I think Tim T might like this story.
I was looking around for stories of Buddhist near death experiences (as you do)
and found this one on a website, as extracted from a book by a Thai (I think) monk. I thought it most remarkable for the role chickens play in it. [My bold if you want to get straight to the chicken parts]:
I,
Phra Tanasiri Sirisumphan, a Buddhist Monk, was accompanying my cousin
as he traveled to another province. I was thirteen years old at the
time. While we were traveling, I came down with a toothache. I went to a
dentist, who took the offending tooth out. I felt much better, but I
still had some pain. I went to a hotel to sleep. But instead of falling
asleep, I lost consciousness. When I came to, I found two Yamatoots. One
of them was standing at the head of my bed, and the other at the foot.
Both of them were holding torches. They looked about thirty years old,
and had very dark skin. They said only “let’s go”. I asked them “where
are you taking me?” They answered: “don’t ask”. I stood up and followed
them. One of them said to the other: ” He is too young, so I’m not going
to help you. You do it alone, I have another job to attend to”.
Eventually, the remaining Yamatoot forced me to go with him. I followed
him until we came to a crossroad. I became afraid at that point because I
had lost my bearings, and would not be able to find my way back.
Finally I came to a temple wall. The Yamatoot took me to a large gate
Where I saw a monk giving a sermon to a group of elderly men and women. I
made the formal gesture of respect to the Monk, and as I did so, I
realized that the truth and highest form of help was to be found in The
Lord Buddha, His Teachings, and those who ordain to follow his way (The
Buddha, The Dharma, and the Sangha – also known as the “triple gem’).
I
walked to a classical style pavilion (Sala). The Yamatoot told me to
wait for someone who was coming to meet us. A very large Yamatoot
arrived who was wearing ancient armor, and carrying a spear. He was
accompanied by a group of normal-sized Yamatoots, all of whom were
carrying weapons. I felt that the situation was becoming very bad.
They
took me to the house of Yama, the Lord of the Dead. Yama told me that I
had committed many sins, especially in having butchered a number of
chickens. I denied it, I said that I had not done that, not even once.
Yama was surprised, and asked his records keeper.”How old is he?”
“Thirteen years, Lord”, came the answer. “What’s his name?” My name was
read out. Yama said: “You’ve taken the wrong man. Take him back.
Quickly. You’ve made a mistake”. I said that, before I returned, I
wanted to see hell. Yama answered: “No. The last thing I have to say to
you is that you will die when you are 27 years old. Be ready”
Yama
assigned a Yamatoot to accompany me back. He took me back to the
crossroad where he said that I must go on from there alone. I was
afraid, and asked him to take me all the way back. He said that I must
go on alone. I walked on alone, and tripped on a tree root. I then
revived.
When
I was 27, I was ill with a stomach ache that lingered on for a year. My
doctor advised surgery. I went in to the hospital, and the procedure
began with anesthesia. As soon as I was under anesthesia, I saw the same
Yamatoot. I remembered from the last time I had died and been revived.
As he led me to hell’s gate, I walked past a torture chamber. The first
thing I saw was a big copper pot full of boiling water. It was full of
people who cried out from fear. A Yamatoot stood by guarding the people
who were being tortured in this way. I walked away from this scene and
came to a stand of barren tamarind trees. Their normal bark was replaced
by thousands of sharp spikes. Yamatoots at the foot of the tree forced
people to climb these trees by prodding them with spears. I didn’t ask
why these people were being tortured in this way. I already knew. They
were being punished (for sexual wrongdoing). I continued down the same
road and cams to some stairs. At the top of the stairs was a flock of
birds. I climbed these stairs and found myself in the judgment hall of
Yama’s palace. I knew that they were ready to judge me for my sins. A
giant rooster appeared who told Yama that I had killed him. He
emphasized that I had tried to kill him again and again. The rooster
said that he remembered me exactly. An entire flock of roosters also
appeared and testified that I had killed them, as well. I remembered my
actions, and I had to admit that the roosters had told the truth. Yama
said that I had committed many sins, and sentenced me to many rebirths
both as a chicken, and many other kinds of birds. After these births, I
would then be reborn as an angelic being (Thevada) due to my having
performed meritorious actions many times. After Yama was finished
reading my sentence, he commanded a Yamatoot to take me to the place
were I was to receive additional punishments. But, quite suddenly, an
enormous turtle appeared. It screamed at Yama, saying “don’t take him;
he Is a good human, and he should be allowed to live.” Yama asked the
turtle ” what did he do to help you?” The turtle answered. “Long ago, I
almost died because another of these humans wanted to eat me. This man
prevented him, and so, I was able to live out my life.” Yama asked the
turtle if he had any evidence. The turtle asked to be turned upside
down, and told Yama to look at his underside where he would see where
the man had carved his name so many years ago.
Yama
saw the man’s name was there, just as the turtle had said, and believed
the turtle’s story. Yama announced that he was canceling the sentence,
and told me that when I revived, I was to take a vow not to kill any
living thing. He said that it was especially bad to kill animals because
they had to live through so many lives in order to be reborn as humans.
“Love the animals”, he said, “as you love yourself”.
