The Pearl Beneath the Deity's Feet

This is a record of an interview with the spirit of Zhou Jinliang, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He reflects upon his life approximately 250 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on July 23, 2020.

Zhou Jinliang speaks:

"Ding-ling-dang-lang! The sound of a bell—it rings in my ears all day long. Ever since my father dreamt of the Wang Ye deity, his fortune took a dramatic turn. You see, my father’s original dream was to marry the most beautiful girl in the city, to ride a horse adorned with red silk ribbons, and to head off to his wedding with immense pride. On that very day, a maidservant from the young lady’s household was also getting married. Both grooms stood at the doorway, waiting to welcome their brides. My father held his head high, feeling like the luckiest man alive, convinced he was bringing a stunning beauty home.

When the bridal sedan chair arrived at our doorstep, my father gently took the bride’s hand. Before the ancestral memorial tablets, and with the blessings of his parents, they were wed. They made a vow to cherish and protect each other for a lifetime. That night, the wedding night, my father was so overjoyed that he drank himself into a stupor. Upon returning to the bridal chamber, he happily lifted the bride’s veil and grasped her hand, saying, 'The greatest luck of my life is marrying you. Thank you, my dear wife!' The bride nodded shyly, and they completed their wedding night. But the next morning, when the bride brought in a basin of water and waited for him to wake, my father finally stirred. She whispered, 'Husband, you are awake!' My father reached out to pull her into his arms, but as he caught a glimpse of her face, he let out a sharp cry—'Ah!'—and shoved her away. 'Why do you look like that?' he shouted. She replied, 'Husband, I have always looked like this.' My father roared, 'I did not intend to marry you! I was supposed to marry a girl far more beautiful than you!'

A Marriage of Regret and Bitterness

My mother, poor woman, wept as she said, 'Husband, we are already married. You promised to protect me for a lifetime and said you were lucky to have me. You saw me clearly on our wedding night, did you not?' My father looked utterly remorseful, his mood souring for days. He kept wondering if the other groom, who had been married at the same time, had somehow stolen his beautiful bride. But he had no idea where to find that man, and he had indeed consummated the marriage with the woman he deemed 'ugly.' He would sigh deeply—'Sigh'—and force himself to accept the reality. Every time he looked at my mother’s face, he couldn't help but shake his head. This woman, whom my father so despised, was my mother.

My father had originally planned to open a small business after the wedding. He chose to run a noodle stall, thinking it was the safest bet, something that wouldn't lead to losses. He rented the busiest spot in the market, convinced it was a guaranteed success. He spent time researching what he thought was a delicious broth and various side dishes. But strangely, the tea-egg stall to his left and the almond tea stall to his right were constantly bustling with customers. In just one morning, they would serve more people than my father did in an entire day. His stall seemed to be doing nothing but feeding flies, with only a stray customer here or there. My father would often grumble in displeasure, 'Marrying a jinx—truly, nothing goes right!'

The Dream of the Wang Ye Deity

Ever since that wedding night, my father never looked my mother in the eye again. Aside from the act of conceiving me, he had no affection for her; he was even repulsed by her appearance. When relatives and friends gathered for social introductions, he would never bring my mother out, nor would he bring me. Even though I was not an ugly child, my father simply disliked both of us from the bottom of his heart. I was the only child born of their union, and it was a reluctant one at that. Because he resented my mother, he treated me with indifference, leaving me to grow up as if I were a neglected child. As the noodle stall struggled to put food on the table, my father tried many different ways to make money—selling sugarcane juice or trying to marinate tea eggs like his neighbour—but nothing ever succeeded.

Then, one day, while he was on his way to a neighbouring village to help a relative with their chickens, he passed by a Wang Ye temple. He glanced inside, feeling a strange sensation. Despite having walked all day, he felt incredibly energetic on the way back. When he got home, he had to eat several bowls of rice just to feel satisfied. That night, he dreamt he walked into that very temple and saw a black-faced, majestic Wang Ye deity sitting on the altar. As my father stood there in confusion, he heard a low, deep voice calling him: 'Zhou Kangtai—Zhou Kangtai—' He looked around, but no one was there. The deep voice spoke again: 'It is I, Wang Ye, calling you.' My father scratched his head, and the deity continued, 'I have finally found you. You are a pearl that was beneath my feet. When we deities were handing over our duties generations ago, you accidentally rolled away, and we could never find you. Every generation of Wang Ye has been instructed to find you. I never expected you to have reincarnated into a human body, losing your original radiance and becoming covered in filth. Now that I have found you, you must return to the Wang Ye deity.' My father was still bewildered when he felt a tremendous force enter his body, and he woke up.

