The Brotherhood of the Dharma

This is a record of an interview with Chuan Guangwen, 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 980 years ago. Recorded by the disciple Shi Fajing on October 14, 2018.

Venerable Chuan Guangwen speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Chuan Guangwen. Looking back at my life nearly a millennium ago, I am filled with profound gratitude for the path that led me to the Buddha’s teachings and the ultimate liberation of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The Notorious Tao Brothers

In the village where I grew up, there were three brothers from the Tao family whose reputation was truly wretched. Everyone in the village knew that these three were troublemakers of the highest order. Even at such a tender age, they were constantly causing mischief—stealing money, playing cruel pranks on the villagers, spitting everywhere, and hurling insults at anyone who crossed their path. There was not a single soul in the village who did not despise the Tao brothers.

Their father was a local gangster from a neighbouring village. He had no interest in raising his children, so he dumped them in our village to be cared for by their grandparents. These poor grandparents were incredibly elderly; the grandmother was blind, and the grandfather was frail and immobile. They had absolutely no capacity to discipline or guide these three boys. Yet, their father insisted they stay there, and the grandparents, unable to refuse, took them in. They could only provide food and shelter, but the boys' behaviour grew increasingly brazen and unchecked. It was a tragic situation, and the villagers could only watch in dismay as the brothers' malice grew.

A Mother's Devotion and a Different Path

The parents of every other child in the village would constantly warn their children: 'Whatever you do, do not go near the Tao brothers. If you happen to encounter them, run away immediately and do not speak a word to them.' Every parent feared their child would be corrupted by the brothers' influence. Consequently, the three brothers grew up without a single friend, always wandering the village alone, isolated by their own actions and the fear of others.

I was born into the Chuan family, which lived right next door to the Tao family. Coincidentally, my own father was also a man of the underworld—a gangster. My mother, however, was a woman of profound faith. My father had forced his way into her life, and she only agreed to marry him after she discovered she was pregnant with me. After she married him, she remained steadfast in her devotion to the Three Jewels. She was often surrounded by servants, and my grandmother would tease her, saying, 'You married a gangster, yet you live a life of such grace.' My father was rarely home, always busy with his own affairs, leaving my mother to spend her time in solitude. To ensure her time was not wasted, she frequented the temple to listen to the sutras and practise chanting Namo Amituofo with great diligence at home.

Awakening the Goodness Within

The villagers often gossiped about us, laughing at the idea of a gangster’s wife who spent her days studying the Buddha’s teachings. They wondered what kind of child would be born from such a union. My mother ignored their whispers entirely. Her only goal was to attain rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, and she knew that her most important task before that day arrived was to raise me with a heart of compassion.

From a young age, I followed my mother to the temple to listen to the sutras and hear the Dharma. The Buddha’s teachings helped me correct my own bad habits and cultivated a heart of kindness and compassion within me. While everyone else in the village avoided the Tao brothers, my mother never stopped me from interacting with them. Since we were of similar age and shared the same background of having fathers who were gangsters, we naturally had much to discuss. However, I did not engage in their gossip or disputes. Instead, I tried to reach out to them, sharing what I had learned at the temple in a relaxed and natural way, or simply leading by example, hoping to inspire them to change.

Over the course of three years, I became their closest friend. We spoke of everything, and they even began to tell me about the evil deeds they planned to commit. Once, they plotted to set fire to a house and secretly told me their plan. Upon hearing this, I immediately shared a story about the laws of karma and cause and effect with them. I took them to the temple to see the depictions of the hells and the consequences of killing, stealing, and lying. They were filled with fear. After my earnest counseling, they decided to abandon their evil thoughts and live honest lives. These boys were only about ten years old; their nature was not inherently evil. They were simply starved for maternal love and acted out to gain attention. Unlike them, I had my mother’s presence. I told her of their sorrow and loneliness, and knowing they had no one to guide them, she decided to pour her heart into caring for them as well.

A Life Dedicated to the Dharma

Every day, I invited the three brothers to our home to play. My mother treated them as if they were her own children. Having never felt the warmth of a mother’s love, they were moved to tears and looked forward to coming to our home every day. My mother would often prepare delicious food for them and show them constant care and concern. More importantly, she educated them with the profound truths of the Dharma. Soon, I was no longer the only one going to the temple; the three brothers joined us. The four of us became as close as brothers, living in harmony.

The village no longer heard reports of the brothers’ mischief. Under the influence of the Dharma, the pure goodness within their hearts was reawakened. Their lives began anew from the moment they accepted the teachings, and every day became a day of purity and goodness. My mother led the four of us in performing acts of kindness. The transformation of the three brothers was so incredible that the villagers could hardly believe it, and they marvelled at the inconceivable power of the Buddha’s teachings. Many villagers began to bring their own children to learn the Buddha’s teachings as well.

When I was eighteen, I took the three brothers with me to become monastics. We were united in our purpose, and our childhood experiences gave us the confidence to save other beings. We knew that people could be changed, provided the pure goodness in their hearts was awakened. We each practised in different temples, accepting the teachings of the Truth. Decades passed; some of my brothers left to save beings in various places, while others became abbots of temples. We each worked hard on the Buddha’s path, solely to help more sentient beings achieve deliverance.

After seventy years of practice, I returned to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss with immeasurable and boundless beings. I am eternally grateful for the compassion of the Buddha.

Deliverance Across the Universe

The spaces on Earth are layered and endless, and the spaces of the universe are beyond calculation. I am deeply grateful for the Buddha’s compassion, which allows me to follow Practitioner Su into the universe to perform Chao Du. This is a magnificent and rare opportunity. Every day, I am diligent and cautious, seizing every moment to save the spirits who have a karmic affinity with me.

In the universe, there is a planet called Taiweima—a name chosen by its own inhabitants. This is a planet where I once resided. The inhabitants there are quite similar to those on Earth today, but their development is very slow. They lack the cleverness and wit of humans, but because of this, they are incredibly pure. Today, I have brought the Buddha’s teachings to the Taiweima planet, helping them understand the importance of chanting Namo Amituofo and seeking rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. They were moved, having never heard such teachings before, and many with deep good roots have sincerely chanted and attained rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Even now, I return to the Taiweima planet every day to perform Chao Du, bringing immeasurable and boundless spirits back to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I am grateful for the compassion of Namo Amituofo, and I am grateful for the compassion of Practitioner Su."