Record of the Rebirth of Elderly Bodhisattva Luan Xiuyun

Namo Amitabha Buddha

Born with Good Roots, Whole Family Assisting in Chanting — A Centenarian’s Record of Rebirth

— Lin Lehui

Introduction

Elderly Luan Xiuyun was born on October 14, 1924, and passed away at 2:21 AM on October 15, 2024, at the age of one hundred. Her family of more than twenty members spanned four generations, with filial children and grandchildren, achieving worldly perfection. She also took refuge in the Pure Land, recited the Buddha’s name for ten years, received assistance from fellow practitioners at her deathbed, and manifested auspicious signs upon rebirth. Such a life and such an achievement inspired the entire family to believe in and recite the Buddha’s name. We share this account of the elderly lady’s assisted rebirth, hoping that all beings may strengthen their faith and vows and together go to the Western Pure Land.

I. Upright and Kind-hearted, Leading by Example

Elderly Luan Xiuyun was from Shandong Province. In her youth, she was an underground Communist Party member, serving as director of the Women’s Rescue Association, village head, and township head, and even recruited six underground party members. Throughout her life, she was kind-hearted and diligent, never using her authority to oppress others. When distributing land, she led a team to a landlord’s home to divide property according to superiors’ instructions. She first had people distribute visible items in the courtyard to the poor. When it came to indoor items, she opened a cabinet, glanced inside, quickly closed it, and told people there was nothing inside, thus preserving a means of survival for that family. The organization wanted to transfer her to work at the county committee, but her mother-in-law wished for her to stay home and care for the children. She complied with her mother-in-law’s wishes, and the transfer was abandoned.

She also taught herself basic medical methods, especially midwifery, delivering many children in the village. After liberation, the family moved to Dalian, where she worked as a nurse in a hospital. During this time, she cared for colleagues and actively helped others. Whenever patients came, she attended to them diligently and rarely left work on time.

She gave birth to six children — four sons and two daughters. Her children said they never heard her resent anyone. In their communal courtyard, there were many gossip and disputes, but she never argued and instructed her children not to engage in idle talk. Even when misunderstood, she did not explain. Under her guidance, her children fulfilled their respective duties, respected elders, loved the young, and supported each other harmoniously. Whenever any child encountered difficulties, the others would help wholeheartedly. The money her children gave her as filial offerings, she saved up to help any child who might face hardship.

II. Learning Buddhism in Old Age with Firm Resolve

The elderly lady learned Buddhism quite late. At nearly ninety, she was introduced to the Pure Land Dharma door by a colleague. Though she could not understand the doctrines deeply, she believed firmly and recited the Buddha’s name single-mindedly. Although she had not formally taken precepts, she followed the precepts in practice, benefiting herself and others. Every day, she rose around 3 AM, washed and cleansed herself, then went to the Buddha hall to make offerings, bow to the Buddha, and recite the Buddha’s name for several hours. She personally offered water and incense before the Buddha, never delegating to others. Even when walking unsteadily, she refused her children’s help. She was frugal in daily life, never wasting anything. After each meal, she would rinse her bowl with water and drink it.

Whether wearing a counting bead bracelet or not, she constantly pressed her fingers while reciting the Buddha’s name, even when seemingly unconscious. Her third son, who had lived with her for over ten years, said she fell severely twice but immediately recited the Buddha’s name each time, emerging unharmed. She said it felt as if someone had lifted her. He also recalled once hearing her mutter to herself while sitting on the bed: “Recite the Buddha, learn the Buddha, love the Buddha, revere the Buddha…”

III. Meeting Good Spiritual Teachers, Receiving Sincere Care

After retiring, the elderly lady’s youngest daughter studied the Dharma, understood the supreme benefits of the Pure Land, and vowed to help her mother achieve rebirth at death, freeing her forever from the cycle of rebirth. At the end of August 2024, the elderly lady was diagnosed with acute leukemia, and her health deteriorated rapidly. Seeing this, the youngest daughter distributed copies of the Essential Instructions for the Dying to family members, hoping they would understand what true filial piety meant and how to help the elderly lady at the critical moment of death. The eldest grandson read it through one night and deeply realized that deathbed chanting assistance was well-founded and the most important thing one could do for a loved one. Wanting to fulfill his grandmother’s lifelong wish, he helped her. Through the recommendation of a master at the Chinese Buddhist Academy, they contacted the chanting assistance group of Donglin Temple in Lushan. After communicating with the office, it was confirmed that the elderly lady was not suitable for long-distance travel, so the group recommended Brother Cui. Contact was made on September 30, but Brother Cui was out of town and could only return to Dalian on October 8.

On October 9, the elderly lady was hospitalized with a fever. It wasn’t until 5 PM on October 14 that the youngest daughter and eldest grandson met Brother Cui at the elderly lady’s home. Brother Cui explained Master Yinguang’s Three Essentials for Deathbed Guidance and Donglin Temple’s core principles and practical requirements for chanting assistance based on these three essentials. The two trusted him completely, asking him to take full responsibility for the chanting assistance and pledging the whole family’s full cooperation. Learning that the elderly lady had been transferred to the ICU that day (because authoritative doctors suggested treatment possibilities, they chose one day in the ICU for evaluation), Brother Cui said this would interfere with the chanting assistance and suggested the children first perform repentance and karmic purification rituals on her behalf. The youngest daughter immediately responded, besides reciting the Buddha’s name, also setting up a disaster-relief plaque for the elderly lady at a temple.

Just then, the ICU notified them of the elderly lady’s critical condition. The three rushed to the hospital. After observing her vital signs, Brother Cui gave her a brief guidance: urging her to understand that her life was counting down, accept the present conditions, not give rise to anger, which would prevent resonance with Amitabha Buddha; transform current suffering into power for liberation; always remember her lifelong wish to follow Amitabha Buddha to rebirth in the West; and now possess the determination and strength of a warrior breaking through encirclement, single-mindedly holding to the Buddha’s name while awaiting the Buddha’s arrival. Hearing these words, the elderly lady seemed to respond twice with all her remaining strength. When Brother Cui began reciting the Buddha’s name, she suddenly calmed down, as if even breathing stopped, though the monitor showed normal readings.

Leaving the ward, Brother Cui explained to the youngest daughter and eldest grandson: First, although medical staff said she was in shock, she still responded to the Buddha’s name, trying twice to chant along. Second, he had already told her to firm up her faith and recite single-mindedly, and she would be received by Amitabha Buddha and reborn in the Pure Land. Third, she showed signs like forehead wrinkles opening, ears moving backward, lower limbs cooling, and abdominal tremors; the dangerous period might come later that night. Fourth, they should inform doctors not to perform resuscitation measures like intubation.

Around 11 PM, the three returned home separately. Following Brother Cui’s guidance, the youngest daughter continued reciting the Buddha’s name at home, repenting on behalf of the elderly lady. The eldest grandson returned to his grandmother’s house, informing all relatives to prepare, and began arranging the room for chanting assistance.

Elderly Bodhisattva Luan Xiuyun

IV. Auspicious Conditions Assembled, Effective Chanting Assistance

At 2:08 AM on October 15, the eldest grandson received a call from the youngest daughter saying the hospital reported the elderly lady’s heart had stopped. They immediately rushed to the hospital and contacted Brother Cui. Within half an hour, the youngest daughter and eldest grandson arrived at the hospital successively, informed that she had passed away at 2:21 AM. Without time for grief, they urgently contacted Brother Cui again for instructions. He advised them to chant on-site as much as possible and not to remove tubes or needles (the hospital hadn’t informed the family before intubation) or touch the body. They divided tasks: the youngest daughter focused on chanting, while the eldest grandson coordinated other matters.

At 3:30 AM, Brother Cui arrived at the hospital. Family members who had gathered had already been chanting beside the elderly lady for nearly an hour. In a corner of the ICU, Brother Cui guided the elderly lady, asking her not to give rise to anger but to recite single-mindedly. Then he led everyone present in focused chanting. Meanwhile, family members outside negotiated with the hospital about a nearby place for chanting without touching the body. The answer was that the deceased could only be sent to the morgue. After consulting Brother Cui, they decided to bring her home.

At 5 AM, with minimal contact with the body, everyone carefully lifted her onto the vehicle, with family members continuously reciting the Buddha’s name throughout the ride. Around 5:30 AM, they arrived home. Two fellow practitioners Brother Cui had arranged were already waiting downstairs. On the sixteenth floor, they urgently set up the room, bed, and Buddha statue, carefully placing the elderly lady. Brother Cui extended the originally planned 24-hour chanting to 36 hours. After guidance, the three practitioners and several family members present began morning chanting accompanied by the small gong.

As dawn broke, more family members and fellow practitioners arrived. Although family members controlled their emotions, unfamiliarity with chanting protocols caused some initial chaos. Brother Cui quickly communicated with the coordinating eldest grandson, requesting no random entry or exit from the chanting area. Twelve family members and over twenty chanting practitioners participated, organized into two-hour shifts with two to four practitioners and two to four family members per shift, with guidance every two hours. This arrangement significantly improved the situation. During this period, Brother Cui also guided family members to kneel sincerely before the Amitabha Buddha statue, repenting on behalf of the elderly lady. After 24 hours of chanting, Brother Cui examined her: her head was slightly warm, expression peaceful, though complexion slightly bluish-yellow.

V. Manifestation of Auspicious Signs, Transforming Relatives

Around 7 AM on the 16th, after 29 hours of chanting, they removed the tubes due to concerns about internal decomposition from protein intake before death. At that moment, the third son suddenly noticed that the elderly lady’s hair had turned black, and new eyebrows had grown! The youngest daughter, eldest grandson, and Brother Cui compared temperatures across her body and found her complexion fair with a rosy glow, very radiant, and her hair lustrous. At 11 AM, after inquiring about possible lingering concerns, Brother Cui guided the youngest daughter, third son, and eldest grandson to offer guidance to the elderly lady. By then, the chanting atmosphere was solemn yet joyful. At 1 PM, after 35 hours of chanting, the practitioner changing her clothes joyfully shook her soft arm, calling Brother Cui to see. Everyone present joyfully witnessed the auspicious sign of her limbs being soft enough to sit cross-legged, though family members unfamiliar with Buddhism remained puzzled.

