Escaping the Chains of Fate

This is a record of an interview with the Venerable Feng Lan, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life approximately 1,420 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on November 3, 2018.

Feng Lan speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am the Venerable Feng Lan. My existence in the world was like a sudden gust of wind—brief, fleeting, and gone before anyone could truly grasp it.

From the very moment I was born, I was a child marked by sickness. It was an incurable condition, a shadow that loomed over my cradle. After the physicians examined me, they delivered a devastating verdict: I would likely live for only ten years. Ten years! Can you imagine the shock that rippled through my family? My grandparents, my parents, and my siblings would look at my frail, emaciated frame, and I could see the tears welling in their eyes, unable to be held back.

A Race Against Time

I knew, even as a young child, that my time in this world was limited. I felt an urgent need to grasp every passing second. I strove to learn how to speak in the shortest time possible, and I pushed myself to walk with a speed that defied my weakness. My parents, knowing my life would be short, wanted nothing more than to see me happy. They poured every penny they had earned throughout their lives into my care, hoping for a miracle. Yet, despite their sacrifices, I could not find true joy. A deep, lingering melancholy remained in my heart, unravelling only when I finally encountered the Dharma.

By the age of five, I was so fragile that a strong breeze could knock me to the ground. I was a prisoner in my own home, unable to step outside. My mother travelled everywhere, seeking ways to extend my life. She spent a fortune on divination and rituals, and she even paid a staggering sum for a pill that was promised to grant immortality. But no matter how hard she tried, my body remained broken. Everyone around us whispered that I was destined for a short life, and that no amount of wealth could change the inevitable.

The Golden Light in a Dream

Though my family had begun to lose hope, I never gave up on myself. I held onto a quiet, persistent belief that one day, I would find a way to save myself. And my intuition did not fail me. One night, in a dream, I saw a string of characters. They were large, brilliant, and radiated a golden light. I looked at them again and again, and I realised clearly that they were the words: Namo Amituofo. This sacred name appeared in my dream for a long time, refusing to fade. For several nights in a row, I had the same dream. I knew in my heart that this was a profound omen—a direct instruction from the Buddha himself.

For an entire week, I dreamt the same dream. The name Namo Amituofo seemed to carry an immense, transformative energy. Within just seven days, my health began to improve dramatically. My family was bewildered, asking me if I had taken some secret medicine. I told them with great joy, 'I have taken no medicine at all; I have only been chanting Namo Amituofo!' When I shared the story of my dreams, they were struck with awe. It was inconceivable. My mother had travelled to the ends of the earth looking for a cure, only to find that the true medicine had been right there on the wall all along.

The Secret of the Red Paper

That red paper on the wall, inscribed with the name Namo Amituofo, had been a gift to my mother from an old monk. Years ago, my mother had been passing by a temple when she saw a severely injured dog. She had done everything in her power to nurse the creature back to health, and the old monk had witnessed her compassion. He praised her kindness and gave her that paper, instructing her to never forget to chant Namo Amituofo throughout her life.

Shortly after that day, my mother became pregnant with me. Upon seeing the red paper again, she decided to return to the temple to visit the old monk. The moment he saw her, he asked about the child. My mother was stunned—how could he have known my health was failing? The monk looked at her and said, 'The child is that dog, reborn.' It turned out that in my previous life, I was that very dog. After I fell ill, I had often lingered around the temple, listening intently whenever there were lectures or chanting. After I met my mother that day, I passed away. I had been reborn as her child, still carrying the sickness from my past. The memories of listening to the Dharma outside the temple had manifested in my dreams, guiding me to chant Namo Amituofo. Once I understood this, I knew I had to seize the opportunity to chant and seek rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

A Vow to Serve Sentient Beings

I struggled to my feet and knelt, making a grand vow: 'I will follow Namo Amituofo throughout my many lives, and I will learn the spirit of Namo Amituofo to help all sentient beings.' Once I made this vow, my body improved day by day. I went from being unable to walk to moving with ease, and my appetite returned. I became full of vitality.

The day I fully recovered was the day I entered the temple to practise. I had long ago decided that once I was well, I would dedicate my life to the Dharma and to saving others. I did not want to be healthy for my own sake; I wanted to use this body to help sentient beings for as long as possible. If I could not help others, I would rather die than lie in bed and be a burden to my family. My sincere vow moved Namo Amituofo to grant me his compassionate blessing, allowing me to recover completely. I bid farewell to my family and entered the temple. They were overjoyed, for I had transformed from a child destined to die at ten into someone who could live a full life and serve the world.

A Life Lived for Others

I lived to be over sixty years old. While that is not a long life by some standards, it was fifty years longer than I was ever expected to have. I cherished every one of those fifty years, living each day as if it were my last, fully present in the moment. I never stopped working to save sentient beings. Every moment I spent in this world was for them; I never once thought of myself. I am so grateful that Namo Amituofo came to guide me at the end of my life, allowing me to return to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Now, I watch as the Dharma Body of Practitioner Su moves nimbly through the universe. No matter how he shifts, immeasurable and boundless sentient beings are guided to rebirth in the Western Pure Land. The compassionate power of Practitioner Su embraces every single being. They have been waiting in the vastness of space for this very moment, waiting for him to arrive.

Joining the Cosmic Deliverance

I am truly fortunate to join this cosmic mission of Chao Du. Watching the vast multitudes of beings being guided by the Buddha-light, my heart is filled with infinite gratitude. When I saw the planets connected to my own karmic affinity, I realised that almost everyone has lived in the universe at some point. Throughout our accumulated lifetimes, we have all existed in the vast spaces of the cosmos—some as spirits from other worlds, others just passing through. Regardless, the beings connected to us truly exist within the universe. I am deeply grateful to Practitioner Su for his compassion, which allowed me to save the beings connected to me, leading them away from their past spaces to be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I am grateful to the Buddha, and I am grateful to Practitioner Su."