Record 2
Ngagi from Dartsedo county (householder, 1932-2012)
Summary
Ngagi was a woman who had a very gentle disposition. On her deathbed, she said, "In the past, I only knew that Amitabha’s body was red, I did not know that he had a crown protuberance (ushnisha). But today, I clearly know what Amitabha looks like. Now, Amitabha Buddha has come to fetch me and I am going to Sukhavati." After that, she hurriedly turned to her right side and passed away immediately.
Life Experience
Born on the Tibetan 16th Rabjung Water Monkey Year (1932), Ngagi hailed from Lale Village in Tagong Township, Dartsedo County, Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province. Her father was Tsewang Gongpo, and mother was Yazong. HH Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche held three Sukhavati grand pujas, and Ngagi participated in the first two pujas. She also vowed to recite four million repetitions of the sacred name of Amitabha Buddha and completed her vow.
Final Moments
Before she passed on, she said to her son Jigme Rigzin and others, "When I visualize the protector Amitabha in my mind, he appears as a red deity. Apart from this, I can’t visualize anything else. But now, when protector Amitabha appears to my eyes, he is not only red in color, but has a flesh protuberance on his crown. So this is how he appears. Now I know what Amitabha really looks like. Amitabha and HH Jigme Phuntsok have arrived to fetch me, I am going to Sukhavati. What are you doing running here and there with the flowers? Help turn my body to the right side." After she hurriedly gave these instructions, Jigme Rigzin and Khenpo Chopal quickly turned Ngagi's body to the right side. She stopped breathing instantly and passed away.
(On 26th July 2020, we (the editors) arrived at Lale village and interviewed Jigme Rigzin, Khenpo Kunpal and others. Their statements were collated in a document and reviewed by themselves. We not only relied on the deceased’s dying words but also collected testimonies from various interviewees who knew of this matter. With strict corroboration from various angles and sources, we concluded that this account was reliable and recorded it here.)
Record 3
Dotse from Zadoi County (Householder, 1938-2019)
Summary
Dotse lived an honest and simple life. While making a living, he engaged consistently in practice sessions and recitation. Prior to his passing, he felt that he truly entered the pureland of Sukhavati, even witnessing the Protector Amitabha present there. Moreover, just before his departure, he said, "You do not need to worry about my death. I am leaving now because I truly wish to be reborn in Sukhavati and it is for sure that I will be reborn there." Subsequently, he passed away.
Life Experience
Born in the Tibetan 16th Rabjung Earth Tiger Year (1938), Dotse came from the Trage village, Sahu Teng Town of Zadoi County, Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai Province. He was a monk at Jizong Monastery when he was young. He also did a retreat at the meditation center. However, during the Cultural Revolution, he was forced to return to lay life, raising ten children amidst considerable hardships. Despite the challenges, he led a modest and peaceful life. He practiced in sessions in the early morning and late night, reciting texts and mantras. Also, he often placed a small Amitabha Buddha thangka (picture framed with tapestry in Tibetan style) at the head of his bed and completed a million recitations of Amitabha Buddha's name.
Last Moments
After he was struck down by a severe illness, in the morning of the seventh day before his death, he told his family, "Last night, I had a rare dream. I found myself in a place I had never been to before. It was a pleasing and delightful place, with lush green grass and blooming white flowers. The scenery was exquisite with a sweet fragrance that permeated everywhere. It was indescribable with words. I felt reluctant to even step on the ground as it might tarnish the beauty even a little. Such is the beauty of this place! In my dream, I was going towards this place. When I woke up this morning, the memory of that beautiful place remained, my heart is filled with immeasurable joy and happiness. Now, it seems that it is time for me to leave to go to another place."
One night, while his daughter Palmo was looking after him, he said, "There are many words appearing there, and those words are not written on paper; they are all white 'Om (ཨཱྃ)' syllables, they are appearing in a layered manner with one syllable overlaying the other." These were his inner visions, and externally there were no such syllables around him.
On another night, he said, "There is a long deer horn beside me with the heart mantra of Padmasambhava carved on it." Palmo replied, "No, there isn't." However, he insisted, "Yes, there is! There is! It’s only that you can't see it." Then, he began reciting the verses for offering mandala: "The ground anointed with perfume, adorned with flowers, Mount Meru, four continents, the sun, and the moon, Visualized as a Buddha land and offered to you, May all beings enjoy this pure land."
Later, on the fifth morning after having dreamt of that delightful place, he told his family and relatives, "Today, I want to share some pleasing words." With a joyful expression, he said, "Today, the Sukhavati thangka at the head of my bed has transformed into the actual pureland. I have been reborn there and personally saw the majestic form of the Protector Amitabha. It is by nature a thangka but the place is Sukhavati. After arriving there, I leaped into space, circumambulated three times clockwise and when I looked down from the sky, all the mountain valleys were as in the summer time—beautiful and pleasant, with many lakes and ponds, all around was clear water and ethereal mist. I saw many such mountain valleys, among which there was only one I recognized and have visited before: Dangka’s prayerhall.
“Compared to the thangka’s picture, the actual Sukhavati is tens of thousand times more radiant. I saw Protector Amitabha in the middle of the pure-realm. His body is ruby-red in color, with a ushnisha on his crown, thousand-spoke wheels on the soles of his feet, and a bowl filled with nectar in his hands. The thangka in our home now has a different radiance compared to before. So all of you should a look and do not be noisy, place dadars (ceremonial arrows) and mandala offerings before the thangka, and offer incense well. I will definitely die now, but I have no fear of death."
Continuing, Dotse said, "Bring me some grains." While offering the grains, he recited auspicious aspirations and some verses for good fortune. Tying a knot on a white khata scarf, and holding it in his hands, he bowed three times and said, "Now tie the khata to the dadar. Family, children, relatives, whoever it may be, do not forget to stay united and harmonious as before, diligently practicing virtue. Don't worry about my death. I truly wish to be reborn in Sukhavati now and it is for sure that I will be reborn there. After so saying, with great diligence, he recited the Sutra of the Names of Manjushri. Gradually, Dotse became more and more drowsy, his voice faded, but his lips and tongue still continued the motion of reciting. When others recited the Sutra of the Names of Manjushri by his ear, Dotse looked happy and seemed to recite along, and then he passed on.
(On January 20, 2021, we, the editors, personally visited Zadoi County in Yushu Prefecture, and interviewed the deceased's son Decho, nephew Tashi, Yonba and others. On January 23, 2021, we returned to Yushu Prefecture and conducted detailed interviews with the deceased's daughter Yejung, son-in-law Wola, daughters Gonggi and Palmo, Sangchu Tsewang, Karma Tsewang, Jamyang, and others. We compiled the information based on what they shared, then had them review it. They confirmed that the account was accurate. We did not rely solely on the statements made by the deceased before his death or the testimony of only some interviewees familiar with the matter. Instead, we conducted verification from various sources and, after being certain of it's veracity, included the account here.)
