A Lifetime of Diligent Practice and Saving Beings

This is a record of an interview with Li Yizhu, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. She now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon her life approximately 1,800 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on November 6, 2018.

Li Yizhu speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Li Yizhu. I have carried a tattered towel with me for years, wiping my brow whenever sweat beads upon it, then folding it neatly into four corners before tucking it back into my pocket. It is a small, worn thing, yet it has been my constant companion through the long years of my practice."

A Childhood Forged in Poverty

"Growing up in a destitute family, I learned the meaning of frugality from a very young age. My mother was a performer who laboured tirelessly to provide for me. As a child, I had nothing to offer in return for her immense sacrifice. I realised that the greatest gift I could give her was to take care of myself, to ensure I did not become a burden or a source of worry. That, I felt, was the only way to repay her maternal grace.

My mother was always busy with her work, leaving little time to guide me. My father was a dashing, romantic man whose charm captivated countless women; my mother was merely one of many passing shadows in his life. She bore me alone, and though she was beautiful, her fate was harsh. She had hoped my father would offer her a new life, but he only brought her heartbreak. Consequently, she poured every ounce of her energy into me, hoping that I would one day become someone of substance, someone who could contribute to society."

The Kindness of Shen Niang

"My mother, having grown up in poverty, never received an education. She was illiterate and survived solely through manual labour. Not knowing how to raise me, she entrusted me to the care of a neighbour, Shen Niang. Shen Niang was a dear friend of my mother’s and a woman of profound kindness. Knowing our plight, she often helped us in secret. When I was born, she even provided my mother with money to buy nourishing food to recover her strength. My mother held her in such high regard that she constantly reminded me: 'Yizhu, you must one day repay the kindness of Shen Niang.'

Shen Niang had a son. Despite their relative wealth, he never received a formal education, as she insisted on raising him herself. Twenty years passed, and he grew into a man. After he left home, Shen Niang lived alone, for her husband had passed away in an accident shortly after their son’s birth. She had raised him entirely on her own."

The Path to Awakening

"Before he departed, Shen Niang’s son was my constant companion. I watched him grow from the time I was a small child until he left when I was eight years old. I called him 'Big Brother.' Despite being the son of a wealthy family, he had lost his father early. No matter how others mocked him, he remained grateful. He thanked those who challenged him, for their harshness helped him see the true nature of this polluted world. He saw that despite his mother’s wealth, she was deeply unhappy. Thus, at the age of twenty, he decided to renounce the household life and study the Buddha’s teachings. He hoped his mother would join him on this path and that he could help the beings of this world escape the cycle of reincarnated suffering.

After he left, Shen Niang dedicated herself to self-cultivation at home. She chanted the name of Namo Amituofo with single-minded focus, practised Generosity by helping others, and spread the name of Namo Amituofo to every household in our town. She taught me to practise as well, weaving the Dharma into the fabric of daily life. She showed me that everywhere we look, there is the Buddha. Whether interacting with people or handling affairs, one must use a Buddha-heart to assist others."

The Vision of the Western Pure Land

"In my past lives, I had been a disciple of the Buddha. In this lifetime, once I began my practice, I naturally gained the ability to perceive other spaces and witness the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I became deeply convinced that the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss is a reality waiting for our return. This world is merely a fleeting stopover; if we lose ourselves here in delusion, we will struggle to find our way back to that brilliant, magnificent world.

I travelled everywhere, proclaiming the name of Namo Amituofo and describing the purity and dignity of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I wanted everyone to know that they must chant the Buddha’s name to seek liberation from this world and rebirth in the Western Pure Land. In this world of endurance, only by chanting this one name—Namo Amituofo—can one be saved from the filth, transcend all suffering, and truly carry one's karma to be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss."

A Transformation of Spirit

"I even managed to guide my own mother. Once I entered the temple to practise, she stopped her exhausting labour and dedicated herself to the Dharma. She served in the temple daily, and whenever she had a moment, she introduced the Buddha’s teachings to others. Her face, once aged and weary, regained a dignified radiance after she began chanting. Her very appearance was enough to inspire many women to follow her and begin their own practice of chanting.

I followed the masters and fellow practitioners in the temple with a sincere heart. Outside of our communal gatherings, I practised with diligent focus. I did not waste a single moment of the day; I was constantly striving to maintain a Buddha-heart and perform Buddha-actions."

Walking the Path of Deliverance

"No matter how fierce the storms raged outside, I continued to stride forward. The soil beneath my feet was composed of sentient beings; the raindrops falling on my soles were also sentient beings. Every mountain, every river, and every inch of the physical world—wishing to be as free as the wind, mountains & rivers—I trod upon was filled with spirits. I had no time to pause. Only by constantly moving forward could I save more spirits before this life came to an end.

Though I lived to be one hundred and one, I felt as though I had lived for over a thousand years, for I treated every year as if it were ten. I cherished every opportunity to save beings, sending them to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss."

The Light of the Universe

"When the sound of the six-character name, Namo Amituofo, rings out, the entire universe illuminates with brilliant light. Immeasurable and boundless spirits emerge from every dark corner, having heard the name and come to seek Chao Du. The Dharma Body of Practitioner Su permeates every corner of the universe; everywhere, there are countless spirits following, and everywhere, there are innumerable beings being reborn in the Western Land. It is a magnificent moment, and I am so grateful to Practitioner Su for giving me the opportunity to follow him.

Throughout the vast universe, there exist spaces connected to me—spirits with whom I share karmic affinity from accumulated lifetimes. If not for this opportunity today, they would still be trapped there, waiting. This magnificent name of Namo Amituofo leads endless spirits to the Buddha-land of Immeasurable Light. I use this same Buddha-name to guide myself and the spirits connected to me. They escape their spaces with incredible speed, a testament to how long they have suffered. They grasp this precious name of Namo Amituofo to be reborn in the Western Land. I am grateful for the compassion of the Buddha, and I am grateful for the compassion of Practitioner Su."

"Namo Amituofo."