The Pearl Beneath the Deity's Feet

The dream was so vivid that my father couldn't help but return to the neighbouring village to visit the temple. As soon as he reached the entrance, a familiar feeling washed over him. It was true—every detail of the temple was exactly as it had been in his dream. He examined the place carefully and suddenly realised, 'Wait! There really is a pearl beneath the deity’s feet! According to the dream, am I that pearl? If I am that pearl, then who am I now?' He ran to a bronze mirror to check his face, but he looked the same as always, which gave him a slight sense of relief. To show his respect, he invited a small statue of the Wang Ye deity home to worship, offering wine and rice every day. Strangely, ever since he brought the statue home, his relationship with my mother improved. My mother had swallowed endless grievances since marrying him, and now, she finally felt a glimmer of hope, thinking it must be the deity’s blessing. From then on, my mother was even more devout than my father.

Before the altar, there was a pair of moon blocks used for divination. My father would use them to consult the deity about everything, whether it was a major family matter or a trivial neighbourhood dispute. If the deity approved, he would give a 'holy' sign; if he disapproved, he would give a 'negative' sign; and if there was no answer, it would be a 'laughing' sign. My father asked about everything—whether the villagers should go fishing, whether it was a good day for a long journey, or which day was auspicious for weddings or funerals. Over time, the Wang Ye deity we worshipped became the most trusted god for the villagers. Every year on the deity’s birthday, the village would gather in an open space, setting up large tables of offerings, three types of sacrificial meats, and steaming dishes, while burning piles of gold paper in gratitude. My father could feel that the deities and spirits around Wang Ye were very happy. Ever since we started worshipping the deity, the noodle stall business flourished, putting my father in a wonderful mood and making him feel refreshed. The news spread to the neighbouring village, making their temple incense offerings very prosperous as well. Strangely, the more prosperous the incense became, the better my father’s business did. However, despite these external situations, my father’s physical state and emotions became unstable—one moment he was highly excited and kind to us, and the next, he would turn cold and unrecognisable.

A Sudden Collapse

Then, one day, my father returned from closing the stall. It was the height of summer, and the air was thick with heat; everyone on the street was drenched in sweat. As soon as my father stepped through the door—'Bang!'—a loud thud echoed. My mother and I rushed out to see my father collapsed on the living room floor. My mother shouted in panic, 'Kangtai! Kangtai!' but there was no response. We managed to carry him to his bed. Several days passed, and he did not wake up. My mother knelt before the deity, praying for his safety, but there was no sign of improvement. Finally, she decided to take me to the neighbouring village’s temple to seek help.

After half a day of travelling, we arrived at the temple. As soon as we entered, a voice called out, 'You’ve come!' We looked to the right and saw a man dressed like a Taoist priest. He said he was the caretaker of the temple and had received a message from the deity several days ago that someone would arrive, and he was to relay a message. The deity had said, 'I wish to save people and do more for the village, but I need a human body to manifest through. I have observed many, and I find your father to be quite devout. I hope he will agree to become my medium. Once he agrees, his physical condition will improve; otherwise, it will be difficult for him to survive this trial.' The priest added, 'When the deity does good deeds, it is the same as your father doing good deeds.' This was the message the deity wanted relayed, hoping my father and our family would agree. My mother replied, 'But he is still in a deep sleep; I do not know if he will agree.' The priest said, 'When you return home, if your father is sleeping on his stomach, it means he has received this mission in his sleep and has agreed. If that is the case, please do not worry.'"

My mother and I nodded after hearing this. We bowed respectfully before the main hall of the Wang Ye Temple and hurried home to check on my father. Sure enough, he was indeed sleeping on his stomach. I comforted my mother, saying that just as the temple keeper had said, Father should be fine. Mother nodded in agreement. A few hours later, Father woke up and mentioned that during his deep sleep, he had been summoned to learn how to draw talismans from Wang Ye Gong, who had even gifted him a precious gourd. Hearing Father speak this way, it was clear he was truly willing to become the spirit medium for Wang Ye Gong. Wang Ye Gong instructed Father to establish a Wang Ye Temple in the town as soon as possible. After receiving this mission, Father used the small savings he had earned from his noodle stall to establish the Wang Ye Temple. We had a simple plaque carved, set up an incense burner, and offered fresh flowers and vegetarian fruits. Most importantly, our entire family offered our sincere devotion to Wang Ye Gong.

