Finding Life in the Face of Death

This is a record of an interview with the Venerable Pu Quan, who sought Chao Du 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 1,150 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on October 21, 2018.

Venerable Pu Quan speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Pu Quan. My eyes were covered with a thick, coarse cloth, and my hands and feet were tightly bound with rough rope. A group of men shoved me into a burlap sack and tossed me into a cart. The cart lurched forward, swaying violently as it travelled at high speed. In my dazed and terrified state, I had no idea where I was being taken or what dark fate awaited me.

My family was not wealthy; my parents were humble farmers who laboured in the fields from dawn until dusk. My mother had given birth to twelve children, and I was the youngest. Usually, I would join my family in the fields to work, but on that particular day, I had fallen ill and was unable to rise from my bed. I remained at home to rest. Once my family had departed, the house fell into a profound and heavy silence, broken only by the rhythmic chirping of insects outside. I lay on my bed, gazing at the ceiling, and began to chant the Buddha-name. Each syllable of the name Namo Amituofo flowed clearly into my six roots, continuously purifying my body. I felt a sense of immense comfort and ease wash over me, a sanctuary of peace amidst my physical ailment.

A Sudden Abduction

Suddenly, I heard the heavy, hurried footsteps of strangers approaching the house. In an instant, a cloth was pulled over my eyes, and my hands and feet were bound with painful tightness. My small body was lifted and stuffed into a sack, and I was thrown into a wooden cart. As the cart jolted forward, I could feel other sacks bumping against me—they were warm, just like mine. It seemed I was not the only one; many others were being taken away in the same cruel, heartless manner.

The cart travelled for a long distance, and my entire body ached with pain. Throughout the journey, I did not stop chanting, praying for the Buddha’s assistance. I could not let my parents worry; I had to return home safely. Eventually, the cart came to a halt. We had reached our destination. The sacks were pulled up, and the ropes were loosened. I finally breathed in fresh air. The cloth was removed from my eyes, but at first, I could not open them. When my vision finally cleared, the scene before me was chilling and desolate.

The Graveyard of Despair

"Where is this? It is a graveyard!" I wondered why we had been brought to such a place. I looked around and saw about ten other children who had been abducted. They were all trembling with fear, some weeping uncontrollably. I alone remained calm, continuing to chant silently and seeking the Buddha’s protection. The atmosphere was thick with dread, a place where the living were forced to disturb the dead.

The men in black began digging into the graves, prying open coffins with brutal force. They demanded that we retrieve all the gold and silver treasures buried within. They taught us how to desecrate the graves and steal the valuables. The other children were so terrified they dared not move. The men used whips to lash at us, shouting for us to hurry, insisting that all the coffins be overturned before nightfall. The children were forced to comply. Some of the corpses in the graves were mere skeletons, while others were still intact. Every child was traumatised by the sight of the decaying remains.

The Power of the Buddha-Name

Among all the children, I was the only one who refused to move. Seeing me standing still, the others whispered, "Hurry! If you don't, you will be whipped again!" I told them, "This behaviour is wrong. We should not be doing these things." I refused to betray my conscience by committing the act of stealing. I found a stone, sat down, and began to chant with focus. I would never forget the Buddha’s teachings; I would never commit an act that lacked Goodness.

Seeing my persistence, the other children felt a deep internal struggle. Every child is born with a kind nature; none of them truly wanted to steal. Finally, an older boy spoke up: "We should learn from our friend sitting on the stone. Since we know stealing is wrong, why should we obey these adults? Let us follow his lead." Hearing this, I stood up and said to them, "I will teach you to chant. Let us all sit down, chant slowly, and ask for the Buddha’s compassion to help us escape this suffering." All the children calmed their hearts and began to chant the six-character name, Namo Amituofo. Their anxious, unsettled hearts immediately found peace in the Buddha-name.

A Daring Escape

The men in black disappeared for a while, but when they returned and saw us sitting on the ground instead of digging, they roared in anger, "What are you doing? Get to work!" I had instructed the others that if the men returned, we must not be disturbed and should continue chanting. We ignored them, remaining steadfast in the Buddha-name. We were anchored in our faith.

When the men realised they could not move us, they began to whip us. We continued to pray for the Buddha’s help. Even as our skin was torn and we bled, we remained unmoved. When sentient beings have a sincere request, the Buddha responds. Namo Amituofo truly helped us, dulling the intensity of the pain. By nightfall, the men were exhausted and frustrated; they decided to leave us alone for the night. That night, we had no food and no place to wash. We slept on the cold ground, huddling together for warmth, sharing in our suffering.

A Vow to Serve the Dharma

Early the next morning, the men hurried to move us, having heard that their location had been discovered. We were overjoyed at the prospect of escape, but the men were agile and quickly stuffed us back into the sacks. I noticed that my sack was not tied securely. I saw an opportunity, but I had to wait. When the men grew tired and fell into a deep sleep by the roadside, I knew it was our chance. I chanted continuously, then pushed with all my might. The sack opened! I crawled out and untied everyone else. While the men slept, we ran with all our strength. After running a great distance, we finally stopped to rest, knowing they could not catch us.

For several months, we lived together, moving from place to place. We lived in extreme hardship, but we never lost faith in the Buddha. I shared the Dharma with them every day, drawing from the teachings I had learned from my mother and from reading Buddhist texts. Everyone felt filled with Dharma joy and grew more confident in Namo Amituofo.

Returning to Save Others

One day, we encountered people in the wilderness. We had finally found our saviours. We learned we had been taken far from the city. As we walked back, we chanted with every step. We met many suffering families and shared the Dharma with them. They were moved to see so many children spreading the sound of the Dharma. We visited dozens of households, explaining the magnificence of the name Namo Amituofo.

Upon entering the city, we were greeted by cheering crowds. They praised our courage and told us the men had been arrested. When asked how we survived, we replied in unison, "It was Namo Amituofo who saved us!" Our parents, who had suffered so much, rushed to embrace us. My parents were there, holding me tightly, thanking the Buddha for his compassion. My mother told me that I must dedicate my life to the Dharma to repay the Buddha’s grace.

I had already made that vow during those days of suffering. If I survived, I would dedicate my life to the Buddha’s teachings. My friends made the same vow. I became a monk at fifteen, and my friends followed soon after. We made a great vow to save sentient beings, and for decades, we worked tirelessly, saving immeasurable and boundless beings.

I have successfully returned to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is my first time returning to the worldly realm, and I am struck by how rapidly the world changes. I am deeply grateful to Practitioner Su for her powerful Chao Du, which has given these suffering spirits a chance for liberation.

I follow Practitioner Su through the space of the universe. Every day, the scenes are different, and every day, countless spirits seek deliverance. They have waited in the darkness for so long, and today, they finally have the chance to escape their suffering. I cherish every precious moment of Chao Du, not letting a single Buddha-name go to waste. With every chant, I save countless beings. Over these past few months, I have helped many beings with whom I have a karmic affinity return to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Upon seeing the Western Land, they all kneel to thank Practitioner Su; without her, they would still be suffering in the darkness. I am grateful for the compassion of Namo Amituofo and the compassion of Practitioner Su.

Namo Amituofo."