The Compassion of a Venerable: Gu Daoyou

This is a record of an interview with the Venerable Gu Daoyou, who lived approximately six hundred and fifty years ago. He sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Dharma Nature. This interview was recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on July 25, 2018.

Venerable Gu Daoyou speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. My father was a man of refined, if somewhat obsessive, tastes. He decorated our home with such opulence that it felt more like a museum than a residence. He had a particular passion for antique flower vessels—some large, some small, some with intricate, delicate patterns, and others with simple, rustic tones. There were elegant pieces and those with a classical, weathered charm. These vessels were scattered throughout every corner of our home, and even many smaller vases were tucked away in every nook and cranny. They were my father's most prized possessions; he spent his entire life travelling far and wide to collect these containers, finding a deep, personal satisfaction in his hobby.

A Childhood Haunted by the Unseen

However, from the moment I was born, my life was far from peaceful. I would often wake in the dead of night, crying and wailing uncontrollably. My ears were constantly filled with a cacophony of noise—it seemed as though a multitude of people were perpetually talking, arguing, and bustling about. The sheer volume of this invisible activity made it impossible for me to find any rest, and my only recourse was to cry out in my distress.

Our household consisted only of my parents and myself, yet I always felt that the house was incredibly crowded and noisy. When I began to learn to speak, my parents would often find me talking to thin air, gesturing and interacting with someone they could not see. They grew deeply concerned, fearing that I had been possessed by some malevolent force, and so they invited a Taoist priest to our home to perform a ritual to calm my spirit.

The priest told my parents that I possessed the ability to see spirits. He explained that my strange behaviour was simply me conversing and playing with these beings, and that my midnight wailing was the result of being kept awake by their constant presence. My parents were left absolutely dumbfounded, staring at the priest in disbelief, and they immediately begged him to tell them how to resolve this. The priest provided my mother with numerous talismans to be pasted on our doors to ward off the spirits, and he prepared a special talisman water for me to drink. But the moment I tried to swallow it, I immediately spat it out—not a single drop could pass my lips.

The Monk’s Simple, Powerful Gift

After the priest performed his rituals, the house did indeed become much quieter for a time. My parents no longer witnessed my strange behaviour, and everything seemed to return to a state of normalcy. However, within a few weeks, the same patterns returned. The priest claimed that a new group of spirits had arrived, and my parents, desperate for peace, spent yet another small fortune to have him perform more exorcism rituals.

When I was eight years old, a monk came to our home to beg for alms. The moment he laid eyes on me, he knew immediately that I was completely covered in spirits. He walked over to my side and taught me to chant the Buddha's name: 'Namo Amituofo.' At that time, I had never heard this sacred name before. I followed his lead and chanted it just once, and in that instant, I felt the profound, stabilising power of this Buddha-name wash over me.

Several months later, the monk returned to our home. Upon seeing me, he smiled and said, 'Very good. You have been purified significantly. How do you feel now?' I replied quite naturally, 'The power of the Buddha is truly inconceivable.' The monk then explained to me, 'If people do not attain rebirth in the Western Pure Land after they die, they will continue to cycle through the six realms of existence. Even these antiques and vases you see—they are often the result of spirits who have been reborn into such forms. Only by chanting the sacred name of Namo Amituofo can one attain true liberation.'

The Burden of Seeing the Truth

From that day forward, I began to feel the magnificence of this Buddha-name more and more deeply. The more I chanted, the more I savoured the practice, and the more joy I felt in my heart. I chanted it continuously, day and night, without a moment's pause.

After I began my practice of chanting, I frequently visited the local temple to listen to the sutras. This deepened my understanding of the Buddha’s teachings, and I came to realise that only by studying and chanting could one truly help people find the path to liberation.

As I looked at the people in my village, I saw that everyone was ageing. Everyone was facing the inevitable approach of illness, decay, and death. I also saw countless spirits who had nowhere to go. They lacked the ability to liberate themselves, and their suffering was truly agonising to witness.

In order to help both the human world and the beings in the spiritual realms attain liberation, I bade farewell to my parents at the age of fifteen and went into the mountains alone to dedicate my life to practice.

A Life Dedicated to the Dharma

The purity of that temple deep in the mountains helped me to settle my heart and mind. I focused entirely on chanting the sacred name of 'Namo Amituofo,' making a vow that throughout my many lives, I would dedicate myself to propagating the Dharma.

When I finally descended from the mountains, fifteen years had passed. Returning to the secular world, I found that the village had undergone immense changes. The neighbours and elders I had once known so well had all transformed. I could clearly see that numerous spirits were attached to their bodies, causing their movements to become sluggish, their forms and faces to wither with age, and their bodies to be riddled with all manner of illnesses.

I taught the villagers the Buddha’s teachings, encouraging them to constantly chant the sacred name of 'Namo Amituofo.' I also taught them the importance of 'Right Mindfulness,' helping them to use the practice of chanting to shift their thoughts, turning their hearts towards Goodness and towards the light.

Throughout my life, I travelled everywhere to propagate the Dharma. I often went to the most remote regions, where the roads were rugged and difficult to traverse. Most of the people living there were quite impoverished. Yet, to ensure that these people also had the opportunity to attain liberation from the cycle of birth and death, I was willing to endure any hardship on the road, for my only goal was to help them leave their suffering behind as soon as possible.

The Inconceivable Power of Practitioner Su

Practitioner Su’s 'Dharma Body deliverance' is truly inconceivable. Even though many eminent monks and great masters in the past possessed a 'Dharma Body,' none could utilise it with such incredible flexibility. Spirits throughout the universe are being purified by the Buddha-name and the Buddha-light. Many planets that were originally hostile to the Buddha’s teachings have, after several instances of deliverance, one by one taken refuge in Amitabha. They chant the sacred name of 'Namo Amituofo' with the utmost sincerity, finally understanding the importance of liberation and leaving suffering behind. As long as one is willing to believe in the Buddha and possesses a firm, unwavering faith, one has the opportunity to receive the Buddha’s blessings and be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Today, I have come to this barren planet. There are few inhabitants left here; many have already turned into smoke and gas, vanishing into the void, for this planet has reached the moment of its inevitable collapse. Yet, at this very last moment, they are fortunate enough to encounter Practitioner Su’s Dharma Body deliverance. They have been able to receive the illumination of the Buddha’s light and be guided to rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. These beings are filled with immense gratitude towards Practitioner Su. They bow respectfully before him, offering their deepest thanks to the great compassion of Namo Amituofo.

Namo Amituofo."