As the nature of our last thought
leads to a corresponding rebirth,
we should nurture the purest thought now,
via mindfulness of Buddha,
to be like Buddha, to be with Buddha.
- Stonepeace | Get Books
Once,
in times past, there were two monks who cultivated together. One liked
the high mountain scenery, while the other built himself a hut on the
banks of a brook, near a forest. Years went by. The monk who resided by
the brook passed away first. Learning the news, his friend went down to
visit his grave. After reciting sutras and praying for his friend’s
liberation, the visiting monk entered samadhi and attempted to see where
his friend had gone–to no avail. The friend was nowhere to be found,
neither in the heavens nor in the hells, nor in any of the realms in
between.
Emerging from samadhi, he asked the attending novice, ‘What was your
Master busy with every day?’ The novice replied, ‘In the last few months
before his death, seeing that the sugar cane in front of his hut was
tall and green, my Master would go out continually to apply manure and
prune away the dead leaves. He kept close watch over the cane, and
seemed so happy taking care of it.’ Upon hearing this, the visiting monk
entered samadhi again, and saw that his friend had been reborn as a
worm inside one of the stalks of sugar cane. The monk immediately cut
down that stalk, slit it open and extracted the worm. He preached the
Dharma to it and recited the Amitabha Buddha’s name (Amituofo),
dedicating the merit to the worm’s salvation. (Master Tam)
Related Course:
Understanding Amituofo Via The Amitabha Sutra
http://thedailyenlightenment.com/2013/07/understanding-amituofo-via-the-amitabha-sutra-12th-run
http://thedailyenlightenment.com/2013/09/the-monk-attached-to-sugar-cane/