The Medium and the Spirit Realm

Ever since Father became the medium for Wang Ye Gong, he could hear the voices of the ghost deities and observe their movements. After the Wang Ye Temple was established in the village, the lives of the villagers became much more stable. Long-standing issues like the periodic droughts or mountain fires had not occurred for a long time. Everyone knew that they could find Father to help them resolve their problems. From children who were difficult to raise, to family disharmony, or disputes between neighbours, everyone would gather at a set time at the Wang Ye Temple to seek Father's help. At these times, Father would don the traditional apron and the dragon-and-tiger skirt that represented the Wang Ye Temple. Before long, he would use yellow paper and a cinnabar brush to write down the answers to the villagers' questions, then provide a yellow talisman for protection. In this way, their troubles were resolved. Wang Ye Gong even instructed Father to chisel open a large rock behind the temple, from which a spring gushed forth. The villagers would take this spring water back and place it on their fishing boats to ensure the safety of the vessels, allowing them to pass through even the fiercest winds and waves safely.

The Monthly Feast and the Ghost Deities

Wang Ye Gong required Father to hold a grand feast on the fourteenth day of every lunar month, providing a spread of three types of meat and wine so that the ghost deities following Wang Ye Gong could have a full meal. Naturally, these feasts would attract other ghost deities to join in. Some wandering spirits with no master had nowhere else to go, so they would seek refuge under Wang Ye Gong to have a stable life, at least avoiding the need to drift about aimlessly, hungry and destitute. Of course, after joining the Wang Ye Temple, if Wang Ye needed them to handle tasks, they had to be obedient and listen to his commands.

The Trial of the Elixir

As the medium for Wang Ye Gong, Father’s body sometimes required trials, such as striking his body with burning hot swords or consuming elixirs to test his physical state. After the elixir was ingested, it would trigger different reactions depending on the needs of his body. These reactions were often quite intense. For instance, if he suffered from intestinal bloating, the elixir would cause him to pass gas continuously. The odour released was the scent of the waste being cleared from his intestines, and it was foul beyond description, only stopping once the intestines were thoroughly cleansed. If his body was prone to cold, the elixir would make his body feel as if it were burning, completely reversing his physical sensations and allowing those in need to undergo a transformation. The process required enduring these intense changes so that the body could be fundamentally altered. This elixir was refined from the shells of many types of beetles. Father would go to the nearby mountains to catch these insects, peel off their shells one by one, and boil them with mountain herbs in a hot broth. Its efficacy was incredibly powerful.

The Origin of the Elixir

The origin of this elixir came from a woman. She had come with her family to seek help from Wang Ye Gong. Before entering the Wang Ye Temple, the woman seemed perfectly normal; however, the moment she stepped into the main hall, she collapsed, her entire body began to tremble, and her tongue protruded. Although they suppressed the situation with a yellow talisman that day, Father knew in his heart that it had not been truly resolved, so he burned a large bundle of incense to consult Wang Ye Gong. That night, Wang Ye Gong appeared in Father's dream, telling him to refine an elixir, and the formula was clearly revealed in the dream. Upon waking, Father actively prepared the medicinal ingredients, and it took a full month to refine the elixir. He spent another month testing its efficacy—first on a dying dog that became full of vitality after consuming it, and then on an ant that was barely moving, which became energetic after a dose. Only after several tests was he certain the elixir was viable. This elixir was used for urgent situations and was not to be used lightly. The medicinal properties and the mantras within the elixir could suppress the more ferocious evil spirits and Ghost Kings within the ghost realm, allowing Father to better prescribe the right medicine when serving the villagers. Since I was a child, I followed Father, and I seemed to develop a sensitive body myself, becoming more adept at reading human nature. Father told me, 'The reason I help people is to give back to this land where I grew up, so that more people can be free from suffering.'

