The Awakening of Qin Xiu: A Journey to Truth

This interview features Venerable Qin Xiu, a seeker who lived nine centuries ago. After a life of worldly pursuit and a profound realization of his past karmic debts, he abandoned his home to seek the Truth. He eventually dedicated his existence to the deliverance of sentient beings through the guidance of Practitioner Su. This account was recorded on October 25, 2018, at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.

Venerable Qin Xiu speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Qin Xiu. I left my home at the age of twelve, wandering alone in search of the ultimate Truth. My parents had already mapped out my entire life; they expected me to inherit their business and become a titan in the marketplace."

The Burden of Worldly Ambition

"My mother blessed me with a sharp mind, and I possessed the ability to grasp complex matters at a glance. This was also my father's defining trait. Whatever my father set his sights on, he was certain to succeed, for he was not only brilliant but possessed an iron will. He was a master of commerce; he could identify a lucrative market and, upon investing, would immediately reap vast profits, steadily elevating our family's standard of living. My mother admired him deeply and was his greatest supporter. Whatever decision he made, she was the first to stand by him. Even when my father strayed from the path of righteousness, my mother never sought to correct him; she remained the person most infatuated with him.

My father taught me the fastest ways to accumulate wealth. Yet, everything he taught involved opportunistic schemes. Although the money came quickly, it violated my conscience. A voice within me whispered that I could not follow this path. It was as if there were a moral compass within my heart, allowing me to naturally distinguish between right and wrong. Although he was my father, he was often in the wrong. When I tried to advise him on the proper course of action, he would not listen; instead, he scolded me, calling me a foolish servant. Though my heart ached, I knew I had to persist in doing what was right."

The Shadow of Karmic Retribution

"I began to notice that my father's physical state was deteriorating. His body, once balanced, began to tilt, and his right side became increasingly strange, yet he felt nothing. I wanted to help him, but I did not know how. The pursuit of fame and fortune had blinded his eyes and his conscience. He committed many acts he should not have, and I knew that, in the end, he would have to bear the weight of these sins.

I could not understand why people would sacrifice their lives and lose their way for the sake of money and reputation. When I was six years old, I had a dream that revealed my own past. In that dream, I saw that I had ascended from the hells. In a past life, I had also sought fame and fortune, committing many acts that extinguished my conscience. I had used unscrupulous means to seize power and status, eventually meeting a tragic end: I died in agony, bleeding from my seven orifices, unable to close my eyes in peace. That life had been glorious—I was the wealthiest man in the town, the highest-ranking official, and the man with the most wives. I possessed the finest of everything, and no one could compare to me. Yet, I died the most miserable death in the entire town because I had lost all sense of humanity and committed every evil imaginable. After death, I descended into the hells to suffer the retribution I deserved. In the hells, I repented incessantly, regretting that I had spent my entire life striving for fame and fortune that I could not take with me. I had trampled upon the conscience my parents gave me, learning only the malice of the world and living my life with a wicked heart. I had harmed not only others but my own parents as well. In the hells, I vowed that if I were ever to regain a human body, I would live properly and never stray from the path again. The lessons of that life had struck me awake with brutal force."

A Vow to Seek the Truth

"That dream at age six was a vivid enactment of my past. I am so grateful that I was shown this at such a young age, as it prevented me from being seduced by the world and walking down a crooked path. My father's current state seemed like a replay of my own past life. If he continued on this trajectory, he would surely meet the same end as I did—suffering in the hells.

I bid farewell to my parents and set out alone on the path to find the Truth, carrying only simple clothes and a bamboo staff to begin exploring my new life. The moment I stepped out of my home, I decided that I no longer cared for this physical body. I would use this illusory form only to find the Truth of life."

The Illusion of the City

"It took me a full month and a half to reach the most prosperous city. The city was filled with glitz and glamour, and everyone was intoxicated by their own lives. No one saw the falsity of the world. Everyone lived for a man, a woman, a child, or a career, pushing their own lives from light into darkness. I also saw people treating their lives like machines just to survive. I lived in the city for several months, observing the myriad states of human existence, and I was certain that this was not the life I wanted.

Leaving the bustling city, I walked for another three months until I reached a remote village. Simple, honest residents lived there, chatting with fans in their courtyards, working in the fields, or drinking tea and playing chess under large trees, living leisurely lives. Just then, a group of people passed by, weeping and carrying the remains of their family member to be buried on the mountain. From their wailing, I gathered that the master of the house had passed away. Seeing his many descendants, he must have been an elderly man. The people here lived plain, simple lives; their greatest concern was their family, enjoying the feeling of domestic harmony. But once the breath of life is gone, even the joy of family cannot be enjoyed. I saw many children who were very filial, working diligently to care for their parents. Some were about my age, ten or so. I ventured to ask one boy who was pounding rice what his dream in life was. He replied, 'To care for my parents for my whole life.' He was truly a filial son; though only ten, he was very sensible. Seeing his interaction with his parents, where he considered them in everything, his filial heart was truly moving. However, he and his parents were destined to live out their lives just like this; his father's fields would be what he inherited. Looking at his father's current state, that was what he would become. The child was a replica of the father, replicating generation after generation, all living the same life. Although the life was peaceful and comfortable, it ended just like that, and after death, who knew where they would go? I looked, and this life was not what I wanted either. My heart was not stirred. I left that place silently and headed to the next."

