The Call for Rain: A Compassionate Plea for Australia

This article documents a spiritual interview conducted during a Thrice Yearning Ceremony at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. Practitioner Su, the founder of the centre, sought to alleviate the severe drought affecting the local regions of Goombungee and Toowoomba. Through his Dharma Body, he engaged in a profound dialogue with the Jade Emperor, various Bodhisattvas, and the Four Great Sea Dragon Kings to petition for rain. This record, captured during the ceremony, details the collective efforts of the centre’s monastics, lay practitioners, and the spiritual realm to transform the environment through the power of chanting and spiritual deliverance.

Practitioner Su and the spiritual entities speak:

"Through the Thrice Yearning Ceremony, my Dharma Body initiated a profound visualization and prayer for rain, uniting the residents of Goombungee, the monastics and lay practitioners of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, and the countless spirits inhabiting the space and the earth. Even the spirits dwelling within the dust and soil of Goombungee were seen kneeling in sincere prayer for rain. I have previously communicated with the Four Great Sea Dragon Kings, and I now formally petition the Jade Emperor to compassionately bestow the sweet dew of rain upon the land."

The Jade Emperor’s Decree

"Practitioner Su’s compassion is echoed by all the Great Sea Dragon Kings," the Jade Emperor declared. "The hearts of people in this world remain unsettled, still reeling from the lingering effects of the pandemic, which has further triggered the obstruction of heavy karma. The Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is a salvation team for the world. I ask Practitioner Su to once again lead the ancestral masters, the venerable monastics, and the fourfold assembly of disciples in chanting Namo Amituofo to pray for rain. By performing Chao Du for the spirits and dedicating the merit, and by choosing an auspicious day for sincere prayer, all wishes shall be fulfilled, and the sweet dew shall descend."

The Compassion of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva

Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva offered this guidance: "Practitioner Su’s compassion is vast. He perceives that the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, along with Toowoomba, Goombungee, and other regions, are suffering from a lack of water. His desire to pray for rain to quench the thirst of sentient beings arises from his oneness with all beings—he views all sentient beings as one with himself. Although the temple itself has sufficient water and Practitioner Su faces no personal shortage, he sees the suffering of spirits who have no water, and he feels their pain as his own."

"While rainfall requires the appropriate Causal Conditions for beings to receive it, Practitioner Su has previously led spirits in chanting to transform their karma, resulting in successful rainfall. Because of this, he wishes to pray for rain once more. His Buddha-heart is deeply moved. Today, during the Thrice Yearning Ceremony, Practitioner Su, along with Avalokiteshvara, Mahasthamaprapta, the Pure Ocean-Wide Assembly of Bodhisattvas, the ancestral masters, countless Bodhisattvas from across the cosmos, and the Dharma protectors, have placed three sticks of incense in the Heavenly Furnace before the temple. These three sticks represent Heaven, Earth, sentient beings, and our collective intent. We earnestly beseech the Heavens and the Jade Emperor to have mercy on all spirits and bring down the sweet rain as soon as possible to save all living beings. For every day that rain falls earlier, the spirits suffer one day less from the agony of thirst."

Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva’s Commitment

Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva stated: "To nourish the earth and ensure that all spirits and beings have water to drink, Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva has joined us today. I, too, am chanting with everyone. Since the spirits reside in this Buddha-land, it is only right that all beings and all things should possess tremendous blessings; when they pray for rain, rain shall come. Practitioner Su leads his salvation team in sincere prayer, unable to bear the sight of spirits suffering. For the sake of the spirits who lack water or are losing their lives, he prays for rain to nourish the earth, the dust, and the soil, allowing them to live out a new life. This is the spirit of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre."

"I hold a lotus in my hand and chant to pray for rain. The vows made at this temple to benefit all sentient beings will surely be fulfilled. Seeing the monastics and the fourfold assembly of disciples chanting together in unity helps ensure the success of this prayer. Practitioner Su does not abandon a single blade of grass, a single tree, or a single spirit, regardless of who they are. Let us unite our hearts in chanting to receive the sweet dew. Namo Amituofo."

The Pure Ocean-Wide Assembly and the Dragon Kings

The Pure Ocean-Wide Assembly of Bodhisattvas taught: "Practitioner Su’s compassionate vow for sentient beings moves Heaven and Earth, imbuing them with Buddha-nature. Buddha-heart, Buddha-vows, and Buddha-actions can naturally harmonize disasters and epidemics. The Buddha naturally illuminates this land, but the karma belonging to different parts of the earth varies. By manifesting good hearts and good deeds, one can naturally transform drought into a state of coolness. We, the boundless Pure Ocean-Wide Assembly of Bodhisattvas, follow Practitioner Su’s unceasing lead in chanting, forming a natural synergy with the rain and dew. We hope the earth may soon rejoice."

