Awakening from the Dream of Life

This is a record of an interview with Gou Jianyue, 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 life approximately 980 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on November 9, 2019.

Gou Jianyue speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. The household of Mother Li nearby was bustling with activity today. I asked my mother, 'Mother, why is there such a crowd at the Li house? It is so lively!' My mother replied, 'Today is a joyous occasion for the Li family!' Hearing the words 'joyous occasion,' I was instantly excited and asked, 'Could it be that Mother Li’s son is getting married?' My mother smiled and said, 'My child! Compared to being tossed about in the emotions of the world, leaving the home life to become a monk is a transcendence of the mundane—that is true Wisdom!' I asked in surprise, 'Mother, do you mean that Mother Li’s son is becoming a monk?' My mother nodded and smiled, 'Mother Li’s husband passed away unexpectedly long ago, and she has relied on this son for her whole life. Now that she supports his decision to become a monk, her mind-capacity is truly incomparable!' Hearing this, I also expressed my admiration. I never imagined that Brother Li would actually leave the home life!"

The Path of Renunciation

"A maidservant held my grandmother’s hand, guiding her step by step into the living room. Seeing my mother and me in conversation, Grandmother asked, 'What are you two chatting about?' I excitedly told her, 'Mother says Mother Li’s son is becoming a monk!' Grandmother smiled and said, 'Indeed! He is a person of tremendous blessing! In our entire village, only the Li family has a son becoming a monk. Even among other households that study the Dharma, not everyone possesses such great blessings!' I scratched my head, confused, and asked Grandmother, 'Is becoming a monk really that good? If I live in a monastery, I won't be able to play with my friends every day, I won't be able to eat the delicious food Mother cooks, and I won't be able to see you every day. Is it really that good?'

Grandmother laughed and said, 'Of course it is! Once you leave the home life, you are no longer troubled by worldly affairs. You can realise your true nature, and you can help others realise theirs as well. What a wonderful thing that is! If I weren't so old, I would truly want to become a monk myself!' Just then, someone shouted from outside, 'Jianyue, come out! We’re all waiting for you!' It was my playmates calling for me. I told Grandmother and Mother, 'We want to go play somewhere further away today, so we’ll be back a bit late!' Mother said, 'You must be careful!' Before she could even finish, I had already dashed to the front gate, shouting back, 'I know!'

Mother complained to Grandmother, 'Jianyue, this child, he just loves to run around and play all day. He doesn't like to study, and he doesn't like to write. Now that he hears about Mother Li’s son becoming a monk, he doesn't feel a thing. How is he so different from others?' Grandmother smiled at Mother and said, 'Don't underestimate my golden grandson; I have high hopes for him! That innate compassion in his heart didn't come from nowhere. In the future, he will surely be someone within the Buddha’s gate.' Hearing this, Mother looked surprised, 'Is that really true?' Grandmother replied, 'If you see the good and think of the good, then of course there is a chance it will come true!' Mother nodded happily. Hearing Grandmother say this, Mother finally felt at ease; otherwise, she was worried about my future every day, fearing I would never amount to anything."

The Weight of Lineage

"One day, I went to play at the home of Zhiguang, a new friend I had made. Zhiguang’s family curiously asked me, 'How many brothers do you have?' I replied, 'Mother only gave birth to me.' When they heard I was an only child, they all looked surprised and said, 'Then you have a heavy responsibility.' I asked, confused, 'What responsibility?' They said, 'The responsibility of continuing the family line, of course!' I had never heard of 'continuing the family line' before, as Father, Mother, and Grandmother had never mentioned it to me. Upon returning home, I immediately ran to ask Grandmother and Mother, who were eating dessert in the kitchen. I asked Grandmother nervously, 'Grandmother, do I have to continue the family line?'

Grandmother and Mother looked at each other and burst into laughter! Mother said, 'You six-year-old rascal, talking about continuing the family line—how do you even know about that?' I asked in surprise, 'Mother, does that mean I really have to do it?' Grandmother patted my head and said, 'My dear grandson, continuing the family line means that just as your grandfather gave birth to your father, and your father gave birth to you, we pass down the Gou family’s incense and ancestral business from generation to generation, ensuring the family line remains unbroken and continues forever.' I seemed to understand what Grandmother meant, so I said, 'So, when I grow up to be as big as Father, I have to marry a woman like Mother, and then have many children to continue the family line?'

