(Book 223 Stories of Supreme Spiritual Responses《無上殊勝莊嚴的感應》「龍袍救人出地獄」)
‧Ｗritten by Sheng-yen Lu‧
Translated by Janny Chow
A US Daden Culture Publication
A man was injured in a car accident and brought to a hospital in a coma. He was lying in the intensive care unit about to die. I rushed to the hospital, took off the dragon vest I was wearing and covered the patient’s body with it.
Approximately six hours passed.
The comatose patient awoke and described how he had traveled to hell and back. All who heard him exclaimed his story was inconceivable.
He explained that he thought he had died and walked alone through a dark corridor, a valley of darkness. He arrived at a great hall where many people were lined up in rows, as if they were waiting for roll call.
Above the crowd, three officials sat together, calling out names one by one, as if they were assigning prisoners to their specified cells. The entire scene was very stern and solemn. One could hear a pin drop.
The deceased souls moved forward in rows.
Suddenly someone called out the man’s name, and he responded, “Here!”
The official took a look at him and asked in surprise, “What kind of clothing are you wearing?”
The patient replied, “I don’t know. I wonder who put this on me?”
At that moment, the dragon vest suddenly emitted a myriad of auspicious golden rays, lighting up the entire ghost hall brightly and splendidly. The officials were in shock, and the ghosts screamed. “What is this garment?”
The official replied, “This is a dragon vest belonging to Grand Master Lu. It is a dragon vest with dharma power that can guard and protect a living person.”
After looking carefully at the man’s history, the official stated, “This person has done an equal amount of good and bad in his life, but he still has some unfinished work with cultivation. We will let him return to the world of the living for now!”
The official walked him to the edge of a cliff. Below the cliff was a thick mist, and the official pushed him over. He cried out loud and awoke!
Thus, he described to us this experience.
Those who believed him were greatly moved.
Those who did not believe him thought he had a hallucination.
He, himself, was convinced of its truth beyond a doubt, because the entire experience was vividly detailed and clear.
One day, he came to see me and asked, “The official said I still had some unfinished business with cultivation. I don’t know where to start. I have never done any cultivation.”
I explained to him, “You have only started to wonder about cultivation because of your near-death experience. You must stay determined while cultivating and remind yourself often that death is unavoidable.”
One’s remaining lifespan will only diminish and not increase.
An individual’s lifespan varies.
There are many causes of death.
You cannot take anything with you when you die.
One dies alone without company. He listened and was horrified!
I said, “Although people often report not having time to do cultivation, they must find time.”
He nodded.
I said, “Upon death, only the cultivation of the Buddhadharma will liberate you. Everything else won’t benefit you much. So first take refuge in the Triple Jewels and learn to do the right dharma practices. Only this can deliver you from falling into the three lower paths.”
He concurred, “Yes, yes.”
I then bestowed upon him the “initiation,” taught him the “precepts,” and finally taught him the Guru Yoga and Personal Deity Yoga practices.
