The Compassionate Heart of Zhong Ming

This is a record of an interview with Zhong Ming, who sought Chao Du 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 1,500 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa Jing, on February 11, 2019.

Zhong Ming speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Zhong Ming. In my past life, I was born into a family of great prestige and wealth. However, I never allowed myself to become arrogant or conceited because of my status. Instead, I treated everyone I met with equality and genuine respect.

A Life Dedicated to Service

Whenever there was a need in our town, I was always the first to arrive, driven by a heart of compassion to help those in distress. Whether it was washing the feet of the poor, cleaning the bodies of the sick, transporting grain, sweeping the streets, or repairing homes for those affected by disasters—whatever I could do, I did with a sincere heart, never calculating personal gain or loss. The townspeople knew of my efforts, and they often praised me for my willingness to serve the public with such humility. It was truly a blessing to be able to help.

I always knew that I had many shortcomings, so when people praised me, I never let it stir up pride or joy in my heart. Whenever I received recognition, I attributed all the merit to Namo Amituofo and the teachings of my parents. Having learned the Buddha’s teachings from a young age, I naturally understood the importance of performing good deeds, practicing generosity, and always considering the needs of others before my own.

The Troubled Children of the Town

However, there were children in the town who looked upon me with disdain. They could not believe that a child could truly be so selfless! They assumed I was merely putting on a performance to win praise or to build a reputation. These children were the outcasts of the town—the marginalized ones. They were incredibly clever, but they spent their days causing chaos. To them, a day without trouble felt like the end of the world. They felt that by disrupting the lives of others, they could finally feel a sense of existence.

The townspeople despised these children. Some of their parents had already passed away, while others simply neglected them, leaving them to fend for themselves as long as they returned home for meals. Without guidance or education, these children were essentially lawless.

A Near-Fatal Encounter

One day, I was helping the townspeople transport grain, as we had experienced months of heavy rain and food was becoming scarce. I used a cart to push the grain to the most severely affected areas, distributing it bag by bag to the people in need. After making dozens of trips back and forth to the granary, I returned for the final load. As I prepared to place the last bag onto the cart, I discovered that the cart had vanished! The entire load of grain was gone.

I looked everywhere, but the cart was nowhere to be seen. I knew that such a heavy load could not have been blown away by the wind. I began to search, and when I finally found the grain, I saw that those children had taken it and were throwing the bags into the swollen, rushing creek. I immediately jumped into the water, desperate to save the precious rice, as it was so hard to come by. However, the current was incredibly strong, and the bags were heavy. My small body could not withstand the force of the water. Suddenly, I slipped and was swept away by the current.

The group of children, who had been hiding behind a large tree waiting to watch the spectacle, stood there watching me struggle for my life in the water. Some found it amusing, while others began to realize that things had gone too far. Finally, a passerby saw me struggling and shouted for help, alerting the other townspeople to come to my rescue.

The Power of Forgiveness

After I was rescued and brought home, it took a long time for me to regain consciousness. The townspeople, unable to tolerate the behavior of these children any longer, rounded them up and brought them to my home. They threatened the children, demanding they apologize to me and my father and beg for forgiveness, or they would be taken to the magistrate to be judged and punished. When the children were brought into my room, they apologized one by one. They expected me to hate them, but to their surprise, I chose to forgive them. I asked the adults to leave the room so I could speak with the children alone.

I was a bit older than them, and they were willing to listen to what I had to say. I empathized with their situation—the pain of growing up without parents, the emptiness in their hearts, and the desperate need for attention that drove them to commit such acts. They did not truly understand that they were doing wrong; they only felt a fleeting sense of joy whenever they managed to attract the attention of adults. Because no one had ever properly educated them, they lacked a moral compass. I asked them, 'Do you want to become children that adults like?' At first, they stubbornly replied, 'No! We want to be the worst children!'

A Story of Redemption

I knew their hearts were still closed, so I began to guide them using the Buddha’s teachings, sharing many stories from the sutras. I told them of a child born into a family of corrupt officials. His father was a greedy man who took bribes and assassinated anyone who dared to report him. The son, following his father’s example, grew up to be cruel, foul-mouthed, and universally despised. One day, he collapsed on the side of the road. As he lay there, he reached out for help, but everyone ignored him—until an elderly woman passed by and took him home.

The woman cared for him, and as she watched him sleep, she saw a face that was pure and innocent, unlike the hateful mask he wore while awake. She understood that his heart was simply crying out for care. He had learned to use outrageous behavior to get noticed, even if it meant being hated, just to feel that he existed. When the boy woke up, he felt deep gratitude toward the woman, though he tried to maintain his cold, tough exterior. The woman told him, 'I understand your heart. You do not have to pretend to be tough. You can show your true, simple self in front of me. I am a practitioner of the Buddha’s teachings, and I will protect you and love you just as the Buddha does.'

The boy was sharp and could immediately sense the sincerity in her heart. He slowly let down his guard. He began to relax his expressions and act more naturally. No matter how he changed, the woman accepted him completely. Eventually, the boy felt safe enough to weep in her arms, pouring out ten years of suffering. The woman wept with him, heartbroken by the pain he had endured alone. From that day on, the boy stayed by her side, treating her like his own mother. She taught him to chant Namo Amituofo, and he became a different person—so pure and kind that people could hardly believe he was the same child who had once caused so much trouble.

A New Path Together

After I finished the story, I saw that all the children were deeply moved. Some were even in tears, as if the story had touched the deepest parts of their own hearts. I told them, 'I can be your big brother. We can play together, and we can learn the Buddha’s teachings together. From today on, we are good friends.' They were profoundly touched.

The next day, the number of volunteers in town increased by seven or eight. I led these children in helping the townspeople, distributing supplies, and transporting grain. The townspeople witnessed their transformation and praised the change. I often took them to the temple to listen to Dharma talks, helping them understand the meaning of life. Eventually, they all shared a common aspiration: to walk the path of monastic life.

When I was nineteen, I decided to shave my head and become a monk, and all the children followed suit. Having been exceptionally clever since childhood, they applied their sharp minds to the Dharma and learned to use their compassion to help all sentient beings. They were diligent in their practice, and each of them achieved great success. I continued to strive on the Buddha’s path, and seeing their dedication encouraged me to be even more active. After decades of practice, I left the temple to save beings far and wide. Though we went our separate ways, we knew we were all still working to save the world, until the day the Buddha came to lead us and every one of those children back to the Western Pure Land with hearts full of gratitude.

The Eternal Mission

Now, I accompany Practitioner Su as his Dharma Body travels through the universe to perform Chao Du. While Practitioner Su saves sentient beings throughout the entire Milky Way, I focus on saving those in the realms connected to my own karmic affinity. These beings—with their golden, red, green, and blue hair—are the ones connected to me. When I first encountered them, they were cold, arrogant, and domineering, refusing to yield. Many times, they remained unmoved.

Gradually, the sound of Practitioner Su’s Dharma lectures began to reach their realms. They began to listen, and they learned that many Demon Kings in the universe had already surrendered to the assembly of Amitabha Buddha. Through my patient guidance, they began to turn from evil to good, finding their true refuge in Namo Amituofo. I am deeply grateful for the compassion of the Buddha and the compassion of Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo."