This event was occurred in a merciless ocean during the Qing Ming festival. Just before sunset, I received a telephone call from a funeral parlor operator and asking me to conduct a taoist prayer for a dead seaman. Upon arrival at the World Trade Center of Singapore, I looked at the sky and stars twinkled in the dark night. I guess it would be a good weather to conduct the ritual at sea.
We took a speedboat towards the direction of the Strait of Malacca. We were stopped by the Malaysia Police Coast Guard during the journey and after showing our travel documents, we continued our search for a cargo vessel. About eleven o’clock, we were finally discovered the ship in spite of bad visibility. It was understood that the dead seaman was accidentally fell down from his working tower. When the accompanied medical staff carried out health check for each crew on board, I went to conduct the prayer together with the funeral parlor staff.
It saddened to look at the body of the deceased. On knowing that the deceased was a Chinese who came from Hui An County of Fujian Province, we used the traditional offerings of incense and paper money for praying. When I started to chant scriptures, the night turned into a calmless ocean, and the strong wind seemed to be acted in accordance with the instructions from Goddess of Mazu for a rescue mission. We hope that the deceased could finally rest in peace. When the funeral parlor staff carried the body of the deceased to the speedboat, its Taiwanese vessel captain made his final salute with his sorrow expression. After several hours of sea journey, we finally arrived at Port of Singapore. When the deceased body was carried ashore, the rain poured down suddenly.
We took a speedboat towards the direction of the Strait of Malacca. We were stopped by the Malaysia Police Coast Guard during the journey and after showing our travel documents, we continued our search for a cargo vessel. About eleven o’clock, we were finally discovered the ship in spite of bad visibility. It was understood that the dead seaman was accidentally fell down from his working tower. When the accompanied medical staff carried out health check for each crew on board, I went to conduct the prayer together with the funeral parlor staff.
It saddened to look at the body of the deceased. On knowing that the deceased was a Chinese who came from Hui An County of Fujian Province, we used the traditional offerings of incense and paper money for praying. When I started to chant scriptures, the night turned into a calmless ocean, and the strong wind seemed to be acted in accordance with the instructions from Goddess of Mazu for a rescue mission. We hope that the deceased could finally rest in peace. When the funeral parlor staff carried the body of the deceased to the speedboat, its Taiwanese vessel captain made his final salute with his sorrow expression. After several hours of sea journey, we finally arrived at Port of Singapore. When the deceased body was carried ashore, the rain poured down suddenly.
A friend of mine has made the following condolence note, quote:"May these poor people who died from such tragic deaths be liberated from the sea of sufferings to the land of tranquil bliss." by xingjunmiao
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