The Master on the Peak

"I climbed a steep mountain, and the air became thinner and thinner until I felt I could barely breathe. I wondered if anyone lived up here at all. Since fate had brought me here, I continued forward. The bamboo staff in my hand became my support, helping me when I could barely walk. Suddenly, a voice reached my ears: 'Young man, you are so young, why is your body so weak?' I turned around, but I could not see who was speaking to me. I turned back and saw an old monk in a kasaya sitting on a rock in the distance. I thought, 'Could that monk be speaking to me? But he is so far away, why does his voice sound like it is right beside my ear?' I walked toward the monk, head bowed, trying to push forward. After only three steps, a pair of feet appeared on the ground before me. I looked up, and the monk was already standing right in front of me! Such incredible speed! The monk looked to be about eighty or ninety years old. Why was his body moving so fast? Before I could ask, the monk answered my question: 'The speed of saving sentient beings must be this fast. Do you know that if I hadn't blocked your path, you would have already fallen to the bottom of the mountain?' When the monk said this, I immediately looked behind him and saw a cliff. If I had continued walking with my head down, I would surely have fallen, just as he said. This monk was truly extraordinary!

A large group of animals, which had been present when I arrived, all quickly hid. I asked the monk, 'Why were they sitting so obediently before you just now?' The monk told me, 'I was teaching the Dharma to them.' So, animals can also understand the Buddha's teachings! The monk explained to me that all things have spirit. Whether it is animals, or the flowers, trees, soil, and stones before us, they are all incarnations of a human spirit. The monk was teaching them, helping them understand the importance of chanting Namo Amituofo and seeking rebirth in the Western Pure Land. At that moment, my heart was stirred. I believed that this monk was the one who could lead me to the Truth."

The Temple Within

"I wanted to follow the monk to his temple. He led me for a while, but all I saw were a few large stones arranged in a circle. Was this where he lived? I was stunned. Did the monk not need to recite sutras and chant the Buddha's name in a temple? The monk told me, 'The Buddha manifests in all things to teach me. I learn mind-capacity from the earth, perseverance from the trees, insignificance and no-self from the fine sand, clarity from the spring water, change from the wind, and freedom from the flowers and grass. I am one with heaven and earth. The Buddha's teachings are everywhere. I view all sentient beings as Buddhas, and everywhere there are Buddhas teaching me, an ordinary person. As for the scriptures, they are in my heart. I follow the teachings at every moment, integrating the Buddha's teachings with life. Why must I be attached to knocking a wooden fish and chanting before a statue? My heart is the Buddha, and the Buddha is in my heart.'

How wonderful! This monk was completely different from the monks I had imagined. Seeing his perfect Dharma-appearance, he was truly a practitioner of the Truth. Although he was not attached to external forms, he possessed wisdom beyond that of ordinary people. I followed the monk to practice on this high peak. He led me to learn from heaven, earth, and all things. I was a disciple under the Master, just like them, with the only difference being the presence or absence of a physical body. I learned to view all sentient beings with equality, seeing them as one with myself. I learned even more to use a heart of compassion to help both sentient and insentient beings, without any discrimination, only oneness."

A Life of Deliverance

"When I descended the mountain again, I was already a middle-aged man. During my time of practice, I had no time to groom myself, and my appearance truly shocked everyone when I came down. I found a place to tidy myself up, and when I saw my reflection in the river, the change in my face made me unrecognizable. When I stood before sentient beings, my dignified Dharma-appearance immediately captivated them. I traveled everywhere, explaining the scriptures to sentient beings and teaching them to chant Namo Amituofo to seek liberation. When I returned to the mountain to find my Master, the mountain had already become a wilderness. My Master was truly a manifestation of Namo Amituofo. I knelt and kowtowed in gratitude. I learned the Buddha's spirit of delivering sentient beings, traveling the world to teach, and spending my life following the Buddha's teachings to help others. In this life, I also delivered my own parents to learn the Buddha's teachings. They repented for the sins of this life, changed their ways, and practiced diligently, chanting Namo Amituofo to seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land.

I am grateful for the grace of Practitioner Su, which has allowed me to perform Chao Du for all spirits throughout the universe. I have learned from Practitioner Su to transmit 'Goodness' into every tiny molecule in the universe. In places where there was no Buddha-Dharma, they now hear the sound of the Dharma through my daily Chao Du. Their spiritual lives, once aimless, have found a brand-new direction. Now, the most important thing is to follow along and chant 'Namo Amituofo' to seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land. Every day, the Buddha-light comes to receive sentient beings. Wherever the Buddha-light shines, spirits turn from evil to Goodness, and the power of Goodness begins to permeate the entire universe. The changes in the universe are already different from before. Darkness sees light again, and Goodness flows into places of extreme evil. Wherever the Buddha goes, no sentient being fails to feel joy. I am grateful for Practitioner Su's compassionate power, which uses both compassion and Wisdom to deliver immeasurable and boundless spirits of the universe. I strive to follow and emulate this, working together to transform the universe. Every day is a new beginning, and every day I learn the Buddha's compassion. I continue to practice diligently. I am grateful for the Buddha's compassion, and I am grateful for Practitioner Su's compassion."

Recorded by the disciple Shi Fajing.

Namo Amituofo.