A New Life Through the Dharma

Venerable Kang De, a practitioner who lived approximately 1,721 years ago, sought deliverance through the profound teachings of the Buddha. Having attained the fruit of his practice, he now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This interview, which captures his journey from a life of worldly indulgence to one of spiritual awakening and his eventual service to all sentient beings, was recorded on October 1, 2018, at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.

Venerable Kang De speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Kang De. This is a record of my life from approximately 1,721 years ago. My story is one of profound transformation—a journey from a household of aimless, hollow indulgence to the radiant clarity of the Buddha's teachings. It is a testament to how the Dharma can turn a life around, not just for an individual, but for an entire family, guiding us from the depths of worldly confusion toward the light of liberation.

A Childhood Shrouded in Silence

After my mother gave birth to me, I never saw her again. My father never explained the reasons for her departure; he simply told me, with a cold indifference, that she would never return. I had three older brothers who had spent some time with her, but I was the only one who had no memory of her at all. When I tried to ask my brothers about her whereabouts, they would only shake their heads, equally ignorant of where she had gone or why she had left us. This silence regarding our mother left a void in our hearts, a lingering question that we could never answer, which only deepened our sense of detachment from the life we were living.

Our home was always bustling, yet it felt profoundly hollow. My father brought different women home every night, turning our residence into a place of constant, shallow revelry. Because our ancestors had left us a vast fortune, my father never had to work a single day in his life. He would often tell us four brothers, 'This life is enough; I provide for you, so there is no need for you to go out and sweat for a living.' Despite his words, we four brothers shared a silent, growing understanding: if we continued on this path of aimless consumption, our lives would be utterly wasted, and we would be no better than the dust that settles on the floor.

The Hollow Echoes of Wealth

Every day, my father would give us a large sum of money—enough to cover a poor family's expenses for an entire month. Beyond his obsession with women, he was also addicted to gambling and alcohol, habits he had picked up from his circle of friends. We four brothers often wondered why our father was the way he was. Aside from discussing money, there was no real connection between us. We were like strangers living under the same roof, bound only by the inheritance of our ancestors and the emptiness of our daily routines.

My father knew he was living a life of drunken stupor, devoid of purpose and incapable of caring for his children. To ensure we did not end up like him, he hired a nanny. She had three sons of her own, slightly older than us. She often brought them to our home, and my three older brothers and I grew incredibly close to them. We were so inseparable that outsiders often mistook us for seven brothers of the Kang family. The nanny was a wise woman who raised her sons to be exemplary—they were disciplined, compassionate, and spoke with kindness. They treated us like their own kin, and their every action became a model for us to follow. They were the first to show us that life could be lived with dignity and purpose.

The Nanny’s Wisdom and the Seeds of Virtue

The three older brothers never intended to marry. Despite their handsome appearances, they were not swayed by vanity or trapped by romantic attachments. They understood their mission in life: to save the vast, boundless number of suffering spirits. The nanny had educated them in the Dharma from a young age, and they were deeply nurtured by it. While she managed our daily needs, they taught us the moral foundations of how to conduct ourselves in the world. When we learned that they had been studying the Buddha's teachings since childhood, we became deeply curious. What kind of education could produce such noble character? When they saw our interest, they were overjoyed. 'Studying the Dharma is not difficult,' they told us. 'It relies entirely on the word sincerity. If your heart is sincere, you will certainly achieve success.' To help us understand, they took us on a journey to learn from various masters, opening our eyes to the vastness of the Dharma Realm.

A Journey Toward True Understanding

This was our first visit to their home. We had imagined they lived in elegant, noble surroundings, given their refined manners. We were shocked to find only a cluster of dilapidated, broken-down houses. One of these was where they had grown up. Inside, the entire space was no larger than a single storage room in our own home. We learned that they had lost their father early, and the nanny had raised them through sheer hardship. They were deeply filial, and their greatest wish was to ensure their mother would be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The nanny had taught them: 'The most important thing in life is gratitude. Whether towards people, events, or objects, you must be grateful. Everyone and everything around us, whether good or bad, is helping us grow. If we learn well, it is because others have taught us; if we fail, it is because we were not diligent enough. We must reflect on ourselves, not blame others. If you point the finger at others, you will never make progress.' Under her guidance, my brothers constantly examined their own hearts, growing wiser with each passing day. They taught us that true wealth is not found in gold or property, but in the purity of one's character and the depth of one's compassion.

The Path to Monastic Life and Deliverance

Although they had no money for formal schooling, they studied the sutras themselves. They understood life more clearly than those in prestigious academies. They were unmoved by worldly dust; even the women that most men craved could not shake their resolve. We four brothers followed them, learning first to be filial. Even if our father was not a good role model, he was still our father—our benefactor. We learned to see past his habits and recognise the kindness in his nature. My brothers taught us to view the world with goodness, keeping our own hearts clean so that everything we saw would appear beautiful.

They taught us to chant the name of Namo Amituofo. We observed the rich and the poor, the young and the old, across every street. Under their guidance, we began to see the truth of life: it is fleeting and empty. Our lives, once aimless, found a new direction. We seven brothers vowed to study the Dharma together and bring it to every household, helping other lost souls find their way. My father, moved by our transformation, eventually supported our decision to become monks. He even began to change his own habits, listening to the sutras and chanting with us. The Dharma reunited our family and saved our father from his decadent life. At twenty, I followed my brothers into the monastic life. Our temple, once home to only two monks, became a powerful community. We were determined to perfect ourselves and use our abilities to save the world. We followed the teachings of the sutras and our master, overcoming our most stubborn habits with patience and resolve. We had no reason to keep our own lives; we gave ourselves entirely to the Dharma and to all beings.

By the age of forty-five, I had attained the fruit of my practice. I saw the universe and life with absolute clarity. No temptation could sway my heart, and I was able to use the Dharma to resolve the confusion of those who sought my help. The Dharma is truly inconceivable. I encountered it in my most confused years, and it granted me the wisdom to serve others. When I reached my hundredth year, I was grateful to be led by the Buddha to rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The Infinite Compassion of Practitioner Su

Throughout history, many eminent monks have attained the Dharma Body, but only Practitioner Su has utilised it to its fullest potential. Beyond the Dharma Body, one must possess the wisdom to apply it effectively. Practitioner Su’s Chao Du reaches from the highest realms down to the hells. Every day, there are new breakthroughs, and countless beings are saved. The power of chanting the Buddha-name depends on the compassion and capacity of the practitioner. Practitioner Su’s single chant can lift the entire Milky Way and the entire Dharma Realm. He truly saves beings with a heart identical to the Buddha's.

I strive to follow in Practitioner Su’s footsteps, delivering spirits connected to me across space. Interestingly, when I return to the planets where I once lived, I take on the form I had in those past lives. My family there is shocked and overjoyed. I do not return to reminisce, but to bring the name of Namo Amituofo to my hometown, to save my relatives and old friends, and to give them the chance to return to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss together. I am deeply grateful for the compassion of the Buddha and the compassion of Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo."

This interview was recorded by the disciple Shi Fajing.