Abel requests the dharma: What will happen after a person dies?

One day, while sweeping the courtyard, Abel noticed a female disciple entering and seeking his master's guidance for her deceased relative's spiritual liberation.

When all done, the female disciple: "thank you, Master. Amitabha!"

Master: "Amitabha!"

Abel: "Master, what will happen after death? Where do souls go?"

Master: " Abel, follow me. Some believe death means complete cessation. But this misconception arises because they don't understand the eternal nature of consciousness after death (the soul), nor the truth about the six realms of reincarnation. These realms include: heavenly beings, asuras, human beings, animals, hungry ghosts, and hell beings. "

Abel asks: "Which kind of realms do souls ultimately enter?"

Master explains: "My master, H.H Dorje Chang Buddha III, teaches through Dharma courses that Buddhism follows cause and effect. Where do souls go after death? It's not chosen by oneself but determined by karma. The six realms shift based on good and evil deeds that one has accumulated. Those with more virtuous karma may ascend to the heavenly beings, asuras, or human beings’ realms, while those with heavier karmic burdens might fall into hungry ghosts, animals, or hell beings’ realms. Where exactly do souls go? They are dragged by the causes they have planted.

The six realms encompass all sentient beings trapped in samsara—born to endure the suffering of birth, aging, sickness, and death, be tied by impermanence and ignorance of karma. None escape these torments; every soul experiences endless anguish in its realm.

Abel: “Do all beings endure this suffering regardless of the realms they go?”

Master said: " Abel, Buddhism enables living beings to become liberated from the cycle of birth and death, as well as removing the pain and suffering of living beings. Through learning from Buddha to cultivate yourself, and by learning and practicing Dharma, you can control your own death and rebirth, and control where you will go. Buddhas and Bodhisattvas come to this world to save humanity from suffering and to enable them to attain liberation and accomplishment. We must not only sincerely study Buddhism ourselves, but also share this truth about life with all human beings. Let everyone understand the essence of life, practice together by abstaining from evil and embracing virtue. In this lifetime, we shall collectively break free from the reincarnation, escape suffering's shackles, and freely manifest supernormal powers to enjoy blissful fulfillment in the Buddha's realm. "

Abel puts his palms together: “Amitabha Buddha!”

Author: Xin Yin