Choosing the Path of the Buddha Over a Life of Luxury

This is a record of an interview with the Venerable Yuanming, who lived approximately 2,000 years ago. He now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account was recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on January 6, 2019.

Venerable Yuanming speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Yuanming. In my youth, I lived with my grandparents in a mountain cave. They had resided there since they were young, living a life of profound simplicity and ordinariness. There was no entertainment, no craving, and no desire. Every day, they laboured in the nearby fields. As evening approached, the cave would fall into total darkness, so they would return home by midday, finish their meal, tidy up, and prepare for rest. Day after day, it was the same peaceful routine, a life defined by quietude and the absence of worldly ambition.

A Child of the Snow and the Forest

I was a child they found outside their cave. The day I appeared, a heavy snow was falling. I was wrapped in a simple cloth, and had my grandparents not discovered me immediately, I would not have survived. They cherished me deeply. They had never imagined that in their unchanging life, a small grandson would appear to be cared for, forever altering their quiet existence. I was a well-behaved and obedient child, and they taught me with infinite patience. Though they were illiterate and had never read a book, they taught me by guiding me through the mountains and forests, helping me to recognise the nature of all things.

The forest was teeming with wildlife, including many beasts that could be dangerous to humans. Yet, these creatures never harmed my grandparents, for they sensed their boundless compassion and knew that my grandparents had often saved them in times of crisis. Hunters frequently roamed the woods, seeking animal skins to sell and meat to fill their bellies. To protect the animals, my grandparents would patrol the area while they were not farming. Whenever they spotted hunters, they would approach them and point them toward areas where they claimed there were many animals. However, the direction they pointed was actually a path leading out of the forest, where not a single animal could be found. Many hunters, finding nothing, would simply give up and move on to other places. Through this simple act, my grandparents saved the entire forest. These sentient animals, sensing their kindness, treated them with great reverence. Once, a mountain cat brought fruit to the cave for them to eat. During a particularly harsh winter, a group of large bears entered the cave and huddled closely around my grandparents, keeping them warm. From them, I learned to treat all things with compassion—even a stone deserved to be treated with kindness.

The Unexpected Suitor

For over forty years, my grandparents never left those mountains; they had no idea what the world outside looked like. Not wanting me to spend my entire life in isolation, they encouraged me to leave when I was twelve. It was my first time venturing into a town. I was completely unaccustomed to the noise and bustle of the city. I walked for a long time, not knowing where to go, feeling like a piece of driftwood lost in a vast ocean. As I walked, gazing at the strange sights, my heart was filled only with longing for my grandparents.

Suddenly, a peach-coloured embroidered ball flew through the air. With quick reflexes, I caught it. Everyone’s gaze immediately shifted to me, eager to see who had caught the ball thrown by the daughter of the wealthy Gao family. When they saw it was a young man in tattered clothes and worn-out shoes, the crowd erupted in laughter. The ball had fallen into the hands of a beggar! As it turned out, no one had wanted to catch the ball because the heiress, despite her wealth, was considered quite unattractive. None of the men present wished to marry into the family, so they simply watched as the ball landed in my hands. Everyone assumed the young lady would surely despise a beggar like me. To everyone's surprise, she looked at me with a shy, blushing expression; it seemed she had fallen in love at first sight.

The Path of Renunciation

I had no idea what was happening or what catching the ball signified. Seeing the crowd cheering as if celebrating a joyous occasion, I asked a bystander what it meant. They looked at me in astonishment, shocked that anyone in this world could be ignorant of the tradition. They laughed loudly, 'A fool catches the ball! A beggar becomes a son-in-law!' Through their explanations, I finally understood that I was about to become the son-in-law of the Gao family. I was quickly brought into the Gao estate. The elderly Madam Gao was beaming, completely unconcerned with my appearance or background. As long as someone was willing to marry her daughter, she was happy to accept him. Though I was dressed in rags, I was naturally handsome, and with a little grooming, I looked like a refined young gentleman. The more she looked at me, the more satisfied she became, her eyes crinkling with joy.

I had never intended to marry. As the wedding approached, I knew I had to stop it. Just as I was despairing, a man appeared before me and said, 'If you do not wish to marry, there is only one path: become a monk!' I did not understand what it meant to 'become a monk,' as I had never heard the term from my grandparents. When I asked him, he simply replied, 'Go to the temple, and you will understand.' I followed his advice and went to the temple. There, I saw a group of devotees surrounding a monk, asking the very question that troubled my heart: 'Must a person marry?' The monk replied to the young man, 'Every person is a circle, some large and some small. Some use this circle to enclose themselves with their lover. It may seem like two inseparable circles, but at the end of life, one must return to being an individual. If you use your circle only to enclose those you love, the circle becomes smaller and smaller, limited to the size of a family. But if you use your circle to enclose immeasurable and boundless sentient beings, not only will your circle grow larger, but those beings will also be liberated from the sea of suffering because of your compassion.' I understood his words. Having possessed good roots since childhood, I chose the path of monasticism. I had no intention of marrying in this life.

A Life Dedicated to Deliverance

With nearly a year left before the wedding, I entered the temple to practice and requested that the Master shave my head. He asked, 'Where is your sincerity?' I replied firmly, 'I will dedicate my entire life to express my sincerity.' The Master praised my resolve and observed my conduct for three months. During that time, I made a great vow before the Buddha: to follow Namo Amituofo in saving sentient beings, to dedicate my heart entirely to the Buddha and all beings, and to never engage in worldly romance. I sought only to deliver beings and transcend this world. After three months of true practice, my appearance had transformed. Seeing my earnestness, the Master allowed me to enter the temple to practice formally.

Throughout that year, I focused my heart entirely on sentient beings, forgetting all about the marriage. It was only when the heiress appeared at the temple and we met unexpectedly that I remembered. She could not believe I was truly going to become a monk. I told her firmly, 'I do not wish to waste this precious life on romance. Saving sentient beings is the only purpose for which I came to this world.' Though she was heartbroken, she saw my unwavering faith and diligent practice. Even before I was officially ordained, I already possessed the dignity of a Bhikshu. Despite her sorrow, she decided to respect my wish.

The Call of the Buddha

I was protected throughout my life, never tainted by the Five Turbidities and Evil World. Even though my Master taught me only to chant the name of Namo Amituofo, I was able to chant without interruption, letting the Buddha enter my heart. Within a few decades, I attained the fruits of practice, spending my life actively delivering sentient beings. While delivering spirits, I discovered that my grandparents had become mountain deities, still protecting the forest. I used my ability to save them, guiding their souls to the world of light so they would no longer cycle through the six realms of existence, thus repaying their kindness. After fulfilling my mission of saving beings, I was reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Practitioner Su, in her compassion, opened a space for me, allowing me to use this spirit to perform Chao Du for connected beings throughout the universe. I saw a layer of space in the universe where I had once arrived during an out-of-body experience. There, countless practitioners with long beards were sitting in meditation. They looked pure and leisurely, enjoying the freedom and comfort of the universe. I, too, was once one of them. It was the Master’s call of 'Namo Amituofo' that travelled from Earth into the universe, waking me from that space. It allowed me to see the suffering of sentient beings and realise that I should not remain there enjoying idle freedom. I left that space to return to the world and continue delivering beings. Now, I use that same call of 'Namo Amituofo' to awaken those eminent monks who are still enjoying their leisure in that space, inviting them to cultivate compassion and join in the work of saving sentient beings. I believe that as more people join the ranks of those saving the world, the world will become increasingly compassionate. I am grateful for the compassion of Namo Amituofo and the compassion of Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo."