It's too late to regret

Master Chin Kung told me a story that was something seen by the Senior Lay Buddhist Zhu. An official in the end of Qing Dynasty was sent by the Emperor to bring money to relieve people in some stricken areas. He kept the money for himself, and a lot of people in the stricken areas died because there was no support for clothes and food. In the early years of Republic of China, some of these officials became landlord at foreign concessions in China and was very wealthy. Some corrupt officials in the end of Qing Dynasty were still with a conscience. Realizing that they have done something wrong, they started to burn incense and worship the gods in the late years of their life. They built bridges and repaired roads as well as did good turns. They were called great charitable people in the society. However, the money they donated was from the money for relieving people in stricken areas that they kept for themselves. He died many years later. His family were so sad after that. He had many concubines. The fourth concubine missed him very much. She met a Frenchman in Shanghai who was familiar with mediumship, and he could talk to the soul of the relative who died. The charge was very high. The fourth concubine paid a visit to the Frenchman who knew mediumship. After paying for the charge, it took a lot time but still failed to find the person who died. The Frenchman said, “I absolutely did not cheat on you, but I really cannot find him. If any of your relatives and friends who died recently, I will find him/ her out and only charge you half price.” She was half-believe and half-doubt when hearing it. However, the oldest son of the husband died. She went over to fetch the first concubine and asked the Frenchman to find him. He was found not long after that and was possessed on another person’s body. The voice was exactly the same as the oldest son. They asked him the situation after death. The oldest son told them everything. Then, they asked, “Why can we not be able to find your father?” The oldest son said, “I heard that Father was sent to hell.” The psychic said, “I cannot find the person in hell.” The fourth concubine said, “He was a man with good deeds and did all good turns in his life. He worshiped Gods and chanted scriptures every day. How could he be sent to hell?” The oldest son mentioned about the matter of keeping the money for the relief in stricken areas to himself. He pointed out that one or two of his old friends in Shanghai know about it, and she could go and ask for more information. The fourth concubine visited the old friend of his husband’s, who was kind and never did anything bad. After the family located the friend, the senior said that there was something like that. However, he had no idea the amount of money he kept. This tells us the psychics are not able to find anyone in Avici. Once you did something bad, it will still be no help even if you worship and chant scriptures every day as compensation. You will still suffer from the consequences. When you committed the sin, you have no idea how terrifying it is to suffer from consequences. After being sent to hell, it is too late to regret. The whole story really freaks us out. We all know that we will suffer from the consequences for our sins, and there is no way out. With sincere confession, if we can move towards the Pure Land after death by sadhana, we will be able to make it up someday in the future. I am going to pray and chant scriptures sincerely! Amitābha!