Walking past a specialised funeral accessory shop, Zig jokingly asked Zag to choose a paper shirt design for his funeral. (Some Chinese burn paper items of everyday necessities for the deceased, believing they will manifest in the underworld, where all are reborn. This is neither a Buddhist belief or practice!)
Zag: Nay, I don’t need this, cos I’m going to Pureland.
Zig: Cool… reminds me of the 38th Vow of Amitabha Buddha that we discussed last Friday – ‘If, when I attain Buddhahood, humans and devas in my land should not obtain clothing, as soon as such a desire arises in their minds, and if the fine robes as prescribed and praised by the Buddhas should not be spontaneously provided for them to wear, and if these clothes should need sewing, bleaching, dyeing or washing, may I not attain perfect Enlightenment.’
Zag: Yay! Amitabha Buddha had already considered what’s best for us! Save our bereaved families from the hassle of needless rituals, which wastes money while harming the environment!