The Chef's Burden and a Daughter's Vow

On August 17, 2019, Venerable Yongning, a monastic residing at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, provided insight into the spiritual state of a deceased Japanese man named Showa Yukihito. Through the guidance of Practitioner Su, the truth of his karmic burden and the potential for his salvation through his daughters' devotion was revealed.

Venerable Yongning speaks:

"What is the purpose of a human life? Is it to live the life of an ordinary person, the life of a fish, or the life of a hell-bound soul? Life is a series of ups and downs, of struggles and brief respites. Who is who, and for whom do we strive and toil? The aging and transformation of the human body are merely processes of illusion. I, Yongning, see through the hearts of men with the eyes of truth.

The Chef's Hidden Scars

I encountered a Japanese man. His spirit appeared relatively young, though compared to the upright stature of his prime, his back was now slightly hunched, and the signs of old age were manifesting. He had once achieved brilliance in his career, but for the sake of his professional success, he had been forced to live apart from his family. Over time, he grew accustomed to the life of a solitary striver. While he dedicated himself to his craft, his mind was constantly occupied with the myriad ingredients laid out before him. He had to think, experiment, and analyse how to use these ingredients to delight the palates of his customers. The spirits of all the ingredients he had ever thought about or used were piled up within him. His eyes loved to look at beautiful things, yet his body would occasionally twitch involuntarily. That was the manifestation of the final struggles of the fish he had killed, now playing out upon his own body.

In this life, he took pride in his profession and used his lifelong efforts to provide for his family. In return, he was besieged by a multitude of spirits—the beings he had harmed—who even pinned him down. These spirits dragged him into various spaces: the space of cooking, the space of longing for his family, the space of his hometown, and other such illusions. He did not know how to escape, nor did he even know that he should. His greatest joy was seeing the smiles of his two daughters; to him, those smiles were like those of angels. He believed that as long as his family was safe and at peace, he had the motivation to keep moving forward. He encountered setbacks, was mistreated by customers, and even sabotaged by competitors, but he chose to endure these grievances in silence. He never complained to his family because he feared they would worry or be saddened. Since they were already unable to be together, he did not want to add any more burdens or afflictions to their lives.

A Father's Silent Devotion

He cared deeply for his family, especially his two daughters. He would offer advice in the most tolerant way to help them overcome their difficulties. In his daughters' eyes, their father was a great supporter who stood behind every decision they made. He tried his best to ensure that their intimate bond remained strong, even through the distance of telephone calls.

However, after this good father entered the spirit realm, his consciousness was shackled. In his place were his karmic creditors. He was surrounded by a multitude of spirits: those from the killing karma he created as a chef in this life, women from his past, and even the spirits of those he had killed when he was a soldier in a previous life. There were beings from several lifetimes waiting for him. Surrounded by such heavy karma, he was caught by these spirits whenever a stray thought arose. Most people are like this; most people walk this same path, their bodies gradually occupied, filled, and exhausted by spirits until they finally die and return to the void.

The Power of a Daughter's Vow

But this father is different. He is Showa Yukihito. He has two daughters, Showa Michiko and Showa Yoko. Beyond the achievements he was so proud of in his life, his greatest pride was his two daughters. Now, his two daughters have come to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. He may only have a partial understanding of what this means, but he trusts his wife's decision. His wife has always been the most devoted and caring of spouses. Because of her, he never had to worry while he was out working, as he felt at ease knowing she was taking care of his elderly parents. He knew she would help his parents with all the heavy chores, even bringing their two daughters along to assist. The hardships he endured over the years to achieve success were not as simple as one might imagine; the price paid was the separation of his family, his own solitary sorrow, and the scattering of his spirit.

This is a reality that is difficult to face and bear. Now, the only ones who can help this father are his two daughters. When the two daughters achieve spiritual success, they can help their father, and perhaps even bring him into the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to help other Japanese people. This is not impossible; it all depends on the vows his daughters make. The greater their vows for the sake of all beings, the more their father will benefit. What the two daughters should be most grateful for is their mother. She is the key to saving the whole family. If not for her decision to follow Practitioner Su, the whole family would still be drifting in the cycle of rebirth. Even if the mother still has many habits that need to be changed, she remains the most magnificent figure in this family.

A Call to Awaken

Japan, once a great nation, is now sinking deep into the mire, heavily polluted by the Five Desires and the Six Dusts. The two young Japanese women studying at the temple have seen all kinds of suffering and chaos, whether their own or others', and they should wake up. Practice cannot be delayed, for there are too many beings waiting. Do not give yourselves too many excuses. Just keep moving forward, and move forward again. Take up the heavy responsibility of saving the world by following the footsteps of Practitioner Su. You are all talented individuals; never underestimate yourselves. Now, all that is missing is purification and the changing of your personality traits. To say it is difficult is true, but to say it is not difficult is also true. It all depends on how much you have awakened and how much you are willing to strive forward. The path of light is manifesting before you.

Namo Amituofo."