Gratitude from the Southern Heavenly King

This is a record of an interview with the Southern Heavenly King, Wang Dun, who sought Spiritual Deliverance 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 his eighty-year tenure as a Heavenly King. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on November 26, 2022.

Southern Heavenly King Wang Dun speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. It is only because of this profound Causal Conditions that I have arrived at this Buddha-land to chant 'Namo Amituofo' and finally attain rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I have served as the Southern Heavenly King—the King of Growth—for eighty years. Throughout these eight decades, I have consistently guarded the peace within the temples, hoping that the Buddha’s teachings could truly help people find peace of heart and liberation."

The Burden of the Six Realms

"After becoming the Southern Heavenly King, I witnessed the state of beings within the six realms of rebirth. So many of these scenes are defined by the deep attachment of sentient beings who do not know they need to awaken. Beings in the hells suffer retribution that is beyond description, yet often, they still cannot clearly see the truth of their own errors. Beings in the ghost realm drift without support, desperately trying to cling to the things they possessed while alive, yet they are unable to hold onto anything at all. In the animal realm, beings are driven by instinct and mating, only to lose their lives to slaughter; they suffer, yet they are often unaware of their own suffering. As for human beings, some are completely oblivious to their suffering, while others know they are suffering but cannot find a way out. I have seen the suffering of the six realms of rebirth with my own eyes, and among them, those who truly make a vow to escape are few. Too many people prefer to enjoy the present moment; they believe that immediate pleasure is true happiness, and they only seek a spiritual refuge when they are in the depths of pain.

The title 'Zengzhang'—the King of Growth—means to increase Wisdom. In the context of worldly affairs, this is a skillful means. It allows people to interact with one another more harmoniously and to find balance amidst the many imperfections of life."

The Struggles of the Human Heart

"Most of the devotees who come to the temple are filled with afflictions. When they face various states of life and do not know the best way to handle them, feelings of distress arise in their hearts. Whether it is about relationships, family matters, or anxieties regarding the future, one affliction follows another. Each stage of life brings different challenges that must be faced and overcome, and at such times, faith in the heart becomes a vital source of support.

Within the temple, the representation of Maitreya Bodhisattva is excellent—always smiling. The reason why people cannot maintain a smiling face is that they are often trapped by the sensations of their physical bodies. Every sensation feels so profound, and within these sensations, they try to find an exit, but they often fail to find one, which is why they struggle in pain.

In my view, as long as one opens the heart, a naturally expansive heart can dissolve all obstacles. Worldly affairs are not difficult; the difficulty lies in the inability to detach from one's role. People always play the role of their reincarnated physical body so convincingly that they become addicted to it and cannot break free. They play different roles time and time again, becoming addicted over and over—this is the suffering of samsara from which beings cannot detach."

The Trap of Roles and Attachments

"I once saw an elderly practitioner come to the temple with a face full of distress. Their mind was like a tangled web of threads, entirely occupied by thoughts of themselves and their family. Their family was what they found most difficult to let go of. When they came to the temple to pray, their body was already leaning to one side, yet they still recited the names of every family member, big and small, for the Buddha or Bodhisattva to hear, hoping that the Buddha or Bodhisattva would protect everyone they cared about.

The elderly practitioner brought many offerings and made a generous donation, all in the hope that their wishes would be fulfilled. They came every year, but each year, their face and body changed, appearing older and older. The number of people they cared about also grew, as they had more descendants, and they hoped for the safety of every single one. I watched the elderly practitioner, and I saw that their attachment to family was very deep.

The elderly practitioner came for seven consecutive years, and after seven years, they stopped coming. A few years later, a cat appeared in the temple—a rare sight. When I looked, I realised it was the spirit of that elderly practitioner. They had been reborn in the body of a cat, yet their heart of attachment remained unchanged. All that effort for the sake of their family ultimately resulted in having nothing at all.

Too many people come to the temple to pray, and there are many like that elderly practitioner. Beyond them, there have also been many practitioners who came with the intention of practicing diligently to achieve success and liberation. Some practitioners have very firm hearts and understand the meaning of practice, but others do not see clearly enough; they still care about the various sensations of the physical body, and some even compete with fellow practitioners in the temple, giving rise to jealousy, dissatisfaction, and feelings of unfairness. It is a pity to waste the opportunity to use this physical body for practice."

A Lifetime of Preserving Wisdom

"As I saw things more clearly, I discovered that everything is governed by the laws of karma and cause and effect. Every being is bearing the consequences of the causes they have created. I gradually watched the changes in life, hoping they would have the Causal Conditions to awaken.

I am deeply grateful to Practitioner Su. The Dharma Body Chao Du of Practitioner Su has already shaken the ten directions, and I have heard of his great name for a long time. Knowing that many sentient beings have been saved by Practitioner Su and reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, I deeply admire the compassion of Practitioner Su.

