A Basket of Eggs and the Seeds of Compassion

This is a record of an interview with the 813th Venerable, Xia Rongji, who lived approximately 1,500 years ago. He now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account was recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on December 8, 2018.

Venerable Xia Rongji speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Xia Rongji. When I was six years old, I walked into the living room, attempting to act as if nothing were amiss. My grandfather was there, sipping tea. The moment he saw me, he ordered me to stand straight and scolded me, 'How could you fall asleep while practising your calligraphy!' I looked at him in utter astonishment, thinking to myself, 'Grandfather was not even by my side, how could he possibly know I had just dozed off?' My mother walked over, caught sight of my face, and could not help but burst into laughter. The right side of my face was imprinted with a large character for 'Buddha'—transferred directly from the paper where I had been resting my head. Grandfather told me to return to my room and continue writing until my heart was calm and settled.

The Discipline of a Pure Heart

I was the sole descendant of the Xia family. After my birth, my parents did not have any more children. My grandparents believed that it was not the quantity of children that mattered, but the quality of their upbringing. They felt that if a child was not raised well, having many children would only become a burden to society and potentially corrupt the social atmosphere. My parents followed their advice, deciding to focus all their energy on raising me well before considering another child.

My grandfather served as my primary teacher. He was exceptionally strict, driven by the hope of moulding my character while I was still in my formative years. As a practitioner of the Buddha's teachings, he made the copying of sutras my daily routine. Every day, he would arrange a new lesson for me, ensuring that I had fresh discoveries and learning experiences each day.

A Lesson in Compassion

One day, my grandfather specifically arranged for me to go to the market alone to purchase a basket of eggs. He instructed me to go to a specific stall at the corner and warned me not to seek convenience by going elsewhere. I obediently walked a long distance to that corner stall. The money my grandfather gave me was exactly enough to buy the basket of eggs, not a penny more or less. However, the shopkeeper charged me less than the expected price. I was surprised and asked if he had made a mistake. He replied, 'The eggs today are not as fresh, so I have given you a discount.' I nodded, accepted the change, and prepared for the long walk home.

The path I traversed was lined with beggars, a sight I had never before encountered. Each of them looked so pitiful; there were even elderly women begging with children in their arms. Their suffering pained my heart. The Buddha's teachings had instructed me to help others, and here were people in desperate need. I could not simply turn a blind eye. I halted my steps, handed the remaining silver to a nearby food vendor, and requested that they boil the basket of eggs for me. Once the vendor had finished, I took the basket of cooked eggs and began distributing them one by one to the beggars on the street. I gave extra portions to the women and children who seemed particularly destitute, hoping to fill their empty stomachs. By the time I reached home, the basket was empty.

The Meaning of the Basket

When I arrived home, my grandfather immediately asked, 'What is in the basket?' I replied, 'It is filled with compassion. Today, I applied the compassion taught by the Buddha to this basket of eggs, but my heart aches.' When he asked why, I answered, 'I did not know that people outside lived in such misery. I have always had good clothes and good food, but today I saw many children my own age who had nothing to eat and whose tattered clothes could not keep them warm.' He asked what I had realised, and I told him, 'I have learned contentment and gratitude. I realise how wonderful it is to study the Buddha's teachings. I no longer complain about your strict discipline, for it is because I study the Dharma that I know how to see the suffering of others and understand the importance of Generosity. I shared these eggs with those in need, and while doing so, I taught them to chant Namo Amituofo. I explained to them that chanting costs nothing and that it allows one to seek rebirth in the radiant Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, a realm where one may have whatever one wishes to eat and reside in magnificent dwellings—a place where there is only joy and no suffering!'

Spreading the Dharma

A week later, I returned to the same street. The beggars were still there, begging for food. I asked them if they had been chanting. They all replied, 'Chanting does not fill our stomachs, and we still feel the cold. The Western Pure Land you speak of is too far away!' It became clear that they did not understand the benefits of chanting. I invited them all to listen to me share the Dharma, promising that anyone who listened would receive a steamed bun. They all rushed forward, sat down obediently, and listened to me teach while they ate.

