From Prehistoric Roots to the Western Pure Land

This interview features Kang Ning, a venerable from China's prehistoric era. He sought deliverance and now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, protecting the left leg of Practitioner Su. This account was recorded by Venerable HaiZe on June 21, 2018.

Venerable Kang Ning speaks:

"I am the 419th Venerable. I was born in the prehistoric era of China, long before the five thousand years of recorded Chinese history.

A Name Born of Simple Sounds

I am Kang Ning. This name was something my father just called out casually, and it became my name. Originally, our family was called the 'Kong' family. In fact, there was only a simple sound, 'Kong'. Whenever that sound was uttered, it referred to our family. Other families or individuals had their own distinct sounds. Everyone shared and understood these single-syllable sounds to express meaning. Among them, the sound 'Ah' was commonly used—it was the simplest and most direct. Gradually, we began to add multi-syllabic sounds and varied intonations based on natural contexts, combining them into sentences that everyone could understand.

At that time, there was no written language. There were only simple patterns or symbols used by those of higher intelligence to keep records, carving or drawing events to pass them down. People then did not have complex thoughts; they relied on primitive, simple methods to satisfy their basic physiological needs. Only later did this evolve into written language and more sophisticated forms of expression, learning, recording, and management. In the context of China's five-thousand-year culture, the name 'Kang Ning' is a refined version of 'Kong Ni'. My father was called 'Kong Di', which became 'Kang Di' after refinement. My mother was 'Kong Ah', which became 'Kang Ya'.

The Hunter's Life and the Elder's Wisdom

Around the age of ten, when I had grown strong enough, I would take a spear and go hunting with my father every day to make a living. We could catch a few rabbits or wild snakes daily to bring home. A wild boar was considered a great harvest, though sometimes we had to wrestle with it; one needed good skills to bring it home safely. My father taught me how to pin down the boar's vital points. At first, I inevitably got injured, but after a few times, I gained experience and could hunt separately from my father without getting hurt. My mother at home had to learn how to process the game we brought back, cooking it so we could eat it safely. Whatever my mother needed, she would tell my father—the making of stone pots, stone bowls, stone ladles, and stone basins—anything that required strength was left to my father. Naturally, this developed into a social structure where the man worked outside and the woman managed the home.

Regarding the practice of the Dharma, the person closest to it at that time was the elder of the tribe. Because he knew more than everyone else—including astronomy, geography, environmental changes, and conflict resolution—and was accurate, he was naturally respected by everyone. People would protect him so that when they had difficulties, there was someone to consult for solutions. The elder's appearance and speech were also more composed and wise than the average person. If you asked why he had these abilities, he would just nod and answer with one word: 'Pure'. Of course, some had innate, natural abilities, which had to be guided positively to avoid being misused or going astray.

The Power of the Mantra

Living next door to us was the tribe's elder. From childhood, he watched us grow up. Whenever he saw us returning with game—sometimes dead, sometimes still gasping for breath—if the elder saw it, he would always mutter something. Afterward, I would see the prey stop struggling if it had been fighting, or the bleeding would naturally stop if it were bloodied. Once, I couldn't help but ask the elder, 'What are you chanting?' The elder touched my head and smiled, saying, 'Go well!' He had a kind smile on his face, which left a deep impression on my heart, and I returned his smile. The elder lived alone, taking care of himself. He did not hunt and did not eat meat; he grew some wild vegetables and lived on those and small grains.

I often ran over to the elder's place, and he gradually taught me some of the sounds he knew. Later, I realized those were mantras, passed down through generations. The more accurate the pronunciation, the better the effect. So, the elder tirelessly repeated them, teaching me until my pronunciation was correct. Correct and positive mantras could calm a restless and fearful heart, stop the tears of weeping eyes, cease sorrow, stop bleeding, and relieve pain or illness. The elder also taught me to observe the celestial phenomena. After I tried it a few times and it proved effective, I gradually gained confidence in my own abilities and stopped eating meat. My diet slowly became the same as the elder's. As the days passed, even my appearance began to resemble his. Seeing my dedication and my ability to help others, my father stopped forcing me to return home, so I stayed at the elder's house. Since it was right next door, my mother often brought us food. Naturally, when people needed the elder and he wasn't home, they would come to me for help. We ate only two meals a day: one after waking at dawn and one before the sun set in the evening. Simple, fresh vegetable food—as long as we weren't hungry and had strength, that was enough.

