From the Miluo River to the Western Pure Land
An Interview with the Spirit of the Poet Qu Yuan
Recorded on November 20, 2020
This is a record of an interview with the spirit of the ancient poet Qu Yuan, who sought at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his long journey from the depths of the Miluo River to the infinite light of the Buddha. Recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe, on November 20, 2020.
Qu Yuan speaks:
"Namo Amituofo. I am Qu Yuan. It is with a heart full of profound peace and gratitude that I speak to you today from the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss."
A Debt of Gratitude
"I offer my deepest gratitude to the Great Compassionate Namo Amituofo. I am eternally grateful to Practitioner Su, whose wisdom and have no bounds. I also wish to thank all the virtuous practitioners at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. My heart is particularly moved by Lay Practitioner Xu Yishan, whose compassion for my past suffering led her to initiate the Chao Du process for me. It is through her kindness and the collective merit of the Centre that I have finally attained rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss."
The Long Journey from the Miluo River
"Many years ago, under the perfect alignment of Causal Conditions, Practitioner Su reached into the depths of the Miluo River and saved my spirit. At that time, I was lost in the currents of my own sorrow. She sought to guide me directly to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. However, because my were thin and my karmic roots were shallow, I could not immediately enter that sacred realm. Instead, I followed a golden light into the heavenly realms, where I resided in the twenty-third heaven, enjoying the celestial blessings there for a time. Yet, even in the heavens, the longing for true liberation remained. I am forever indebted to Practitioner Su for her persistence and for never giving up on a soul like mine."
A Message to the World
"I also wish to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the people of the world. Every year, during the Dragon Boat Festival, you remember my story through the wrapping of zongzi and the racing of dragon boats. It touches my heart to know that my legacy has endured for over two thousand years. But let me tell you, the sorrow I felt when I cast myself into the river is now a distant memory. The grief I felt for the King of Chu, the loneliness of a heart that no one understood—all of that has been washed away by the light of Namo Amituofo."
The Grace of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
"The grace of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is truly inconceivable. I was not alone in this journey; sixty prison guards who shared my karmic path were also saved by Practitioner Su. Together, we knelt and wept in gratitude for the grace of Namo Amituofo. I urge all of you to diligently chant Namo Amituofo. No matter how difficult your past may be, no matter how deep your suffering, the Buddha’s light can guide you to leave all suffering behind. In the past, I poured my heart into the Li Sao to express my sorrow. Today, I use this poem to express my liberation. The spirit of Qu Yuan, once trapped in the Miluo River, now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. The infinite light of the Buddha is bathing my entire being."
"Namo Amituofo."
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About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library