Grandmother smiled and said, 'You are exactly right. Look outside—every household is like this. When children grow up, the boys marry, the girls are married off, and they all enter into marriage to have sons and continue the family line.' I asked again, 'Have sons? What if it’s a daughter?' Grandmother said, 'When a daughter grows up, she belongs to someone else’s family; how can she help our family continue the incense? It must be a son.' Mother suddenly sighed and said, 'Neither Grandmother nor I want you to get married and have children in the future; we hope you can study the Dharma to help beings, just like Mother Li’s son. But... your father and grandfather don't think that way. They insist you must marry, because the Gou family still needs someone to continue the line.' I didn't know how my life would be arranged. Before I had any aspirations of my own, I couldn't make up my mind."

Entering the World of Business

"Father and Grandfather were away doing business for most of the year, returning home only once every few months. One day, the whole family gathered together, and Grandmother happily ordered the servants to prepare a feast to celebrate our reunion. At the dinner table, Grandfather kept staring at me. Grandmother asked him, 'Have you not seen your grandson for too long? Why do you keep looking at him?' Grandfather smiled and said, 'I am looking at how much my grandson has grown. Isn't it time for him to follow us outside and learn how to do business? After all, this business will eventually be his to take over.' Father agreed with Grandfather, saying, 'Indeed! Jianyue is twelve years old this year. Every year he grows older, Grandfather and I grow older too. We can't keep relying on our two old bones forever! It’s time for the younger generation to step up.'

It was true that Father and Grandfather were getting older year by year, and I should help share the workload. In that same year, at twelve, I left home with Father and Grandfather to learn the trade of business. Father took me to many bustling cities—places I had never been before. Compared to our small town, these places were truly lively. Walking down the main streets, I saw many young people my age. Their clothing and style were completely different from mine; the fabric of their clothes was not ordinary, and their way of speaking sounded as if they had experienced much of the world. I asked Father, 'Why do I look so different from them, even though we are the same age?'

Father said, 'These children have lived here since they were young. Living here, they see all kinds of people, so they naturally learn to adopt various appearances. You see their attire makes them look much older; that is the current trend. They like to make themselves look more mature so that when they talk business, they are more convincing.' I suddenly shouted in surprise, 'Father, look! That young man just walked into a brothel!' Father said in a flat tone, 'That is nothing strange. To successfully negotiate a business deal, one must use many methods to satisfy the other party’s needs. Men simply like women. As long as you spend money to let them relax in a brothel, it becomes much easier to close a deal!' I asked Father, confused, 'Will I become like them in the future?' Father replied, 'That is a matter of course. In less than a year of living here, you will learn their lifestyle, and gradually you will become more and more like them.' Father was right; the people here were indeed very similar, and compared to our simple, rustic town, the people here seemed much more complex.

To run a business successfully, I had to learn everything. Whatever Father taught me, I learned. In just one year, I felt as if I had aged ten years, because I had experienced so much in that year. At first, I would go home every three months to visit Grandmother and Mother, but gradually, the time I spent at home became less and less. On one hand, Father gave me more and more work to do, and on the other, I began to get involved in romantic entanglements.

In the past, Mother and Grandmother had never told me what the taste of love was like. To them, it seemed as if my life didn't need love, so they never spoke to me about it. But when I encountered true love for the first time, I realised how captivating love could be. Namo Amituofo."

Mingjuan was the only woman I ever truly loved. When I first failed in business and encountered setbacks, it was she who gave me the strength to stand up again. At that time, I was sitting alone on a large rock by the river, feeling deeply depressed and struggling with how to make my business succeed. In that moment, I couldn't help but wonder: why must life be so complicated? Why couldn't we just live simply? But the world before me seemed unwilling to allow such a thing. Because I still harboured a desire for success, I could not lead a simple, ordinary life. I felt compelled to challenge myself again and again until the moment I finally succeeded.

At that time, Mingjuan and her maid were chasing butterflies by the river. I was so lost in my own space, deep in contemplation, that I did not notice them. It was only when Mingjuan tripped over a stone and fell right in front of me that I caught sight of her beautiful figure. Mingjuan gave me a shy, bashful look, and our eyes met. Her maid immediately cried out in alarm, "What are you looking at! How dare you stare at our young mistress!" I immediately apologised to both of them for my rudeness. Mingjuan shook her head and said, "It is quite alright." I sat back down on the rock, continuing to ponder my business affairs, when Mingjuan suddenly walked over and asked, "I have been watching you sit here alone, lost in thought for quite some time. Is there anything you need help with?" I shook my head and replied politely, "It is nothing, just a few problems I have encountered in my business."

A Lesson in Mind-Capacity

Mingjuan's maid immediately chimed in, "Business? If you want to talk about business problems, you have come to the right person! Our master has never failed in his business dealings. If you could ask our master for advice, perhaps your problems could be solved." When I heard the maid say this, it was as if I had suddenly seen a glimmer of hope. Mingjuan nodded at me and said, "My father is very happy to help others. I can pass the message along for you." From that day on, Mingjuan and I became acquainted. Upon returning home, she immediately told her father about my situation, and soon after, a message was sent to me, telling me that I could visit the Wang estate.

The Wang estate was even larger than I had imagined. Mingjuan was truly the daughter of a wealthy family. Seeing the interaction between Mingjuan and Master Wang, one could tell that the bond between father and daughter was exceptionally strong. As I sat in the living room of the Wang estate, the fragrance of tea instantly filled the air. Master Wang said, "This is fresh tea leaves that arrived just these past two days. It is said to be top-tier, imperial-grade tea. Do try some!" Hearing that it was such high-quality, premium tea, I didn't even dare to pick up the cup. I told Master Wang, "I am merely a young novice just starting to learn business; how could I possibly drink such noble tea? You should keep it for yourself!"

Master Wang laughed and said, "You are truly too polite, child. Even if I possessed an abundance of such things, it would be meaningless to drink it alone. Good things are meant to be shared with others, don't you agree?" Mingjuan, standing to the side, echoed his sentiment: "My father is never stingy when it comes to sharing good things with others. This tea is nothing special, so please, drink it with peace of mind." I slowly savoured the aroma of the tea, and after one sip, I couldn't help but marvel at its quality. Master Wang let out three hearty laughs: "Hahaha! This child truly knows quality! Tell me, what business problems do you have that you need my help with?"

The Wisdom of Letting Go

Master Wang was truly a magnanimous man. Although it was our first meeting, his approachability made me feel no distance at all; he was as kind and familiar as an elder I had known for years. I slowly explained the problems I had encountered in my business to Master Wang. To my surprise, after listening to my long explanation, Master Wang simply replied with two words: "Mind-capacity." I looked at him, puzzled. Master Wang continued, "Whether in life or in business, without mind-capacity, one will never succeed." I repeated the words to myself: "Mind-capacity..."

Master Wang added, "That is right. At your age, just starting out in business, the first thing you must learn is not some clever business tactic. Simply learning to cultivate your mind-capacity is enough to keep you busy for a long time. Business people fear suffering a loss the most. Who wants to suffer a loss? Yet, they do not realise that by suffering a loss, the one who ultimately gains is oneself. This is something many people cannot see. This so-called 'suffering a loss' can be described as not taking advantage of others, and being willing to give a little more without seeking a return. If you can achieve this, even if your business fails, you will gain unique insights and learning from the process, because your mind-capacity will have gradually expanded during this journey."

I had truly never heard such words before, as my father had only ever taught me how to find ways to make more money, not how to learn to suffer a loss. Master Wang continued, "Think back to all the questions you just asked me. Were they not all circling around the fear of suffering a loss and incurring a deficit? In reality, there is no loss at all. Let others earn a little more, and earn a little less yourself; both sides still profit, and you gain the affirmation and trust of others. Maintaining long-term business cooperation then becomes an easy task."

The Value of Generosity

Master Wang was absolutely right. I had been haggling over every penny, destroying my relationships with others and exhausting myself in the process. It turned out that by taking a step back and being willing to let go of more, I would receive even more than before! It was as if I had suddenly understood a great truth! Just then, a servant entered to report to Master Wang: "Master, the batch of supplies to be sent to the mountain has been delivered. We are now preparing another batch of rice and grain to be sent to the neighbouring town." Master Wang replied, "Very good." The servant then withdrew. I asked curiously, "What supplies?"

Master Wang said, "Every month, I send some food to the mountain for those poor tribal residents. Wherever there is a need for help, I hope to contribute a little strength to assist them. As I grow older, I have come to a realisation: it seems that using money on others is more valuable than spending it on oneself." Mingjuan, standing nearby, nodded and said, "Just a few days ago, Father performed Generosity by giving a large house to those villagers in the next village who lost their homes in a fire. Father never calculates the value of the house; he only thinks about letting those poor families have a place to shelter from the wind and rain as soon as possible." Hearing this, I couldn't help but marvel at Master Wang's mind-capacity. It was truly this kind of mind-capacity that allowed one to walk toward a successful life.

I told my father about meeting Master Wang. It turned out that my father had also heard of this great philanthropist. My father said, "In our business circles, everyone knows of Master Wang, the great benefactor. He is magnanimous, never petty, and conducts business with great openness. He never calculates his own gain and loss, because to him, gain and loss cannot be measured by money; it is fine whoever earns the profit. I have truly never heard of such a person, and I have never had the opportunity to meet him in person. To think that you, a young novice, have met this great figure even earlier than I! You must seize the opportunity to learn well from Master Wang!" I nodded and replied, "Father, I will."

After we were married, Mingjuan and I remained as sweet as we had been before. My father-in-law, Master Wang, continued to guide me in many matters, and life was perfect. I felt as though I were the happiest person in the entire world. However, as time passed, arguments began to arise between Mingjuan and me, starting with our longing for a child. For some reason, two years into our marriage, there was still no news of a pregnancy. I knew how much Mingjuan wanted a child of our own, but no matter how we prayed and hoped, it simply did not happen. We began searching for various secret remedies, trying every herbal prescription and folk method we could find, yet nothing worked. Because of this, Mingjuan’s temper grew increasingly volatile. Sometimes, a single word from me would immediately provoke her. Being unable to conceive seemed to be a devastating blow to her life. Even a man as wise as my father-in-law could not help Mingjuan emerge from her suffering, and I was at a complete loss as to what to do. Cracks began to appear in our marriage, and our once-beautiful relationship underwent an unpredictable transformation. This life caused me to lose confidence in myself, for how could I call myself a protector of flowers when I had allowed my beloved flower to be wounded? Watching my wife suffer while being unable to help her in the slightest made me increasingly despondent, and I even found myself unable to put any effort into my work.

The Tragic Loss of a Loved One

The greatest pain in life was yet to come. On Mingjuan’s birthday, hoping to make her happy, I had specifically purchased many things she loved as gifts. These items were not easy to obtain, so I had begun preparing months in advance, wanting to give her a surprise. The moment I happily opened the bedroom door, my face turned deathly pale. I screamed, "Mingjuan!" and rushed to the bedside to lift her up, but her body was already stiff, and she was on the verge of death. My father-in-law rushed into the room; he could not believe that his precious daughter had left the human world just like that, and he held Mingjuan, weeping uncontrollably.

In the months that followed, our home no longer felt like a home. Mingjuan was gone, and my life had instantly lost its centre. I dragged my empty shell of a body back home. When my mother saw my distraught appearance, she shouted, "Jianyue!" I knew she was trying to wake me up, but I truly could not find a way out. My grandmother held me as I wept, saying nothing but, "Rest well." I stayed at home for a long time, rarely speaking a word. One day, my grandmother brought many books into my room and said, "I see your mood has calmed down quite a bit. Let us talk, Grandmother and grandson." I nodded and sat with her. Grandmother said, "Do you remember asking me about the importance of continuing the family line when you were a child? That was many years ago. At the time, I did not want you to walk the path of marriage, but in the end, I could not stop your longing for emotion. Think about how much you have experienced over these years. Having a relationship may seem sweet, but in truth, the suffering is hidden within the heart, unknown to oneself. I understand that the sweetness you felt at the time was the feeling of finally finding a reliance in your heart, but it was not permanent. When the other person is instantly taken from your sight, the tearing pain is unbearable. Was I not right?" I shed tears and nodded. Grandmother continued, "Mingjuan’s departure should not make you more despondent; rather, it should allow you to see the suffering of this world more clearly through this relationship. Look at how many people struggle their whole lives, only to be defeated by emotion in the end. How many people, once young and dashing, age a decade in an instant after falling in love? Emotion! To put it plainly, it is a noose that takes one's life, tightening around a person without them even realising it. When one is finally locked in, there is truly no strength left to struggle, because this 'noose of emotion' has bound them far too tightly." I agreed with Grandmother’s words and deeply realised their truth. All the suffering I had tasted in this life stemmed from emotion; I had truly been suffering within it without knowing it. Grandmother placed many books before me and said, "I know you are a child with good roots. You do not need me to tell you how good it is to practise the Buddha’s teachings; you will be able to realise it yourself from these books." After saying this, she left the scriptures and departed.

The Awakening and the Path of Practice

A month later, I emerged from my room. I had been locked away alone for that entire month, not speaking a single word to anyone. When my family saw me, they all wore expressions of astonishment. My mother asked, "Jianyue, why has your face changed so much?" For the first time in months, I revealed a radiant smile. Grandmother also smiled at me, and I could see that she was very satisfied and happy to see me as I was now. I said to my family, "I have decided to let go." My mother looked at me in confusion, and I added, "After going in a great circle in life, I finally understand the goodness of the Buddha’s teachings. Now I know why Mother and Grandmother said back then, 'It is truly a blessing for Li’s son to become a monk.' It turns out that a life spent pursuing worldly desires is so painful. For this past month, I have immersed myself in the scriptures and understood that the Buddha also attained Buddhahood through practice in the human world. To save sentient beings, He was willing to let go of everything. Even the best life, the Buddha could let go of. I have only this one body; what else is there to be attached to and unwilling to release?" Grandmother said happily, "Jianyue has finally awakened." My mother added, "After waiting for so many years, I never thought I would live to see the day Jianyue saw through it all! It was worth it to endure so much suffering to return to the starting point! Jianyue’s life was too comfortable before; without this suffering, he would never have understood the value of the Buddha’s teachings."

I decided to go to a temple to practise. Before entering, I specifically went to the Wang residence to bid farewell to my father-in-law. When he heard that I was going to practise, he was happier than anyone. I also introduced the Buddha’s teachings to him, hoping that a man of such great mind-capacity could also have the blessings to study the Dharma. My father-in-law smiled and said, "I will, I will." After we shared a happy meal together, I bade him farewell.

Upon entering the temple, the Buddha was still standing there waiting for me. I looked at my body, covered in filth—all the dust and grime I had accumulated in this world. I knelt before the Buddha, grateful that He did not abandon me, allowing me to throw myself into the embrace of Amitabha even after I was covered in wounds.

Purification and the Great Vow

When I first arrived at the temple, the Master did not ask me to do anything. He only required me to do one thing: to thoroughly let go of the past. Every day, I was responsible for carrying manure to dump, cleaning away the filthiest waste from my body. Every day, I was constantly in a state of purification, washing away all the grime that covered me. When I could see the manure and smell the stench without regarding it as manure or smelling the odour, I had begun to let go of my attachment to the Six Roots. It turns out that to return the Six Roots to their original purity is to let go of all attachments to the dust one encounters.

My heart is empty—so empty that no original colour can be seen, for it was originally nothingness; how could there be colour? I constantly chant Namo Amituofo, chanting away all the stains of body and mind until they are pure. I constantly sweep away the murky dust, purifying the body of dust one by one. In this process, I realised that what seems like an ordinary, normal life in this world had already caused me to lose my originally pure self. It was because of desires that my heart, in its pursuit of them, strayed far from its original nature.

Seeing the suffering of all beings, I developed an even greater sense of compassion. After several years of practice, I became a monk who vowed to save sentient beings. My true nature flowed freely, and I spread the teachings of the Dharma everywhere, allowing the Buddha’s teachings to reach remote places and benefit all sentient and insentient beings. I hope that all may hear the Dharma, believe in the Buddha, chant Namo Amituofo, and seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land. I am fortunate to have taken refuge in the Buddha’s gate while I still had this body, which gave me the opportunity to see the Buddha and the affinity for rebirth in the Western Pure Land. I am grateful for the compassion of the Buddha.

Practitioner Su’s mind-capacity is as vast as the ocean. The number of beings saved is immeasurable and boundless. Whether sentient or insentient, all are within the daily Chao Du performed by Practitioner Su’s Dharma Body, receiving the benefits of deliverance and attaining liberation. Sentient beings are everywhere. Practitioner Su uses Wisdom to save the masses, and the sound of spreading the Dharma reaches throughout the universe. When beings hear it, they weep and beg for deliverance, all repenting for their past ignorance, having been lost in the red dust of this world and forgetting the heart that seeks liberation. Today, the gate to the Western Pure Land is opened daily, and Practitioner Su’s Dharma Body travels freely between the Western Pure Land and the Saha world, bringing immeasurable and boundless beings with Him.

There has never been such a magnificent and extraordinary event of Chao Du in the universe. Although virtuous practitioners of the past have had their spirits leave their bodies to travel through the universe, none have been seen performing the work of Chao Du. The universe is vast, and space is infinitely layered. There are beings in the stars who have existed for hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands, or even hundreds of millions of years—some for durations that cannot even be calculated. This shows the suffering of beings; they suffer because they lack the opportunity for liberation and cannot be saved within the vastness of space. It is because of Practitioner Su’s compassionate heart and His great vow that this magnificent event of Chao Du exists today. It is also a testament to Practitioner Su’s firm determination and courageous action that such a great achievement for the benefit of sentient beings can be attained.

Grateful for the compassion of Practitioner Su.

Namo Amituofo.

This interview was recorded by the chief writer, disciple Shi Fajing.