Transition to the Celestial Realm

One night, the elder called me to his side and asked me some questions, asking if I had any queries. I raised a few points, which he answered one by one before nodding. The next morning, I saw the elder sitting peacefully on his bed, no longer breathing. He had passed away. 'Do not cry!' This was something he had repeatedly told me before. Seeing someone die, one must not shed tears, or the deceased would not be able to 'go well'. Although I was reluctant to let him go, I understood in my heart that the elder had left with peace and equanimity. I buried the elder in the open space behind the house and often went to his grave to report recent events; sometimes, I would receive some inspiration.

While the elder was alive, whenever the weather was good, he would take me to meditate. At sunrise each day, we would sit outside, quietly listening to the sound of the wind, the trees, and the birds, absorbing the natural energy of the air and adjusting our breathing. Every time, I felt refreshed in body and mind. This habit continued without interruption. By absorbing the essence of the sun and moon, I discovered this was an important source of my energy. Naturally, I lived the same life the elder had lived. Later, in a dream, I saw the elder again, looking the same but even younger. He pointed his finger at the sky, gesturing the number five. Later, I understood: the elder was in the fifth level of the Celestial Realm. About ten years later, I passed away without illness. It was the elder who came to pick me up, and we flew upward together to the fifth level of the Celestial Realm.

The Light of Namo Amituofo

One day, a golden light projected into the Celestial Realm. Looking toward where the light originated, I saw a radiance coming from the galaxy in the Western sky outside the Earth. The elder and I looked into the light together and saw a practitioner radiating light, surrounded by many beings with similar appearances, wearing halos on their heads and listening to the Dharma. However, we could not enter the source of the light; it was extremely bright, gentle, and powerful. We listened quietly to what the practitioner was saying. He was speaking on the profound meaning of the Dharma—something we had never heard before. We listened within the light, hearing about the Forty-Eight Vows of Namo Amituofo and the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. It turned out that the magnificent practitioner was Namo Amituofo himself, teaching in the Western Pure Land. The Dharma was being spoken within the light, spreading through the Buddha-light to the vastness of the Dharma Realm. Those with karmic affinity who were pure and kind could receive the illumination of the Buddha-light and listen to the Dharma. However, one also needed to make a vow, chant the name of Namo Amituofo, and receive his guidance to be reborn in the Western Pure Land. In that light, we witnessed the magnificence and dignity of the Western Land and simultaneously made a vow to seek rebirth there. During our remaining days in the Celestial Realm, we also chanted the name of Namo Amituofo, but we did not succeed in being led by the Buddha. We knew it was because our vows were not deep enough and our chanting was not effective; however, we never gave up the wish to be reborn in the Western Pure Land.

The Great Assembly and Rebirth

Later, one day, a powerful golden light erupted from Earth, projecting into the Celestial Realm. We looked down and saw a Venerable—it was Shakyamuni Buddha—attaining Buddhahood under the Bodhi tree. Afterward, he traveled everywhere to teach. When he was expounding the Infinite Life Sutra, the earth shook, and even the Celestial Realm could feel it. Without hesitation, the elder and I descended to the human world to listen to the Dharma. By then, the sky was already filled with sentient beings from all directions and realms; many were kneeling to listen and receive teachings. Although we were positioned far back, every scene appeared as if it were right before our eyes, very clear, and the sound of the Dharma entered our ears with perfect clarity. It turned out that every time Shakyamuni Buddha spoke the Dharma, the beings listening could immediately elevate their level of practice; this is the power of the vast virtue of his conduct. At that time, we saw Venerable Ananda leading immeasurable and boundless celestial beings and sentient beings from this world and others, kneeling toward the West and making vows to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Namo Amituofo appeared instantly, his light and countenance majestic. At that moment, those present who made vows to seek rebirth in the Pure Land and chanted the Buddha's name received the Buddha's compassion. The scent of lotuses filled the air, and lotus flowers manifested before us. The elder, myself, and the others followed Namo Amituofo and were reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Therefore, to fulfill the wish of being reborn in the Western Pure Land, one must accumulate Causal Conditions over many times and many lives; only when one's good roots, Blessings, and Causal Conditions are complete can one succeed. You must believe in yourself, believe in Namo Amituofo, and work tirelessly; there will eventually be a day of successful rebirth. As for all the great practitioners here at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, you have the right time, the right place, and the right people—this is only because you have cultivated Blessings and Wisdom, and accumulated merit and virtue in the past, to have today's opportunity to gather here. You must cherish these Causal Conditions. Just like Practitioner Su, who has realised her true nature and attained the Dharma Body, you too can be reborn freely and save immeasurable suffering beings, leading them to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Namo Amituofo."

The interview content was recorded by Venerable HaiZe.