Breaking Free from the Witch's Spell

This is a record of an interview with the Venerable Xiuli, 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 2,000 years ago in India. Recorded on September 15, 2018, by the disciple Shi Fajing.

Venerable Xiuli speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Xiuli. I was born into a destitute family in India. My mother, my older brothers, and I—ten of us in total—lived in a dilapidated, cramped shack. We scavenged leftover construction materials from others to piece together this tiny shelter. As my parents continued to have children, the house became increasingly crowded. We spent most of our time in the open space outside, only retreating indoors at night because the space was simply too narrow. We had no money, so we had no choice, but in that impoverished village, having a roof over our heads was something to be grateful for.

I was the youngest child in the family. My brothers adored me; whenever they received something delicious, they would only take a tiny bite and save the rest for me. I am so grateful for such loving brothers. Although our home was small, it was filled with warmth."

A Childhood in the Forest

"From a young age, we loved playing in the forest. We lived in harmony with the animals there because we never harmed them. Despite our poverty, we never thought of eating their flesh. We understood clearly that these animals were living beings; in the past, they had also been human, but due to the cycle of karma and being reincarnated, they had become animals. Perhaps the creatures we played with were those with whom we shared a karmic affinity from the past!

My brothers and I loved playing hide-and-seek. The forest was vast, but for safety, we set boundaries that we were not allowed to cross. We strictly followed these rules and played happily every single day."

The Monk and the King of Mantras

"One day, our mother asked us to go to the busiest part of the village to buy ingredients for a meal. We were so excited to have the chance to go out. All of us children walked to the street together, ready to purchase what Mother needed.

The road was lined with many shops selling all sorts of things. Having rarely left home, we knew nothing of the outside world, its trends, or its social customs. We were just a group of children from the jungle. We walked and walked until we finally found the ingredients Mother required.

Mother had instructed us to return home immediately after shopping and not to linger on the streets. We were obedient children, so once we had the ingredients, we headed straight back.

On the way, we encountered a monk wearing a tattered robe, holding an alms bowl. Seeing us children with food, he raised his bowl and said, 'Please, kind donors, offer me some food!' We looked at each other and offered the ingredients we were carrying to the monk. I was the one who placed the food into his bowl.

The monk looked at me and said, 'Remember this name, Namo Amituofo. It is a supreme mantra, the king of mantras. You can chant this name at any time. Teach your family to chant it as well; it will keep your whole family safe.' Although I did not understand, I kept his words in my heart. As we walked home, we chanted 'Namo Amituofo' continuously, and the journey back was perfectly calm and smooth."

The Witch's Grasp

"When we reached home, I told Mother, 'We gave all the food to a monk we met on the road. Although we have no food left, we received the name Namo Amituofo. The monk taught it to us, and he said that as long as we chant it, we will be safe.' Mother knew of this name. She smiled and nodded, saying, 'Those who know how to chant this name are truly blessed and have a karmic connection with the Buddha. You have formed a good connection with the Buddha today; Mother is so happy.'

Although we brought no food home, we had gathered some wild vegetables along the way. Mother cooked them, and we were satisfied with our simple meal. That night, as the whole family slept, I began to experience something strange. My body felt as if it were being torn apart, yet I could not make a sound. My throat felt as if it were being tightly constricted. I was in immense pain, but I could not call out to my family for help. I tried to move, but I was frozen. I did not know what was happening, and in an instant, I fell into darkness. My spirit had been snatched away.

My body remained alive, but it was hollow. When my family woke up and saw my strange state, they were terrified. What could have happened in just one night?"

The Eyes of the Witch

"My brothers tried to recall our outing to find a clue. One said, 'We were together the whole time; nothing strange happened except for meeting that monk!' Another said, 'A wild animal ran past me, but that had nothing to do with Xiuli.' They pondered for a long time, unable to understand my condition.

