The Compassionate Call for Rain: An Interview with Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva
A Sacred Prayer Led by Practitioner Su
Recorded on the Third of October, 2020
The Universal Reach of the Buddha-Name
On the third of October, 2020, Mahasthamaprapta offered profound insights into the spiritual activities at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre. Every morning, the of Practitioner Su engages in deep, meditative Buddha-recitation. During this sacred time, Practitioner Su encompasses the residents of Goombungee and Toowoomba, as well as the countless spirits residing within the dust and sand of the region, in a collective act of chanting.
This practice serves a dual purpose. Beyond the purification of the hearts and minds of those living in these areas, it allows the spirits to experience the magnificence of the six-character name, Namo Amituofo. They are bathed in the compassionate light of the Buddha. Although many in these regions follow different religious traditions, the constant exposure to the Buddha-name has a transformative effect. Some of the deceased spirits have even begun to treat the Buddha-name as a melody, chanting along in harmony. Because the light of the Buddha transcends all human languages, when their spiritual bodies are illuminated by this compassionate radiance, all discriminations vanish. They are simultaneously purified and uplifted through the power of the Buddha-name.
A Sanctuary Where Namo Amituofo Abides
The Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is a place of immense spiritual abundance, for it is a location where Namo Amituofo truly abides. Practitioner Su, moved by a heart of boundless , has always sought to ensure that the people of Australia are spared the suffering caused by water shortages. In the past, Practitioner Su led the patriarchs and venerable masters, the monastics, the fourfold assembly, and the residents of Goombungee and Toowoomba in kneeling together to pray for rain, successfully bringing an end to a severe drought.
Now, facing another period of prolonged dryness, the compassionate Practitioner Su once again felt the suffering of all beings. To alleviate this hardship, Practitioner Su initiated another prayer for rain. This involved communicating with the Dragon King of the Sea and making a formal petition to the Jade Emperor. Today, at the site of the ceremony, the atmosphere is as solemn as it was during the previous prayer. Practitioner Su leads a vast assembly in kneeling to seek the grace of rain, including the patriarchs and venerable masters, the monastics, the four great Vajra protectors, the fourfold assembly, Bodhisattvas from across the universe and the Milky Way, new followers of the Buddha, the spirits of the residents of Goombungee and Toowoomba, and all spirits residing within the dust and sand of the earth.
Unity in Compassion: The Prayer for Rain
To nourish the earth and ensure that every sentient being has water to drink, Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva has also arrived to participate in this sacred gathering. I, Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva, am also chanting with the assembly. It is only right that in this Buddha-land, all sentient beings and all things should receive tremendous . When we pray for rain with a sincere heart, the rain shall surely come.
Practitioner Su leads the salvation team in this prayer with the utmost sincerity. We cannot bear to see the spirits suffer, nor can we stand by while beings lose their lives due to a lack of water. We pray for the rain to moisten the earth, so that even the dust and sand may be irrigated and flourish with new life. This is the spirit and the mission of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.
The Vow to Nourish All Life
I hold a lotus flower in my hand as I chant and pray for rain. The vow made at this temple is clear: all who seek to benefit sentient beings shall have their wishes fulfilled. Seeing the monastics and the fourfold assembly chanting together, united in one heart and one mind, I witness the strength that makes this prayer for rain a success. Practitioner Su does not abandon a single blade of grass, a single tree, or a single spirit. Without distinguishing between self and others, we gather here to chant and pray, and we shall surely receive the sweet nectar of rain.
Namo Amituofo
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About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library