The Awakening of a Wealthy Soul

This is a record of an interview with Song Yicheng, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. This account reflects upon his life approximately several centuries ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on September 11, 2022.

Song Yicheng speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity today, which allows us all to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Throughout the entire universe and the void, only Practitioner Su possesses this magnificent ability. I am truly thankful for Practitioner Su’s compassionate vow, which has enabled all of us to be saved.

I, Song Yicheng, stand here today to represent all the prison officials and sentient beings with karmic affinity to express our deepest gratitude to the Buddha and to Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo."

A Childhood of Arrogance and Isolation

"When I was alive in the world, I was the son of a wealthy family. My father was a high-ranking official in the imperial court, and I was his only son born to his primary wife. Although my father later took many concubines, their children were not of the same status. I was the only one recorded in the family genealogy as the legitimate heir.

From a very young age, I was incredibly spoiled. Everyone had to obey my commands, and no one around me dared to speak a word of criticism. I was essentially held in the palm of their hands throughout my childhood, which fostered an arrogant and prideful character. I was often completely oblivious to the realities of the world.

Because of my father’s influence in the court, many people sought to curry favour with me. They would constantly present me with precious gifts, hoping that I would put in a good word for them before my father. My father valued me highly and provided me with the best education from a young age. In public, he would only introduce me as his son, so everyone knew I held a position of great importance within the household.

My mother also doted on me, always preparing the finest things for me—the best clothes, the most exquisite food, and the most luxurious living environment. My life was one of extreme wealth; I never encountered any hardship. Anything that did not go my way simply did not happen, as everyone watched my expressions, terrified of doing anything that might displease me.

My mother relied on me to consolidate her own status within the family, so she, like everyone else, catered to my every whim. Throughout my upbringing, no one ever taught me a single moral principle, because my moods and my glances were the only things that mattered to them."

The Hollow Life of Privilege

"Although I grew up in such an ideal environment, I did not develop well. In fact, I lost many opportunities to learn because everything was done for me; I never had to lift a finger. Even the most entertaining activities became boring after a while. Gradually, I found that my life had no meaning. It felt as though I could not even sense that I was alive; every day became dull and tasteless.

My father was busy with his duties at the court and had little time to accompany me. Most of my growth was spent with servants and the many tutors sent to instruct me. However, my relationship with them was strictly one of superior and subordinate; they did not treat me with genuine sincerity, and thus, there was a vast distance between us. I felt as though I was surrounded by no one, because I could not feel any authentic interaction.

Although I enjoyed every luxury imaginable, my heart was not blind. I knew that no one was truly sincere toward me, and I even felt that everything I possessed was unreal, as if it could vanish at any moment. I had lost my joy, and I could not find the meaning of my own existence."

The Dream of Desolation

"Until one day, I encountered a life-changing event. That day, I was at home, enjoying the finest care and eating delicacies for every meal. As I took the first bite, I noticed that the food did not taste like what I usually ate, and these were dishes I did not like. I knocked the food onto the floor in a fit of temper. Suddenly, I saw all the food transform into black, ashy mud, and it slowly vanished before my eyes. I was shocked—what was happening? Later, I discovered that I had no more food to eat. When I became so hungry that my eyes grew dim and my body felt weak, I had no choice but to grab a handful of mud from the ground to eat. That hunger was truly agonizing! As long as it could fill my stomach, even mud tasted delicious.

Later, my clothes began to tear. I was so cold; my hands and feet were freezing in the frost. I only wanted to keep my body warm and stop suffering from the cold; I no longer cared about silk or satin. I grabbed a piece of foul-smelling, tattered clothing, and as long as it kept me warm, I did not care about anything else.

When I felt the cold wind blowing into my body and the rain beating directly upon me, I could find nowhere to hide. My body was about to collapse. Even without a fine room, I would have been satisfied with just one wall to block the wind and a roof to shelter me from the rain.

