The Burden of Worldly Dust

This is a record of an interview with Lu Liujia, 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 800 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on April 18, 2019.

Venerable Lu Liujia speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Lu Liujia. My mother, for the sake of convenience, named us in numerical order. My eldest brother was Yijia, and as I was the sixth, I became Liujia. My mother gave birth to ten children in total, so the youngest brother was named Shijia. Neighbors would often tease her, saying, 'Your children are becoming more valuable as you go, from one to ten!' My mother would laugh and reply, 'We uneducated country folk just name them this way—it is simple and easy to call!'"

A Life of Toil and Sibling Rivalry

"There was never a shortage of work for me in the fields. From Yijia to Shijia, every one of us had to work the land; it was my father's strict requirement. Although I was not the tallest or the strongest of the ten, I was the most capable farmhand. My father would often say, 'Having Liujia by my side to help is worth more than having all nine of you! You should learn from him!' I knew my father said this to motivate my brothers, but I also knew that his words would only breed resentment and jealousy toward me.

We all slept in one room. I was squeezed in the middle; my brothers to the left turned away from me, and those to the right did the same. I was the only one who slept flat on my back in the centre. No one wanted to be near me. When my father bought shoes for us, he bought the same pair for nine of my brothers, but mine were always different. For us country folk, shoes were precious. We would never wear them to work in the fields. If we had to travel to town, we would carry a pot of water, walk barefoot on roads covered in cow dung, and only when we reached the outskirts would we pour the water to wash our feet, wipe them with leaves, and finally put on those precious shoes. Even then, if we had to walk a long distance in town, we would take them off the moment we reached a less populated area, fearing they would wear out."

The Inheritance and the Illusion of Love

"My father once whispered to me, 'This land will be left to you. The others have no interest in farming, so it is better to leave it to you to pass on to your children.' My third brother overheard this and immediately told the others. They were furious. My second brother cried out, 'How can Father be so biased? We are his children too; why is there no share for us?' My eldest brother added, 'So that is why Liujia works so hard—he has ulterior motives! Father has been deceived by his schemes!' When I suddenly appeared before them, silence fell. My fourth brother asked, 'Liujia, is it true Father is leaving the land to you?' I was stunned and quickly replied, 'Father is indeed leaving me land, but it is only one-tenth; the other nine parts belong to you all.' My fifth brother retorted, 'At least you have a conscience! Otherwise, we would not know how to live with you.' I sighed, relieved that I had convinced my father to divide the land into ten parts, or the tension between us would have been unbearable.

When my eldest brother turned twenty-five, he brought a woman home and announced, 'This is the woman I love most; I intend to marry her.' My parents looked her over, and my father asked, 'She is beautiful, but why is her belly so large?' My brother replied, 'Because she is already carrying my child.' My mother was shocked, and the brothers let out a collective gasp. A week later, the marriage was arranged. Once my brother received his share of the land, he sold it immediately to build a house for himself and his wife. My father lamented, 'What is the use of raising such a son? Once he has a woman, he forgets his parents. And he sold the land so quickly!' Soon, my other brothers followed suit, bringing home their own lovers. My father was bewildered, unable to distinguish one from the other. My fourth brother told him, 'Father, you spend all day in the fields with Liujia. We have plenty of time to roam, and since you made us so handsome, it is only natural that we have women by our sides!' Even my ten-year-old brother, Shijia, claimed to have a girlfriend—the girl next door, Ruyi. The speed at which my brothers progressed was something I could never keep up with. My mother just laughed, 'This house is certainly lively!'"

The Empty Room and the Awakening

"Eventually, only the plot of land my father gave me remained in the Lu family. Even Shijia had sold his share by the age of thirteen to support his own family. The room that once held ten brothers was now empty on both sides. I was the only one left lying in the middle. The house became silent and vast.

