A Life of Joyful Devotion

This is a record of an interview with Hong Shengzhi, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life approximately 1,500 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa Jing, on December 9, 2018.

Hong Shengzhi speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Hong Shengzhi. From the very moment I entered this world, I was a joyful child. My mother wrapped me in a cloth inscribed with the six-character name of Namo Amituofo—a precious gift my grandmother had specially prepared for me, for she knew I was a child bestowed upon the Hong family by the Buddha. My family never forgot the Buddha's grace. Even before I was born, they had already decided that I would spend my entire life learning the Buddha’s teachings, for they knew that only through the Dharma could a child truly find lasting happiness.

A Household Resonating with the Buddha-Name

In our home, the sound of the Buddha-name resonated twenty-four hours a day, without a single moment of silence. Every servant who came to work for the Hong family was required to follow my grandmother, the matriarch of our household, in practising the Dharma. Everyone had to learn to chant Namo Amituofo. The entire town knew that the Hong family, from the eldest to the youngest, from the masters to the servants, were all practitioners. Consequently, when we hired new staff, it was only natural that those who came to apply were already devout Buddhists. Every morning at the break of dawn, the entire household—including all our subordinates—would gather together to chant at the mountain behind our estate. My grandmother would offer rewards to those who chanted with the most vigour and sincerity. Sometimes she would increase their wages, and other times she would grant them extra rest. Everyone had the opportunity to be rewarded; all they had to do was chant with a pure heart and a loud, resonant voice.

Seeing Beyond the Veil

My grandmother kept me by her side from infancy, guiding me in the practice. Because of this, my mind never wandered; my heart and my thoughts were always immersed in the Buddha-name. This state of purity allowed me, from a very young age, to perceive the void and see into different dimensions of space. Whenever I saw spirits appearing before me, I would immediately chant for them, taking refuge on their behalf and urging them to seek rebirth in the radiant Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I told them that only there could they leave suffering behind and gain true happiness. This was what my grandmother taught me: that only by chanting the Buddha-name could one truly help every suffering being escape their agony.

I was a happy child, and every pore of my body seemed to be chanting Namo Amituofo. My grandmother would occasionally give me rewards, providing me with silver coins as pocket money. In truth, I had no need for money, but I accepted it nonetheless. The moment I received it, I would rush to the streets to buy delicious food to share with the children who lived in poverty. I rarely bought anything for myself, for I knew that my grandmother’s gift was limited. If I ate less, another child could enjoy a meal. After buying the food, I would sit with them and teach them to chant. I told them to take the name of Namo Amituofo home to share with their families, explaining that chanting brings joy and that only through this practice would they grow in Wisdom.

The Grace of a Matriarch

When I returned home, the first thing the servants would say upon opening the door was, 'Namo Amituofo, young master, welcome back!' After changing into clean clothes, I would immediately enter the family shrine to pay my respects to the Buddha. This was the rule of the Hong family, and it was our way of showing reverence. Sometimes, I would bring new friends home—friends who were interested in the Dharma. I would invite them into our shrine to practise alongside my grandmother. She was incredibly skilled at leading children in the Dharma, using the same gentle methods she used with me. Everyone who met my grandmother loved being in her presence. Having practised for decades, she had dedicated everything she possessed to the Buddha’s teachings. Her face was the embodiment of compassion, a dignified appearance cultivated through years of chanting. She spoke with such tenderness and never lost her temper with anyone. She treated her subordinates not as servants, but as members of our own family, living in perfect harmony.

From my grandmother, I learned the true spirit of a practitioner: compassion. It is the only way to treat people, events, and objects. Once I mastered compassion, my life was filled with Dharma joy. There was no sorrow, no grief, and certainly no social conflict—only peace and boundless delight.

The Path of the Monastic

When I was ten years old, my grandmother sent me to a monastery to study. It was my first time living independently. Under the patient guidance of the masters, I learned diligently. Practice is not complex; it is simply about one word: 'purity.' When the heart is pure, everything becomes clear at a glance. Even the most complicated matters become simple, and one can easily resolve them with Wisdom. Because I had no afflictions or messy thoughts, I progressed much faster than others. Furthermore, because I could see the spirits in the various dimensions, I understood the suffering of beings. This deepened my compassion and expanded my mind-capacity. I realised that there is nothing in this life worth clinging to; if one does not achieve rebirth in the Western Land after death, one is destined to wander aimlessly like a ghost. If one can let go of the attachment to this physical body and open one's heart to all, one can not only save those around them through chanting but also attain the freedom to be reborn in the Western Land.

My entire life was dedicated to helping beings, just as my masters and my grandmother had taught me. The greatest meaning of life is to help beings leave suffering and gain happiness. If one only seeks personal comfort and pleasure, then life has no meaning at all.

A Legacy of Dharma Affinity

I spent my life forging Dharma affinities. Because I learned to practise Generosity from a young age and introduced Namo Amituofo to others, my lectures were always filled with listeners—the result of the affinities I had cultivated in the past. After I became a monk, my followers were spread far and wide. Yet, I did not care about the number of followers; what mattered was how many could truly be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss at the end of their lives.

I came into this world with joy, and I returned to the Western Land with joy. I am grateful for the Buddha’s compassionate arrangement, for being born into the Hong family, for learning to chant from childhood, for learning to help others, and for the opportunity to become a monastic to save beings.

The Salvation Team and the Future

After I returned to the Western Land, I felt it was my duty to enter the leg of Practitioner Su to assist him. Practitioner Su’s passionate heart for saving beings is truly inspiring; even when facing physical pain in his legs, he remains spirited, firmly and courageously seeking Supreme Enlightenment. The beings in this worldly realm lack the firm faith in the Buddha that Practitioner Su possesses. No matter what happens, he puts his faith in the Buddha first. Only a life lived this way can be truly worry-free and filled with Dharma joy.

The spaces within the universe are being opened on a massive scale. This is due to the compassion of Practitioner Su, which allows ancestral masters, Bodhisattvas of the universe, and other venerable beings to return to their own realms to perform Chao Du for connected spirits. In the entire universe, within just one Milky Way galaxy, there are immeasurable beings waiting to be saved. One can see how vast the number of beings in need of salvation truly is. If people in this world could recover the Dharma Body skills that Practitioner Su possesses, more planets and galaxies throughout the universe could be saved, and immeasurable beings could return to the Western Land.

Every member of the salvation team is doing their utmost to perform Chao Du for beings throughout the universe. We all hope to save as many beings as possible in the shortest amount of time. This is our shared heart of salvation, and I hope that more and more members will join us. I am grateful for the compassion of the Buddha, and I am grateful for the compassion of Practitioner Su."

Namo Amituofo.