The Arhat of Wudang Mountain: Three Millennia of Stillness

This is a record of an interview with an Arhat who resided in the space of Wudang Mountain for approximately 3,000 years. He sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia and now resides in the Western Land of Dharma Nature. This interview was recorded by the chief writer, Venerable Hai Yuan, on March 10, 2026.

An Arhat from Wudang Mountain speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am an Arhat who resided within the space of Wudang Mountain in China. I remained in that particular dimension for a remarkably long time—if one were to measure it by the current flow of time, it has been approximately three thousand years. At this very moment, I am speaking from the Western Land of Dharma Nature at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. This is a place of profound subtlety, magnificence, and the living presence of the Buddha.

I have traversed both time and space to arrive here. Because of the compassionate blessing of Namo Amituofo, the space of Wudang Mountain was opened, allowing many practitioners who had been trapped within that dimension to enter the Buddha-light and reach this Western Land of Dharma Nature. To speak of it, this is an absolutely inconceivable event, yet it has occurred with absolute reality for all of us who were once bound there."

The Majesty of Taihe Mountain

"In those ancient days, Wudang Mountain was known as 'Taihe Mountain,' and it was a place of exceptional spiritual practice. The energy there was majestic and overwhelming; the natural landscape possessed everything one could desire—the mountains were grand, and the waters were pure. Amidst the towering, majestic forests, clouds and mists swirled, and the spiritual energy was incredibly potent. Legend tells us that many immortal realms appeared there, and it nurtured many extraordinary Taoist sages. In that era, most practitioners chose to dwell in caves for their practice, and it was only much later that the name was changed to 'Wudang Mountain.'

I am an Arhat. Three thousand years ago, I had already attained the state of an Arhat, and from that point on, I entered into a state of deep meditative concentration. I emerged from this state occasionally, only to enter it once more. Throughout these three millennia, I existed continuously within the space of an Arhat, never once departing from that dimension. It was a very natural state of being, as Wudang Mountain served as a superb location for practitioners, especially those of the Taoist tradition."

The Four Sacred Realms and the Path of Awakening

"The term 'Arhat' represents a specific stage of spiritual attainment. While practitioners may not always label themselves as Arhats, their state of being may already align with that level, or perhaps even higher, within the Four Sacred Realms—such as the Bodhisattva realm or the Buddha realm. It is important to clarify that the 'Buddha realm' within the Four Sacred Realms is distinct from the Buddha described in the One Vehicle teachings—the Buddha who has truly 'realise one's true nature and attain Buddhahood.' That is the Buddha who has achieved total, thorough awakening and completed the Buddha's path. The Buddhas within the Four Sacred Realms have not yet fully returned to their original, true nature.

Over these three thousand years, I have occasionally used my supernatural powers to observe the human world. In truth, the history of China has remained a scene of galloping warhorses, slaughter on the battlefields, conflicts between nations, the wailing of civilians, and the utter desolation of earthly creatures. To describe China as a land woven together by war, blood, and tears is not an exaggeration in the slightest."

A Descent from the Celestial Realm

"I was originally an immortal in the Celestial Realm, specifically residing in the twenty-seventh heaven. In that world of light and serenity, every immortal possessed deep meditative concentration. While my life in the Celestial Realm had not yet reached its end, I suddenly opened my eyes amidst that brilliance and felt that there were beings in the human world with whom I shared a karmic affinity who were suffering. After a moment of hesitation, I thought, 'I shall go and see!' Because this thought arose, I fell directly from the Celestial Realm into the human world.

I was born into a wealthy and noble family, never wanting for food or clothing. As the eldest grandson, I was deeply cherished by my grandparents. This was within the borders of China, during the Zhou Dynasty, roughly before the Spring and Autumn period. Taoist thought was already widely accepted by the people at that time. Growing up in such an environment, I gained an understanding of Taoist teachings, and thanks to the love of my elders, I was able to read extensively. This was not for the sake of fame, but to understand the trinity of 'Heaven, Earth, and Man.' Those who align themselves with the Heavenly Way are in harmony, while those who defy it are in opposition."

The Law of Karma and Cause and Effect

"This is the laws of karma and cause and effect, a natural phenomenon. Those who follow the Heavenly Way inevitably possess a good heart and practice good Dharma, while those who act against it mostly harbour evil intentions and evil methods, harming both themselves and others. I observed that the aura emanating from the generals on the battlefields was mostly grey and dim, indicating that their physical condition was declining and their lives were inevitably limited. As expected, although these generals returned home victorious, they later died of illness. Our ancestors observed and recorded these celestial phenomena and the human heart with great thoroughness, hoping to warn their descendants so that they would not repeat the same mistakes or suffer the same agonies.