I was left with only these few requirements: to have enough to eat, to have clothes to keep warm, and to have a place to shelter from the wind and rain. I cared for nothing else. My past wealth seemed as if it had never existed, and I could no longer distinguish between reality and a dream."

Awakening to Gratitude

"After experiencing such a painful life, I suddenly woke up and found myself back in my original, wealthy home. When I looked at the table, it was once again filled with delicacies. I looked at my clothes—fine silk, expertly tailored—and realized how beautiful they were, and how well they kept me warm. I looked at my surroundings—a high-class room filled with the rare treasures I loved. This was a place I was familiar with, yet it slowly began to feel unfamiliar.

I could not imagine those days of suffering; those memories and experiences were deeply branded into my heart. I could never forget how difficult those days were. Only after walking through that experience myself did I truly understand what poverty meant; otherwise, I would never have known the taste of it.

After experiencing these life lessons, I had some realizations. I knew that wealthy families could no longer just live in their own luxury; they must also look at the bitter lives led by the poor. If one has the ability, one should help them.

I began to accumulate blessings and cultivate merit, rather than just consuming my good fortune. I did my utmost to perform good deeds, such as distributing grain to those who had nothing to eat. I also began to understand how to cherish the blessings I had—to know my blessings and cherish them.

Later, I told the stories of my experiences to my children, hoping to awaken people so they could learn to cherish the present moment and know how to be grateful."

The True Meaning of Wealth

"In the latter half of my life, I worked hard to do what I could, because I knew that as long as I had the ability, that was where I could continue to contribute. After that profound experience in my dream, I had a great awakening. I realized that I should not just be enjoying my blessings; I should know how to share them with the public. That was the true meaning of my life.

Having money is not just for one’s own enjoyment; that only leads to a feeling of emptiness. One should be able to help others. That is true inner richness, and that is the true enjoyment.

I am very grateful for that dream. Although I still feel a lingering fear when I think of it, I know that without that experience of loss, I would never have known how to cherish anything, nor would I have been able to wake up from my life of luxury. I might have continued to live a muddled life, with only emptiness and confusion in my heart.

When I learned to be grateful, my heart truly became happy, and I finally understood the joy of using my own strength to help others. Educating everyone to 'know blessings and cherish blessings' is truly important!"

A Final Reflection

"It is fortunate that I did not become a useless, wealthy person who spent his days waiting to be served, completely unaware of the meaning of life. My life experience serves as a warning to the people of the world today: you must learn to cherish everything you have in the present, and you must know how to use your own strength. No matter how small, it can help others. If you do not know how to cherish, the suffering you will face when you lose everything will be beyond words.

I passed away at the age of seventy-two. When I left, my heart was very satisfied. My life had been very meaningful, and I was very grateful to have possessed all of it.

After death, I walked into a darkness. Although it seemed as if there was nothing there, I knew my heart was rich, and I left behind no regrets. In the darkness, I was led by an invisible force before the Yama King. After seeing him, I knew I had left the human world. My heart was very calm as I quietly listened to the judgment of the Yama King. In the end, the Yama King assigned me a position as an official, and I was very grateful, knowing I had to do my best.

After so many years, I finally heard Practitioner Su giving Dharma talks in the underworld. The sutras that Practitioner Su speaks are incredibly rich, and the magnificent Truths made me feel very joyful. From the principles Practitioner Su taught, I also learned the path to liberation. Only then did I realize that we all seek liberation.

I listen to Practitioner Su’s Dharma talks diligently every day and have learned many Truths. I am very grateful for Practitioner Su’s selfless dedication, which saves countless beings from suffering.

I also wish to make a vow to save the world just like Practitioner Su. I will practice diligently, strive to improve myself, and in the future, I will use my abilities to help sentient beings. I am grateful to Practitioner Su for leading us to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss today. Song Yicheng, on behalf of all the prison officials and all sentient beings with karmic affinity, expresses our deepest gratitude to the Buddha and to Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo."

Song Yicheng, with palms joined.