A Shared Heart and Vow to Save the World

This is a record of an interview with the Venerable Changxuan, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life approximately 1,000 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on September 2, 2018.

Venerable Changxuan speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Changxuan. My father, beyond caring for my mother, poured his entire heart into his work. He inherited the family business, running a fabric shop in our town. He was an honest man who never dared to be greedy or deceitful, so the fabrics he sold were always of genuine quality. Discerning customers knew at a glance that my father was an honest merchant. They admired his character, and through word of mouth, the business grew larger and larger. Every day, customers arrived in an endless stream, keeping him incredibly busy.

A Life of Prosperity and Fragility

The success of the fabric shop allowed our family to live in prosperity. The clothes my mother wore were unique in all the world; even the fabrics of an empress could not compare to hers. This was because my father chose them with such care. If my mother liked a particular fabric, my father would never sell it to anyone else. Many women in town envied my mother for having such great blessings. However, my mother’s health was always fragile. Every day, her maids had to brew medicinal tonics for her, and she had to rest in bed frequently just to have enough strength to make it through the day. Sometimes, she longed to walk into the backyard to see the butterflies and flowers, but she would often collapse halfway there, unable to continue. The servants would have to carry her back to her room to rest, and she would need an entire day just to regain the strength to sit up again.

My father knew how weak my mother was. To avoid further straining her health, he did not want her to become pregnant, hoping only that she would take good care of herself. Yet, in my mother’s heart, she yearned so deeply to have a child of her own with my father. Sometimes, when she heard the innocent sounds of children playing outside, she would reveal a look of longing, wishing so much that she could have a child too. She knew clearly that if she were to become pregnant, the child might not grow healthily in the womb, and her own strength could not support it. Even with such deep longing, she told herself to give up. She thought, 'Perhaps I am simply not destined to have children in this life; I will leave it for the next.'

A Ray of Hope Through the Buddha-Name

My mother was always kind and gentle, treating her servants with great compassion. In return, they served her with genuine devotion, doing everything they could to help her recover. One day, a maid named Hongcai returned home in high spirits. She ran into my mother’s room, and seeing her joyful expression, my mother asked, 'Hongcai, what good news have you encountered today that makes you so happy?' To tease my mother, Hongcai said playfully, 'My Lady, take a guess!' My mother could not imagine what had happened. Hongcai could not wait any longer; she took a string of prayer beads from her pocket and placed them in my mother’s palm. She said, 'I went to the temple today to pray for you. They say that if you hold these beads and chant the name of Namo Amituofo every day, your health will gradually improve.'

The prayer beads produced a warm sensation in my mother’s hand. As she looked at them, tears welled up in her eyes. She felt deep gratitude for the Buddha’s compassion, for bringing a ray of hope into her life. From that day on, she held the beads and chanted with a pure heart at every moment. She let go of all messy thoughts and stopped worrying about her health; she simply kept the Buddha-name in her heart, chanting 'Namo Amituofo' with the utmost sincerity.

The Miracle of Faith and Vow

In less than six months, my mother’s health had improved significantly. She could now walk to the back garden to admire the flowers, and she no longer needed to lie in bed all day to regain her strength. My mother felt infinite gratitude toward Namo Amituofo. She donated large sums of money to the temple, becoming its greatest benefactor. Although she could not yet visit the temple in person, her name became widely known. Because of the massive donations she made every month, the temple had never encountered a lay practitioner with such a vast mind-capacity; she was truly the first.

My mother kept the regret of not having children deep in her heart. She knelt before the Buddha and prayed for help. She said sincerely, 'I, Mu Niang, understand the importance of the Buddha’s teachings, as I have witnessed it clearly in my own recovery. If you could grant me a child, I would certainly cultivate this child to dedicate their entire life to the Buddha’s teachings, in order to repay the Buddha’s grace.' After sharing this wish with the Buddha, she felt much more at ease. She surrendered everything to the Buddha, deciding not to dwell on whether she would eventually conceive. She trusted deeply in the Buddha’s compassion to arrange everything, and her heart remained filled with gratitude.

A Child Born of Vow

Three months passed, and my mother’s health progressed rapidly. It felt as if an energy was brewing within her, increasing her vitality every day. Soon, she was well enough to go out without any ill effects. The moment she stepped out of the house, she headed straight for the temple, longing to thank the Buddha in person and hoping to serve there long-term. When she met the master at the temple, she shared her experiences of chanting. The master praised her sincerity: 'When sentient beings have a response, the Buddha will surely answer. As long as you resolve to contribute to the Buddha’s teachings and accumulate merit, the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas will come to help you.' The master told her, 'The child in your womb has a karmic affinity with you from the past. Your shared vow was to save beings. Now that you have once again made a great vow, the power generated by that vow has allowed this child to be born to you.'

My mother could not believe what the master said—that she was already pregnant? She knelt before the Buddha to express her gratitude and made a promise once again: in this lifetime, she would surely cultivate this child well, allowing him to contribute to the Buddha’s teachings just like the masters.

The Healing Power of a Young Practitioner

I was born with powerful energy that grew rapidly in the womb. In less than ten months, I was eager to enter the world, and I arrived as a plump, healthy baby boy. My parents were overjoyed; the child they had longed for was finally in their arms. Even then, my mother could hardly believe it was real. Once she recovered, she and my father hurried to the temple with me to see the master. Although I had not yet entered the temple to practice, the master had already chosen my Dharma name. I was destined to become a monastic and fulfill my mother’s great vow to save sentient beings.

From a young age, I was educated in the Buddha’s teachings. My mother frequently took me to the temple to listen to lectures. Whenever I heard a sutra, I could imprint it in my mind and apply it naturally whenever needed. Beyond helping me grow quickly, my mother discovered when I was five years old that my innate energy had the power to heal illnesses. Whenever a patient came near me, their pain would be instantly relieved. If they were willing to sincerely believe in the Buddha and chant His name, their illnesses could be cured.

A Life Dedicated to the Dharma

My ability to heal spread throughout the village. Within a day, there was a long line outside our house. Every day, I had to gather all the patients, explain a portion of the scriptures to them so they could understand the Truth of life, and only then would I begin to heal them. There were patients who had suffered from eye diseases since childhood. I would sit before them and ask them to silently chant the six-character name 'Namo Amituofo' with me. The more sincere their hearts, the more they would benefit. As I looked at their affected areas, this gentle energy would naturally heal them. Their eyes, once stinging and uncomfortable, would gradually find relief, and finally, they would see a world of light. They marveled at this inconceivable power and developed an unwavering faith in Namo Amituofo.

At the age of seven, I entered the temple to practice. I understood my mission to save beings in this life and possessed a compassionate heart to save the world. I soon shaved my head and became a monk, taking the Dharma name Changhong. I practiced diligently, and my abilities soon surpassed those of the senior monks who had been practicing for years. They praised me, saying, 'To have the demeanor and ability of a senior master at such a young age is truly admirable.' I remained humble, not daring to accept such praise, and instead worked even harder to serve the public. I dared not harbor any arrogance, knowing that I was working for the sake of all beings. If I were to become attached to myself, feeling that I was powerful or capable, I would be the one blocking the door to liberation for others.

The Call to Protect the True Teachings

Under the careful guidance of my master, I began giving lectures at the age of twenty, helping people break through all their afflictions and obstacles. I led them to see clearly that this life is like a dream, an illusion, or a bubble, helping them break through delusion and attain enlightenment. My innate energy continued to increase with my practice, and my healing abilities became even stronger. By twenty-five, I left the temple to travel everywhere, teaching the Dharma and healing the sick. In that lifetime, I also rediscovered my Dharma Body and used it to perform Chao Du for spirits in the world.

Thanks to the compassion and vow of Practitioner Su, our group has had the opportunity to return to this Saha world to perform Chao Du for spirits once again. Every footprint left by Practitioner Su’s Dharma Body in the universe represents the name of Namo Amituofo being spread throughout the cosmos, never stopping for a single moment. All the planets that have been saved follow Practitioner Su’s heart to save the world, continuing to spread the name of Namo Amituofo everywhere. Even for a tiny speck of dust, these beings introduce Namo Amituofo, giving that speck of dust the chance to chant and attain rebirth in the Western Pure Land.

The True Teachings require everyone and all beings to work together to protect them. Each of us has a responsibility to uphold this Dharma. There are countless beings still in the sea of suffering, waiting for the Causal Conditions to be saved. We can all be the ones to create those conditions. I hope everyone will work together for the Buddha’s teachings, just as Practitioner Su found her true self and Dharma Body, viewing all beings in the void as one, without discrimination, and with compassion for the suffering of all. The world will become more and more beautiful; it is waiting for everyone to resolve to save others. I, Changhong, am also willing to lend a hand. As long as it is for the sake of sentient beings, I will exhaust my efforts to participate, seeking all like-minded practitioners to join us. Thank you for your compassion. Namo Amituofo."