The Hidden Goodness of a Misunderstood Son

This is a record of an interview with Qin Tian, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Dharma Nature. This account reflects upon his life approximately 230 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on April 13, 2019.

Qin Tian speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Qin Tian. Looking back at my life, it feels like a dream that has finally awakened to the light of the Western Pure Land.

The Symphony of Nature

I remember the birds on the branches—they were like members of a grand orchestra, singing their hearts out. The wind would whistle through the leaves, creating a soft, rustling melody that wove itself into the music of the forest. It was absolutely enchanting! Just as the music reached its crescendo, a wooden barrel came rolling along the ground, clattering with a rhythmic 'clack-clack' that added a perfect, unexpected beat to the performance. Then, with a sudden 'snap!', the music stopped. I felt a sharp pain in my head and opened my eyes to see my father standing right before me. 'Everyone is busy working, and here you are, lying around being lazy! Get up and help!' he barked before turning away.

I looked up at the sky and then at the towering old tree beside me. I thought to myself, 'Nature is truly inconceivable! How can it produce such magnificent music?' It was a pity that I had to leave just as the performance was getting interesting. I felt a lingering reluctance as I bid farewell to my natural symphony orchestra and followed my father home, whistling a tune to myself.

A Father's Misunderstanding

As I walked, my father called out again, 'Stop dawdling! Come and help dry the rice! It might rain heavily this afternoon! Hurry up!' I pulled my hands from my pockets and hurried into the golden sea of rice, helping to turn the grain. I was the youngest of five brothers. Our family had been farmers for generations, and my father expected nothing less from us. My mother had passed away from blood loss shortly after giving birth to me, leaving my father to raise us all alone. My brothers, seeing his struggle, dutifully learned the trade to lighten his burden. I, however, had no interest in farming. Yet, whenever my father asked, I would still work alongside my brothers to ensure he had an easier time.

One day, some old friends of my father visited. 'What wind blew you all to our home?' my father asked, delighted. One of the guests replied, 'Life in the city is completely different. Drying rice has become a distant childhood memory. I remember how I used to hate it, collapsing from exhaustion every time. Thinking back, I was quite useless! Hahaha!' As my father poured tea, I walked out, intending to head outside. My father stopped me, 'Qin Tian! Come here! Don't you see your uncles sitting here? Have some manners and greet them!' I turned and greeted them politely. One of the guests smiled, 'It has only been a few years, and you have so many children! That is truly remarkable!' My father looked at my retreating back and sighed, 'They are only useful if they help with the work. Otherwise, having many children is pointless! Qin Tian spends his days doing nothing but playing; he was born just to waste our rice!' The guests laughed, thinking my father was just being his usual humorous self.

Confiding in the Pigs

If a child dislikes farming but loves to study, that might be acceptable, but I was neither. My father would often tell me, 'I really lost out by having you as a son!' My second brother, worried that I would be hurt by these words, would pat my shoulder and comfort me, 'Father just speaks a bit harshly. He is actually trying to express his expectations for you. He doesn't mean it, so please don't take it to heart.' I knew my brother was worried, so I would force a smile to put his mind at ease.

Whenever I felt down, I loved to run to the neighbour's pigsty and talk to the pigs. As soon as they saw me, they would scramble over, thinking I had brought them a treat. I would shout at them, 'Eat, eat, eat! That is all you know how to do! You don't even know when you are going to be slaughtered! But you are still better off than me. My father says I am a child who cannot work, only eat, and that I am useless for my entire life! Looking at you now, I truly feel inferior. You love to eat, but at least when you get fat, your meat can feed others. When I get fat, I am of no use at all! It turns out I am even less useful than you pigs!' I loved squatting there, grumbling to the pigs, and they would respond with their own grunts, as if they understood every word I said.

The Village Award Ceremony

When I was eight, the village held its triennial award ceremony. Every household looked forward to this day with great joy, as winners received exquisite prizes or monetary rewards. This was a welfare initiative established by our village head, Mr. Wang, who personally donated the funds to encourage villagers to do good deeds and help others.

On the day of the ceremony, the whole village gathered in the square. The atmosphere was electric! Children were running and jumping with excitement, while the adults waited with nervous anticipation. The village head stood in the centre and addressed us, encouraging everyone to change for the better in the new year: 'Speak good words, think good thoughts, see the good, and hear the good. Everything will be good, and we will have a brand-new year.' After a round of applause, the main event began. The winners were selected by the village elders, who knew everyone's business—whether you stole a green onion from a neighbour or helped someone in need, it was all known.

The village head presented ten awards to families known for their charity. Then, he announced, 'The eleventh award, the Helpful Spirit Award, goes to—Qin Tian!' I was squatting nearby, feeding a dog with a bun, and did not hear my name. My father asked in surprise, 'Is it Qin Tian?' My brothers nodded, 'We heard it correctly!' The village head called out again, 'The Helpful Spirit Award, winner—Qin Tian!' This time I heard it clearly. My father shouted, 'Hurry! Hurry up!' I rushed out of the crowd so fast I nearly knocked the village head over, causing the entire square to erupt in laughter. The village head, however, was good-natured. 'Qin Tian is always so full of energy! I wonder if you have all noticed this child? I have seen him perform many silent acts of kindness. After the recent windstorm, I saw him clearing debris from the road so no one would get hurt. I have seen him help lonely elderly people, cooking meals for them, keeping them company, and cleaning their homes. I once saw him slide under a wooden cart to save a child, covering himself in wounds, yet he ignored his own pain to check on the child. I even saw him placing mosquito-repellent plants outside every home. When I asked him why, he said, 'I saw everyone suffering from mosquito bites in this heat, and they were killing the mosquitoes in desperation. But these mosquitoes are also lives, so I placed these plants to drive them away instead.' I knew then that this child was truly precious—kind-hearted, diligent, and always thinking of others. This award is well-deserved, and I hope Qin Tian's example encourages everyone to do more good.' My father was stunned, 'Was the village head talking about Qin Tian? When did he do all these things?' My brothers were equally shocked. We had all misunderstood him, thinking he was just a child who hated staying home, never realising he was out there performing such noble deeds in silence."

This award ceremony finally cleared Qin Tian’s name, restoring his innocence. His father no longer misunderstood him as a wayward, playful child. Now, no matter where Qin Tian went, his father would never shout or scold him, for he had come to realise that his son was always out performing noble deeds. One day, however, Qin Tian had not returned home by late evening. The entire family kept watch by the door, their hearts filled with growing anxiety, wondering where he could possibly be. Suddenly, the sound of rapid, frantic footsteps echoed from outside. His father immediately stood up and rushed to the door to see who it was. It was the son of Master Wang from the village, panting heavily as he ran up to them. 'Just now... just now, Qin Tian saw me being abducted by a group of men in black! To save me, he was taken away by them!'

His father was gripped with terror and was about to rush out to save Qin Tian, but his older brothers quickly held him back. 'Father, stay home! We will go!' The brothers immediately sprinted out, following the information provided by Master Wang’s son to search for Qin Tian. They called out his name repeatedly until, suddenly, the eldest brother shouted, 'Found him! Over here!' Qin Tian was lying face down on the grass by the roadside, his body covered in blood. His eldest brother picked him up with a heart full of anguish; Qin Tian had only a single breath left. The brothers rushed him home immediately.

A Father’s Heart and a Son’s Sacrifice

Seeing Qin Tian’s grievous injuries, his father was so distressed that he shouted through his tears, 'Doing good deeds and ending up like this! How can this child be so foolish! So foolish!' His brothers knew that beneath his father’s scolding lay a heart breaking with love for Qin Tian. A physician was summoned in haste to treat him, and eventually, Qin Tian’s condition stabilised. However, the most distressing discovery was the severe trauma to his head. It appeared he had been struck violently with a club, resulting in a deep wound and significant blood loss. The physician diagnosed that his brain might have suffered permanent damage, though the extent remained unclear. Hearing this, the entire family’s hearts sank to the depths of despair; they had no idea the situation was so dire. His father sat by the bedside, clutching Qin Tian’s hand and whispering, 'You silly child.' Seeing their father’s grief, the brothers could not hold back their own tears.

The next morning, Qin Tian woke up at the crack of dawn. His eldest brother, who had been dozing by the bedside, was startled awake when Qin Tian tried to lift his hand to wake him, only to let out a cry of pain. 'Are you feeling better?' his brother asked anxiously. Qin Tian stared at him with wide, unblinking eyes. After a long silence, he asked, 'Who are you?' His brother, panicked, replied, 'I am your eldest brother! Don’t you remember?' Qin Tian shook his head, looking confused. 'Eldest brother?' Sensing that something was terribly wrong, his brother immediately called for their father and the other siblings. To their horror, Qin Tian did not recognise a single person, and he had even forgotten his own identity.

The Mystery of the Transformed Mind

His father and brothers walked out of the room, heads bowed in sorrow. 'What are we to do?' the eldest brother asked. 'His brain is severely damaged; he has forgotten his entire past.' His father shook his head, sighing, 'I do not know. I do not know what to do. This child has always done good deeds—why would such a thing happen to him? Heaven truly enjoys playing cruel tricks on people.' With no other options, the family could only take it one day at a time, waiting to see what would unfold.

A few days later, Qin Tian’s physical wounds had largely healed, and his leg injuries recovered with remarkable speed, allowing him to walk again. What the family found strange, however, was that while his body had recovered, he began to speak in a peculiar manner. His father once heard him say, 'My Master is still waiting for me at the temple; I cannot linger in the world for too long.' His eldest brother heard him say, 'In two hours, the assembly will gather to chant the Buddha-name one hundred thousand times to eliminate disasters and pray for the blessings of the civilians.' His second brother added, 'I heard him too. He said, "Disciples, sentient beings are suffering immensely; do not be lazy or indulgent!"' The family, alarmed by these strange utterances, called the physician back. The physician could only say, 'He has returned to his past. It seems he was a monk in a previous life. There is no medical cure for this; we can only wait for him to wake up.'

After that day, Qin Tian truly began to behave like a monastic. In every movement—walking, standing, sitting, or lying down—he possessed a profound sense of dignity. His father and brothers found the entire situation utterly surreal.

The Return of the Dharma

Qin Tian began to travel about, introducing the Buddha’s teachings to everyone he met. Fearing for his safety, his family took turns following him wherever he went. Despite his head injury, he explained the sutras with incredible clarity, just like a true monastic. Many who heard him speak began to develop an interest in practicing the Buddha’s teachings, and some even went to the temple to seek the Dharma.

One day, Qin Tian passed by a temple. He walked a few steps, then turned back and stood at the gate, gazing at the plaque hanging above with a thoughtful expression. As he stared, it was as if he suddenly remembered something, and he walked straight into the temple. His eldest brother, who was following him, hurried in to see what would happen. He saw Qin Tian standing before an old monk. The old monk said to him, 'Disciple! It is time to wake up! Stop wandering in this space!' The old monk placed his hand on Qin Tian’s head and, with a voice that seemed to pierce through the dimensions, loudly chanted the name of 'Namo Amituofo' three times. Qin Tian immediately regained his clarity. He knelt before his master: 'Master, your disciple is unfilial. I did not follow the teachings and gave up halfway. Now, I have been reborn into this world, changed into a new body, and forgotten everything that happened in the past. If not for this sudden calamity, I would never have had the chance to encounter the Buddha’s teachings again.'

His brother stepped forward, bowed respectfully to the monk, and asked, 'Master, what exactly is happening to my brother, Qin Tian?' The old monk replied, 'Qin Tian’s injury is both karma and a blessing. This karma originally intended to take his life, but because he has always practiced goodness, he accumulated vast merits and blessings in the invisible realms. In the end, his life was spared; his karmic creditors merely occupied his head, causing him to lose his memory temporarily. Just now, I used the Buddha-name to cause the beings occupying his head to retreat, and he has regained his memory—even the memories of his past life as a monk.' His brother asked in astonishment, 'And who are you?' The old monk said, 'I was his master in a past life, and I have also come to be reborn in this world. Because of my practice, I can know the past, which is how I recognised Qin Tian.' Qin Tian told his brothers, 'I will return home to thank my father for his kindness in raising me in this life, and to thank you all for your care. I have decided to walk the path of a monastic in this life to fulfil my vow to save sentient beings.' His father, seeing Qin Tian restored, was deeply moved. He supported Qin Tian’s decision to become a monk, for the way Qin Tian had carried himself these past days was truly that of a monastic. His father believed that once Qin Tian entered the monastic life, he would surely cultivate the dignified presence of a Bhikshu once more.

A Vow Fulfilled

Qin Tian took refuge with his master again and practiced diligently at the temple. He quickly regained the abilities he had cultivated in his past lives, and with his diligence in this lifetime, his skills surpassed those of the past. Qin Tian travelled everywhere, teaching the Dharma and saving countless spirits. In this lifetime, he fulfilled his great vow and returned forever to the Western Land.

Qin Tian highly praised the magnificent and dignified appearance of Practitioner Su, noting that his compassionate Buddha-eyes embrace all sentient beings. Many people, while listening to the sutras, focus their attention on Practitioner Su’s Buddha-eyes, and the spirits within their own eyes thus develop the desire to be liberated. This is because of the power of Practitioner Su’s compassion and the golden light radiating from him, which moves beings to let go of past grievances and seek the light. Therefore, the fourfold assembly should focus their eyes on Practitioner Su’s Buddha-eyes when hearing the Dharma, so that the beings within them may have the opportunity for liberation.

Today, Practitioner Su has attained the Dharma Body and is performing Chao Du for millions of spirits throughout the Milky Way. Immeasurable and boundless beings are saved by Practitioner Su every day; this is the first time in the universe that such a powerful golden light has appeared. At first, the spirits did not know what was happening, but as they listened to Practitioner Su’s teachings and watched him lead those who wished to be liberated to the place of light, they understood that Practitioner Su is a true Great Buddha who has come to save them. More and more beings are now seeking deliverance, and the universe is becoming different because of this. This was the first time Qin Tian had returned to the world after reaching the Western Land, and to encounter such a magnificent event of Chao Du was his great blessing. He is honoured to have joined the ranks of saviours and is deeply grateful for Practitioner Su’s compassion. Namo Amituofo.

This interview message was recorded by the chief writer, Buddhist disciple Shi Fajing.