The Compassion of a Mother and the Path to Liberation

This is a record of an interview with the Venerable Xi Gen, who sought Chao Du [Spiritual Deliverance] 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 approximately 1,310 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa Jing, on November 7, 2019.

Venerable Xi Gen speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Xi Gen. My life began in a time of great suffering, in a village plagued by endless disasters. Every day, the villagers lived in a state of constant anxiety and fear. Whenever a calamity struck, families had to spend their meagre savings to repair their homes, and those who relied on farming faced the devastating loss of their crops. We were poor, and the people would often cry out in despair: 'Heaven is mocking us! We poor people can barely survive!'

A Birth Foretold by Compassion

I was not a child born into the eager anticipation of my parents. With twelve older siblings already in the house, I was simply another burden for a family struggling to survive. Perhaps due to malnutrition, I was exceptionally small as a fetus. My mother felt as though she were not pregnant at all, yet several doctors confirmed she was indeed with child. My father, hardened by poverty, once told her: 'Whether it is true or false does not matter. Even if this child is born, he will have to fend for himself; I can no longer afford to feed another mouth.' My mother, heartbroken, went to the kitchen to weep, wishing she could spare the child the suffering of being born into such a life. She prepared a medicinal brew to end the pregnancy, but before she could drink it, my brother ran in, hungry and covered in mud. In the confusion, he drank the medicine instead. My mother could only sigh, thinking it was perhaps destiny.

By the sixth month, my mother’s belly remained barely visible. My father grew dismissive, insisting there was no child at all. One night, however, a mysterious old man knocked on our door. He was starving, having gone without food for three days. My mother, despite our own poverty, shared our last bowl of rice with him. Before leaving, the old man placed a small red bag in her hand. Inside was a small Buddha statue, and on the bag were the words: 'Namo Amituofo'. My mother, who knew few characters, was overjoyed to recognise these words and began to chant them. The next day, the statue vanished, and the rice in the jar remained untouched, as if the event had been a dream. Yet, from that night on, my mother’s belly swelled rapidly, as if by magic. Ten months later, I was born.

The Recognition of a Sacred Connection

When I was born, my father showed no emotion. He even refused to look at me, claiming I did not resemble him at all. My mother, however, upon holding me, suddenly realised: 'It is that Buddha! The old man who appeared that night looked just like this Buddha, and now Xi Gen looks like that Buddha. The old man was Xi Gen!' My mother was filled with wonder, understanding that she had been waiting for my arrival. Despite my father’s coldness and his suspicion that I was not his own, my mother protected me with her life. Miraculously, after my birth, the disasters in our village ceased. The villagers, believing I was a 'blessing' sent to save them, showered us with gifts. My father’s attitude shifted instantly; he began to parade me around as his greatest pride, though my mother knew the truth of his character.

The Teachings of a Mother

My mother was a woman of immense kindness. Even when my father treated her with cruelty, she remained devoted to our family. She taught me to chant Namo Amituofo from the age of three, telling me: 'This Buddha-name brought you into this world. Even if your father forbids you from entering a temple, you must never forget this name; keep it in your heart always.' I often saw the resemblance between my mother and the images of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva. Her heart was truly that compassionate—always thinking of others, never of herself.

When I was ten, a kind neighbour who had been saved from despair by my mother’s wisdom taught me about the Buddha’s teachings. He spoke of 'liberation from the cycle of birth and death.' Those four words ignited a fire in my heart. I vowed then and there that I would learn the Dharma to save my mother from her suffering. I saw how she lived for her family, her heart divided into fourteen pieces, constantly worrying about us, unable to find peace for herself.

The Path of Selfless Service

At fourteen, I entered the temple to practice. My mother encouraged me, saying: 'Since you have made this decision, you must persist to the end. Maintain your original intention, your compassion for all beings, and your vow to save them.' She could not follow me, as she had to care for my father, but she promised to chant and perform good deeds until she reached the Western Pure Land. I took her words to heart. In my practice, I learned that there is no 'suffering' if one can let go of the self. If one lives only for the sake of all beings, there is only compassion.

I served all beings, bending my back to help those in need, and constantly worked to shed my habits and attachments. I sought to reach a state of true 'no-self.' When one acts without a mind of gain or loss, the light of compassion truly shines. I do not know how many years I lived or how much I did; I simply worked until I forgot myself entirely. Eventually, the Buddha appeared before me in all His magnificent, auspicious glory. I knelt in gratitude, and immediately followed Him to the Western Pure Land. My mother was already there, her face free from the weariness of the world, filled with the joy of returning home.

The Truth of the Buddha's Teachings

The compassion of Practitioner Su is enough to shake the universe. Through her great vow, the darkness of the cycle of rebirth is pierced by light. Many today have distorted the Buddha’s teachings, misunderstanding the true essence of practice. Practitioner Su teaches the Truth, guiding us to follow the teachings and thoroughly transform ourselves from the heart. True Buddha-actions are not about outward appearances; they are about acting from the deepest part of the heart for the sake of all beings.

Chanting the Buddha’s name, doing good, and keeping all beings in mind—this is the way to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. If one remains attached to the self, to private interests, and to the gains and losses of this world, one will continue to spin in the six realms of existence, unable to find the moment of escape. You must understand that practicing Buddhism is about the sincere heart—a heart of true no-self, a heart of great compassion. If you can learn even a little from the example of Practitioner Su, your own achievement is not far off."

Namo Amituofo.