The Ascetic Healer's Journey to the Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Master Savior, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life and his transition from the Heavenly Realm to the Western Pure Land. Recorded by the chief writer, Lay Practitioner Li Jiaxian, on June 20, 2017.

Lay Practitioner Li Jiaxian speaks: "Namo Amituofo. I offer ten bows to the Buddha and respectfully invite Master Savior to share the Causal Conditions that brought you to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, as well as the process of your rebirth in the Western Pure Land. Namo Amituofo."

Master Savior speaks: "To practise asceticism is to set aside the body. One does not live for this physical form; one lives only for sentient beings. There is no 'self'—there is only the suffering of others. Why does sickness and suffering arise? It arises because every thought and intention is focused on the self. If one is free from greed, free from idle thoughts, and free from the attachment to 'self,' how could there be sickness or sentient beings? By practising Compassion, Joy, and Selfless Giving, one can broadly save all beings. By knowing the bitterness of ascetic practice and letting go of the Five Desires and the Six Dusts of this body, one can finally escape the six realms of rebirth. Namo Amituofo."

A Life of Ascetic Devotion

"I was born into a prominent family and was exceptionally intelligent from a young age. After graduating from high school, I encountered the teachings of Venerable Lühang, who explained the path of the ascetic monk—one who returns to save sentient beings. From that moment on, I became diligent in my practice, never ceasing my daily lessons. Although I married and had three children—one son and two daughters—due to my parents' arrangements, I never interrupted my morning and evening devotions. During those years, I experienced the joys and sorrows of raising children and witnessed the cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death, as well as the stark contrast between wealth and poverty.

"I saw how the wealthy were consumed by insatiable greed; they were never satisfied, always wanting more, never knowing how to cherish their blessings. I saw how the poor struggled to secure even a single meal, working themselves to the bone just to survive, only to fall ill and die because they could not afford medical treatment. It was a life of endless suffering. I saw couples who were disharmonious, and husbands who, despite having a devoted wife, were still unfaithful. Their wives and children lived in constant anxiety, seeking divine intervention and praying for their husbands to return home. When their prayers went unanswered, they suffered deeply. Having seen through the illusions and falsehoods of this world, the conditions matured when I was twenty-two years old. I explained my resolve to my husband: my heart was set on the Buddha. I entrusted my children to his care and decided to renounce the household life to pursue asceticism, strictly adhering to the precepts and engaging in diligent practice."

The Burden of Healing

"After more than a decade of deep mountain meditation, I rented a small tin shed on a mountain in Tongluo, Miaoli, to continue my practice. I refused offerings from the outside world, choosing to support myself through farming, and I never allowed followers to kneel before me. Seeing the impoverished residents on the mountain suffering from illnesses they could not afford to treat, I felt a deep compassion and resolved to heal them without charging a single cent. I would touch the afflicted areas of their bodies to communicate with the spirits causing the illness, then use 'tapping' techniques to invite them out, finally offering the patients Great Compassion Water to drink. I would explain to them how to communicate with the spirits within their bodies and resolve these conflicts, urging them to repent with a sincere heart for the negative karma they had created through ignorance.

"My only thought was for the suffering of sentient beings. I wanted to help them resolve their karmic creditors, for all diseases originate from the karmic creditors of past lives who have come to settle accounts, leading to physical illness. I wanted them to truly repent of their spiritual obstacles and resolve their grievances with these creditors. Because I did not charge any fees or accept any offerings, and because the efficacy of the Great Compassion Water became widely known, word spread rapidly. However, this success drew the jealousy of some temple abbots. They slandered me, claiming I was 'playing with supernatural powers.' I chose not to respond or explain myself. I focused on the precepts, examined my own heart, and continued to treat the faithful. I stopped speaking and instead used my mental notes to communicate with beings, urging them to chant the name of the Buddha and seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land.

"I gave up all comforts, donating whatever food I had to the poor. I was not using supernatural powers; I was using a heart of utmost sincerity—a heart for sentient beings—to hold that cup of Great Compassion Water. The water I blessed was provided to the residents for free. Despite this, I was subjected to false accusations, and the government even inspected my water source to see if I had added 'unknown substances' to make it 'cure' illnesses. After the inspection results were published, my innocence was proven. Oh, the human heart! Greed and jealousy are rampant. Some famous, grand temples with majestic buildings, where the abbots wear fine robes, are supported by followers, and travel by car, possess only an empty exterior. They have no inner substance, no true practice, and no realisation; they only know how to envy and slander. Monastics should praise one another so that the Buddha's teachings can flourish. Because of my own ascetic practice, I refused all outside offerings, surviving on only a little fruit and Great Compassion Water each day. I pitied the suffering of beings and gave away my food to the poor. I did not seek fame, profit, or offerings; I only wished to help beings eliminate their spiritual obstacles so they could leave suffering behind and gain happiness. This was my lifelong vow."

The Falsehood of the Physical Body

"Sometimes, helping others heal consumed my own energy, so I would enter seclusion to recover. During these periods of meditation, I would see my own karmic creditors from immeasurable eons waiting to take revenge. I would repent to them, but I also saw that the creditors I had invited out of the patients were often unwilling to leave; some would linger, waiting for an opportunity to retaliate. I worried that the immeasurable, boundless spirits and my own karmic creditors would swarm me. I realised that the body is false—it is merely something we borrow. In that moment, I cast aside this 'illusory body.' I left no will, and my spirit entered the Heavenly Realm, never returning to the physical form. My disciples held a memorial service for me and officially announced my passing.

Lay Practitioner Li Jiaxian: "Master Savior, when you healed the faithful, you first communicated with the beings—the karmic creditors. How did you communicate with them? And where did the beings you invited out go?"

Master Savior: "When I was healing people, I used heart-to-heart communication and thought power to interact with the spirits and help them take refuge in the Triple Gem. I used a compassionate heart to transform and persuade these spirits, asking them, 'When will this cycle of revenge ever end?' After being transformed, most of these beings were willing to leave. Sometimes, they were stubborn, but even then, they would eventually let go of their resentment. After being invited out, most of them would go to be reincarnated as humans. Some, however, were unwilling to let go and would linger around the person they had previously afflicted, watching to see if they would improve. If the person's character did not change, the spirits would sometimes re-enter their body."

Lay Practitioner Li Jiaxian: "Master Savior, when you were practising asceticism, you did not accept offerings and only consumed a little fruit and Great Compassion Water. Did you have enough energy and physical strength?"

Master Savior: "My heart was set only on helping sentient beings; there was no 'self.' I had no fancy robes—only two or three sets of monastic clothing that I would patch when they tore. I saved any leftover food to give to poor families. I had no material desires, no 'self.' I only wished to deliver and help sentient beings. Of course, I did not feel hungry. Without desires, there is no appetite. I used my Great Compassion Water to maintain my life without needing to eat. My vow, my thought power, and my compassion for suffering beings allowed me to use my sincere heart to hold the Great Compassion Mantra. This water possesses its own power and life, and it is moved by sincerity. Those who request the Great Compassion Water must recite it silently with a heart of true repentance; the water will naturally generate its own energy and can heal illnesses."

The Path to the Western Pure Land

Lay Practitioner Li Jiaxian: "Namo Amituofo. Master Savior, you vowed to save sentient beings throughout your life with compassion. Why did you not chant 'Namo Amituofo' to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss at that time?"

Master Savior: "When I entered samadhi, I saw from the Heavenly Realm that the karmic creditors I had invited out of patients were waiting nearby. I also saw my own karmic creditors from beginningless time waiting for the moment my thoughts wavered or my sincerity faltered, ready to enter my body and take revenge. At that time, my spirit had entered the Heavenly Realm. Seeing this, I knew that this 'illusory body' was false, so why should I be attached to it? I also saw that my lifespan was coming to an end, so I decided not to return to the body. Once my spirit was in the Heavenly Realm, I no longer had a physical body, and I could not chant the Buddha's name to be reborn in the Western Pure Land. It was then that I heard Practitioner Su of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre calling out from the Heavenly Realm, 'Master Savior, where are you?' I descended from the Heavenly Realm to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, and during the Thrice Yearning Ceremonies, Practitioner Su guided my spirit to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

"I am deeply grateful for Practitioner Su's compassion. She has delivered so many immeasurable spirits from the Dharma realm of emptiness. In the entire world, there is no other great master who can truly deliver spirits to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Only Practitioner Su has true practice, true conduct, a true heart of compassion, and a heart of great vows. Only such a person can break through the infinite space of the Dharma realm. Although Practitioner Su is a lay practitioner, her heart is completely dedicated to the world, not for herself, but solely to deliver immeasurable, boundless suffering beings. Practitioner Su is even more compassionate than I am, and her vow power is even greater. I, Master Savior, admire her immensely. I pray that the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre can continue the wisdom-life of the Buddha, broadly deliver sentient beings, and ensure that the Buddha's teachings remain forever. Namo Amituofo."

Lay Practitioner Li Jiaxian: "Namo Amituofo. Thank you, Master Savior, for compassionately accepting this interview."