An Interview with Johnny, a Former Farmer
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This is a record of an interview with Johnny, a spirit who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia. He had been trapped in the form of a cabbage for several centuries. This account reflects upon his life as a farmer and his eventual deliverance. Recorded by the chief writer, Cao Rudi, on October 7, 2017.
Johnny speaks:
". I am Johnny. Over the past few days, we have heard that the vegetables and fruits in the Buddha hall have been receiving interviews. We heard that after these interviews, one can go to a beautiful, worry-free world. It sounds like such a wonderful opportunity! My fellow cabbage brothers and sisters decided to nominate me as their representative to come forward and share our life stories. The most important thing is that we must be careful not to accidentally become cabbages again in the next life."
Chief Writer Cao Rudi speaks:
"It is a pleasure to meet you. We are listening intently to your story. Please do not forget to introduce yourself properly, and remember to tell us how many of your companions wish to accompany you to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss before we conclude this interview."
"Thank you for the reminder! We were a group of farmers from a rural village, having spent our entire lives working the land. We grew cabbages, and you should not underestimate this vegetable. There are different varieties, such as the pointed-head and the round-head. The pointed-head variety comes from higher altitudes; the colder and higher the planting area, the sweeter the vegetable becomes. In our village, we only grew the pointed-head variety. Because we advocated for natural farming methods, we did not use chemical fertilisers. Although our cabbages did not look particularly large, the flavour was absolutely exquisite and sweet."
"You asked why I became a cabbage? My name is Johnny. I spent my days surrounded by cabbages, my mind constantly occupied with how to make them grow sweeter and more delicious. I eventually passed away from sheer exhaustion. Our family farm was vast, and we were always short-handed. In the high mountain regions, mechanised farming was not suitable, so most of the work fell upon our own physical strength. In the mountains, trying to hire young people was practically a pipe dream. My wife and I had to rely entirely on our own efforts to manage the farm.
I had two sons, but as they grew up, they left for the city to pursue their studies. After graduation, they stayed in the city to work. In the bustling metropolis, they wore crisp suits and polished leather shoes, working in finance. Who would want to come back to the fields to toil in the dirt? I do not blame my children; everyone has the right to choose their own path. It was just very hard on my wife, Samantha. After I passed away, I knew the only place she could go was a nursing home. At least there, she could find people of a similar age to chat with and pass the time. Heavens, life is truly meaningless when you think about it—toiling for an entire lifetime, only to end up as a cabbage after death."
"My spirit has been trapped inside a cabbage for at least two or three hundred years. I have been stuck in this space, unable to escape. Today, I heard that it is possible to shed this vegetable form and return to a human body. I cherish this opportunity deeply. I am Johnny, and along this long, arduous journey, I have seen so many brothers and sisters pass me by. I do not know if they will also have the chance to be liberated from their suffering. If it is possible, please record the number as fifteen large groups, on behalf of all of us."
"Namo Amituofo. The of Namo Amituofo and the compassion of Practitioner Su will guide you all to the -Nature Land first, where you will listen to the sutras and hear the Dharma. Once you understand the beauty of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, you will be able to seek rebirth in the Pure Land. However, the prerequisite is that you must learn to chant the six-character name: 'Namo Amituofo'."
"Namo Amituofo."
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Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library