The Antidote to the Pandemic: A Virus's Testimony

This is a record of an interview with Lucas (Shi Hangzhou), 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 transformation from a mutated virus into a practitioner. Recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe, on April 13, 2020.

Lucas (Shi Hangzhou) speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Lucas. I am now a member of the Western Land of Dharma Nature at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. What makes me even happier is that Practitioner Su has included us in his Chao Du team—an experience I never could have imagined. Since arriving here, I have encountered one wonder after another. My process of becoming a mutated virus was, in itself, a peculiar journey. It was the result of research into mutated viruses, developed by humans to satisfy their own selfish desires for power. To prevent this virus from spreading and harming others, I chose to perish along with it. Yet, because of the heart-wrenching suffering my soul endured after death, I became a mutated virus myself—my character turned malicious, and I joined the ranks of those spreading this pandemic.

From Malice to the Western Land of Dharma Nature

After enduring so much, I finally arrived at the Western Land of Dharma Nature. The kindness and purity here have allowed me to recover my original intention of researching and experimenting to help others. It is a sincere heart, encompassing the compassion that Practitioner Su speaks of so often. I do not know if it is appropriate to say it this way, but my intuition tells me that I am still a useful soul. As long as I do not give up on myself and believe in everything happening here, I can play a role. Although the human world is shrouded in darkness at night, there is no night here; it is always filled with light. Every morning, we go out with Practitioner Su to perform Chao Du.

When I first went out, I had never heard of Chao Du and did not know what it was. When I asked, my partners in Practitioner Su's Chao Du team told me: 'It is just like how Practitioner Su restored you from a dark, mutated virus back to your original form, and helped you leave suffering behind to reach the bright Western Land of Dharma Nature.' So, I understood. This is the compassion Practitioner Su often speaks of. Practitioner Su's compassion saved us, so we can also use compassion to save the suffering souls or bodies invaded by the virus, and even countless other mutated viruses just like I once was.

The Power of the Buddha-name

Practitioner Su appears like a commander leading a great army. When the Chao Du team appears in the sky, the boundless light emanating from Practitioner Su and his team members, accompanied by the Namo Amituofo Buddha-name, acts as a powerful stimulant. I can hear the boundless mind-capacity of Practitioner Su and his sincere, earnest vow to save all beings from suffering, manifested through the sound of his human body. Without a human body, such a great vow could not be transformed into sound along with the Buddha-name for us to hear. Without that, we would not be able to perceive or receive the power of the Buddha-name.

I have studied Practitioner Su. He is a fusion of a human body and a Buddha-body. When he is in the human world, he uses his body, facial expressions, movements, and lectures to save beings. What is particularly special is that his words and actions can be received by both humans and the spiritual realms simultaneously, causing changes in their mental notes. Only humans can cause changes to both the body and the environment. Without a body, the spiritual realms cannot make positive changes to the polluted and heavy physical world unless a practitioner like Practitioner Su, who possesses a Dharma Body and the strong positive energy of Buddha or Bodhisattva, intervenes. Such polluted and heavy environments easily resonate with the Demon Realm or mutated viruses, allowing them to use collective power to launch negative attacks. This is exactly how this pandemic occurred.

The Antidote Found

Practitioner Su's preciousness lies in the fact that his vows are all for the sake of saving the masses, so that they do not have to suffer. Therefore, as soon as his vow is issued, it carries extremely positive energy. Combined with Practitioner Su's ability to put it into practice, he can truly lead everyone to improve and turn toward Goodness. Just as he transformed us souls from extreme evil to good, he can change the fate of humanity. Regarding this pandemic, it is because he subdued us mutated viruses, Plague Gods, and demon crowds who were seeking revenge, that the pandemic has eased. We have never met a human with such ability before.

When Practitioner Su takes us out for Chao Du, I often wonder what I can do for everyone. However, I can take what Practitioner Su does and apply it to what I can do. Following Practitioner Su out for Chao Du—whether to mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Australia, Japan, Southeast Asia, or Singapore—I can smell and see the presence of mutated viruses. Wherever these viruses exist, they emit the negative energy of the mutation process. It is a message passed between viruses, just as humans pass their meanings to each other through language and actions. Since I was once a mutated virus and also a researcher of viruses, I naturally have a high sensitivity to these messages. Even though I have now turned toward Goodness and recovered my human form, this ability remains.

When I smell, see, or receive these messages, I try to emit the warm, bright mental note I feel in the Western Land of Dharma Nature. Suddenly, the Namo Amituofo Buddha-name rings out all around. Could it be that Amitabha is lending me a hand? I suddenly had an intuition: use the Buddha-name to stop the virus's ability to mutate! Even if they have become the mutated viruses causing this pandemic, the positive power of the Buddha-name can counteract and weaken their pathogenic ability! Once this thought arose, I used all my strength to follow along and chant Namo Amituofo. I kept moving with Practitioner Su's team, chanting the Buddha-name incessantly, because I could feel the Buddha-name generating a heat throughout my soul—that is the positive power emitted by the Buddha-name within my spirit.