A Shift in the Temple's Atmosphere

Ever since Father began serving as the medium for Wang Ye Gong, his temper changed one hundred and eighty degrees, and even his physical appearance became somewhat bloated. The incense at the Wang Ye Temple grew increasingly popular. Every day at a fixed time, Wang Ye Gong would use Father’s body to draw one talisman after another, including peace talismans, protection talismans, and even demon-subduing talismans. With the cinnabar brush in his hand, Father was filled with an energy unlike his usual self. Father would be bare-chested, waving the large brush, and in no time at all, he would complete many talismans. In this way, Father served as the medium for Wang Ye Gong for twenty years.

The Dream of the Gourd

On the night of Father's sixtieth birthday, I had a dream. I dreamt that Father was locked inside a gourd and could not get out, no matter how much he struggled or shouted. When I woke up, I reflected on everything in the dream. Father had told me that when encountering problems, one must remain calm and not panic. I walked to the main hall of the Wang Ye Temple to observe where there might be a gourd. After careful inspection, I indeed saw a golden gourd next to the Wang Ye statue—neither too big nor too small—with a red ribbon tied around it, exactly like the one in my dream. Subconsciously, I felt that Father's spirit was truly trapped inside that gourd. Just as I was calmly thinking about how to help Father, his body walked towards me and called out, 'Jinliang,' which jolted me out of my thoughts. At that moment, our eyes met. I looked bravely into Father's eyes, wanting to know who exactly was inhabiting his body now. Upon focusing, a pair of greedy eyes emerged before me. He was wearing Han-style clothing, looking like Wang Ye Gong, but that gaze told me he was not the Wang Ye Gong who had originally wanted to help people.

The Search for Truth

I did not know what had gone wrong in the process. To uncover the truth, I began to observe the various behaviours of Father's physical form. First, I noticed the interactions between Father and those seeking help. In the past, Father had helped people by prescribing the right medicine, but now, he would frequently bring out the elixir and demand that the seekers pay more money to assist in the production of the next batch. Seeing every move he made, I knew that perhaps it was Father's initial slight deviation in thought, failing to align with the Truth, that caused the originally kind Wang Ye Gong to retreat, replaced by the greedy ghost deity before me now. I once tried to expose the true face of this fake Wang Ye, but I discovered that there were many ghost deities surrounding him. I was in the light, and they were in the dark; it was impossible for me to gain the upper hand.

A Journey of Awakening

I had also tried to walk up to the gourd to speak with Father's spirit, but I could not hear his voice. After thinking for a long time, I concluded that I did not yet have the ability to help Father. I packed a simple bag, left a letter stating that I was going out to explore the world, and left home before dawn. After stepping out of the house, I kept my mind clear and quiet, feeling everything around me. First, I heard the rustling of the wind, the flapping of birds' wings, and the chirping of insects; the whole earth seemed to be playing a symphony together. My heart was not lonely; I was accompanied by so many lives. When I was hungry, I gathered wild fruits. Sometimes, the meat of animals would sustain me. I was very grateful, and before eating, I would always mutter words of thanks, appreciating their lives for nourishing me so I could continue on my journey. During this time of walking upon the earth, I paid special attention to the changes in spirits. I had to understand the various states and mutations of spirits to have any chance of saving Father's spirit, which was locked in the gourd. I once tried to communicate with the spirits, but I found that my heart was not pure enough, and the image of the one who had replaced Father's spirit would even appear in my consciousness. Small ghosts belonging to Wang Ye Gong followed me, clinging to my back, shoulders, and feet. They gripped my body tightly, wanting to drag my spirit back to become the successor to Wang Ye Gong or to serve as a ghost deity under his command. Although my body felt heavy and sometimes difficult to move, my willpower to move forward was firm. I did not know where I could go, but I had to keep moving forward, keep breaking through, believing that there was a place somewhere that I could call my own. Namo Amituofo.

A sharp 'crack' of a wooden board struck my head. My Master demanded I wake up, asking, 'How long do you intend to daydream?' I looked at him in confusion, feeling as if I had just emerged from a deep, long dream. How could the images of my life, my father, and the Wang Ye deity all vanish before my eyes? A single strike from my Master had brought it all to an end. Where had they all gone? My heart was filled with doubt and bewilderment. Just as I was about to open my mouth to ask my Master what was happening, before a sound could even escape my lips, he said, 'Go wash your face. Since you are drowsy, go and perform your chores.' I rubbed my head, my mind still replaying every single image. This was only my fifth time practicing meditation, yet I never expected the visions before me to be so vivid. For some time, I had been practicing how to let go of desires. I saw the layers of desire—some high, some low, some from this life, and others from the past—and even those from the past remained in my memory, surfacing from time to time. Most people choose to follow their desires when they appear, but for me, this was a process of subduing the physical body. To put it plainly, no matter which role I found myself in, I now hoped to see things clearly.