The Dragon King of the East Sea spoke: "I am the Dragon King of the East Sea. It is rare for Practitioner Su to visit the Dragon Palace in person; today, the palace is filled with radiance. My shrimp soldiers, crab generals, and the ministers of the Dragon Palace have rushed to welcome you. If there has been any discourtesy, I ask for your forgiveness. Seeing Practitioner Su appear so gracefully within the light, smiling as he arrives, I now understand he has come to pray for rain for the Buddha-lands of Goombungee and Toowoomba. I have quickly checked the rainfall conditions for this area and learned that since the last time Practitioner Su prayed for rain, there is still some residual rain that can be released. Perhaps we can release this remaining rain in the coming days. Though it may be a small amount, it will provide some relief to the suffering caused by the water shortage. Afterward, we must wait for the sentient beings in this area to chant, so that the karma of the rainfall can be transformed. When the merit of chanting manifests, the opportunity to resolve the suffering of drought will arise. Practitioner Su has also taken the time to save the spirits in the East Sea; I thank him on their behalf for his Buddha-grace!"

Harmony of Sea and Sky

The Dragon King of the West Sea said: "Such great Buddha-light! Practitioner Su’s personal arrival at the Dragon Palace has caused the seabed to bloom with radiance. My shrimp soldiers and crab generals stand on both sides to welcome you. Regarding the prayer for rain, only through good hearts and good deeds can it be facilitated. Rain and dew are both light; I also wish to bestow them upon the earth to share in the joy of the Buddha. This Causal Condition requires the Four Great Sea Dragon Kings to work together; only when the sea and sky are aligned and the earth acts in harmony can we share in these blessings. I thank Practitioner Su for coming to the seabed to save the spirits; his compassion is vast and endless, and his Dharma Body is immeasurable."

The Dragon King of the South Sea said: "Australia has historically been prone to drought and water shortages. Practitioner Su’s previous prayer for rain already saved us from the last drought. We Dragon Kings know that the killing karma in Australia is too heavy—raising cattle, horses, and sheep, and supplying so much beef to other countries. Just these cattle ranches alone consume vast amounts of water! The grasslands also require water, and trees are frequently cut down by the people here. Everything requires water. Australia, once rich in resources, has seen its natural water levels gradually decrease due to these human-made karmic forces. Fortunately, Practitioner Su performs good deeds, chants, delivers spirits through his Dharma Body, and encourages the growth of roots of goodness, leading to the achievement of the fruit of Bodhi. Every morning, he leads the residents of Goombungee and Toowoomba in kneeling to pray for rain, chanting, and performing Chao Du. I, the Dragon King of the South Sea, am currently gathering my shrimp soldiers and crab generals, and I have invited the heavenly soldiers and generals of the Jade Emperor to provide protection. In the coming days, we will summon the spirits of the waters under the jurisdiction of the South Sea, gathering water molecules. We have asked the Rain God, the Thunder God, and the clouds in the sky to wait and prepare. Now, we only await the convergence of the East, West, and North Sea Dragon Kings. Once the Jade Emperor gives the order, we can bring the rain. Practitioner Su’s compassion is always for the sake of all living beings; I earnestly request the blessing of Namo Amituofo."

The Dragon King of the North Sea said: "Practitioner Su is compassionate. He personally visited the North Sea Dragon Palace to save the immeasurable spirits within. My people are all very joyful and grateful for the compassion of the Great Buddha Su. Speaking of the Great Buddha Su’s special request today to bring rain to this parched land of Australia—especially Goombungee, where the Buddha resides—it truly should be a place of favorable weather and eternal spring. So many living beings have died of thirst due to the lack of rain and water. As the Dragon King of the North Sea, I am deeply pained. I have tried many times to let the clouds carry the moisture of the North Sea to the Australian land, hoping to bring a little rain to nourish the earth. However, every time the clouds carrying the North Sea’s moisture reach the skies above Australia, a powerful suction force immediately draws all my moisture away. I clearly see that this is the collective karma of the living beings in Australia; it is like a black hole, sucking all the moisture dry. This karma must be turned around before I can exert my full strength; otherwise, it remains difficult for the rain to fall on Australian soil. Practitioner Su has saved so many of my people in the Dragon Palace; I will certainly repay this kindness. From now on, I will continue to try to bring rain, and I ask the living beings on the Australian land to continue chanting and maintaining good thoughts. Namo Amituofo."