However, it seems that unless people have personally experienced suffering, they cannot truly comprehend what suffering is. Since that is the case, one must let such people experience it for themselves. As an Arhat, in the context of Buddha’s teachings, one is often seen as a 'Small Vehicle' practitioner—someone who focuses on self-practice and self-care, while delivering other beings only when the karmic affinity arises. This is entirely different from the Bodhisattvas of Mahayana Buddhism or the Buddhas of the One Vehicle. Buddha or Bodhisattva can act as 'uninvited friends' to sentient beings; they observe the potential of beings and teach them, helping them escape suffering and the pressure of karmic retribution. This is active salvation. The Arhat, by contrast, is more passive, focusing on self-protection. The merit and blessings attained are limited; in fact, it is often just blessings, and one cannot truly speak of it as merit."

The Plague and the Seeds of Disease

"In such circumstances, every practitioner has their own domain in which to function. As long as you have the heart and the willingness to practice, the Buddha’s teachings can provide a blessing; if one has no heart or strength for the Buddha's path, even the Buddha cannot provide a blessing. It is not that the Buddha does not wish to save them, but even if the Buddha provides the blessing, the beings are unable to receive it. Seeing beings in such a state, the Buddha can only sigh.

How did I, originally a celestial being, elevate my spiritual state to that of an Arhat? There were several turning points. In the village where I lived, a plague broke out. This epidemic claimed the lives of more than half the villagers, and from that point on, the population dwindled rapidly. Even the young survivors were already carrying the seeds of the disease within them. Many of the subsequent pregnancies failed to reach term, and many infants did not survive birth.

The village was filled with sorrow, and everyone discussed why such a change had occurred. With my eyes opened, I saw that what are known as 'infant spirits' filled the entire village. If one has 'open eyes,' one can see infant spirits with incomplete bodies everywhere, and the sound of wailing was constant. Many women could hear the cries of children at night or during quiet moments. This situation persisted for nearly fifty years."

A Choice to Practice

"When I was born, my family was overjoyed, as having a healthy baby boy in the village was a rare and difficult thing. Perhaps this was the manifestation of the blessings I had brought down from the Celestial Realm, which had not yet been exhausted! My growth was smooth, and under the guidance of my parents, I became a gentle and refined person, constantly immersed in the teachings of the sages.

Upon reaching adulthood, my elders hoped I would marry and have children to continue the family line. But my aspirations lay elsewhere, and I clearly told my elders that I wished to pursue spiritual practice. Taoist teachings were flourishing at the time, and I resolutely set off alone, arriving at the then-named Taihe Mountain. From that day on, I never saw my family again. The environment there was steep and serene, filled with the energy of immortals, which resonated perfectly with the aura I had brought from the Celestial Realm. As the days and years passed, I heard that the plague had returned to the village and that wild beasts were appearing.

During my days of quiet meditation, my senses gradually opened. In truth, when I was in the Celestial Realm, I already possessed supernatural powers, but after descending to the human world, they were obstructed by the murky energy and pollution of the mundane realm. Now, having found a holy place to practice, the functions of my Six Roots were gradually restored. Hearing of the disaster in my village, I thought of repaying the kindness of my elders and decided to descend the mountain to investigate."

The Power of Vegetarianism

"Upon returning, I found I was a step too late. My grandparents had passed away before the plague, and my parents had also perished during the epidemic. There were no other descendants in the family. The servants, having finished the funeral arrangements, were overjoyed to see me return, thinking I would settle down. But I was already a Taoist practitioner; although I had not yet received a formal lineage transmission, my appearance, demeanour, and mindset were entirely those of a cultivator. The villagers did not say much; after all, the society of that time was very accepting of practitioners, believing that those who achieved success in their practice could save the world and deliver beings.

Regarding the plague, I used my celestial eyes to see that many animal spirits were hiding in the water, and water was something people needed to drink every day. When these animal spirits entered the human body, they caused damage, leading to organ failure and causing people to fall ill one after another. This was, in fact, karmic retribution. I told the villagers what I had seen, and they believed my words without doubt, asking what they should do. I told them I had 'one method': to switch entirely to a vegetarian diet and consume no meat. They accepted my advice and stopped harming living creatures, switching to vegetarian food. Gradually, the villagers' symptoms began to improve, and they began to have healthy children.

This event became a celebrated story, and from that time on, that village remained vegetarian for generations. Because this merit was bestowed upon me, my spiritual attainment and the quality of my spirit naturally improved. I could feel that even when I later entered deep meditation, my body, mind, and spirit felt pure and peaceful, without the slightest affliction or obstacle, and my spirit could freely traverse into higher dimensions."

The Light of Namo Amituofo

"After my physical body decayed, my spirit entered a deeper space to meditate. I was fully aware of all these changes, and I never left the Taihe Mountain of that time. Of course, the physical eyes of ordinary people cannot see us Taoists or Arhat sages in these spaces, but there are often rumours in the folk tradition: if a problem occurs at the foot of the mountain that human effort cannot solve, one can often receive help from the immortals or Taoists on the mountain, and sometimes even see an Arhat practitioner descend to resolve the issue.