The Illusion of Time and Space

Someone once told me, 'I am who I am,' and 'I can also choose not to be who I am.' The depth of these two sentences is something I, Jinliang, am still contemplating. I do not know why so many images constantly interweave in my mind, making me feel as if time and space are in chaos. I even see the woman I once loved in the past; we were so affectionate, deeply in love and dependent on one another. Even now, the mere thought of it makes my heart flutter. It is a longing I cannot control, a joy I cannot suppress. When I think of it, the corners of my mouth lift slightly, yet when I open my eyes, there is nothing there. Sitting on the stairs of the temple, all I see is this large tree, the cool breeze, and the moon accompanying the night. As soon as I close my eyes, various scenes appear before me, one after another, looking like fragments of a life I once lived. I ask myself, 'What is wrong?' I cannot remember anything from the past, yet these fragments keep appearing. At this moment, an urge to find my past has been ignited within me.

A Reality Check

The next day, I went to fetch water and looked at my reflection in the lake to confirm what I looked like now. The wind blew against my face—was this real? Was I truly practicing in this life? I pinched my face, thinking the more it hurt, the better. People say if you are dreaming, you should pinch yourself to wake up; if it is not a dream, it will hurt. So, I pinched my cheek with all my might. 'Ouch! That hurts!' Good, I confirmed that I am a practitioner now, not the son of a Wang Ye shaman, nor someone's lover. Having confirmed this, I stood still and closed my eyes, and many images began to slide before me again. This time, I began to practice focus, placing my attention on the tip of my nose, not allowing a single word to arise in my heart. As I focused, I found my heart calming down. However, the unresolved questions remained, so I chose a time to knock on my Master's door. After a long while, he allowed me into his room. The room was as simple and dignified as the Master himself. Upon entering, I bowed to him three times with respect. I poured out the doubts I had been harboring and told him that I could not figure out which of the scenes I had seen was the space where I had lived this life.

The Path to True Self

My Master, with great compassion, smiled and said, 'Child, the real is false, and the false is real. No matter which space or which karmic connection it is, it all belongs to illusion. Only when you can truly let go, when your body and mind are calm and without desire, will you find the true self that belongs to you. If you still have many doubts, ask yourself what you cannot let go of and what discriminations you still hold. Your own heart will give you the best answer. Only you can find yourself.' I nodded. Although the clouds in my heart had not completely cleared, I now knew the method and direction my Master had provided. I exist in this world with this body, and perhaps the fact that I cannot remember the past is a great help to my practice. As I thought this, I felt my entire body and spirit become very light. I told myself, 'Whatever the external appearance is, let it be; what matters is the state of the heart.' I understood that in practice, one must not cling to appearances. The scope of 'appearance' is vast, distant, and deep. Loving scenery or objects is an appearance; being intoxicated by practice is an appearance; having a 'self' and a 'body' is an appearance; knowing but not yet fully realizing is also an appearance. To break through these appearances, I tried to observe and contemplate through all things around me. I thought of what Laozi said: 'The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao; the name that can be named is not the eternal name.' That is the Truth and the ultimate reality, the Dharma of the world. To find the answer, I consulted many ancient books, hoping to penetrate and realize the truth. Every day, seeing all things, I would have sudden insights. Finally, I discovered that the more I wanted to know the answer and the more I wanted to let go of 'appearance,' the less clear I became. Perhaps returning to emptiness was the greatest help to me. It turns out that having nothing and having everything are both acceptable. To be calm and follow the flow—this is truly the way of the wise. After penetrating this principle, I was willing to let go of everything—the fundamental heart, the desires of the original nature, and all kinds of real and unreal appearances. With a pure, natural heart, at the age of thirty-two, I meditated until I reached the Arhat Dharma Realm.

