From Flower Spirit to Awakened Being

This is a record of an interview with Yorai Izumiko, a spirit who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. She now resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. This account reflects upon her existence across centuries, beginning as a flower spirit in ancient Japan. This interview was recorded by the chief writer, Fa Ning, on February 7, 2026.

Yorai Izumiko speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Ah, I have finally waited for my turn to be interviewed! Do you find me quite playful? You are right; I am a playful spirit. Some might call me a demoness, or perhaps a witch. In the human world, I would be classified as a type of elemental spirit. Back in the days around the Yamamoto Shrine, I was a flower spirit dwelling within the mountain blossoms.

The Legend of the Luminous Nectar

Legend had it that when a person of true love gathered flowers for their beloved, the spirit within the flower would provide a luminous nectar. Those who drank this nectar would experience miraculous healing. This story was widely circulated at the time. Countless people came seeking this luminous nectar, hoping to catch a glimpse of the flower spirit to prove the sincerity of their hearts. It was said that couples blessed by the flower spirit would enjoy a lifetime of love and harmony.

In the region of Kawasaki, there was a monastic who practised the method of chanting Namo Amituofo. He knew that I was not a simple flower spirit, but a hybrid of a demonic spirit and an elemental—or as humans would say, a fallen spirit. One day, he came to the flower where I resided and told me he would give me the truly luminous nectar: the name 'Namo Amituofo.' After he chanted for me, I let go of my attachments within the Buddha-light and entered the light. However, I did not enter the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss immediately, as my good roots and blessings were not yet sufficient. Naturally, I was reborn as a human—the person who would later be known as Yorai Izumiko.

From Shrine Maiden to Guardian Spirit

In ancient legends, spirits and unicorns are often mentioned together; the unicorn symbolizes holiness, while the spirit symbolizes purity. As a flower spirit, I was a being born of the flower, a spirit-ghost that had attained a form. For a spirit, maintaining one's purity is essential, as purity is one of the conditions for spiritual elevation.

After becoming Yorai Izumiko, I served as a shrine maiden, learning to offer prayers and perform rituals to bring blessings and healing to others. After I passed away, I became a deity guarding medicinal herbs. Four hundred years later, I finally encountered an opportunity to elevate my spirit once again. I knew this chance was incredibly rare. I saw the Namo Amituofo billboard in Japan, and I was astonished. The billboard not only radiated golden light, feeling incredibly warm, but I could also sense that this golden light was of immense help to my spirit. Furthermore, I felt a profound sense of familiarity. Following the characters on the board, I chanted, 'Namo Amituofo.' Suddenly, my past memories were awakened. At that moment, I knew my time for salvation had arrived.

The Path to the Western Dharma-Nature Land

Without hesitation, I joined the other ghost deities and travelled to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Goombungee, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, to seek Spiritual Deliverance. Filled with Dharma joy, I was guided by the golden Dharma Body into the Western Dharma-Nature Land amidst the sound of Practitioner Su's chanting.

In the Western Dharma-Nature Land, I saw that Practitioner Su was the very same monastic who had guided me long ago. Today, his skills have reached an even higher level. He is an awakened being who can manifest in countless forms to save immeasurable and boundless sentient beings. This Western Dharma-Nature Land is the Buddha-land he has constructed. I am deeply grateful for all of this. The Causal Conditions are truly inconceivable, and the Law of Cause and Effect—the universal principle and the righteous path—is truly inviolable.

Reflections on Karma and Compassion

When I was a flower spirit, a single lapse in judgment led me to commit emotional karma. I gave the nectar, tainted with emotional attachment, to a man with whom I had an affinity, making it difficult for him to liberate himself from his feelings. Consequently, my spirit became irreversibly stained and darkened, which is why I became a demonic spirit.

Through this inconceivable karmic journey, I have come to understand that not only humans, but ghosts—and even spirits with higher spiritual status—cannot be the masters of their own fate. We cannot control the various changes within ourselves. Whether a spirit or a human, once karma is created, one must face the retribution. When facing the consequences, one is powerless to resist; one can only accept the retribution, accept the fruits of one's actions, and accept the state of being that changes according to one's karma. It is truly agonizing. Practitioner Su clearly sees the suffering of all spirits and has placed Namo Amituofo billboards all over the world; he is truly a person of great compassion. I vow before the Buddha to be like Practitioner Su—an awakened being who saves himself and others, transcending karma and relieving the suffering of beings anytime, anywhere.

Regarding Japan, I know that compared to my era, the understanding of the spiritual realms is becoming increasingly scarce, and many ancient arts have been lost. But fortunately, the Japanese people now have the opportunity to encounter the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. I hope those with karmic affinity will grasp this opportunity to diligently seek the Dharma. This is a bodhimanda where Namo Amituofo abides, and it can bring people the magnificent benefits of being free from aging, free from illness, and ensuring your spirit never dies.

I am grateful for everything. I am grateful for the compassion of the Buddha, and I am grateful for the compassion of Practitioner Su.

Namo Amituofo.

Yorai Izumiko"