From Harvest to the Western Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with the spirit of a radish—formerly a farmer named Hank—who sought deliverance through the Thrice Yearning Ceremony 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 experience during the ceremony on October 14, 2018. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin.

Hank speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. The radish cake sitting upon the offering table is emitting a very powerful message. I am the spirit of that radish cake. I have green leaves tucked into my top and a single red chilli for decoration. In my previous life, I was a man named Hank, a person of Chinese descent born and raised in Australia. My family grew fruits and vegetables, and I found great joy in being a farmer. Eventually, I became a radish—my favourite crop, and the one that sold the best. Every time I grew as a radish, I would always wonder which family would buy me. I was sweet, a radish with a great deal of inner substance.

A Journey to the White House

When I was picked this time, two Chinese faces appeared before me. I had never studied the Dharma before, but my family home had a Buddha statue, and I remembered it vividly. The two Chinese people I saw did not look exactly like the statue, but they possessed an aura that seemed to resonate with the Buddha. I was quite happy when I was loaded into their vehicle. After the car stopped, I arrived at a 'White House'—the whiteness of the building matched my own white radish skin perfectly. I liked it here.

Once I was taken into the kitchen, the peeling process began. The kitchen was filled with Chinese people. They brought out a peeler I had never seen before; I felt a bit of fear as my body was sliced into thin strips. I was mixed with flour, stirred repeatedly in a pot, and then steamed. Finally, I became a radish cake. I had never been a radish cake before—I heard this is a traditional Chinese dish. I spent my time observing everything happening around me.

The Grand Assembly

This morning, I was placed on the Buddha table, standing tall alongside the other dishes. I was fortunate; I occupied a prominent spot, while the others were stacked one upon another. We all shared the same feature: we had been specially decorated with green leaves and red chillies. As soon as I was carried into the Buddha hall, I immediately saw Namo Amituofo standing in the very centre. Beside the Buddha stood many others; I did not understand who they were. Beyond the people standing near the Buddha, the hall was packed so tightly that not even a drop of water could pass through. It seemed there were even more people outside trying to squeeze in, but they were held back by the protectors.

What kind of grand event was this? In our Western culture, we usually only see this many people gathered for a wedding. But this did not look like a wedding. No, it was definitely not a wedding. I needed to be respectful—I was in the presence of the Buddha. The background music played continuously; it sounded so gentle and comforting. Some people at the scene followed the chanting with familiarity, some stumbled over the words, and others were looking around. Those looking around must have been just as confused as I was.

The Arrival of Practitioner Su

The sound of drums began, and the people in the hall arranged themselves more neatly. Then, I heard some people calling out, 'Practitioner Su is here! Practitioner Su is here!' I did not yet understand what was about to happen. Then, this Practitioner Su picked up the microphone. As soon as the music started, the sound resonated far beyond the heavens. I was absolutely astonished. Then, an even more surprising scene unfolded: Practitioner Su stood in the centre of the hall, facing Namo Amituofo. As he raised his hand, a multitude of shaven-headed individuals—whom I heard were called monastics—suddenly stood beside him. Their numbers seemed infinite. After a few bars of music, Practitioner Su and the monastics vanished from sight.

The Western Land of Ultimate Bliss appeared right before my eyes. Countless sentient beings were moving forward continuously. The white roof of the hall began to emit golden light, brighter and brighter. The stream of sentient beings entering the Buddha hall never ceased. As the final recitation of the Buddha-name began, I seized the moment. I chanted Namo Amituofo loudly and with a sincere heart. In an instant, I arrived in a different world—the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

A Debt of Gratitude

Thank you, Namo Amituofo, Practitioner Su, and my companions who chanted with me. I cannot stop the Namo Amituofo humming in my heart. Now that I have reached the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, I see everything with such clarity. I hope more foreigners can be as lucky as I am. The Chao Du I witnessed at the Dharma assembly today was magnificent; the sentient beings who arrived in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss with me were all filled with joy. I stand here as their representative to express my gratitude for the magnificent Thrice Yearning Ceremony at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.

Namo Amituofo."