Unable to Perform Any Buddhist Rites, Yet Witnessed the Most Extraordinary Rebirth of My Father
Namo Amitabha Buddha
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Namo Amitabha Buddha =
Namo Amituofo! I am Focheng from Sarawak, Malaysia. Today, I would like to share with everyone the story of my father—from the time he fell ill until his passing—a journey filled with the compassionate power of the Buddha and many inconceivable blessings.
My father’s surname was Chen. He passed away at the age of sixty-nine on December 30, 2024, in the hospital. It all began around mid-December, when he started to experience unusual discomfort in his abdomen. He frequently felt the need to use the toilet, but each time, he could hardly pass anything. Watching him suffer, our family grew increasingly worried and kept urging him to go for a medical check-up. However, my father was stubborn and insisted he was fine, refusing to go. It was only after his symptoms worsened and our repeated persuasion that he reluctantly agreed to visit the hospital.
That early morning, we rushed him to the hospital. After an initial examination, the doctor arranged for a colonoscopy to determine whether there was any blockage or other internal issue. When the test was completed, we noticed something was wrong—his abdomen was badly swollen, and he appeared to be in great pain, repeatedly telling my mother that his stomach felt bloated and extremely uncomfortable.
Seeing the situation, the doctor immediately ordered further tests. Unexpectedly, during the preparations, my father’s blood pressure suddenly dropped sharply. The medical team quickly intubated him to provide oxygen and attached various monitors to his body. The emergency scene was tense and urgent.
He was then transferred to a ward, but because his blood pressure remained too low, no further procedures could be carried out. When his condition finally stabilized a little, the doctor prepared to proceed with treatment—but then, another sudden crisis struck. My father’s blood pressure plummeted once again, and his heart stopped beating.
Doctors and nurses worked desperately to revive him, and after about twenty-five minutes of continuous resuscitation, his heartbeat finally returned. He was immediately sent to the operating theatre for an emergency operation. After about an hour, the surgery was completed, and he was transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) for close observation and further treatment.
In the following days, my father’s condition remained unstable. My mother, filled with anxiety, specially brought some "Great Compassion Water" that had been blessed by invoking Amitabha Buddha’s name, hoping that through the Buddha’s compassionate power, my father might regain consciousness. As my mother gently fed him a few sips, I stood by his side and noticed a faint response—as if he could hear our voices. While softly reciting the Buddha’s name, my mother lovingly said to him, “Amitabha Buddha is always shining light upon you, protecting you. You must keep reciting the Buddha’s name—follow the sound of Namo Amituofo…” At that moment, my father’s expression seemed to soften, as though he were reciting along with her.
Unfortunately, his condition did not improve. At 3:33 a.m. on December 30, 2024, my father passed away peacefully. When we received the call from the hospital, we rushed there immediately. Once the formalities were completed, although our hearts were heavy with grief, we reminded ourselves that this was the most crucial moment for him. We thought, “Father has just passed away—he needs the Buddha’s name to accompany him now.” So we began chanting Namo Amituofo aloud together. After the medical staff prepared his body, we continued to chant as we walked beside him, escorting him to the mortuary. Along the way, we kept saying, “Dad, don’t be afraid—remember to follow the Buddha’s name. Amitabha’s light is protecting you always!”
Thus, chanting continued as we accompanied him all the way to the mortuary. Afterward, we returned home to prepare for the funeral arrangements. Early that morning, as we busied ourselves with preparations, the hospital suddenly called to inform us that my father’s body contained a high level of viruses and bacteria, and bringing him home might pose an infection risk. Therefore, they could not allow the body to be released. The news struck us like a bolt from the blue. Though we felt deep sorrow and regret, we quickly calmed our hearts—since we could not hold a wake at home, we decided to let the recitation of Namo Amituofo become the most solemn and sacred offering.
We immediately informed our Dharma friends to join us in chanting remotely, dedicating the merit to our father and praying that Amitabha Buddha would receive him into the Land of Ultimate Bliss. We did not set up a traditional altar at home, nor did we burn incense or paper offerings. Everything was kept simple and pure—our father was sent off solely through the sound of the Buddha’s name. During that time, the entire house was filled with the serene and dignified sound of Namo Amituofo, gradually transforming our grief into deep peace and faith.