Time flew by, and after three thousand years, a very bright light illuminated the entire Wudang Mountain, opening the dense, layered spaces within it. Since ancient times, this mountain has been a place that every Taoist practitioner must pass through, and there have been no shortage of Arhats there. Under the illumination of this Buddha-light, many spaces were opened, and many immortals or Arhats entered the light, being quickly transported by the Buddha-light to the 'Western Land of Dharma Nature' at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. The entire process was extremely rapid, without any obstacles; this is the inconceivable nature of the Buddha’s teachings."

A Debt of Gratitude

"A few days later, hearing that Namo Amituofo had called upon the Arhats in the space to be interviewed, I felt it was my duty to respond. In this space, I have attained spiritual results even more magnificent than those in the environment of Wudang Mountain. Here, I have received the blessing of the Buddha-light, and my spiritual energy and power have rapidly increased. I have discovered that my purity and inner strength are constantly improving, and my meditative concentration is growing in tandem.

Meditative concentration is an indispensable skill for a practitioner. The deeper one's concentration, the more one can clearly foresee the past, present, and future. Although the knowledge of an Arhat is far inferior to that of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su, compared to ordinary people, it is sufficient to deliver sentient beings. Everything proceeds according to Dharma affinity. In the Western Land of Dharma Nature, one can hear Practitioner Su of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre giving Dharma talks. My heart and mind become clearer and more purified day by day, especially when listening to Practitioner Su's teachings, where I have learned to chant the Buddha's name: 'Namo Amituofo.' This magnificent six-character name was something I had never heard of on Wudang Mountain in those days. Three thousand years ago, the Buddha’s teachings had not yet reached China; Taoism was the mainstream, and only today have I had the fortune to hear it as an Arhat."

The Vajra Seed of Bodhi

"The magnificent name of 'Namo Amituofo' is the Vajra Seed of Bodhi; once it enters the ear, it becomes a seed for the path forever. The first time I chanted the holy name of 'Namo Amituofo' in three thousand years was here in the Western Land of Dharma Nature. However, I believe that in my past lives, I must have had a magnificent Dharma affinity with Namo Amituofo or Practitioner Su, which is why I could receive the salvation of the Buddha-light today and enter the Western Land of Dharma Nature.

As it turns out, when I entered meditation to observe, I discovered that before I entered the twenty-seventh heaven, I was also a practitioner in the human world, having descended from the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss as a sage. Seeing this made me feel incredibly fortunate. A practitioner descending from the West enters the human world as a monastic, then enters the Celestial Realm, then returns to the mundane world to attain the state of an Arhat, and finally meets the salvation of Namo Amituofo. Now, I naturally follow the footsteps of Namo Amituofo in delivering beings; this was my original vow when I descended from the West. In recent days, I have seen that for many years, Namo Amituofo has been residing at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in the form of the Universal Buddha, while Practitioner Su, in the form of a living Buddha, uses his great vow to Chao Du countless beings from the spirit realms and the demon crowds."

A Call to the Fourfold Assembly

"At this time, Practitioner Su's great vow is manifest, and he has entered China with countless manifestations, because with the blessing of Namo Amituofo's Twelve Lights and the illumination of the Buddha-light, countless spaces in China have been opened. This allows the beings within those spaces the opportunity to be led by Namo Amituofo and be saved, entering the Western Land of Dharma Nature—this pure, spiritual Buddha-land. This land has a long history. This series of interviews has included famous figures from the past five thousand years who have been delivered by the Buddha, and even primitive people and Upper Cave Man from over ten thousand years ago. This shows that China has spaces dating back over ten thousand years; these spaces have been opened, and the primitive people and Upper Cave Man within them have thus been saved. Otherwise, they would have continued to remain in those spaces in a spirit state, unable to depart. These brilliant interviews were all listed after asking Namo Amituofo for the list of those to be interviewed.

I, as an Arhat, am incredibly happy to share my experiences and feelings with everyone. The fourfold assembly of disciples at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, you are truly blessed to receive the teachings of Namo Amituofo, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, and Practitioner Su, and to be able to hear these primary interview materials. I hope this can be circulated so that more people will know—know that Namo Amituofo is residing at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. By receiving the blessing of Namo Amituofo and the illumination of the Buddha-light, everyone has the opportunity to chant the Buddha's name, attain liberation, and be reborn in the West.

In the worldly realm where we reside, it is not only the tangible matter seen by the physical eyes that exists; in the spirit realms invisible to the physical eyes, there are countless times more beings, all of whom need salvation, waiting for Namo Amituofo to come and save them. Now that I, an Arhat, have obtained salvation, I will follow the footsteps of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su, continue my practice diligently, advance toward the Mahayana attainment of Buddhahood to save sentient beings, and return to my old home, the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, with Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su.

Gratitude to Namo Amituofo, gratitude to Practitioner Su, and gratitude to all the virtuous ones at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.

Namo Amituofo.

An Arhat from the space."