The cremation date, chosen by the eldest son and youngest son-in-law, fell on the seventh day after passing. Checking the lunar calendar, it happened to be Guan Yin Bodhisattva’s Renunciation Day — perhaps fated. The memorial hall was set up at the funeral parlor. Family members chanted there daily from 10 AM to 12 PM and observed vegetarianism and abstained from killing for 49 days, hoping to show filial piety. The heartbreaking cries from neighboring halls contrasted sharply with the peaceful serenity here, making one exclaim how wonderful it is to study Buddhism! “Though we don’t fully understand what Buddhism is, it certainly works!” was the feedback from family members. They all expressed willingness to study Buddhism and recite the Buddha’s name.

On the cremation day, at 5 AM, sweet dew descended from heaven. When the coffin was opened, even after seven days, the body remained soft enough to sit cross-legged. After cremation at 7 AM, clouds parted and the sun shone. Finally, while sorting the ashes, everyone was astonished by the intact skull — right at the center of the crown was a finger-sized round hole, clearly penetrating from inside outward. The sutras say, “From the crown, sages are reborn; from the eyes, heavenly beings; from the heart, humans; from the belly, hungry ghosts; from the knees, animals; from the soles, hell beings.” This should be evidence of consciousness departing and transcending the mundane to attain sagehood. All these phenomena made those present deeply believe in the Buddhadharma. After burial, the family conducted ocean release together. Remarkably, the release site was right below Brother Cui’s apartment building! One couldn’t help but feel the destined connection between the elderly lady and Brother Cui.

The next day, the eldest grandson invited Brother Cui and participating practitioners to the elderly lady’s home again to explain the karmic connections of the chanting assistance and its supreme benefits. “If the matter of Zhu Rongxin is not false, then she can definitely be reborn. First, because of her past good roots; second, because of the whole family’s chanting assistance. The merit of chanting assistance is immense; without it, it would destroy right mindfulness,” Brother Cui quoted Master Yinguang’s teaching. The family unanimously expressed willingness to inherit the Buddha seed, revere and study Buddhism, and decided to convert the elderly lady’s house into a Buddha hall for joint cultivation with the practitioners. That day, Brother Cui brought four bracelets from home, originally intended for his own sons. Since Elderly Luan had exactly four sons, they were perfectly suited as keepsakes from her.

VI. Wonderful Causes and Effects, The Buddha’s Words Are Not False

In early November, the elderly lady’s third son, youngest daughter, and eldest grandson participated in Donglin Temple’s Lotus Tradition chanting assistance training. During the Q&A session, the eldest grandson submitted a question describing the circumstances before and after the elderly lady’s passing, asking the Dharma Master: “Can these various signs be considered evidence of rebirth in the Pure Land? Can those who provided chanting assistance give conclusive feedback to the family?” Venerable Master Da’an replied: “If your grandmother had so many auspicious signs, lived to a great age, recited the Buddha’s name for ten years, her body became completely soft, and after cremation her skull was preserved with a hole, then why can’t those who assisted her give conclusive feedback? What are you hesitating about? If this elderly lady cannot be reborn, then who can? … Therefore, with complete faith and vow, even ten recitations or one recitation can lead to rebirth! ‘Hearing my name, with utmost sincerity and joy, even with one thought, with utmost sincerity dedicating merits, one attains rebirth, abiding in non-retrogression, attaining unsurpassed enlightenment!’ This is extremely perfect and sudden; with just one thought of resonance, rebirth is certain — how much more so for one who has recited the Buddha’s name for ten years.”

Conclusion

Gratitude to Amitabha Buddha! Gratitude to all good spiritual teachers! The Pure Land Dharma door is so supremely beneficial, providing the dying with the most practical liberation at the most critical moment of life. Through the manifestation of the reborn person, family members and all connected beings witness birth and death, contemplate life, and generate faith and aspiration. Now, Elderly Luan Xiuyun’s family members have gradually embarked on the Bodhi path. The eldest grandson has received the Bodhisattva precepts; the youngest daughter and third son have taken the Three Refuges and Five Precepts; other descendants either make daily offerings to the Buddha or study and recite the Buddha’s name. Moreover, family gatherings now observe vegetarianism and refrain from killing, dedicating merits through recitation, vowing to receive the Buddha’s guidance at death and reunite with the elderly lady in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss! The Pure Land is not far away — as long as we have true faith, earnest vows, and actual practice, tens of thousands who cultivate will go there!

Namo Amitabha Buddha!

(Excerpted from Pure Land Magazine, Issue 6, 2025)