The Dharani Sutra of The Buddha on Longevity, The Extinction of Offences and The Protection of Young Children: 5 of 33

After hearing that, the women Confusion cried sorrowfully. Again she said to The Buddha, “Once I heard a wise man said, ‘If we are able to encounter The Buddha or the pure Sangha members, whatever offences that we have created will be extinguished if we seek to repent and reform sincerely.”

“Even when such a man has already passed away and entered the hells, but if the relatives who are still alive are able to cultivate goodness and small blessing on his behalf, the dead one will be able to get a rebirth in the heavens!’ Is there really such happening? I beg The World Honored One will explain to me!”

The Thus Come One Pervasive Lights and Proper Views told the Woman Confusion, “It is true. If there is a living being who has committed all kinds of offences but is able to encounter The Buddha and the members of the pure Sangha assembly, to repent sincerely and never to commit any more offences, then his sinful karma will be extinguished.”

“Even if he has passed away, but his family and relatives are able to pay respect and make obeisance to The Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. Within the seven days, they are able to read and chant on behalf of him the Sutra of Great Vehicle, to make offerings to the Triple Jewels with fragrant incense and flowers.”

“The messenger from the Dark Realm will carry the Spiritual Banner of five colors and go to the hall of The King Yama. There are troops of ghosts who stand around the front and back of the Banner. They sing and praise the dead man. With a gentle and subtly wonderful voice they report to the King Yama, ‘The dead man has accumulated lots of merits!’”

“When The King Yama sees the arrival of the Banner of five colors, he is greatly happy and says aloud, 'May my body which is full of offences be like him in order to accumulate all merits.’”

“Immediately, the hells are transformed into pure streams. The hills of knives and the trees of swords are transformed into lotuses. All the offenders feel refresh and blissful.”

“If there is another dead man who does not have faith in the Buddha Dharma, who does not read and chant the Sutra of Great Vehicle, whose mind is lack of filial piety, respectfulness, kindness and compassion, but believe in deviant path and evils views. Within the seven days, there is no next of kin who is alive to perform goodness and blessings on his behalf.”

“Then the messenger from the dark realm will hold the Black Banner, together with innumerable evil ghosts who make the following report to The King Yama, ‘The dead one has accumulated lots of evil deeds.’”

When The King Yama sees the Black Banner, he gests angry immediately. All the halls and houses vibrate under his thunder-like harsh voice. The offender is immediately sent down to the eighteen layers of hells.”

“The offender is forced to climb the trees of swords and hills of knives. Or he is forced to lie on the iron bed, to embrace the bronze pillar, or his tongue is being pulled out and ploughed by a bull. Or his body is being beaten by stony rod, his bones and flesh are grind to powder by a stone grinder.”

“In a single day there are millions times of birth and death. And then the offender will repeatedly fall into the Avici Hell, to experience acute suffering from one kalpa to another without respite.”