The Burden of Karma

In this life, I practiced very diligently. During meditation, I saw many ghosts, spirits, and evil spirits of external paths. Layer upon layer of forests and the opening of infinite spaces allowed my spirit to leave my body and see all things and all states. It turned out that the father locked in the gourd was indeed my father in this life. Due to individual karmic conditions, my father remained in the space of the gourd, surrounded by layers of ghosts. At that time, in order to find the answer to save my father, I suffered from hunger and cold, eventually falling into the abyss. I forgot everything that happened in the first half of my life, which allowed me to encounter the Buddha's teachings without attachment; otherwise, I would have certainly become a shaman for the Wang Ye deity. I am grateful for my Master's life-saving grace.

Reflections on the Arhat Realm

Let us talk about the Arhat Dharma Realm. Within this realm, there are many different levels. Those with higher meditative concentration have an Arhat space that is brighter, larger, and has a more stable magnetic field. Those with even a trace of defilement in their hearts, while still bright, appear somewhat dimmer. Others, though in the Arhat Dharma Realm, have wavering concentration; their light is dim, and if they connect with the Five Desires and Six Dusts, they can instantly fall back into the human or animal realms. Although I had not been in the Arhat Dharma Realm for long, I had already realized this principle. Even though I was in deep meditation, I had not yet changed my habit of inquiry. I used my meditative concentration to become even quieter, hoping to find the ultimate, perfect answer through stillness. Otherwise, I had already seen the karmic retribution for my next life: I would enter the human world to suffer, born as a deformed child to be mocked by others. This was the fruit of the killing karma from slaughtering too many fish and seafood.

The Invisible Threads

The human world today is not what it used to be! I, Jinliang, truly dare not try it lightly. Although I am not attached to the human world, when I had even a trace of selfish thought to escape in order to avoid retribution, I found my own body becoming dim. Alarmed by this light, I quickly withdrew my thoughts and turned them into the realization that what should be endured must be endured, and what should be repaid must be repaid. With a high level of awareness, I looked down at my own sentient beings. At that moment, I was shocked—they filled the six realms and the ten directions. I saw that each of them was connected to me by an invisible thin thread. Even though my practice had reached the Arhat Dharma Realm, they still existed. If I did not resolve the conflict or undergo the retribution, that invisible thread connecting us would remain. I tugged at these invisible threads; some were near, some were far, and some were very deep. My heart felt a bit sad, and I wondered how I should repay them.

A Call from the Western Land

Just when my heart felt as heavy as a great stone, I heard a sound coming from the space that I had never heard before. That sound seemed far, yet near, and even felt as if it filled the entire Arhat space. I tried to listen carefully, but I always felt there was a layer of obstruction. I observed myself for a long time and realized that the obstruction came from the deep-seated arrogance within me. It turned out that rising to the Arhat Dharma Realm had made me complacent and even arrogant without me realizing it. This fundamental habit became the greatest obstacle to encountering the Truth. When I became aware of it, with a sudden change of heart, I was able to hear the sound coming from the space clearly. The sound came from Earth; it sounded like a man's slightly hoarse voice giving a Dharma talk. It even penetrated the Dharma Body of the Chao Du [Spiritual Deliverance]. In my meditation, I saw that the scene of the deliverance did not distinguish between 'you, me, or him,' and there was no division of Dharma realms; it was all equal, truly the result of the Buddha-heart. I was convinced and followed the boundless Four Sacred Realms and celestial beings. Everyone lined up in an orderly fashion, expressing joy and celebration. When I arrived here, I was truly filled with admiration. I heard that many of the great Dharma protectors were once beings from the demon path who had turned over a new leaf. Now, each of them is dignified with a heart that shines brightly; their numbers are so great that they cover the entire temple! I, Zhou Jinliang, longed to go to the West together, and now my wish has been fulfilled. I am diligently practicing on the Buddha's path in this Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I am grateful to Practitioner Su for placing my memorial tablet, allowing my connected sentient beings to come and be liberated from suffering. I admire Practitioner Su's great mind-capacity. If there is anything I can help with, I will certainly do my utmost.

Gratitude and Hope

I am grateful for the Buddha's compassion, the magnificence of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, the great power of Practitioner Su at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, and the diligence of the fourfold assembly. This is the bright light of the worldly realm, shining through and illuminating the void. I hope the Buddha can reside in the world forever so that more sentient beings can go to the Western Holy Land.

Namo Amituofo.

This interview message was recorded by the Buddhist disciple Shi Faxin.