On the twenty-fifth of February, 2018, during the first session of the , a profound dialogue took place regarding the spiritual history of the land upon which the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia is built. The disciple Fa Xi asked how the memorial tablets for the spirits associated with the physical suffering of Practitioner Su—specifically the pain in her legs, groin, and sciatic nerve—should be inscribed. In response, the voices of the ancient land spirits emerged to share their story.
A Covenant Across Centuries
The spirits spoke of a sacred contract they had held with this land for countless generations. They explained that this site was destined to be a precious land for the preservation of the holy . For centuries, they had ensured that the land remained fertile, with sweet and abundant water, creating a sanctuary where all living things could thrive in harmony. This place was always intended to be a place of meditative concentration for true practitioners.
One spirit, who had served as a guardian for a millennium, recounted their history: they had heard from their father, the former master of this land, that this place was destined for a magnificent purpose. After their father passed away, they inherited the duty of guardianship, vowing to protect this precious land from any intrusion. They lived a life of solitude, without worldly attachments, and through their long practice, they attained a refined, spiritual state. They waited for centuries for the arrival of a destined individual who would truly understand the value of this place.
The Arrival of the One with Light
The guardian spirit described the moment they witnessed the arrival of Practitioner Su. They saw that Practitioner Su carried a radiant light, and they immediately recognised that the time had come to relinquish their duty. They had successfully blocked many attempts by others to purchase or misuse this land, but upon seeing Practitioner Su, they knew the land had finally been entrusted to a true practitioner of the Great Dharma—one capable of using this space to save the world from suffering.
The Struggle and the Path to Purification
When the construction of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia began, the spirits observed the emergence of dark, malevolent forces from deep within the earth. These forces sought to interfere with the mission of saving beings. The ancient spirits fought to protect Practitioner Su, but the intensity of these battles caused physical harm to her, manifesting as the pain in her legs. The spirits expressed deep remorse for this, acknowledging that their defensive actions had inadvertently caused suffering to the very person they sought to protect.
Upon hearing the compassionate voice of Namo Amituofo, the spirits realised that their time of guardianship had come to an end. They requested that they, along with the malevolent forces they had been contending with, be granted deliverance to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. They expressed their exhaustion after a millennium of service and their desire to finally find peace.
A Vision for the Future
The spirits offered a final, hopeful vision for the future of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia: they confirmed that the surrounding land is ready to be integrated into the temple grounds. They prophesied that the expansion of the temple to cover thousands of acres is not merely a dream, but a future reality. They encouraged the community to continue supporting the mission of saving beings, noting that it was through the collective efforts of everyone that they themselves were given the opportunity to encounter the Buddha.
The spirits concluded by entrusting the mission of saving the world to the , expressing their profound gratitude to Practitioner Su and all who have contributed to this sacred work. Through the grace of Namo Amituofo, they have now entered the Western Land of Dharma Nature.
Memorial Tablet Inscriptions
In accordance with these teachings, the memorial tablets were inscribed as follows:
For the spirits associated with the pain in Practitioner Su's legs: The ancient land spirits who guarded the foundation of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia, along with their countless kin, represented by Luo Ke Huo De, who has now entered the Western Land of Dharma Nature.
For the malevolent forces associated with the interference: The dark forces from within the earth that resisted the mission of saving the world, represented by Mo E Ku, who have now been restored, purified, and have attained a peaceful heart through listening to the Dharma, and have entered the Western Land of Dharma Nature.
This account was recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Fa Xi. Namo Amituofo.