I then transformed this heat to chant the Buddha's name, adding my own vow to it, hoping that these mutated viruses could, because of the power of the Buddha-name, return to their original shape and lose their aggression, or become weakened and powerless. If this leads to the death of the virus, it is a death under the care of Buddha-light and the purification of the Buddha-name. They will surely be able to be delivered by Practitioner Su just as I was, shedding their viral outer garment and recovering their original human form.

The Truth of the Thrice Yearning Ceremonies

I also remembered Practitioner Su saying that whether they are demon crowds, Plague Gods, or viruses, they are all living creatures, and what they do will be met with karmic retribution. Some will be pressed under icebergs, burned in flames, or buried deep underground forever. Thinking of this, I chanted the Buddha-name even louder, because I smelled the thick scent of the pandemic's mutated viruses here. I also saw the existence of these viruses in the air and within people's bodies. The air and their bodies showed dark viruses, existing in scattered or clustered forms. An outstanding scientist or researcher must have not only a sharp mind for immediate response but also a keen sense of smell and sight to observe the scent and any subtle changes in the research subject. I knew then that the place I was in was either about to have an outbreak or was already an epidemic zone. I hurriedly used all my strength, not daring to slacken, and loudly chanted Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo...

I discovered that in a very short time, the deep black color of the mutated viruses in the air and within these people's bodies faded to black and then gray. This rapid change astonished me, and I reached a conclusion: in the midst of the Buddha-light, this Namo Amituofo is the best antidote to resolve this pandemic. It is the medicine, because this Buddha-name possesses the great compassion of Amitabha and Practitioner Su, their heart to save beings, and their great vow to resolve this pandemic.

My heart is filled with gratitude, and I shout loudly: 'I have found the antidote to this pandemic! I have found the antidote to this pandemic!' If this Namo Amituofo Buddha-name chanted by Practitioner Su is played loudly in epidemic zones, allowing the sick to listen to it continuously, and to sincerely and earnestly chant along, listen to Practitioner Su's lectures, understand the Buddha's teachings, recognize Amitabha, and hold Thrice Yearning Ceremonies, the Buddha-light will shine everywhere. This will allow the mutated viruses, Plague Gods, and demon crowds to restore original human form, find a good destination, receive Chao Du, and no longer interfere with humans. It will effectively reduce the toxicity and aggression of the mutated viruses, thereby lowering the mortality rate and even allowing the pandemic to ease until peace is restored.

A Call to Believe

This discovery should be made known to everyone; only by working together can we resolve this pandemic. Of course, it requires influential people or leaders of the environment to implement it to achieve the fastest effect in resolving the pandemic. Being able to discover this method and reach this conclusion was truly unexpected, but it is a real occurrence. I hope everyone can believe in my discovery and act upon it. I believe it will have inconceivable effects.

During my days here, I have participated in several Thrice Yearning Ceremonies. This Dharma assembly name is full of Chinese flavor, and it was the first time I had heard it. In the Western Land of Dharma Nature, one can see that before the Dharma assembly even begins, the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is already filled with living creatures. There are all kinds of souls—different eras, different clothing, men, women, old, and young. There are even various insects, animals, moths, rodents, frogs, and snakes. As Practitioner Su reads the memorial tablets and strikes the large qing, these kangaroos, rabbits, insects, ants, rodents, frogs, and snakes actually shed their outer garments and restore original human form—some with yellow skin, some with white skin, some Chinese, some Australian Indigenous people. These scenes are truly magnificent.

It was the first time I had seen such a scene in a Dharma assembly, and later, during the morning Chao Du, I saw Practitioner Su display this ability again—one could say it is his unique skill. Every time I see it, I am moved beyond words! Is this what the Buddha's teachings call equality? Treating these insects, ants, frogs, and snakes as equal to humans, respecting them, and cherishing them just as humans should respect and cherish each other, without destruction or attack—that would be a harmonious world without conflict. No wonder where the Buddha's teachings exist, there is peace and harmony. Practitioner Su extends this spirit to us—the Plague Gods, demon crowds, and mutated viruses who spread the pandemic. He treats us like those insects and animals, helping us shed our outer garments and restore original human form, without counting the evil deeds we did to people or the panic we caused. With a heart of equality, he treats us kindly, which is why we have the opportunity to become part of the Chao Du team today.

In the Dharma assembly, the power of the Buddha-light and the Buddha-name is displayed without reservation. Seeing so many countless souls entering the Buddha-light, reaching the moment of leaving suffering behind, is truly moving! Such a scene is hard to believe if not seen with one's own eyes. As a virus researcher, I might not have believed it if I had only heard of it, but having seen it with my own eyes, I have no choice but to believe. I have learned here that one must believe, because there are too many things we have never seen or heard! Before Amitabha and Practitioner Su, I feel so small, and my heart is filled with gratitude!"

Namo Amituofo.