The third day arrived—early morning on the day of my father’s cremation. Since it was still dark, everyone was asleep. At that time, my mother had a dream—in the dream, she saw my father standing peacefully, and on his forehead bloomed a pure white lotus flower. When she awoke and told us, the whole family was deeply moved and filled with awe.
That morning, we went to the hospital mortuary to claim his body, then proceeded to the crematorium. Along the way, there were no paper offerings, no noise or commotion—only the gentle, continuous sound of the Buddha’s name: “Namo Amituofo… Namo Amituofo…” We recited softly and sincerely, sending our father off on his final journey with the Buddha’s name.
After the cremation, when we went to collect the ashes, we were astonished to see that my father’s remains were pure white and glistening, as if made of jade. At that moment, I seemed to hear faint echoes of Namo Amituofo—gentle yet solemn—flowing from the crematorium chamber. The sound filled my heart with indescribable comfort and peace.
Next, we proceeded to the burial. At first, the weather was scorching hot, and I casually murmured, “It’s really hot…” Almost instantly, dark clouds drifted over and shaded the blazing sun. I thought to myself, “Perhaps Father, now a Bodhisattva, knew I couldn’t stand the heat and kindly shielded us from the sun.”
When the burial was completed, a light drizzle began to fall from the sky. I remembered the old saying that rain during a burial is an auspicious sign. On our way home, that gentle drizzle accompanied us all the way—like the Buddha’s sweet dew, softly blessing our path. Then, just as our car arrived home, the rain suddenly stopped. The sun emerged once again, shining tenderly upon us.
As we stepped into the house and walked into the living room, a subtle fragrance of sandalwood lingered in the air. We had not lit any incense, yet the scent was delicate and soothing—as though a silent message telling us, “Father has truly returned to the Pure Land, his eternal home.”
A week passed in the blink of an eye. One night, as I was sleeping alone in the living room, I suddenly felt as if my spirit had gently drifted out of my body and was floating in the air. In that moment, a soft light appeared before me, and from afar, a figure slowly approached. As it came nearer, I was stunned to see—it was my father. His whole body radiated a gentle, warm light—not dazzling but serene. A faint fragrance emanated from him; I took a deep breath, and a profound sense of peace filled my heart. He was wearing a dark brown monastic robe, his face dignified and compassionate. Looking at him, I felt enveloped in a warmth unlike anything I had ever known.
In this life, my father and I had never embraced each other. But this time, he smiled gently, his eyes filled with compassion, and softly embraced me. In that instant, tears welled up in my eyes. He spoke to me in a warm, calm voice: “I have already been reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. You don’t have to worry about me.”
When I awoke from the dream and glanced at the clock on the wall—it was exactly 3:30 a.m., the very time of my father’s passing. The coincidence left me stunned and deeply moved, a mixture of awe, joy, and gratitude beyond words.
Through this experience, our entire family truly came to realize that Amitabha Buddha’s compassion is real and boundless, and that the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss truly exists. My father, during his lifetime, had never studied the Dharma nor recited the Buddha’s name. In fact, he was an atheist. Yet, Amitabha Buddha, with immeasurable compassion and without forsaking a single being, still received him and guided him to the Western Pure Land. Such great compassionate vows truly surpass human understanding. My father’s rebirth was not only his own liberation—it became a profound seal of faith for our entire family.
Since then, we have been even more diligent in our Nianfo practice, rarely letting a day pass without reciting Namo Amituofo. The Buddha’s name has become the heartbeat of our daily life.
Later, my family and I went to the Pure Land Buddhist Center in Kuala Lumpur to request Master Jingben to confer the Three Refuges upon us. In that moment, our hearts were filled with deep gratitude—thankful that through our father’s rebirth in the Pure Land, our whole family found the path to the Buddha’s teaching and the practice of Nianfo. We also expressed our heartfelt wish to invite Master Jingben and Master Jingping to Sarawak in the future, to spread the teaching of Nianfo and let Amitabha’s compassionate light shine into the hearts of more sentient beings.
So, dear Dharma friends, please believe with all your heart—Amitabha Buddha is right beside us, and the Pure Land is not far away. Recite the Buddha’s name often: recite for your parents, for all beings, and for yourself. May we all one day transcend the sea of suffering within the six realms and be reborn together in the Land of Ultimate Bliss.
See you in the Pure Land.
Namo Amituofo.
Focheng
Recorded on October 14, 2025
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