The Buddha-Name Can Relieve All Suffering

This is a record of an interview with the 1,139th Venerable, Lin Huxian, who sought Chao Du 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 spiritual journey. Recorded on June 27, 2018.

Venerable Lin Huxian speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Lin Huxian. From my earliest memories, I was an orphan. I never knew who my parents were or where they had gone.

My foster father, Lin Dedong, was a man of immense Goodness. He dedicated his entire life and his personal wealth to raising several orphans, providing us with a home and a future.

A Foundling in the Storm

I was abandoned shortly after birth. I was still covered in the blood of the womb, wrapped only in a thin white cloth, and left in a dilapidated, abandoned temple. On that stormy, rain-lashed night, I lay there crying at the top of my lungs.

My foster father happened to be rushing home that day, but the torrential rain made it impossible to continue. He sought shelter in that ruined temple to escape the gale. Hearing my cries, he discovered a tiny, blood-stained infant. His heart ached for me. Fearing I would lose my body heat and perish, he unbuttoned his long robe and held me tightly against his chest to keep me warm. Once the storm passed, he brought me home.

He had already adopted several other children. They were about six or seven years older than me and treated me with great kindness. My heart was always filled with gratitude—gratitude for my foster father’s nurturing and for the care of my elder brothers. As they grew up, they gradually left home to work and support themselves, though they returned every year to visit our father.

The Legacy of Compassion

There was a sixty-year age gap between my foster father and me. By the time I was twenty, he was already eighty years old. With no other descendants, I remained by his side. He left all his wealth to me, hoping I would use it to perform good deeds. Having watched him practice charity and kindness throughout my childhood, I had learned his compassion and his vast mind-capacity.

In our home, we enshrined a very dignified statue of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva. From a young age, I followed my father in worshipping the Bodhisattva. It was Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva who guided my father to find me; in a sense, my life was saved by the Bodhisattva. To express my gratitude, I would recite the Great Compassion Mantra before the Bodhisattva every day and travel to distribute scriptures. I promoted the Avalokiteshvara Dharma Gate, distributed sutras, and commissioned Buddha statues. At that time, every village was filled with devout followers of Avalokiteshvara.

The Miracle of the Sweet Dew

I once witnessed Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva manifest to save the civilians. It happened when I was five years old. A massive fire broke out in the neighbouring village, and people were fleeing in terror. As the flames threatened to spread to our village, every household knelt and prayed to Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva for help. Suddenly, the Bodhisattva manifested and sprinkled sweet dew, extinguishing the disaster. Many people had been severely burned, but I saw the Bodhisattva sprinkle the dew upon them as well. Within days, they made a full recovery. Our hearts were filled with profound gratitude.

The Revelation of the Buddha-Name

I diligently performed my daily practice before the Bodhisattva. After my foster father passed away, I recited sutras for him, hoping he would find a good destination. One day, an eminent monk came to our village to teach the Buddha’s teachings. I went to listen. The monk actively promoted the 'Holy Name of Namo Amituofo.' I was confused: why did he not introduce the Great Compassionate Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva? To resolve my doubts, I listened to his teachings for several days. Finally, when he introduced the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, I found my answer.

It turned out that the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss truly exists. Namo Amituofo made the Forty-eight Great Vows to save all beings in the saha world, hoping that all would chant His name and be reborn in the Western Pure Land. Only this Buddha-name can truly relieve the suffering of all beings.

The Truth of the Path

The eminent monk possessed profound skills and could clearly foresee the destination of my foster father. He told me directly: 'Your foster father is currently in the eleventh heaven of the celestial realm; he has not yet been reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.' I ventured to ask the monk if my father, a devout follower of Avalokiteshvara who had never chanted the name of 'Namo Amituofo,' could reach the Western Pure Land. The monk explained that Namo Amituofo is the teaching master of the Western Pure Land. To be reborn there, one must chant the name of 'Namo Amituofo.'

While Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva also teaches worldly Goodness, the form of the Bodhisattva is easily imitated. Furthermore, there are many ghosts and spirits in the world who manifest in forms resembling Avalokiteshvara. If one cannot distinguish the true from the false, it is easy to become deluded and fall into other realms.

Spreading the Pure Land Dharma

To help more people reach the Western Pure Land, I began to actively chant the name of 'Namo Amituofo,' recite the Amitabha Sutra, and spread the teachings of Namo Amituofo everywhere. At the age of fifty, I became a monk. I donated my remaining wealth to build a bodhimanda for Namo Amituofo and to spread the Pure Land Dharma Gate. Consequently, many civilians came to understand the importance of seeking rebirth in the Western Pure Land. Every household began to chant the name of 'Namo Amituofo.' In that pure environment, many people were indeed reborn in the Western Pure Land.

A Reunion in Golden Light

Today, through the Chao Du performed by the Dharma Body of Practitioner Su, celestial beings from the first to the twenty-eighth heaven knelt, waiting to be saved and reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I saw my foster father among them. He looked dignified and pure, chanting the six-character name 'Namo Amituofo' and following the golden light toward the Western Pure Land. I am so grateful for the compassion of the Buddha!

Today, the Chao Du by the Dharma Body of Practitioner Su extended even further, reaching a space where no celestial bodies exist. The energy field there was incredibly peaceful, even emitting a faint glow. I looked closely and saw many ancient practitioners, some of whom were followers of the Avalokiteshvara Dharma Gate. Although they possessed profound practice, they did not know to seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land and had ended up in this space outside the universe.

Today, bathed in the Buddha’s light, Practitioner Su sent the name of 'Namo Amituofo' to this place. These ancient practitioners were attracted by the gentle golden light before them. For the first time in millions of years, they opened their eyes and encountered the true Buddha. Those who were willing to follow and chant the Buddha’s name departed with the Buddha-light. However, many attached practitioners remained where they were, waiting for the next Causal Conditions to be saved."

Namo Amituofo.