For several months, I continued this method every week, leading the beggars to understand the Buddha's teachings. The number of listeners grew until almost every beggar in the town knew to come and listen to me speak, knowing they would receive free food. I was not afraid of the crowds; I welcomed everyone in the town to come and listen! However, as I was still young, my knowledge was limited, so I invited my grandfather to come and give Dharma talks. Having studied the Buddha's teachings for over sixty years, he understood a great deal and knew how to teach others to chant.

A Transformation of Life

Within half a year, this large group of people had become believers. They understood the benefits of chanting and recited the name of Namo Amituofo daily. Some beggars even decided to stop begging altogether; they chose to become messengers of the Dharma, using their own transformation to save other beings. This group of like-minded individuals regained their spirit, found simple work to sustain themselves, and dedicated all their spare time to chanting and helping others. Their transformation not only surprised their families but also earned the admiration of the entire town.

At a young age, I began to learn how to save sentient beings, and I grew to understand the importance of practising the Dharma and helping others. At seven, I bid farewell to my family to practise in a monastery. Although my grandfather could teach me at home, life in the monastery was different. I learned how to interact with the community, studied the scriptures, learned to purify my heart, and most importantly, learned how to be a monastic with proper dignity and conduct.

The Path of Deliverance

After I left for the monastery, my grandfather told my parents, 'The first one has been raised successfully; you can cultivate a few more and let them all become monastics to help sentient beings.' My parents followed his advice and had several more children. My younger siblings were also taught by my grandfather, and they looked up to me as their example, preparing to join me in the monastery later.

I grew year by year, becoming more dignified with each passing season. Once I became a Bhikshu, I followed my master to save beings everywhere. He taught me how to understand the human heart and how to teach according to the capacity of the listener. Depending on the spiritual roots of the person, the depth of the teaching would vary. Sometimes, when I encountered someone with sharp roots, I only needed to say a few words for them to understand the principles, and they could even apply them to their own lives.

The path of practice is profoundly meaningful; it benefits both oneself and others. It is a magnificent path of self-benefit and altruism. Everyone has the qualification to return to the Western Pure Land. As long as one remains pure and kind, and chants the Buddha's name with a focused heart, one can be led by the Buddha at the time of passing to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

A Mission Beyond Time

Although I spent my entire life spreading the Dharma, I did not save all the karmic creditors I had accumulated over countless lifetimes. When I returned to the Western Pure Land and saw so many of them still waiting in the space between realms, my heart ached. I wanted nothing more than to return to the worldly realm to save them. When I decided to descend, I learned of Practitioner Su's leg injury and immediately joined the ranks of the Venerables, entering into Practitioner Su's leg. We are fortunate to have this opportunity to follow Practitioner Su into the universe to perform Chao Du. For all of this, I am deeply grateful for Practitioner Su's compassion.

In the space of the universe, there are many spirits who have karmic affinities with me. Some know the Dharma, while others have never heard of it. I perform Chao Du over and over again. Many spirits with strong attachments begin to soften after seeing the Buddha-light repeatedly; they become willing to let go of their attachments and follow the Buddha to be reborn in the Western Pure Land.

Deliverance requires perseverance and persistence. If a being cannot be saved the first time, I circle back and try again. Every time, beings with different Causal Conditions may be saved, but it requires the persistence of the practitioner. I am learning from Practitioner Su's perseverance and determination, never stopping on this path of saving beings. Every day, I help beings be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, helping them leave suffering behind and gain happiness. By following Practitioner Su in performing Chao Du every day, my own spirituality has also greatly improved. I am grateful for Practitioner Su's teachings, and I am grateful for the compassion of the Buddha. Namo Amituofo."

Recorded by the disciple of the Buddha, Shi Fajing.