The Causal Conditions for me to come and seek Spiritual Deliverance was that my term as one of the Four Heavenly Kings had come to an end, and I was preparing to hand over my duties to the next in line. With this opportunity, we decided to come to the Buddha-land to participate in this magnificent event. When we arrived, the Buddha-land was already filled with many sentient beings. When they saw us arriving, dressed in the attire of the Four Heavenly Kings, they paid their respects and cleared a path for us. I am also grateful to the Venerable who recorded our story, allowing us to be guided by Practitioner Su and sent on our way. I write this letter of gratitude to thank Practitioner Su for his help; otherwise, relying on our own strength, we would have no ability to reach the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

I am fortunate to have served as the Southern Heavenly King, and I am grateful for the appointment by the Jade Emperor. My original name was Wang Dun, and I was an honest man born into a scholarly family. Starting from my grandfather, my family were teachers. My father was once a soldier in the Northern Expedition, but later, my grandfather called him back to our hometown, where he followed my grandfather in teaching and avoided participating in the chaotic politics of the time. It was a chaotic era, with various warlords fighting for power and territory. My grandmother believed in the Buddha and often knelt before the Buddha, hoping that the situation would soon return to peace. Sometimes she would pull me along to accompany her. I followed my grandmother in chanting the Buddha's name, and strangely, when I chanted, my heart felt exceptionally peaceful. The seed of the Buddha was planted in my heart-fields in this way.

Since I was young, my grandfather told me that the sutras of our ancestors were a treasure, and no matter what, I must educate the children and pass down the wisdom and sutras of our ancestors. This was my grandfather's ideal, so whenever he spoke to me alone, he would always mention it. I saw that his eyes were filled with determination and hope."

The Path to the Western Pure Land

"When my grandfather was seventy, he fell ill. He called me to his bedside, hoping I would take over his unfinished mission. He said, 'Dun-er, the situation is chaotic now, and I do not know what will happen in the future, but the most important thing is that I hope you preserve the sutras well to pass them on to future generations.' My grandfather used all his strength to tell me this, and I nodded quickly. He fell asleep in comfort and left us not long after.

After my grandfather passed away, my father and I took over the school he had founded. After discussing it with my father, we reduced the scale of the school and operated it discreetly to avoid trouble; it was more important to at least preserve a place where the children could learn. Unexpectedly, not long after, a group of people investigated us. As soon as they saw the school, they sealed it to prevent any gatherings. To ensure we would not gather again, they took away all the books we used for teaching, and some were burned. When they did this, I was very nervous, and my grandfather's mission flashed through my mind; I had to guard these books. I tried my best to hide them, but they were all searched out. After a great destruction, I sat on the ground, feeling completely limp after the destroyers left, thinking of my grandfather and not knowing what to do. After sitting in a daze for a long time, I suddenly remembered that I still had some of the sutras in my mind that my grandfather had made me memorise in the past. I remembered them all. At that time, my grandfather was very strict with me; I could not miss a single word, so I remembered them very deeply. Therefore, I began to cheer up and wrote down the contents of the books I remembered, as well as the Buddha's teachings. One copy was not enough; for a month, I barely ate, drank, or slept, and I copied several sets that could be preserved. Only then did I feel at ease.

After the situation calmed down, I secretly re-established the school and taught the children, and I continued to do so until I grew old and died. Before I died, I felt some discomfort in my body, but I still forced myself to walk to the study to take a few more looks at those books, ensuring everything was well, and only then did I feel at ease. I passed away while sitting in the study. The few seconds before I stopped breathing were somewhat painful, but very quickly, I saw a yellow light appear before me to lead me. I arrived before the Jade Emperor, who looked at me for a few moments, said nothing, and sent me to guard the temple. I became the Southern Heavenly King among the Four Heavenly Kings, which means the growth of Wisdom. I performed my duties faithfully and dared not be negligent.

Eighty years have passed, and now, with such magnificent good Causal Conditions, I can be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Everything is thanks to Practitioner Su. The great power of Practitioner Su's Chao Du, his diligent and unremitting heart, and his compassion in bearing the suffering of beings are all seen by us, and we are deeply impressed and grateful.

The Dharma Body shines across the heavens, and immeasurable and boundless beings are saved. I am grateful to the compassionate Namo Amituofo for creating the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, giving all beings a place to rely upon. I am grateful to Practitioner Su for what he has done for all spirits; his Dharma Body Chao Du is immeasurable. May all beings who have the karmic affinity cherish this great blessing, for seeking rebirth in the Western Pure Land is the most important matter of all.

Gratitude.

Southern Heavenly King Wang Dun, with palms joined."