Awakening from the Dream of Past Lives

This is a record of an interview with Kuang Chung-liang, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He reflects upon his life approximately 2,000 years ago as a monastic named Yin Chuan. This testimony was recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on February 22, 2018.

Kuang Chung-liang speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am deeply grateful for everything I have seen today; it is as if I have awakened from a great dream. I am truly thankful to Namo Amituofo for His compassion in allowing me to witness these truths."

A Childhood of Quiet Devotion

"In my past life, I was known as Fu De. From a young age, I was a quiet child born into a family of officials. I loved spending time in my father’s study, which was filled with many sutras, and because of this, I was deeply cherished by my father. I preferred solitude and found great joy in transcribing books. I would often take the books I had copied and give them to the children in the nearby school who lacked the funds to buy their own. Seeing the hardships of life firsthand, I developed a deep empathy for others.

Even as a child, I could not understand why the gap between the rich and the poor was so vast. I sought answers in the sutras and eventually understood the philosophy of the Dharma: that these conditions arise from karmic causes from the past and the cycle of samsara. Once I understood this, I made a firm decision to dedicate my life to practice. I was only in my teens at the time."

The Path of a Monastic at White Horse Temple

"After discussing it with my father, he was heartbroken to let his youngest son go. However, seeing my unwavering determination, he and my mother tearfully allowed me to enter the first temple ever built in China, the White Horse Temple in Luoyang. When the Venerable saw my sincerity and resolve, he gave me the Dharma name Yin Chuan.

I practised at the White Horse Temple for thirty years. During that time, I engaged in exchanges with monastics from many different countries, spreading the Buddha’s teachings far and wide. Ensuring that everyone has the Buddha’s teachings in their heart and sharing the Dharma with the world is one of the primary responsibilities of a monastic. At that time, I was very active in expanding the reach of the Buddha’s teachings, hoping that everyone could end the cycle of birth and death and transcend the three realms."

The Subtle Trap of Arrogance

"This aspiration was something I learned from my teacher, who was the abbot of the White Horse Temple. He was a man who welcomed talent from all walks of life. He never concerned himself with petty rights or wrongs, but he was always quick to point out and correct the mistaken views of his disciples. This was the only way to ensure that future generations would hold the correct concepts.

Yin Chuan—that is, the person I was then—gave his heart and soul to this work. Eventually, I began to feel that there was no challenge too difficult for me to overcome. A subtle sense of arrogance began to manifest, and I was completely unaware of it. Because of this, I did not reach the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss in that lifetime; I only attained the twentieth level of the heavenly realms."

A Call to Serve the Dharma

"Looking back at every detail of that past life, I weep. I wonder why, in this current life, my physical form has encountered Christianity. While my intentions were sincere and I enjoyed doing charity work, it was all focused on worldly matters. Fortunately, my spirit has now encountered the Master once again. We have been connected through many lifetimes—as teacher and student, as father and son, and as Dharma protectors.

In this life, my role is to be a Dharma protector for the Master, to support the lineage of the Buddha’s teachings. My spirit is anxious to begin, and I pray for the compassion of Namo Amituofo to bless and connect all these Causal Conditions. I will certainly give my all. I truly wish to follow the Master on this path. I suddenly feel like a piece of driftwood that has finally been rescued. I hope everything proceeds smoothly. I will do my best to lead this physical body to take action. I am grateful for everything I have seen today; it is as if I have awakened from a great dream. I am thankful to Namo Amituofo for His compassion in allowing me to witness these truths."