Generations of Devotion: The Testimony of Venerable Hong Xiyang

This is a record of an interview with Venerable Hong Xiyang (Dharma name: Shi Yangde; ranked 689th among the Venerables), 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 and the legacy of his family. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on July 12, 2018.

Venerable Hong Xiyang speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Hong Xiyang. Our Hong family is a large clan of over three hundred people. On the day I was born, my great-grandmother hosted a grand banquet at our residence to celebrate my arrival into the human world. She was over a hundred years old, yet she remained remarkably sprightly. Adorned in gold and jewels, she sat with an air of nobility, cradling me in her arms with effortless strength. She was a woman of great vitality, and her presence was the heart of our family.

A Legacy Sealed in Faith

From the moment my great-grandmother began her practice of chanting Namo Amituofo, the entire family followed suit. We held a deep, unshakable conviction that this holy name possessed the miraculous power of immortality. Whenever a new child was born into the Hong family, my great-grandmother would unfailingly bring out a special seal engraved with the name 'Namo Amituofo.' She would imprint the holy name onto the newborn's clothing, ensuring that every generation would forever remember and cherish this sacred invocation.

On the day of my birth, my great-grandmother had been waiting in the main hall long before I arrived. As I emerged into the world, I let out a loud, clear cry. Standing outside the room, she saw a brilliant golden light radiating from within and exclaimed with joy, 'Come quickly! Come and see! This grandson of mine is truly extraordinary!' The entire household rushed over at her call. Supported by her servants, she hurried into the room, eager to hold me. I was the 102nd great-grandson of the Hong family.

My great-grandmother was convinced that I was a child sent by the Buddha. She chanted 'Namo Amituofo' incessantly, her voice filled with devotion. She then took the seal and pressed the holy name onto the swaddling cloth that wrapped my body, a silent prayer that I would never forget the practice of chanting.

The Wisdom of the Ancestors

My great-grandfather, though advanced in years, carried himself with immense dignity and grace. He was a highly respected man of virtue in our town, having spent his entire life following the teachings of the sutras. He sat in meditative concentration every day, immersed in the Buddha-name, and had hand-copied tens of thousands of volumes of scriptures throughout his life.

He was single-mindedly devoted to the Buddha and hoped that all his descendants would carry on the Dharma. If any family member refused to embrace the teachings, he would not permit them to marry or have children. In his view, a child raised without the guidance of the Buddha’s teachings would suffer immensely in this world. He longed for every descendant to accept the Dharma, to help sentient beings, and ultimately to find their own liberation from suffering.

My great-grandfather possessed vast experience and profound wisdom. He had read more sutras than one could count. When asked which scriptures he had studied, he would often reply, 'I have read every scripture, yet I remember nothing. They flow through me like a river; only when I am in need does a single golden grain of sand emerge, providing me with endless utility for my entire life.'

The Practice of Compassion

Despite his age, my great-grandfather remained full of vigour, with a strength of voice that was unparalleled. To ensure that we children deeply internalised the holy name, he would often lead all his descendants in a long, grand procession up the mountain. We would chant continuously along the way to deliver sentient beings. Those were the happiest times of my childhood.

When I was six, my great-grandfather taught me to write the six characters of 'Namo Amituofo' with a calligraphy brush. These characters seem simple, but to infuse every stroke with the 'flavour of the Buddha' required immense effort. I asked him, 'What is this skill called?' He replied, 'This skill is called compassion.' I asked excitedly, 'Can I learn compassion too?' He said, 'You have good roots. As long as you keep kind thoughts in your heart and know how to help others, compassion will dwell within you.'

The first brush I used was not new; it was an old, worn-out tool with very few bristles left. I thought it would be impossible to write neat characters with such a dilapidated brush, yet my great-grandfather used it to produce cursive calligraphy that danced like dragons and phoenixes. It was truly remarkable. He explained that this was the first brush he had ever used. He told me that with patience and the right skill, one could still produce beautiful work. He gave it to me to practise. Whenever my characters were messy or uneven, I would become restless and frustrated. My great-grandfather would then teach me to chant and settle my heart, focusing entirely on the Buddha-name. He taught me that as long as the heart is settled, every character written will carry the essence of the Buddha.

The Illusion of Worldly Pleasure

Though I understood the benefits of practice, as a young child, I sometimes longed to play like other children, running through the streets with toys. My great-grandfather sensed my restlessness. One day, when I could no longer sit still, he commanded, 'Stop! Put down your brush and look at what you have written.' I was startled and looked at my work; it was crooked, missing strokes, and clearly the result of a distracted mind. I apologised in shame.

Instead of making me practise, he decided to take me out. I was overjoyed. He arranged for me to have all the food, drinks, and toys I wanted, allowing me to run and play to my heart's content. I thought he was the most understanding person in the world. By the time we returned home, I was exhausted, while he simply sat before the Buddha, chanting in peace.

The next day, he asked me, 'Of all the joy you felt yesterday, how much remains in your heart today?' I reflected on the outing—the food, the toys, the new clothes. To my surprise, the joy had completely vanished. He told me, 'Pleasure is merely a desire of the physical body, a greed that can never be satisfied. If you play today, you will want more tomorrow. If you eat well today, you will crave something more exotic tomorrow. Desires are endless. You chase them until the years pass, and in the end, you are left with nothing. Practising the Buddha’s teachings is different. You have the blessings to encounter the Dharma at birth, unlike many others. Your soul needs this holy name to ascend. Do not underestimate the value of daily effort. Like piling sand, grain by grain, you can eventually build a mountain. The key is persistence.'

A Life Dedicated to the Dharma

I took his teachings to heart. When I returned to my practice, he praised my progress. I often felt ashamed of my own lack of contentment and my pursuit of worldly play, knowing that life is short and every moment should be spent in diligent practice. At ten, I became a novice monk, and that same year, my great-grandfather passed away, chanting the Buddha-name, and was reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. The spirit I learned from him in those ten years far surpassed decades of ordinary practice.

Since entering the temple at ten, I have never returned to my secular life. I once encountered my mother and encouraged her to chant and follow my great-grandfather’s path. She nodded in understanding. Later, when my parents reached the end of their lives, they both passed away chanting the Buddha-name and were reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I am deeply grateful for the compassion of the Buddha.

Deliverance of the Universe

I have had the honour of assisting Practitioner Su in repairing the injuries sustained to her legs while delivering sentient beings. Today, I had the opportunity to participate in the deliverance of the beings of the Dumeina planet. This planet is rich in gems and gold—though not as magnificent as the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, it is still breathtaking. The gems we see on Earth are as common as stones there.

The people of Dumeina are pure-hearted, selfless, and disciplined, living in great contentment. For a billion years, they have practised kindness but had never encountered the Dharma; they did not know to chant 'Namo Amituofo' to seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Today, guided by the Buddha-light, the holy name was clearly transmitted to every inhabitant. They began to glow with warmth and light, and the planet itself brightened. Realising the magnificence of the name, they began to chant 'Namo Amituofo' in unison. The scenery of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss appeared before them, and they marvelled at its beauty. Many have now left their planet and have been successfully reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, where they now bow before the Buddha in gratitude to Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo."