying on a hanging rope to support himself when fatigue sets in, as a sure product of hallucination. The academics believe that those who do marathon skiing over a continuous twenty-four hour period and then spot interesting figures of human and other objects standing on both sides of their skiing path, are actually having a hallucination.
As to the astral vision of those dying, I am not prepared to put the subject under a microscope, neither do I wish to affirm or deny anything here. However, I would like to present a few case studies solely for the purpose of discussion:
A dying person saw his departed best friend appearing before him beside his bed. He described his friend as `wearing a western-styled suit with a red shirt, and inside the pocket of the red shirt is a fountain pen.`
The dying person was unable to attend his best friend`s funeral, and the thought of putting the red shirt on the deceased was a last minute decision. The fountain pen was a gift from the deceased`s younger sister, and it was inserted in his pocket as an afterthought. Thus the bystanders were shocked to hear of the dying person`s description.
I will quote another true story: a senile old man was on his deathbed and had no idea that his son and daughter-in-law were killed in a car accident. Nobody had informed him of the tragedy, and even if someone did, it would do little good because his senility would prevent him from recalling and recognizing anyone. Yet, despite his condition, the dying and senile old man clearly uttered these words, `My son and daughter-in-law are here to receive me. Why didn`t anyone tell me that they were dead?` Those who heard his words were shocked.
Here is another true incident. A dying man saw all his departed loved ones appearing around him, and he called out the names of all present. Everyone except for one was mentioned. The dying person was asked about the absence of the one deceased person, `Why didn`t he come to receive you?` The dying man then laughed and said, `He wouldn`t dare not come to receive me. It`s just that he was rather afraid of me while he was alive, so he wouldn`t dare show his face. But he still came anyway, and he is now hiding behind the door.` The dying man pointed his finger at the direction of the door. Everyone present was dumbfounded.
When my grandmother passed away, she saw her loved ones appearing to receive her, but she did not want to follow them. She used a hammer to strike and chase away these spiritual beings until she got tired, put away the hammer, and left this world (I had mentioned this incident in my earlier books).
The incidents of a dying person seeing the departed returning to receive him, even throwing a party for him, are certainly not unheard of. Can we infer that all of them are hallucinating? Or perhaps these are not hallucinations?
It is definitely not a good sign when the dying sees the departed appearing to receive them. I consider this as a path to the dark nether plane of the six realms of reincarnation, and certainly not a path to liberation.
When we put aside the debate of whether the phenomenon of astral vision, as experienced by the dying, is a hallucination or is not a hallucination, we can see that the vision itself carries a high degree of authenticity. The dying dwells in a world of duality where he or she is on the brink of death but not completely dead, yet what the dying person sees is so real. It also presents the best opportunity for instructing the dying on the Path of Liberation.
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