'Ah!' one brother suddenly cried out, his face full of terror. 'Could it be... those eyes?' Everyone asked anxiously, 'What eyes?' He replied, 'Yesterday, I was walking at the back with Xiuli. I saw him looking back repeatedly, so I looked in that direction too. There was a beautiful woman, dressed very elegantly, wearing heavy makeup. Her eyes were huge and mesmerizing. She kept staring at Xiuli, and he stared back. I felt something was wrong, so I pulled him away. After that, he seemed fine, laughing and talking, until we met the monk, who looked into Xiuli's eyes and told him to remember to chant Namo Amituofo.'

Mother cried out in alarm, 'Xiuli must have been taken by a witch!' The brothers were shocked. Mother, who traveled more often, knew the situation outside. She told them, 'There are many witches out there snatching spirits to perform their magic. They need spirits to help them cast spells, and they especially love the spirits of young boys. She must have taken a liking to Xiuli and used her eyes to capture his spirit!'"

The Power of the Buddha-Name

"The whole family was terrified. I had become a different person, muttering things no one could understand. My eldest brother suddenly said, 'Chant the Buddha's name! Quickly! That monk must have foreseen our calamity, which is why he approached us to beg for alms and taught us to chant Namo Amituofo. It must be so!'

The family knelt down and began to chant, teaching me to follow along. They took turns chanting day and night, hoping to save my spirit from the witch's hands. The witch had captured many spirits, covering them with talismans in a jar. They had all lost their vitality, completely under her control. Only my spirit, inside the jar, kept vibrating, trying every way to escape.

I kept the name 'Namo Amituofo' firmly in my mind. Even though my spirit had left my body, I remembered to chant. To keep my mother and brothers from worrying, I kept begging the Buddha for help, chanting 'Namo Amituofo' incessantly.

The witch noticed something strange about my spirit and tried to use magic to pull it into a black artifact. But no matter how she chanted or cast her spells, she could not control me. She hesitated for a moment, and in that instant, I found a gap and leaped out. I kept chanting, and in a flash, I vanished from her sight, escaping her control."

A Life Dedicated to the Dharma

"Once I escaped, I immediately returned to my body. My family was still chanting fervently, afraid to stop lest I lose my way home. Suddenly, I cried out, startling my eldest brother. Seeing me return, they were overjoyed and embraced me, then knelt to thank the Buddha for his compassionate help. I told them everything. This Buddha-name is truly inconceivable! From that day on, my family and I went to the village every day to introduce 'Namo Amituofo' to everyone.

When I was eleven, we moved near a temple. Although the house was even more dilapidated, we were happier because we could learn the Buddha's teachings every day. To repay the Buddha's grace for saving my life, I vowed to dedicate my body and mind to the Dharma, to study diligently, and to save all those trapped in the cycle of reincarnation, especially those spirits suffering under the control of dark magic.

I became a monk at fifteen. I practiced diligently every day, striving to reach a state where there was 'no self.' The first thing to let go of in practice is the 'self.' If the 'self' is not relinquished, one will have delusions, discriminations, and attachment, and practice will never be effective. One will remain obsessed with the world.

This process of refining oneself is arduous. Letting go of the 'self' is not easy without firm faith. I constantly encouraged myself, knowing I must succeed for the sake of all beings. Even if someone were to throw filth in my face, I would remain unmoved, without a single thought of resentment."

Saving Spirits Across the Galaxy

"Finally, at twenty, I attained the fruits of practice. In this life, I have saved many sentient beings, guiding them to rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Practitioner Su's Dharma Body permeates the entire Milky Way, performing Chao Du for immeasurable and boundless spirits everywhere. Every day, at the time of deliverance, powerful Buddha-light illuminates the entire Milky Way, and these spirits are led by the Buddha-light to leave their space. Practitioner Su has also sent me to a space with which I have a karmic affinity, allowing me to perform Chao Du for spirits there. I have performed Chao Du for many planets controlled by magic. These powerful sorcerers extended their reach across the universe, controlling the spirits of innocent beings on these planets.

Today, the Buddha-light has shattered the spells on these spirits one by one, restoring their original appearance and freedom. The name 'Namo Amituofo' has brought them out of the dark spaces, allowing them to see the light again and follow the Buddha-light to a brighter world. I am so grateful to Practitioner Su for his compassion, which gave me the karmic affinity to save these suffering spirits in the universe. Namo Amituofo."