After the harvest, my father and I had much leisure time. He asked, 'Do you intend to marry?' I shook my head. 'Marriage feels so distant. Even if a goddess stood before me, I would not be moved.' He asked, 'If not marriage, what are your plans? Do you intend to farm until you are old?' I could not answer, so I said, 'I will just take it one day at a time.' But my karmic conditions arrived quickly. A matchmaker came to our home, knowing I was the only one left. My father encouraged me, 'Listen to the matchmaker. You need a companion for when you are old.' I had always obeyed my father, so I agreed. The matchmaker brought many women, but none moved my heart. They, however, were all eager to marry me, as I was handsome, responsible, and filial—the ideal husband. Yet, I felt nothing.

One day, while walking on a rocky path, I sat down to rest and saw a couple having an affair in the bushes. The man's face was turned toward me—it was my eldest brother! I was devastated. He had claimed his wife was the love of his life, yet here he was with another. I walked away, realizing in that moment that emotion is a valueless thing. I did not expose him, but soon news of their separation spread. The house became chaotic again as my brothers' children were dumped on my parents to raise. I spent my days caring for my nephews, and I became certain: I would never walk the path of marriage. It was all a deception."

The Path of the Dharma

"After three years of contemplation, I made my decision. I had continued to farm, but whenever possible, I visited the temple to serve the masters. One master told me, 'Life is short, and time waits for no one. When this life ends, where will you go? You must reflect on the sorrow of the cycle of rebirth and deeply loathe the disturbances of worldly dust. Grasp your remaining life to practice diligently, so your heart does not become inverted, and you may attain rebirth in the Pure Land.'

Under the master's guidance, I began to understand life. The streets I had walked a thousand times now felt different. How many footsteps had passed here? Where were those people now? The history written on the walls was gone, leaving only the wailing of suffering spirits in the air. The old woman in the red dress, whom I had known since childhood, had gone from a happy family to being all alone, begging for help. The seven-colored bird on the branch was beautiful, but it was not the same bird I saw years ago; it was generations later. Cities that were once prosperous were now empty. Life is a fleeting existence in this space; without a human body, one becomes a wandering soul with nowhere to go.

I returned to the temple and knelt before the Buddha to chant. People are obsessed with this world, clinging to their attachments even when they know everything is transient. I became an awakened one in the midst of delusion, willing to take on the responsibility of a Buddha's messenger to propagate the Dharma and save the suffering. At the age of thirty, I saw through the red dust, shaved my head, and became a monk, practicing diligently without forgetting the suffering of others."

The Golden Ship of Truth

"The sutras taught by the Buddha have never changed; it is the hearts of people that change. The same sutra is understood differently by each monk, not because the text is different, but because of the purity of the heart. The purer the heart, the deeper the realization. I studied the profound philosophy and used simple language to spread the Dharma. I knew that those intoxicated by words would never wake up; only those who realize the Dharma through reality can be liberated. I traveled everywhere, showing people the preciousness of the Dharma and the worthlessness of worldly life. Only by walking the path of Buddha-learning is this cycle of rebirth not in vain.

Standing on a peak, looking down at the scenery after ninety years of life, I realized that even after all these years, the beings are not yet fully saved. It is like scooping a ladle of water from the ocean—the level remains the same. Yet, one cannot stop. I have taught many disciples to continue the Dharma, passing on the lineage so that beings may be saved according to their own conditions. I hope that one day, the sea of suffering will be emptied.

The golden ship, representing the Dharma left by the World-Honored One, has sailed from ancient times to the present. In this age of the Dharma’s decline, it encountered great storms and nearly capsized. But a powerful, gentle force righted the ship, allowing the Dharma to continue. This force was brought by Practitioner Su. The decay of the Dharma age is being corrected by Practitioner Su. Truth has never changed, but people have strayed from the path. Practitioner Su has helped us find the truth again and uses it to teach the world.

The hearts of people are easily biased because their positive energy is insufficient. Doing evil is easy; doing good is difficult. A heart can turn to evil in an instant, but turning to Goodness requires a lifetime of practice. Practitioner Su's Dharma Body spreads positive energy every day, hoping to pull the distorted space back to the power of Goodness, reorganizing time and space so that all spirits may return to the teachings. Every particle carries this energy of Goodness, scattered throughout every space. I am grateful for Practitioner Su's compassionate deeds, for it is through them that beings may finally be liberated. Namo Amituofo."

"Namo Amituofo."